Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1886-07-02
MlDDLEBuRY COLLEGE COMMENCE
MENT,
TIE EVENTS OF THE S6TH-wHAT WAS
DONE AND WHO WERE HERE.

!
| ioyable of recent years. Perfect wealth
er, the presence of many alumni, inter-
esting exercises and the great hopeful
ness universally expressed in the future
of the institution. all contributed to this
end. No one who attended throughout
could help but feel that there is ample
reason for encouragement and for re-
newed effort for the college and its inter-
ests on the part of the corporation, the
president, faculty, alumni, and the
friends of the college and sound learning
SUNDAYS SERVICES.
The BaccalaWedte.
The exercises opened on Sunday af-
ternuOn last with the baccalaureate
sermon, which was preached at the
Congregational church by Rev. DR.. G..
y. Webber. Rev. Mr.. Speare conducted
the preliminary exercises. Excellent
music was provided by choir composed
of Mrs. Pitts, Misses Cady, Bolton and
Porter and Messrs. Munroe. Graham and
Churchill. The congregation complete
ly filled the church Mrs. Miner presid
ed at the organ. This is an abstract Of
DR.. Webber's very able and practical dis
course:
whatsoever We do, do it heartily as to the
Lord ana not unto men l.; % ,nh do5 ye serve
II we ask ourselves, What are we here in
this world for, the most obvious and truthful
answer il, we are here to work. over the
gateway of our entrance into this field OF ex.
istcnce il written in big letters, "NO loaicrS
here Action is the end of being; all else is
means and is to be sought and valued rs such.
Eiucation moral as well as intellectual, mas
tl,. 1nir OtS ntt ntN "a T.
We kHOIC in order to do somewhat; ana
thought which does not lend itself to action,
which cannot be converted int practical
power, is worthless. Moreover, the text I'M
plies, and reason confirms ii, that we are not
here by chance. We are sent here by the ere
ator and proprietor of the universe as his Ia
borcrs, to do some work in his vineyard that
He means to get done. But what am to do:
What among the multiplicity of mans labors
am to take hold OF: This is an important
question, to be answered as speedily as one
can. To every man is given a certain meas
HTT %nT knT ta OF ca2"Gh anJ mT c%"f %nd H
modest and loyal 10 his own, and dismiss all
ambitions that are too high for him, every
one might find his place and work in the
world and go into it with gladncss and good
success. one kind of ability cannot succeed
in the field OF another. Happy the man who
discovers his adaptations. In these he may
rcad his calling, what thing he was sent into
the vineyard to do. In the elder times the
call of God came to some directly prOnOunc-
ed; in modern times men have had intui
tions too clear to allow Il doubt of the work
appointed. ordinarily, however, men dis
cover (if at AID their calling by experience,
which tests and brings to light their capabili-
ties. To find out 10y study OF oneself and the
ground You stand upon what your combined
inward and outward capability is-that il one
problem the young man has to solve; Il hard
problem sometimes, but one most important
, to be settled us best you can. Here is the real
value of II preparatory course of study lnfor-
nation is not the thing first III request, but to
develop the faculties and bring to light which
of the manifold budding energies of the young
soul Is the nam ana dominant one. lnp
) broader, therefore, the preparatory course il,
the better, so as to leave no latent talent
undiscovered. After the supreme aptitude
has been found out, then the professional
school is in place. Mistake in choice OF oc.
cupation is sure to give one n world OF trou-
BILE il il does not prove fatal; yet ON what in
: sufficient reasons is the choice often made
d. Adaptations discovered and calling chosen
| how are we to enter upon and pursue it?
{ |. DO not be discouraged by the difficulties
you may meet in getting under way. En-
trance on any sphere Of educated labor is , be
j. the HELD. skill has to prove Itself before II
can win appreciation. The men who shin
from one thing to another never accomplish
anything. stick TO your task through thick
aud thin. BE selt-relant. Trust implicitly
: your discovered faculty and be willing to he
: gin at the bottom round of the ladder. Using
your peculiar gilt, be ii great small, You
can multiply il by every days cNrrtlon and
, need not fear failure il YOU have patience
enough to labor and to wait. The most fruit
e ful lives in all ages are nurtured III hardship
h And there i a noblcr ambition and richer
, reward for lite's work than scooping together
t bid you, young men, stand to your accepted
= task, undaunted by contradictions, and hight
. your way through to success, resolved in q
manly sef-relance to do with your might
: not as eyeservants and men-peasers, bur
o good honest work, without shame or pretense
the very most and best you can in the
. place divine providence has found for You
/ >. Next, bid you cultivate an enthusiasm
@ tor your life work. Whatever you do, do il
heartily. This is the Christian philosophy o.
work, "With good will doing service" have
g noticed that they are the happy ones who
take an honest pride in their work Enthu
siasm makes work a joy, and is II condition
= OF effectiveness. In the intellectual arts the
+ secret OF success lies IN the doing q
what do from the soul. "Bcicve in il
!. or fail i'll it, Is the law from making nail tC
. writing an epic Many crowd into the more
: intellectual fields of labor not from any gcnu
II Inc impulse OF NAIVE genius, but from the de
sire to escape the burdens OF manual toll
u These refugees from labor rarely become Ell
8 ectiVe wOrklncn in the department upOI
which they enter. They have not the needtu
5 zeal Tor continuous and productive work ant
either quit the field or become empires il
: science, dead-beats in the professions ant
bOres in literature.
3. With enthusiastic devotion TO your spe
d cial work counsel You not to sink the maI
in your art nor forget that society will hav,
: claims on you for much outside of your voca
f tion. Be the calling what il may, there il
= much general work to be done for church
Il state, education charity and social culture, il
q which every educated man and wo
man should - share. 1t is woml mar
the slave, not master, of his trade. To avoiC
z this one should cultivate liberal studies NJ
man can be thoroughly equipped tor his cal
ling whose study and thought are limited Il
e the technics of his art Such is the connection
OF euch department of knowledge that he WHIT
is content to know only one thing canno
: know that to the best purpose. Highest sue
cess in any labor behooves TO rest on n basi
,, of wide culture in letters and the humanitie
- and to be animated by generous sympathie
Z touching all the ranges OF human lite iron
q lowest TO uppermost. BE you artizan, mel
chant, lawyer, clergyman, be, above all, tn
i manifest of men.
8 4. One more suggestion as to the manner il
u which we should pursue our life work viz
d the religious significance of ones calling
"Servant of God" is Il term not limited to IN
h so-called sacred profession. All men are sci
q wants of the Most High, and should be con
c sciously and OF free will. In the garb of tn
"A artiZan as well Ms in the mantel of the prophe
goes forth the laborer in the Christian cause
n for this is not other or less cOmprehensiV
"a than the upbuilding OF humanity, Individual
~ ly and collectively through the succession q
O the ages. Any work, therefore, il unto tn
Lord which aims AT the melioration of man
e conditions, and the enlargement and perfect
ing of humanity. Ampler means of phVsicn