New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-06-17
THE COMMENCEMENT SEASON
BROWN UNIVERSITY.
THE OLD MEETING HoUsE-pRKsIDEsT RoDISsoS's

THE OLD MEETING HoUsE-PRKsiDENT RoBINsoNs
BAccALAUREATE-DR THoMAss SERMON.
fFRoM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT or THE TRIBUNE ]
PROVIDENCE, June 16.-One reason why
Brown University successfully keeps the reputation IL has
40 long had for having such exceptionally attractive com
menoements is found the circumstance that the place
in which these literary festivities held has few II any,
peers among all colleges OF the land The venerable
First Baptist Meeting House for continues to
designate the tme-honored ednoewas erected-in the
quaint language OF the times In which IL built for
the worship of Almighty God, and TO hold commence
ments In" The model after which II designed was
that of the Church of st. MISUNDERSTANDING, in Lon
don. Readers Of The TRIBUNE who have stood in the
upper stories OF the Charng Cross Hotel or Walked about
the neghborhood of Trafalgar Square, viii remember th
church. more careful examination OF the structure
will lead them 10 approve the truth Of the words OF an
English writer that the exterior is extremely superb,
and that It is without doubt tho most perfect Grooian
Church in England except 81 Pau's." This church, "a
az has been intlmated furnished the model for the
" the First Baptist Meeting House" OF Providence
Tradition says that when the 29th OF August, 1774
the edi6ce was "rased" In the presence OF an immense
crowd there throughout the town an almost entire
suspension of business In the just horror which the
more conscientious and enlightened people OF the modern
times have for the raising OF funds for
religious purposes IL may be convenient for us to forget
that about 81 OF the money needed for the building
OF the meeting house " was secured by means of a
legalzed lottery. The libery-lovng spirit Of Roger
Williams finds its expression in the words that were en-
craven on the bell of the church:
"In freedom OF conscience the town was first planted
Persuasion, not force was used by the people;
Enjoying and granting BELL teirrle and steeple"
In this OF the largest and most conmodious OF all
the churches Of NewEngland the amusements OF Brown
University have for than century been held In
order to carry out tho model OF the London oh1roh
ohance is to built and extensive improvements 70 be
made at once, involving an expense OF not lar from
The sermon preached to the graduating class always
brings out Immense audience. and that OF sunday
church packed as It is on commencement day
President Roonsons text was l Timothy w. u:
effective Of the presidents sermons are without manu-
script produced profound IMPRESSION on me- fne vaSF
points of the discourse: First the objects Of faith
realW Those especially designated were traits OF
personal character such az purity Fs9bn G0h
beloved in, and trusted by the cOnlding
soul Jesus Christ living, divine Saviour, 70 whom
To him. are these OBJECTS Of faith reatcs or are they
nothing but unsubstantial shadowsi Second Have we
any certainty that may all triumph In the night be-
tween faith and sense The assurance OF victory this
conflict was forth In iPresident RObnsOns most I'M
pressve aud earnest manner and enforced by stmkng
Illustrations from nature and from history; Third,
make the principle OF faith superior to the sensesr
The value cannot be described Inc gain Is Infinite
bessedness The following the address to the grad
mo question can he more momentous for you at this
world than that suggested 10 the theme OF the afternoon
Whether you will render allegiance to the objects OF
OF faith You cannot bel indifferent to this question IL
you waive IT. you VIII yBg G a 10 % Gou VIII le nd the
whole atmosphere OF modern hfc fl OF oalts Tor the
and before you are aware oft You VIII DC ensaye
1t is possible for any OF you 20 make a wreck
life, to go down in mid-ocean an irrec0yerabc loss;
But il possible that you shall open the eye or the s0u
and the ear the heart tho objects Of faith He who
follows the latter course walks In the clear light OF day
God has made you rcemen not slaves and has stamped
you with something OF his character the question
is, which you will choose Ia lfet In the months
past have together given attention to study OF the
unchangng laws of being which hold every one OF us.
identity win you obey those lawsi You alone must
answer - =, - . ..,.. -, ,uo 800, l., .,o
presence Of these Witnesses in the presence of the All
seeing God, who knows your every thought, as your
and commune With the objects OF faith Live worhily
and PATIENTLY The objects Of faith are real Victory s
certain you comply with the conditions. BE sure that
everything of this world is worth nanght Mt the close OF
life. The end OF life will be disappointment unutterable
eternal break through the control OF the senses so live
@ Wsb DE God ' alone knows Which one Of you viii
first Not long hence some OF you must leave the
body. God help you TO live that when the end comes
yOu may he able TO say. | have fought good hgh'
have kept the faith and may there tnenseiorth DC d
Theirs falling of in the attendance at the even
ing service in the First Baptist Church me sermon ny
the Rev Dr. D. ~ THOMAS pastor OF inc flIat DAp's
Church OF Brooklyn, fully sustained the reputation OF
l. 81: Christ the Power Of God" 40 abstract would
do il justice, Christ the unerowned King Christ the an
respected miracle WoTheI NhIls tHy ugiHE
who can tell marvellous power has gone forth from
Him. whom all Christians love and ADORE this dyine king
miracle worker and Redeemcrl As we set this rich aud
most elevated and inspiring OF Dr. IhOmas's over
against the raving OF modern nndelty could not help
contrasting the lofty superiority Of Christianity with the
degrading scepticism ohe age In which we live We have
never been conscious OF highers uplifting OF soul" IN
listening discourse of this description, unless per
haps IL was when we heard the glorious OF one
who may, even now We WRITE have passed through
the gates Of the Celestial City the hOnOred aud venerable
Bishop SapsO from the hour He shall not ia nor be
discouraged till he hath set Judgment in the eartn, and
the isles shall wait for His law"
The exhibition OF the competitors for the elocuton
prizes was held III Manning Hall this evening. Fourteen
speakers took part The elOcuon fund was established
by Thomas Carpenter and the prizes which arc $780, $50
and S24 are awarded annually the three members Of
the Sophomore class TO shall be assigned respec
lively the first second and third rank of excellence IN
speaking The successful speakers were Albert Knight
Potter, IT., William Henry Frost and Scion Chester