Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1884-09-18
INAUGURAL ADDRESS.

Eloquent Inaugural Eemwrks. f.t
The snnual meeting Of the Congrega-
tional churches Of Dakota convened in
Yankton last evening and the Rev. DR..
Ward, president of the Yankton college,
delivered the following inaugural ad.
dress:
The web which history is weaving
grows broader, and the colors brighter
and the pattern palmer, the longer Time
throws his shuttle through the changing
years.
At first single thread is the whole
fabric. A single line of life stretches on
for generations, with little perceptible
change. But the spirit Of life is in it. It
must grow for it comes from God. It is
his thought taking shape. The line
broadens. The movement is more rapid.
Times pulse quickens. The widening
web ILLS faster, progress is measured no
longer by cycles but by centuries. Gods
thoughts germinate at every point, send
ing out new filaments of growth that are
caught mp into their place in the length.
ening tissue. There is hint of q plan
reaching back to the beginning presaging
greater things yet to come. Events
crowd each other, throbbing with eager.
ness to take their place in the pattern
that they may be no longer thoughts
but things. Now single generation
gives perspective enough to note the
signs of growth.
Men no longer move blindly and With
out purpose. They are parts of great
Whole. Neither are they puppets or
pawns moved by the might of q
master. They are workers together with
the Master, sharing counsel with him,
helping him to strengthen the fabric
and beautify the pattern by their
labors and their love.
Now the movement is 80 intense and
the reach OF it so broad that, if man
will but believe there 10 God who Is
making history to-day, there is opportu-
nifty at any time, and from any place to
Join the product of his life to that which
God is doing, and thus see his thought
become part of Gods plan. And be
can see in single life time, how far his
own personality spreads, and how it
adds strength and character TO the web.
God has put his own person into the
making of earths history. He lets men
put their own selves by him to share his
plans to be his equal helpers. They and
be are alike interested in success or
failure. The two elements making all
history are the Son Of Man, and the sous
of men. Each furnishes a necessary
part of the substance. Were either
omitted, the product would be Weekend
in strength, and tarnished IN beauty.
And the plan is so far developed that
it is seen to embrace all humanity
There are no superAuous characters nc
unnecessary threads. Nothing is planned
for either surplus or shortage. There
are no unforeseen contingencies to be
provided for. No reserve fund is held
for emergencies. The work of to-day il
done to-day. Gods plan moves as he
meant it should. He is never in hurry
never behind hand. "He maketh nc
haste, He taketh no rest"
And in all the ages of the world he ha.
found men with ears to hear his call tc
fellowship, with eyes to see opportuni
ties for suffering and conquerine
with Him, with courage and faitt
to answer His call sometimes to go fortt
into the unknown, and sometimes tc
stand, and stand only; now seeing th,
salvation Of the Lord, and now dyln@
without the sight. But, in either event
Gods plan has moved on, and always b,
the help of men.
In all this work of God with men on
feature has been noteworthy. As th
range has widened where the work i
done, as the scope of it has enlarged, tn
quality has grown finer, and the shar
which man has taken has become NOR
prominent. Plague and pestilenct
, food aud famine. the sweeping agent
of Gods providence are less and less th
, only forces that move men. Even wa
Gods ploughshare, though still cuttin
its way through the nations, does no
now make the chief part of people
; history. These sharp tools have CO
, away the gross excresences of humanit
|. and though still at work they are n
J longer the only instruments by whic
! God and men are carving the world int
q beauty. The time has come for fine
work. Mans outward life has been
great part, subdued. and at the sam
,, time exalted by these coarse power
. This process has revealed the hithert
J. dormant soul within, that is to be bui
up by gentler agencies. ,4.ss
The same gradual enlargement {
range to the development ls noticeabl
q At first, knowledge of the mysteries
4 religion, and mastery of scientific pril
}. ciples are confined to the few. Here
! single priest, there solitary schola
/. while the great mass worshipped blind
!. or stood in silent awe before the displs
= of familiarity, with the facts of natur
J. But this is past. Idols are shattered ar
. tpriest. craft exposed, while the divir
. and it's worshippers are brought near
]. together. And nature, the visible ma
!. lifeststion of the divine, is no more Il
: eImysterious abode of nsmeless power
pIa few bold spirits daring to use the
q but the homely, helpful friend of {
Il ready to reveal herself to any lovir
d eyes, and open her treasures to q,
n reverent touch. ~ Thus il is mo
q true to-day than ever befo
since the world and the men upon
have looked at each other, that the t,
forces that move things, and do thin|
II are the knowledge of God aud
Creator, and the knowledge of th
which he has created. Or, to put it
0, terms that are more famlliar, christiani
y and education. OF course these are
ot two phases of the same great subie
70 Two paths which lead to the same 81
le for both Of these followed through le
ys to a study of the One. N
20 70 We find then that to-day the iss1
~ 70 that used to be wrought pout by I
3 wager OF battle are secured by peace
9" means. There are conflicts still but til
are bloodless. There are victories, I
ID they are silent, and they bring no tea
its The strife is not man against man bt
ma blindly forgetting God, but man Y
he man through Gods help coming 70 G,
ooI Il the range Of achievement narrowe
IA II thare less Of noble inspiration?