New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-06-23
Union COLLEGE.
TIE REV. X. c. ANDERSON on HERolsM IN MopEKN
LIFE.


tBY TELEGRAPH TO TIE TRrBUNE.l
SCHENECTADY. y. Y, June 22.-The Rev. A.
c. Anderson pastor of the First Presbyterian Chuch Vi
Troy preached the eghtysevuth baccaauoate sermon 70
the graduating class of Union College tins evening al
the First Reformed Church. which Is one OF
the finest churches in the State. The even
ing services IN nearly all the other chuIcue'
of the city suspended. President Potter anu 'e
Rev William Elliot Grifis conducted tue opening SCI
vices The text for the baccalaurcate was CHOSEN run
St. Matthew Xxx 25-2s "My theme said the speaker
is the demand for heroism in modern life. Inc con
slant tensepcv Of men is - look back the past ior
heroes In the early DAYS the gods who had visited earn
were the heroes. Later. the demgods were lh'es'ou
with the crown OF heroism but when tue mlsu7 p'''
it was found that ordinary men and women posSe7seu
heroic qualities. History began IN the heavens anu -d
steadily descended each age coming little nearer 10
common humanity. The heroic age Is not ~ 'u'
past but now. Heroism began at the oo''on
NJ the hn and has mounted anu i
sll mounting upward. We do not realize she ADVANCE
for we are part Of this great eevatng movement OF nan
whatever the great men OF the past may have DONE he
were below our level. Jupiter and Achilles were Ho'
heroes. but bulies and moral towards
The medieval knight was still barbarian
n,t a Great Improvement upon the classical hero
Cbiva1rv represented the flower growing OUT
n, the influence of Christianity upon the men OF the MID
die Ages II was strange alliance ChrlsIani.y az ~
war but from II sprang personal honor ana upon '9
based the unwritten code Of our society We nay
marched far since the Middle Ages. Ihere INC
nnalites represented by the prize nghleF
would have made their possessor le9 1 - u
men Today we look down upon nm a rSlc VI -
lower state OF society. We lmprlsoh IHc A40N '- f
ages would have wOrshpped .,,.z-o, r. ia
But the principle of herolsm remains uncndn W NV, q
the demands OF society which nave dltreu &c. -. ,t
ncr snd nobIer conception. We are beginning 10 OUT
grow tbe IDEAL OF the military hero, ana ihe I'M
STiE come when the glory Of Alexander an9
Sanoeon Will fade away. The hero Of to-day mrs, o
all must have magnificent character here Is
thing grand in being simply manly AhoIner IN lar
ou- IDEAL man is service. Only those ueeus " IA a9
,,bcn co1frhute 10 the welfare OF MANKIND NC mus
10 mora thon wear the white flower OF DlaIhtI.ess
re- 0Tr lives must be positive The third clenenI Il
ne ~. - ne ssrvne To iii doer The widows mite was
greater than all the gifts OF wealth, because II "4S
rNce and they were not The whole LIE OF Jesus aSs
under the shadow Of the Cross, was an eAlnp III
selfshness aud enlightenment. The qualues W NJ
ism are human and not exceptional 4he n@'eI4S'S III"
in the heart Of all OF US -. ..o.,or. -yi+bo,t
anv I'M OF fame and honor He 10 created ~ Tue
and in rms lght we are all kin 70 those vi stdhu
on tbe verge of the worlds nobility. We may SNOW .
selves 10 be grand by faithful meas and lohor ~
We need the star guide U.s. but We also want 'Nc ''
10 stand upon ,.,is not ~ 20 vor,
In conc uson young gentlemen would NOT say 10 ou
strive 10 gel al the top but viii say, put your
m tbe wheel We want moral grandeur at iuc oouls
yol must emulate the knight in that you WofK TOT 10 @
brotev and uuseLdshIy under the banner OF Jlt An
Of Trufh Jesus sets before men the i9eal ol
f cborarter and service. Let him be eHshrlhru III W.
hearts and he will teach yeu not no" 10 ser Nv r,,
rCr elT but mankind, and then the occasion OAvl'"e
y-oIt may win tbs plAudit and wear the crown
The senior class viii hold grove exercises to-moTfo"
afternoon on the campus and class day exercises III 'no
evening at the First Reformed Church.