New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-06-16
PRESIDENT wcosH AT PRINCETON

PRINCETON, June l0.-COlnmenceInenl "eeh
at Princeton College begun to-day with President
McCoshs baceaaureate sermon. The address was gwen
in the new chapel which was crowded with undergrad
yates, accompanied by friends and relatives. Dr.
McCosh took text these words from Matthew " Be
hold there wise from the East toJerusalem-
saying Where is He that is born King of the jews Tor
we have His star In the East and have come 10
worship Hint" He spoke in part ms follows
God has no age left himself without witness and
In every country he has raised up inquiring thinking
men, who seek 10 beyond what appears to the Senses
asking where wisdom-that truth about ourseyesand
the eartn in which dwell 1t was Just such company
that from the East to Jerusalem, cropping In the
darkness for light. There a tradition widespread
then, that at about time powerful prince or dev
from toward the rising The heather
writer's suetOnious and Tacitus tell this and Virgil in
the fourth ecoogue gives beautiful poeu descriptive OF
this coming. The people beginning 10 feel their
moral slavery and the vices Of lust aud deceit that col
ected in cities like Antioch offensive and repusve;
so they were the ready believe that the great and
good reformer was about to There may be some
what faith to adopt and hold in the
midst OF theological doubts and discussions Oh for
more lightl' you exclaim. II this be yeur prayer
true and earnest, that light will come
Faith il not given to those who are not
seeking This just what the conquerer was to do for
those afflicted other ages He TO conquer but
only by persuasion by compassion oy pity and love- His
to change pride into humility and enmity into love
II have thus looked the Epiphany side his
toricay. We will view It on the moral spiritual
and practical side n we be wise men, viii make the
same inquiry did those from the East We shall be
seeking for a king rule over us, and when we
ind lin we will give love and obedience gifts moro
precious in his sight than the gold ana mTrh rom the
orient In tho college profess To be seeking wisdom
The learning nd here Is or three forms Language
and literature, science ana Philosophy. bdch n1s q
grand purpose. Literature opens the mind ana cutl
Yates tue Science Increases our knowledge ana
Yields stable truth Philosophy calls forth thought and
goes down deeplylng principles az toundauon we
have before us tree with philosophy as l o0ts sclete
as It's trunk and literature, with art it leaves and
flowers hope that this trinity will be kept combined IN
the college The unity Of nature Is tue divinity OF ma
ture That man truly schOlar-his training u
far partial and onesidedwhO does not know something
of each OF these branches OF knowledge While they nave
beneficial influence no one OF theio nor can an SATISFY
the soul or the wants OF humanity Attempts
mankind by them will prove utter failures III the Iunre'
Literature should fall down before ts king Speech
the gift Od Ne not 70 regard blessings we en-
JOY as less git from high because they come nom
second causes Literature IN all its forms, ls dvne
endowment and should be devoted TO Him VINO Is TIC
LOgos God has made revelation OF His will IN the
highest forms OF literature NO one Wf9se puIer h'4Eg
Book OF JOB The aR 4ar,de In Of . ePgfE Wo
have no iyrics ike those 6y David. shrink nom com
pairing any literature with the discourse Of our
living piercing hike sword and yet lifting MS to Heaven
in its submiy our literature owes nuc4 20 Athens anu
Rome, but much also to Jerusalem The BlDle mas gwen
the world IDEAS such not found elsewhere IN
ideas thrown into the thought Of men by re-
gIence have been furnished. It Is thus that high
ioyment is attained and the mind refined There is an
Idea in this country that in Journalism men may employ
any weapon IN support OF party end but literature,
like every other work OF Is under the law 10 God
Lying false reasoning great sins In books AZ IN
conversation.
Science should seek aitor God II cOnemplates good
works and contempates them by the faculties which
God mas given The wise the text no doubt brought
the products Of their countries with them Science
should bring it's precious offerings To the Lord Inc
Bible does not reveal scientific truth that would not be
comprehended by the body Of the people God leaves u
cuated 10 widen the mind. Some have amilarzed
themselves with these processes that they feel as II
moved without higher power 10 guide IT, But
wisdom T. the fruit OF gntwhcn was seen AJ Jerusalem,
and must be sought out az Bethlehem.
philosophy IS the science OF reflective thinking All
nations when civilized have kind 81 philosophy.
The intellect insists upon penetrating beyond the visible.
Particularly Will it search into the nature OF the mind
Philosophy appeals the highest reason, and Is almost
az old rs man Like the It rises in the East and
moves srand.y westward. by It the human mind has
mounted higher than letters and gone deeper thah
science
concluded the proper The president spoke
few words the seniors, who occupied the seats line
datey fronting the pulpit and renamed standing whle
addressed The last words 70 the class were
Modern science tells that II but move my hand.
SET going forces which the utmost bounds OF the
universe. Thus YOU are set moving III influence 20
reach the wide sphere or humanity and pass on into
eternity"
Tomorrow viii be devoted to the usual css-day e1er
cses, beginning at 10 a. N.