Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-07-04
Glte Stree Dress.
mIDDLERURY COLLEGE.
Biehty-fourth Commencement - Presi-
dent IIamlIn's Baccalaurcatc.

ses of Middlebury College were begun, Sun
day, with the Baccalaureate sermon to the
class, preached by the President,
Rev. Cyrus Hamlin, d. d. The Congrega-
tional church was crowded by an interested
audience, as is usual on Baccalaureate Sun
days, and at 2:30 o'clock in the afternoon,
the time set for the beginning OF the dis
course, the seating capacity of the church was
taxed to its utmost limit President Hamin
preached in his usual clear and distinct man.
nor, and every word was plainly audible in
The most remote corner Of the house.
The sermon was a strong and able produc-
tion, as may be seen from the brief abstract
presented below, and its delivery secured
and held throughout the closest attention Of
The large audience
The Baccalaureate.
The text was from Heb. xii 2G--27: "Yet once
more shake not earth only but also Heaven-that
: hose things which cannot he shaken may remain.
Niier a delineatl0n OF the forces which shake the
earth and the heavens that is, all earthly and
spirit ua interests as entering into the divine plan
aud accomplishing the divine purposes, the dis.
course was occupied mainly with considering
the phases methods and results OF the skep-
lcism of the present day. This is one Of
he great agitatng forces, one which shakes the
whole domain OF Spiritual truth. That heathful
doubling which stands at the door of faith to guard
against credulity, TO challenge every approaching
force and TO keep the mind crcumspect and alelt,
ls not included in skeptcism. That is something
far more organic, occupying higher plane with
forces and definite aims. ,.,-.-. T. -.
one of the present forms of skepticsm is TO
question the validity of knowledge. We know only
nat which passes within. We know only the sub
.ec'ivc The outward world cannot he
70 agnosticism Another form assails directly
the possibility of Knowing the Infinite, the Abso-
1tItts 1, n f.n1h M hn
can the Infinite communicate himself TO the Unite.
Neither can communicate itself to the other and
both are equally bad on rms form OF skeptlclsIm
away. Skeptcsm Is now taking Inherent direc-
ton. II is literary and critical rather than phllo-
scphical and scientific II overhauls the statements
vi history, denies the value of historic testimony
which ages have trusted, denies every thing tradl-
onal, overthrows the idols of popular belief and
ciSm does not assail the Scriptures as formerly.
but denies their historic accuracy and their ethical
on, but the Bible is not revelation. 1t only
uontains one which you must find out for yourself.
\ our own Christian sei-consciousness is the only
infallible tribunal In like manner the teaching of
Christ and his apostles is shown to he quite falli-
bic The great teacher Himself was a man subject
to human innrmities, limited knowledge ana con;
sequently to mistakes. His testimony to Moses and
the OLD Testament is OF no value. lie was not a
critic and his words not to be set up against the
scientific criticism of this enlightened age After
thus disposing of the Master the Apostles are of
little account.
The results of this skeptical spirit are found in
the laXness Of moral principle. Having set aside
the divine law there is little authority in human
law. Luxury, fraud, stock gambling and kindred
vices prevail.
that must he removed" that the things which can
not be shaken may remain.
i. The Bible will remain as divine revelation
from God to man.
2 The church will remain purified, united filling
the earth.
3. Righteous government, expressing and doing
IA T,sin of rtrrl Wi
in truth and justice, The defamatons
Ut malice and bribery OF elections will have passed
away.
For fourthly, as comprehending all the rest
Bcnevolence, the Golden Rule, The law of love tC
God and man, the most immovable thing in thu
universe Will pervade all hearts.
At the close of the sermon the Presiden
addressed the graduating class on behalf O.
the Alma Mater, expressing her good wishes
and iviting their faithful corporation in al
her good works.
Alumni Day.
The Commencement exercises at Middle
bury college were continued Tuesday, the
day being the anniversary of the Associate
Alumni At 10 o'clock in the morning thu
preliminary meeting of the Alumni was held
The principal business of the meeting wa
the appointment of committee to present ,
list of officers for the coming year and alsc
to name the orator and the poet Cor the mex
Commencement, and such committee wa
duly appointed. 1t will report to the regn
lar annual meeting Wednesday morning.
1t was moved and seconded that com
mittec be appointed to wait on the trustee
aud request that they make report to tn
annual meeting of the action that had bee
taken in relation to the question OF co.edu
cation, and the motion was carried. Charlie
NJ. Wilds of the class of 1875 aud Rufus {
Flagg of the class of 1869 were appointe
such committee.
Prof. Brainerd Kellogg of Brooklyn, n
Y, of the class of 1858, chairman of tn
committee of neurology, read the necrologicS
record of the year, and the meeting the
adjourned to $50 o'clock Wednesday morr
ing.
The public exercises of Alumni day wei
held in the Congregational church, begi,
ming at 1880 o'clock. Vocal music WI
Furnished for the occasion by quartet
composed as follows: Miss Helen \
Upper, Mrs. j. w. Pitts and Messrs. Harl
B0ice and CHARLES S. Murkland of the ella
of 1881 and Mr.. Samuel Sheldon of Il
class of 1883 presided at the organ.
Prayer was offered by Rev. Thomas
Conant, d. D., OF the class of 1898, who
his days Of active service was p rofessor
Columbia college, and later in other instit
lions of learning. He has also been profC
sor OF the Hebrew language and literature
Madison University for many years, I
Conant is hale and vigorous man for o.
of his age, and carries his many years wi
case.
After music Prof. Ezra Branerd Pre-
dent of. the Alumni, introduced tina orator
the day. lion. Elijah b. Sherman of Chicaa
of tue class of 1860. Mr.. Sherman's theI
was THE Administration OF Justice" a
the address was a very fine one. He &C
sdcred, among other things, the principI
of Justice the history of law and its growl
the differences between the legal methods
he United States and those of other co,
tries, etc, etc. Mr.. Sherman is a lawx
'imself and he thought that 1t is chic
IN the administration Of criminal law II
we are weak in the United States. lie ,
vocates the most vigorous methods of dc
ing with the criminal classes aud belle,
that the best way to suppress crime is
give criminals to understand that they M
surely pay the penalty OF breaking the Ia
Of the land,and that when they do deibera
~ trangress the law, they need have no he
of pardon or clemency. Mr. Sherma
able address was attentivelv listened
and at the close he was heartily applaud
Professor James A. b. Stone of Kalar
100, Michigan, who graduated in the class
1884, just fifty years ago, followed wit
brief address. Prof. Stone called up IN,
interesting "reminiscences OF his college
and touched brithy upon the life wOrl
himself and some Of his classmates. lie
greatly pleased with the change wrough
his alma ma'er Que year ago, when Mid,
bury college became a coeducational inst,
siru.
It is customary to give the orator
privilege OF nominal ng any gentleman
sees fit to honorary membership in
Alumni Mr.. Sherman presented the ma
IF Hon. i. j. Ormsbce of Brandon,
Mr.. Ormsbee was accordingly elected
honorary Alumnus.
This closed the public exercises of Aim
tluV and was fnllpIunI az 1 bn -