Morning journal and courier., 1883-06-25
Yale Commencement.


 Senator Rayard-Shemeld SchoOl-COm-
 mencement Day President Porter's
 Baccalaureats Sermon in Full.
 Commencement weeks exercises promise to be unusually well attended. Yesterday forenoon the baccalaureate sermon was de- liyered at BattelI chapel by President Porter. It will be found below entire. There was a brilliant attendance, as usual, and deep in terest. The graduating class were present in body and gave close heed to the farewell words spoken by the loved and honored president. The discourse will well repay perusal by all. It was, perhaps, less philo- sophical than some previous baccalaureate- discourses, and replete with practical, earn est suggestion, admonition and counsel. Ex- President Woolsey offered the prayer. The music was specially excellent.
 To-day is presentation day. At II o'clock a. m. the senior class promenade in body to Battell chapel to hear the class oration, which is to be delivered by Fred Churchill Leonard, of Spring Mills N. r., and to the class poem, which will be recited by Joseph McKeen Lewis, of New York city, son of Charlton T. Lewis, who was the poet for the class of '53 After the poem and orations the prizes and scholarships awarded to mem bers of the graduating class are given out. Up to this year all the prizes were given out on presentation day, but so few of the under classmen remained in town that some of those who took prizes never heard of it till the next fall. On this account the prizes for the three lower classes were presented last Monday at prayers. At 2:30 the class with their friends will be assembled in front of Old South Middle to- hear their his- tories. The historians are D. H. Buell., 0. c. Clarke, W. Price and S. O. Kerruish.
 The chapel will no doubt be we'll filled and large and brilliant gathering will listen to the exercises, and the usual scene of youth, gaiety, fashion and beauty Will predominate at the class history entertainment. The de- mand for tickets has been great. The seats were erected Saturday. After the reading of the histories the class will march and plant their ivy while singing the ivy song. This evening the senior promenade takes place in Alumni hall This ball is almost equal to the junior promenade in sp1endor.
 On Tuesday morning at 9:30 the alumni meet in Alumni hall to hear an account from the president of what has been done during the year, and to listen to speeches from each other.
 On Tuesday the class reunions and SUD- pers occur, occasions of joy and tender feel ing, and in the evening the Glee clubs con cert takes place. The so called famous class" of '53 will hold public reunion at the Battell chapel at 12 m. President White, of Cornell, will deliver an oration, and 0. T. Lewis, of New York, will read poem. All interested are invited to be present. At least 50 of the original 1OS members will be present, including ex-Attorney Gen. Wayne MacVeagh, Senator Randall l.. Gibson of Louisiana, United States District Judge B. c. Billings of Louisiana, the Hon. E. w.. Seymour, member of Congress from Con- necticut the Hon. George Shiras of Penn sylvania, the Hon. Stodderd Johnson of Ken lucky. the Hon. James Gillespsie of Mis- sissippi, President Andrew D. White of Cornell university E. C.. Stedman, the poet-banker ;n A. E. Kent, of California, the Hon. Henry c. Robinson of Hartford, Gener- al Edward Harland of Norwich, the Rev. Dr. James M. Whiton of Newark, N. J., Theodore Bacon of Rochester, Charlton T. Lewis of New York. The class supper will be held at Hills Homestead, Savin Rock. Sherman w. Knevals, President Arthurs law partner, will preside.
 The class of '33 reunites, holding it's semi centennial. '38 reunites in one of Barken- tins dining rooms at 6 o'clock p. m. From sixteen to twenty members are expected. The supper was to have been served at Dr. Rodman's residence, but the serious illness of that gentleman prevented. He at last accounts was decidedly better. The classes of '43, AS, 53, 58 '63, '6S, 73 TT, 80 will hold reunions. '58 dimes at Barken- tins dining hall in the Insurance building. '73 dimes at Barkentins in the ladies' dining room.
 s-decennial promises to be a lively one.
 80 will have it's triennial in the Atheneum, Barkentin caterer. The cup will go to son of William Barnes, of Brooklyn. The youngsters age is eight or nine months. The design for the cup is original. It bears 8 representation of 8 section of the college fence upon which quartette is singing 'tIf I had boy, sir, I'd put him on the crew." etc. AFbaby's face appears in 8 me- J., will make the presentation speech. Walter c. Camp, of this city, will read a poem, and Sidney c. Partridge, of Brook lyD, will make address, presenting re- sume of the four years course at Yale. To this part of the celebration the public are in- vited. N. G. Osborn will preside At o'clock the class will take supper at Barken- tins.
 Sesenty-five will take supper at Cowells.
 From to p. m. Tuesday the voting for a member of the corporation will take place; polls open in the library.
 At p. nl Tuesday, at Center church, the anniversary exercises of the Yale Law depart ment take place, with an address by Hon. Thomas F. Bayard, IL D., of Delaware, sion in 8 Republic" The Townsend prize speaking will also take place Many of our citizens will with much pleasure take this opportunity of hearing and seeing this distinguished Senator, and will thank the college for affording them the op- 8 feature of the week and an event in New Haven. Senator Bay ard will be the guest of Hon. Prof. Phelps of the Law school.
 At p. m. the Law school reception occurs in the rooms of the school, court house. It will be brilliant affair.
 At 8 p. m. Tuesday occur the anniversary exercises of the Sheffield Scientific schod in North Sheffield Hall.
 Wednesday is commencement day-proces- sion and exercises at Center church in the forenoon; at D. m. commencement dinner i; at p. m the presidents reception at the Art school. PRESIDENT PoRTKR's -BACoALAUREATE SERMON.
 Timothy, vii 12: Fight the good fight of faith' lay hold on eternal life.
 These are spirit stirring words. They thrill the sense and move the soul like the prolonged call of trumpet which begins with summons to the stern settlements of the fray and ends with the triumphant notes of anticipated victory No one can hear or read these words without some response of ympathy-whether the response is felt in his kindled imagination or his consenting conscience, whether his future life gloTs with the prismatic hues of youthful romance
 
 Even if we chance to listen 10 them in an or dinary mood they arrest the attention and move the feelings. Much more if they meet us squarely at one of the halting or turning places of life, and we bethink ourselves of what we have been or done in the past and of what we may be or do in the future. Now and then there comes crisis in our life when the past is gathered into a brief story or condensed into miniature picture, and we view it at glance and pronounce upon it a summary judgment. Similarly we com- press our future into narrow limits and con- slider what it may possibly become with the divine help and out of the clouds of uncer- tainty we hear the inspiring call, Flight the good fight of faith. Lay hold on eternal life" Such an occasion Is present and pass ing with some of my hearers. It cannot be unproftable to them to mediate upon the call which the occasion utters so distinctly to themselves, and it need not be to any of us to hear it addressed to ourselves I need not say that such theme admits only practical treatment, and yet it may not only admit but require the recognition of important truths.
 notice as the first of these truths that the Christian life is contest. This is true of life in all it's forms and most men who think sooner or later find it to be true of their in dividual experience. To some indeed life seems only play-time of varied excitement alternating with refreshing and delicious rest This is the theory of childhood which takes