The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1885-07-03
COM MENCEMENT.
THE EIGHTY-FIFTH OF MIDDLEBURY
COLLEGE--WHAT WAS DONE AND
WHO WAS THERE.


The exercises of the ciehty-fifth com
ncncemcnt of Middlcbury College opened
with the baccalaurcatc discourse by the
Rev. Cyrus IIamlin. d. D., Ii. D.. presi-
dent. 1t was delivered at the Congrc-
gational church at 1871 a. m. a large
congregation was present. \ handsome
floral piece stood on the platform in front
of the pulpit.
The service began with the rendering
of a selection by Il quartet composed of
Mrs. Pitts. Miss IIortcnse Drake. NJ. a.
Munror and DR.. w. IL. sheldon. After
the invocation. Hymn y was sung by the
choir and the Sermon on the Mount read
rs the scripture lesson. A quartet made
up of Mrs. Pitts. Miss Drake. DR.. Shell
don and Mr.. sam Sheldon sung "Oh. rest
in the Lord. The sermon followed. a
full abstract of it is printed on the last
page. IL was Il sound practical dis
course and. though, its delivery occu-
pied about an hour. it was listened to
with close attention to the end The ser
vice was brought to Il close with the sing
ing of lynn 56}-'' How firm Founda-
tion''-by the choir and congregation.
and the benedicton.
REV. DIR. wEBB'S ADDRESS.
In the evening the Young Mems Chris
tian association was addressed at the
Congregational church by Rev. +. b..
Webb. d. d.. pastor of the Shawmut
Congregational church. Boston. a Sc
we're thunder storm came up just as the
audience was assembling and kept many
at home. Rev. j. j. Noe. pastor of the
Methodist church, and j, a. Jones of the
Senior class. president of the association.
inH n
The choir sang a selection-"Li Lift up
your hcadS"-at the beginning of the
service: Rev. Mr.. Noe offered prayer: Il
quartet-Mrs. Pitts. Miss Drake, DR..
Sheldon and Sam Shcldon-sung wait
ed for the Lord
Rev. Dr. Webb was introduced by Mr..
Jones. His address. entitled "Christiani-
ty and Socialism," WAS devoted to a con
SidcratiOn of the causes. spirit demands
and cure of socialism. Socialism shows
itself, he said. in Il widespread discomfort,
intelligent and determined. Socialism is
IA seeking the ideal life instead of an ac-
ceptance of the actual. "Plato's Rcpub-
lie is plea for the ideal. Socialism has
its origin in the ability to see the differ.
encc between the ideal and the actual. \
government like our own. that tolerates
free press and free speech, is peculiar.
ly favorable to the growth of socalisti(
ideas, Under our law all men are equal
but the poor man thinks he is oppressed
One of the most prominent characters
ties of socialism is demand for real anC
complete equality. One of their writers
goes so far as to claim that the end OF
civilization i to do away with ineQuali
ties. The Pittsburgh riots of 1877 ant
other outbreaks show the extent of thes,
organizations. Here everything is favor
able to their growth. The mails anC
telegraph give easy means of communi
cation between the members. so that eacl
one feels consciousness of the strength
of the body to which he belongs. Ban
ishcd from the old world these men ar
made welcome guests on our shores Ant
we have no adequate police and military
forces TO protect ourselves from the law
less classes in times of sudden excite
ment. Socialists propose three grca
remedies for the existing condition o
things; First, they suggest the national
iZation of the land second, to diStribut
goods to every man in proportion to hi
needs. he being obliged to contribute T.
the common fund in proportion to his ca
pacity. and, third. they would take al
men into Il common brotherhood. Tina
the first plan would not succeed wa
shown by the experience of the PlYmout
and Jamestown colonies in the early daV
of this country. So long as the land wa
held i'll common there was want and di:
satisfaction. Prosperity came with il
dividual ownership of the soil. Therefor
this part of the socialist scheme may b
dismissed as untcnahle. The second. c
redistribution" plan is not less fallaciou,
since, then, some one must be chosen {
Judge of the needs of each person and ais
of his producing capacity. Who but On
Impotence can determine the measure {
mans abilities and wants? Besides. co
pOratiOns and competition have reduce
the cost of distribution by current metl
DDS 20 the lowest possible iigul
1t is not true that the rich are grow
ing richer and the poor poorer. ri
mass OF the people We're never so we
housed, clothed and fed as now. III
third, or fraternity plan of the the sOcia
lists il as fallacous as their others. Tn
idea is foreign to all the other princpl,
of the socialists. They profess to ha
all men and all things This certainly
not sure foundation for fraternit
There is, said the speaker, one and on
one basis for the brotherhood of m;
and that is the fatherhoOd of God al
faith in His Son. The remedy for sOcis
ism is Christianity. which is for I'll
world as well as the next. 1t makes c
cry man who accepts it new man, al
the millennium is nothing but the kingdo
OF new men. In conclusion the spea