Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1889-07-05
COMMENCEMENT
rhe seth of Middlebury College.

The seth of Middlebury College.
Middlebury and the surrounding coun-
try have devoted the greater part of this
week to commencement The attendance
at the public exercises has been large,
the performances of high order, and,
all in all, the occasion was one of inter-
est and profit to all concerned
THE SERVICES OF SUNDAY.
THE BACCALAUREATE.
The exercises opened on Sunday morn
ing, when the baccalaureate sermon was
preached at the Congregational church
by President Ezra Brainerd. The con-
gregation filled all the seats in the house,
and chairs had to be taken in to accom-
modate late corners. Rev. a. F. Keith,
pastor of the church, assisted in the SER
vice. Mrs. G. d. Miner presided at the
organ, and the singing was by quartet
composed of Misses Elga Stewart and
Carrie Bond, Mr.. j. NJ. Thomas and DR..
w. II. Sheldon, and the choir. The SER
vice began with the rendering of Dudley
Bucks Benedictus by the quartet and the
invocation by President Brainerd. Hymn
235, clark, hark, my SOUL" was sung.
L
Matthew ky, beginning with the l4th
verse, and offered prayer. Another Sc
lection was given by the quartet. The
sermon followed. An abstract of 1t will
be found on the second page of this paper,
but it gives very imperfect notion of
the strength and value of the discourse,
which was the best that has been heard
on a similar occasion for many years.
At the close of the sermon President
Brainerd offered prayer; hymn 305, SIN
the cross of Christ glory" was sung and
the president pronounced the benedic-
ton.
| THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE COLLEGE
YOUNG MEMS CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION.
The anniversary of the college Y. Nj.
c. A. was held at the Congregational
church Sunday evening. Mr.. j. E. Mead
of the junior class, president of the assO-
citation, presided. Mrs. Miner was again
at the organ and the singing was by the
same quartet as that of the morning eX-
cept that Miss Cady took the place of
Miss Stewart. After "Cantate Domino
had been sung, Rey. j. G.. Houghton of
Middlebury read selections of scripture ;
the 563d hymn, "How firm foundation,
We saints of the Lord" was sung, and
prayer was made by Rev. Mr.. Houghton.
|
by the sermon. The preacher of the
evening, Rev. EniOn Cranogvab Evans of
indianapolis, Ind, graduate of the col
lege in the class of 1876, was introduced
by President Mead. Mr.. Evans an
nounced as his text |. Corinthians xiii
ID" And now abideth faith. hope and
charity. these three -; and |. Thessaloni-
ans :2l-" Prove all things; hold fast
that which is good" He said, in part:
Irreverence is the characteristic of the age,
and in no sphere is this tendency so conspicu-
is toward liberalism The partitions separat
ing denominations are falling down. Religion
has become fashionable. Great attention is
paid to church architecture, and the average
sermon, instead OF being an earnest eXhOrta
ton, is looked upon rs n literary effort and an
occasion tor oratorical display. Church mem
bers no longer wear Il distinctive dress, as
formerly; indeed, ii is sometimes necessary
to search the church records or to wait till a
mans funeral sci mon is preached or his obit
nary appears in order to find out whether ht
belongs to any church. But Christianity ha:
not changed. 1t appears to have done so be
cause we tail to distinguish between the Chris
tianity OF Christ and the Christianity of men
Theology is mans thought OF God and tha
may undergo changes, but the book of book
remains. The changes noticeable are due first
to II reaction from Puritanism; and, second
to the tact that the Christianity OF our day II
more extended in its operations. Th-re nev
gressive as now. The world as whole il
Growing better through the influence of Chris
tiani(y. Never before was the Amy of til,
Lord so well drilled and disciplined. Tn,
truth of Christianity has been proved un
that it is good as well rs tue is shown
l. Because il is faith as opposed to dsbe
lef-faith in God, faith in the spii tual na,Ir
OF man, faith in an unseen world:
=. Because II is hope instead OF despair
The best light of science is only darkness IS
ibe. With ii the end of all is death. But tn
gospel OF Christ is gospel OF hope.
5. Because it is love as opposed to selfish
Sn1tl iG hn nf nl
spirit is ever bad and hateful. The problem
OF the age and of all time is, how to get rid @
selfshness. Love Is the antidote, and let tina
2 once attain dominion and the millennium /
I come.
1t was fOrcible and excellent sermon
earnestly delivered. The closing praye
! was offered by Rev. Mr.. Keith hymn
t 1865, Greater than oceans story" wa
sung, and the congregation was dismisse,
with the benediction by Mr.. Keith.
ALUMNI pAY-TUEsDAY.
. PRELIMINARY MEETING OF THE ALUMNI
y The preliminary meeting of the associ
| ated alumni was held at the college chape
e at 8 80 Tuesday morning. In the absenc
: of the president and yice-presidents, Sec
h retary ii. S. Foote of Middlebury calle
: the meeting to order, and j. II. Haig
4 '73, was chosen president pro TEN. Afte
e Tie itdOiluS dbopblou VI StCTtld
ry's report, committee of three was aI
| pointed to settle upon the names of thre
y of the alumni to be presented to the COZ
/ poration, from whom to elect membe
of that body; and Prof. Walter f. How
ard, Prof. f. II. Higley and Rev. Georg
n. Webber were appointed as such con
: mttee. On motion of G. NJ. Wilds CON
i mittee of three was appointed on nom
{ nations, the members of the committe
). being Mr.. Wilds, DR.. Hemenway of Mar
n chester and Prof. w. w. Eaton. Prof
v T. f. Boyce read the report of tn
i neurological committee, which shove
il that II of the alumni had died within tn
4 year. The meeting then adjourned t
Il 5 80 o'clock Wednesday morning.
II THE ADDRESS.
/ The alumni and their friends gathere
II in large numbers at the Congregation,
church shortly after 10 O'clock. MUS
was furnished by the Howard Oper
House orchestra of Burlington. Hon. {
= S. Colburn of Pittsford, president of til
~ alumni association, presided, and seate
u with hIm on the stage were the speaker