Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1888-06-29

ing glmpses Of the coming glory of
Christs one and universal kingdom. Many
souls are being stirred up to heroic resolve
and endeavOr Large minds and warm
hearts in all the Commuuions are glowing
with interest in the great cause. Just as
in a vast assembly there comes, no one
knows why or how, often in connection
with some word or incident poweiless in
itself, hush, wave of emotion, a glow
ing and melting of heart, and then a
great outburst of energy which nothing
can withstand, hetokeuing the presence of
some great spiritual power, 50 among the
vast multitude who to day profess aud
call themselves Christians rather than
by any other name, there Is thOn9htful-
ness, a tenderness of feeling, a drawing
together of heart to heart, a great longing
for fraternal union and a passionate zeal
for missionary enterprise, which can he
explained in no other way than that Gods
Spirit is preparing the church for the great
things which are to come, for some mighty
movement which is first to blend all
Christian consciousness into one common
spirit and life, and then to carry this puri-
fed Christianity forth TO the conquest of
the world. No true Christian man doubts
that this will be the final result of the
work which Christ began, and which his
Spirit continues in the world. Happy are
we, If our age shall see great advance
happy are we, If we may have some part
however humble, in bringing it to pass
CLOSING WORDS TO THE GRADUATING CLASS.
President Buckham then addressed the
the following closing words to members
of the graduating class
Young Friends Of Inc Graduating
Class;
1t was custom in the olden times for
pupils on parting from their teachers to
ask them for some apothegm, some great
and timely TRUTH to be the conduct of
their lives We give you to-day this
Without God, nothing; with God
everything" Without God no plan.
no presumption of wisdom, no hope of
success With God, courage, faith, enthu-
siasm, insight, energy, victory.
If God spare your lives to the ordinary
term, you will live the longest and best
part of them in the twentieth century.
That century will have its peculiar prob
lens as this has had. Your own
personal lives, and the public life
of which you will form part will
have many aspects of difference from
those of tt e present. A course of liberal
studies should have prepared you, in good
measure for meeting these emergencies,
should have given you the comprehensive
ness of idea, the variety OF resources that
lleXibillty of faculty, which will enable
yOu W ulttJ new questions Wlu0 ltS lleeu
ed power of mastery. But that course of
study would be fatally defective which
has not taught you your dependence on a
wisdom higher than your own, on d
guidance which no human teacher or
leader can give. When the crises come,
sucn as are sure to come in every aspiring
life, when some danger must be met, some
important decision made stand taken on
this side or that of some great issue on
which the cause of truth and of manhood
depends, then one ray of light from God S
! Spirit, one gentle touch from His guiding
hand, are worth more than all helps be-
| sides. For such times as these take to
yourselves this promise which our Divine
Master left us, that He by His Spirit will
go before you and show you things to
come, and guide you into all truth.
And we would have you understand and
thoroughly believe that this guidance of
Gods spirit may be yours, to whatever de-
partment of Gods work you may be call
| ed provided always that 1t is Gods work.
Some of you will, we trust, give yourselves
TO the work of the sacred ministry, some
Will 20 into other professions, some of you
will be the light and blessing of Christian
homes. In all alike you will need pnd are
permitted to expect, the enlightenment
and guidance of Gods spirit If preachers
need divine aid, so do surgeons and mag
| lstrates, and inventors, and teachers, and
mothers. When all workers are under
| spiritual guidance, then will all alike con
tribute to the building of mankind into a
! holy spiritual temple.
If you could read all that is in our hearts
to day, you would see much that perhaps
you do Eot suspect, Of humility, OF Sc. sc
OF deficiency and untitness for the import
ant work which has been confided to us.
70 be good teacher is one of the greatest
OF offices, and who is sufficient for ii, But
we have done for you, and with you, and
in you, what We could, and now, without
beng ashamed of the result happy in
some measure in the thought OF what you
are and of what you give promise OF be
coming, we greatly rejoice in the thought
that there is an all-wise Teacher, an ever
trustworthy Guide, who will hereafter lead
you into all needed truth, if you will tot
low Him. Our last word to you is, be His
disciI les; mAtricuipte IN His school; obey
His jDSc dirit; sit At His feet-tor His
teaching and guidance Will lead you to
| truth, the complete and final truth, and to
| life, the eternal life.
The exercises closed with Congregation
al singing and the benedictlon pronounced
! rs President Buckham.