New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-06-15
DIR. PEABODY AT HARVARD.
THE INDIVIDUAL NEED sELr-RKLfANcs Ig ITIR
PHE,TNr ACE OF UNIFORMITY.

Cambridge, June 1.-the venerable and
beloved DR. A. r. Peabody long preacher Ia the college
delivered the baccalalrea.e sermon 10 tho graduating
class at Harvard this afternoon. Appleton Chapel
was with the students and their riends Tie chose
as his text Nehemiah ". ,: " consulted with myself"
"The best counsellor" said the preacher he could
have had this aide VI Heaven. by this he did not mean.
nor do that he failed 10 sock counsel ~ the Supreme
unnito Wisdom on the other hand direct reference
will and the blessing of God Il me epoguc 10 every
successive scene IN MS dramatic narrative.
has seemed % mc that could not meet the present
occasion better Than by proposing to yon my friends OF
There never a time when there was much need
OF independence, OF reliance on ones own sense of
night and duty II Is matter Of frequent remark that
Inc modern facilities OF communication, steam lee-
graph and telephone. are eXtingnshDg eccentrcities
molding communities, Man, women. INTO a degree Of
simiitde not observed hail century ago. producing
apprs uniformity OF modes OF speech aud
duct, and at many points OF opinion also When was
In college, could have found larger number Of odd.
strange, uncassed uncssaoc persons. than exist
In the entire country 10 certain extent ths TO he
rooiced in We ought TO bs glad that there l. diminished
number persons who do not 1T well In the circles OF
society TO which hoy ought TO belong But there not
danger at the same time OF crushing out Individuality
Arc mems souls their own ~ they used TO bel Arc
there not fewer than formerly who consult with them
selves No answer these questions better than
YOU can for public opinion Is nowhere oKacting
more ntolerant than IN college II Is SO. am glad TO
know IN many cases ia which Just Of honor IL
no y 1 We # moo .o aars wn
be an exceptional community For everywhere else
under the pressure OF surrounding opinion In
ation TO what they regard as eXpcdent, desirable
right. Thus fashion In dress. mode OF living In.
furious to comfort 10 health II backed by high author
ity will be followed by many against their Judgment
aud with full CONSEQUENCES that they are doing them
selves serious HARM Thus Also you Will lind many
OF moderate who feel forced 10 adopt their
household regime the syln OF those who have five times
as much income and so keep Themselves IpoOr sacrc-
Ing need to show. and preferrng the blame OF unpaid
debts to self Respecting econony Not afew young men
are predesned TO "A life OF insolvency, failure and dis.
honor because they are ashamed at the outset to
ure what they spend by what they have and derive
their habit Ia this respect rom those who have large
fortunes their own or their fathers, To draw FROM
practices that transcend the outside borders OF
originate III the aSecudancy position
custom the individuals conscience. When the vi.
sous habit not lnhcro the recipient excesses timd
reluctant and consciously guilty that have their
IL confirmed intemperances. are INDUCED In simply he
cause tho victim dares not take counsel with himself
lest he should have part company with those with
whom he wants 20 remain in full fellowship In like
manner though the habit OF gambling clings once gained
with fatal strength the FIRST small wager pocunlay
ssake is laid with regretluls sense OF wrongdoing be
cause.One breads 10 make even the slightest show OF dis
| sent or disapproyal
Consult with yourself but not your whole self You
my friends. do not contain within what you call your
person-your entire sefhOofl It Is peculiarly Chris.
ian idea but fundamental trait OF human nature TO
M r o"o 81 Tcrs are save f
bound 30 Intimately with your own. so truly part OF
yourself, that you would lead nained life they
| taken from you.
pie. uninterrupted Influence permsates how far and
how deeply you may not know, but you will see rather
by an underestimate than an overestimac, There are
yourself and In which your superior culture the by
no obscure position which you hope TO Ill., create
for you imperative duties OF large and constantly grow
Ing Importance. Consult with yourself therefore, In
many the town city, the State Nation all the good
within your power regarding as sacred charge from
God that you mako this vast diverse, multitidinous
sehood Of yours the happier and the better because ID
Is comprehendcI In your selfhOo1 Beware OF what IA
commonly termed seshncss, more properly egosIn and
here do not mean that vulgar socali.a se;G.Ines,
which synonymous vii greed but equally that OF
refined, yet not therefore higher order which pur
with regard to the bearing on the
general good makes 70 law which has no tenderness for
feeble eonsciences scruple In doing what may bctray
| weaker souls into wrong.
Consult with yourself but with your immortal self
Were your with this earth vice would
still be nexpedent but would arluous virtue self
denial earnest moral endcavor YOu would want TO get
through lifo crcditably and comfortably, with tho
minimum of friction against attacks Of all kinds You
would walk the race rather than run IT, and would
| care chiefly for refreshments on tho way, there
being no goal at tho end But immortal being you
will want cherish that within YOU which is going
| TO die.
THE only distinction that you can recognize in con-
sung with yourselves Is that between right wrong
under which human acts divide themselves into three
classes gatory, permitted and forbidden, duty
joyment and SIN By cutting OF the three and
conhning yourselves within tho iims OF the right
insure your selfrespect, and life is not worth living
withoutit. speak OF selfrespect That Is its unas
sumed But should substitute for II the approval
OF God. should say the same thing for not In figure
OF rhetoric but IN my firm belief conscience is the mode
in which God is present TO and with every human soul
so that approving conscience Is ess or other than
| the voice OF God that Justheth