Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-06-22

Responsibility, according to our con-
ception Of it, can exist only in the
concrete, but not in the abstract. If 1t
exists, still it must be in relation to
something else. Now, as referred to
an individual, it must relate to what
be has or has not ; and as we know
from It's very nature it cannot relate
TO what he has not, it must relate
to what he has. Since then
what we have is the standard
OF cur responsibility and accountability
to God, il is of great importance to in
quire what this is and to learn as best
We can the standard by which our lives
are to be declared faithful or unfaithful
when arraigned before the bar Of God.
In some respects the natural endow-
ments Of all men are the same. All
men are endowed with seeing, hearing,
feeling, &c. all men have the power TO
think; all have the possession Of
worldly goods, and all have some power
and influence over their iellow-men. So
the divinity Of Gods gifts to men is
rather in degree than in kind. The
text speaks not Of all men who arc
thus generally endowed, but it specifics
certain clsss--it refers only to those
to whom much is given and ! shall
attempt TO show that the educated man
is included in this class. / appeal to
you, graduates, to know how great an
estimate you put on your education.
What would you take as fair price
for your education? Could millions Of
lollars compensate you for the utter
ack Of education? do not address n
)ody Of kings, but body Of men more
,oweriUl and kinely than kings. do
not address a body oG noblemen, but
body Of men made noble by mental
culture. KducstiOn is valuable, be-
cause ii gives man power over himself;
it increases the possibility OF self-de-
yelOpment. The uneducatcd man may
improve his mind to some extent, but
in his effort he is opposed by so many
difficulties. which in number aud
strength amount to almost impossible
ties that, the extensive cultivation, eX-
pansion, and development of his mind
is beyond his reach. Like one who
cannot swim well, or swim at all, he
cannot stem the tide of unfavorable
circumstances and surroundings, but
sinks beneath the current and is doomed
to obScurity; but the educated man is
like a strong swimmer, whom all these
circumstances and surroundings help
rather than hinder, for they bear him
upward and onward. The educated
man has it in his power to end one day
wiser than he began it, and if at the
close oflife he does not find himself in
finitely wiser than when be graduated,
it is because he wraps his talents in the
napkin of bis diploma and buries it in
his bosom-a poor grave for 50 grand
thing.
1t is because he does not avail himself
Of the increased facilities for self.cnlture
that education puts within his reach, for
there is no capital that increases with
such wonderful rspidty and doubles
itself so quickly as intellectual capital.
Some men, it is true, do not avail them
selves Of this increased facility. There
are some who are really wiser when
they graduate than at any subsequent
period Of their lives. The fading parch- |
ment upon which their diploma is
printed is but a representation of their |
mental deterioration, but they should |
read underneath these fading lines this |
solemn and important declaration, |
" Unto whom much is given, of him
shall much be required" Education |
q man. capacity for moral de.
The educated man is placed |
on higher plane, from which he can
more clearly discern the relation that he
sustains to his fellow-man and to his
God, and can therefore themore plainly |
understand his responsibility to both
His learning ought to make him humble
and ought to promote in his nature
generosity and charity towards men
and reverence towards God. But edu-
cation not only gives man power over
himself, but power over Others"
The speaker then cited striking
Illustrations and examples to prove
hat it is the educated man that is
respected and obeyed, and that the
world really is and always has been in
he hands Of its educated men. They,
laid he, are the promoters of art and
Icience. They fill the pulpits and con-
rol the literature ; they make the laws
md direct public sentiment. Surely,
hen, the educated man is included in
he list of those to whom much is given,
md therefore of the educated man q
,reat deal will be required. Not only
S what We have standard Of our re-
possibility, but We will be rewarded
ccording to the way that We meet this
esponsibility 4; and what is still more
olemn, VIC will be punished by the same
tandard, 20 therefore the principle set
orth in the text puts US in position
Therein it is our privilege to win an
,finitely bright crown Of reward, or to
ink ourselves to an infinite depth OF
ANIMATION.
The sermon was one Of great power,
nd fully met, and probably surpassed,
be expectations which the extensive
,putation of DIR. Tucker had excited.
t the conclusion of the sermon DR..
ucker addressed some wise and profit (
bic words to the graduating class |; I
ter which an earnest prayer was offer
BY DR., Pollard. Dr.. Reid, formerly !