Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-11-28
DR.. sTEBBINs ON THE STANFORD
UNIVERSITY.

In other columns this morning we print
q sermon delivered by Rev. Horatio Steb-
bins, D. D., at San Francisco on
bhe 22d instant on the scheme of
The Leland Stanford, Junior, Uni
versity, Just endowed by Mr.. and Mrs.
Stanford. 1t will fully repay for perusal
1t is enc Of those calm and logical but
earnest reviews that command respect and
suggest thought Dr. Stebbins considers
the grantors of the gift as the natural pro.
duct of new epoch of human affairs and
of modern thought; an idea that has sug-
gested itself to other minds, but has not
before found expression nor been clearly
thought out. The men Of the class re-
ferred to are representative of the age, but
N higher and broader sense represent the
essential divisions of the age which are set
of and distinguished by the thought that
nolds the civilization of the hour The
age has produced other representative
men, but only few, who by their acts and
foresight have indicated what the
tendencies Of the hour must lead to- and
who have labored to meet the future, if
the expression is permissible. The ages
give birth to new epochs of thought, as
DIR. Stebbins so well says but these often
est struggle into other ages before they are
-assimilated with the economy of civiliza-
ton. But the thought of the new
epoch, now referred to, is to be
given vitality and active being by the
foresight of Governor Stanford. The CEN
trail thought of the hour and the day
among thinking men is how best to ad-
vance the general intelligence and fortify
the civilization of our country against the
menace OF ignorance, distrust and jealousy
chat finds expression in destructive theo-
ries of socialism and communism. DIR.
Stebbens says: We live in period of So
ciai discomfort. Taking men as they are
the possession of vast wealth
brings with it the idea of power, rather
than the idea of responsibility the notion
of right rather than the notion of duties"
He then proceeds to point the truth
that between these ideas is the choice to
the student of human nature, whether he
will retire to the citadel of self will, the
rule of which is al do as | will with nv
own" or whether ." he Will go forth unde-
tended in the genial air and climate of
human feeling" The latter has been the
choice of the founder of the new school
that is to arise from the springs of his un
selfish and lavish bounty. This convic-
ton leads the speaker to exclaim, | APP
plaud our citizen that his great successes
have Increased his svmpathies with his fell
low men. | applaud him and esteem him
most happy, that, in times of passionate
prejudice or envious calumny, his good
genius of patient silence has never deserted
him. and that his firm confidence in the
substantial honesty of men and their ca
pacities for higher and higher good has
never been disturbed. ! congratulate him
that in the sobriety of reason and faith he
has been able to appeal from the caprice of
the present to the Judgment of future gen
erations and intrust his deeds and his mo-
tiyes to the impartial opinions of man
kind take his proclamation and mani
festo as a whole, as it is on paper, if you
please, and in imagination | unfold its
purpose as it shall be unfolded by the fos-
tering care of liberal age, and | see in it
the fulfillment of Berkeley's prophetic
hymn shadowing forth the coming great
ness Of the new world;
There shall be sung another golden age.
The rise of empire and of arts.
The good and great inspiring epic rage
The wisest heads and noblest hearts.
DR.. Stebbins, while offering no detailed
opinions regarding the educational scheme
of the great benefaction, then proceeds, as
recognition from the pulpit Of the event.
to review it as its Importance justities. 1t