Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1885-07-03
THE SYST COMMENCEMENT
OF THE UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT
And state Agricultural College, The Bac-
caiaureate Discourse and Address
Before the College Y. VI. G.
A.-To-Day's Exercises.

anu SUaUe Agricultural COlleSe bcSdl,
Sunday afternoon, with the preaching Of
the baccalaureate sermon to the students
of the graduating class by President
Buckham, in the College street church.
An immenGe audience was present, in
Guiding a large number of alumni Inc
platform and pulpit were handsomely
decorated with flowers. Rev. D. L. Bliss,
rector of St. Paul's, oflcated with Presl-
dent Buckham. The music, consisting OF
an anthem and response, was furnished
by the choir and organist of the Congre
Cational church of st. Adams, and was
the finest which has been heard at bac-
caaureate service for many years. The
baccalaureate sermon, of which we give
brief abstract was a deeply impressive
and thoughtful discourse, and the con.
Guiding words to the class were full of
earnest counsel and sympathy. The fol
lowing is an abstract OF President Buck
hams discourse:
The Baccalaureate Sermon.
And herein do exercise myself, to have
always a conscience void of oitense TO-
ward God and toward men. Acts univ,
IL.
1t is of his religious faith that the Apos-
tie here speaks. For that he was now
on trial. beg you to notice how very
far this appeal is beyond the common
NaUlnt OF sincerity us lHe SulnCltIl Viz
dicatiOn of ones religious opinions. Mere
sincerity as the term is used may be
something quite superficial this "eXer-
else" of the Apostle is deep and radical.
Sincerity may be indolent this Is ener-
oetic sincerity NAV be f-complacent {;
this is full of solicitude and vigilance
sincerity takes account mainly of ones
feelings this looks with reverent awe
toward God, anxious for his approval,
dreadng his condemnation, and with AT
aud Dtnt n
not to offend needlessly, DESTROYS not
only to be right but to be thought right by
those whose acquiescence and sympathy
are necessary to the completeness and
enjoyment of ones own convictions. Can
we do better than to commend this rule
of faith and life to those who are in the
formative stage of opinion and belief?
Let us, first, frankly admit that to be
right IN the matter of religious belief and
conduct is not an easy task. II 1t were an
easv thinr to settle the problems of relig-
ion, men would cease to value their re
lipious faith as their most precious pos
session So also practical religOn-the
truth we live by here and forever, is
not to be had by any easy effort or super
fetal experience. An easy, optimistic
religion is shallow and false one.
And not ONLY is it difficult to attain to
the truth in religious questions, but in
some respects it is growing more and
more difiicult A man in the full tide
in the face of a vast array of considera-
tious. which he has no right to ignore,
and which it is heavy task to adjust.
DpplOrable rs it is it is not wonderful
that in this state of things large num-
bers of men, especially those who are pre-
occupied or mentally INDECENT range them
selves either with those we call dogmatists
or those who call themselves agnostics.
Business men, men of action and affairs,
melted by preoccupation to form hasty
4 : ha nnl-G IF IA
Profess ion;I men, depending more on
logic for their opinions, but finding logic
alone, unaided by spiritual insight, I'M
equal to the task of working out religious
convictions, constitute the large mass OF
the latter. These and other ways OF deal
ing with religious questions are so many
devices for avoiding and escaping the
hard task Of exercising One's self 50 as to
have Il religion which one can justify to
God and to man.
But that which Is not easy is possible
and in this matter that which is possible
is to reach religious conviction which
one can live by with an unrebuking CON
science The absolute truth, that form or
statement beyond which is nothing in the
way of fulnesS or accuracy, we may not
attain. But a man may do, and every
man is bound to do, this he can attain TO
a working belief, and can regulate his
life by 1t, and can 90 before God and say
81 have done my best to know the truth
with myself, have been honest and can
did and here am, and here is my relig-
ion. cannot do otherwise God help me. "
If only Il man will thus exercise himself
to have good conscience in this matter,
neither God nor man shall rebuke him,
and he shall have an unrebukng, an 'un-
shifting" conscience. But let him beware
let us all beware-of the alternative, If we
have not in this matter of religion eXer-
ercised ourselves with all possible fidelity
if we have lust fallen in with the preva
lent opinion of the circle to which we be
long If we have been decided this way OF
that by a specious argument which We
ought to have seen through, or by a jest
which we ought to have despised-if, il
short. we have given only reluctant
prudging, half-hearted, instead of resolutt
and vigorous thought, to the great ques
lions Of religion, how dare we expect tC
escape the rebukes, the smitngs of con
science for so serious negligence, 50 fatal
follyY
An unrebuking conscience, the Apostle