The Portland daily press., 1883-07-02
MAINE.
COLBY CoMMENCEME
Baccalaureate Sermon by President
Pepper.

WATERyILLE, July l. = Commencement
week at Colby University opened this evening
with the beccalaureate sermon by President
Pepper. Bis text was from First Corinthians
III chap: 2lst verse-"For all things are
yours" "All normal development" said the
preacher, sis in these words recognized as ac-
cording to the gospel This furnishes us
theme:
The kinship of the old faith with the new
age. We boast of our modern civilization as
well we may. But the question has been
raised Is it at one, or at war with the teach
ing-the life of the Bible. Contradictory
answers are given TO this question. 1t is i'm
portant and should be easy to get the true
answer. We may do this by COM
pairing certain determining characteristics of
our civilization with the sum of revelation.
This comparison will show first that they
both have the same root principle, supreme
love of truth. No prescription or proscriptive
authority is recognized or respected whether
in state, church social life. The only au-
thority is that of evidence. Reason rests
when 1t has under it as a foundation, known
truth. That in religious life which is not in
accord with this, is as contradictory to scrip
ture, to the Old Testament or New Testament,
as to the most advanced position of the most
advanced thinker in this most advanced age.
Christ was in the truest, deepest, best sense,
the grand Radical and Nationalist, and his
life words work and death-all and equally
attest this.
2d-Modern civilization and revelation have
the same method; the inductive method the
determination of faiths by fact; the arrival at
truth by the accurate and complete study of
phenomena.
Not till both Imagination and priori reason
ing gave way 10 careful and scientific ex-
PLANTATION of phenomena was a stand made in
our modern progress. The supremacy OF a
solitary fact, over cart-loads and even con-
tinents of reasonings and closest speculations
was and is conceded; and this has given US a
standing place and also a path of advance
ment. The Bible is as clear and complete on
this as are the best text books in physics,
aesthetics metaphysical science al this day.
The very structure of scripture, both in the
Old and New Testaments. shows this. Two
thirds of the Bible is bald history, and the
rest is built squarely on this, and points on to
history and fact yet to come.
The very doctrines, the most subtle and
battling, are merely facts thrown into doctrines
Such are the doctrines of the Trinity, Election,
Resurrection and Free Will.
3d-Our civilization and scripture agree in
both the doctrine and exemplication of pio-
gress. The great word of this day aud time is
development and evolution, this too is the
great thing. The universe is q becoming"
Geology proves it astronomy confirms the
proof. History has the same word to say. This
evolution is the universal fact of the past and
this universal fact is the basis of hope for the
iutuf6. 1t appears IN Lu6 ODJectS OF klOWleug6
and in the knowledge OF objects. Is the "Old
Book" against this? Nay, it is more complete
than science for this. The march of God from
Chaos to Cosmos in the material world is pro-
claimed IN the first chapter Of Genesis. His
onward march in human history Is the burden
of revelation from its first to its last word.
History, doctrine. and predictions, all con-
spire to show it. Nor does the notions OF a
fixed stand still OF knowledge, whether reli-
gions or secular have any countenance in scrip
ture-qulte the reyerse:-He IS blind as bat,
who cannot see this, and who thinks it Chris
tian thing 10 think and say just what the fore
fathers thought and said
1N.-Revelation shares the assurances of civ
ilization that we are ultimately to come to a
worthy good. Reason, as nourished and led by
science, points on to unity. harmony, and abso-
luteness in life. Scripture does the same and
in its spirits and works gives at once the ult-
mate ground of hope and the sufficient reason
for faith. The absolute reason must work
towards a worthy end and must read the end
to which it works.
Gentlemen of the class of 'S3, yours it is TO
put yourself in line with the age in which you
live; you will do this best and most by satura-
ting your whole living with the spirit of the
old out ever new book.
His closing re marks to the class Of 1888 both
in manner and matter indicated genuine and
deep feeling on his part towards those about to
pass from under his influence into the world.
By his manner he showed that sympathy and
confidence towards pupils that can only exist
where there is mutual respect and love. The
spirit and tendency Of his entire address was
progressive and in sympathy with the times,
yet full of the old faith delivered to the
saints.
At 7.30 D. m. Rev. George d. Boardman, D.
D., of Philadelphia, delivered an interesting
sermon before the Boardman Missionary
Society. The local attendance is large but
few alumni have yet arrived. Indications are
that the most important feature of commence
men. week will be the action Of the trustees on
matters not yet made public.