Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1890-07-04
MIDDLEBURY, VERMONT, JULY 1, 1880.

has elapsed since your fathers stood
where you now stand. Their textbooks
in science have become obsolete: GUS
toms have changed new ideas have en-
tered into our Christian civilization.
Far more swiftly than men think, the
human race is advancing to the fulfill
ment of its divinelv appointed dies tiny.
There are grander openings for you than
for any generation that has preceded
you. In your day great issues are to be
fought out in the political arena. So
cial problems are to be solved that will re-
quire the utmost skill and wisdom. There
is noble work to be done to elevate and
sweeten human life here and every
where the round world over. We bid
You God-speed as you 90 forth to the
various posts to which Providence may
assign you. May it be your great aim
III life TO promote the establishment of
/ Christian principle and Christian char
acter among men; so that through your
efforts that blessed day may be hasten
ed when the Sons of God shall be re-
vealed on earth.
The srrvices closed with prayer by
President Branerd; the singing of hymn
0lG, "Come, Lord, and tarry not" and
the benedction by the president.
ANNIVERSARY OF THE COLLEGEY. VI. C. A.
The anniversary of the college Y. NJ.
c. a. was observed at the Congregational
church at 5 O'Clock on Sunday evening.
Mr.. j. w. Thomas of the graduating
class, president of the association,
presided, and seated with him on the
platform were Rev. Henry p. Higley,
DID,, of Beloit, Wis, the speaker of the
evening" and Rev. \. \. Cambridge, pas
tor of the local Baptist church. Mrs.
Miner was again at the organ, and the
singers were DR.. w. II. Sheldon and
Messrs. Benedict, Hesselgrave, Seeey,
Agnew, Boynton, Goddard and Thomas
OF the college. a large congregation
was present. An organ voluntary III
troduced the service and then the familiar
hymn, "How firm foundation, We saints
of the Lord, was sung. Rev. Mr.. Cam
bridge read the 18th chapter of |. Kings
and offered prayer. Hymn 549, "How
gentle Gods commands. was next
given. Mr.. Thomas introduced the
speaker. DR.. Higley's theme was timely
-"The Manhood for the Hour"-and his
address was forcible, thoughtful and in
every way excellent. Taking as his text
|. Chronicles, xii :32-" And of the chill
dren of Isaacher, which were men that
had understanding of the times to know
what Israel ought to do, he said, among
other things:
That commencement week should be-
gin with il full Sabbath of fellowship in
Christian thought and worship is not an
accident. 1t is no mistake that this
Christian association has in this hour
such distinct and public recognition as a
part of college life. The years review
of the forces that are at work here to
build and mould character would be in
complete were not the Christian outlook
and uplOok openly honored. There new
er was greater need of men who under
stand the times and who know what
ought to be done than today. Our rapid
development makes this discernment ten
fold more urgent. Tendencies with us
hasten to their consummation. We have
no long periods in which to map their
course and mark their speed. The first
indications yield quickly to ripened re-
suits. y century ago we were nothing;
now we contend for the foremost place
among the nations of the earth, and al
ready we begin to contemplate the time
when we will stand among the chiefest.
The labor question, the relation of church
and State in public education, the treat
ment of the alien races, and more espec-
tally the negroes of the South, the per-
pleXity of three continents, thunder at
our doors for solution. These are COM
plicated By political corruption, streams
of emigration, and the evils that assail our
great cities. All these strike their roots
down into the mercenary spirit which
holds that life consists in the abundance
of the things which it possesses. These
are the topics of the hour, and do YOU
know of any force outside of the gospel
of the son of God that proposes such
work. or is adequate for it? Any remedy
for such evils less thorough than the gos-
pei treatment must be too superficial for
efficient and lasting relief. Does some
one tell me that the gospel remedy fails
to secure application? Not so. The ap-
plication of the gospel needs men who
have understanding of the times. We
claim that arbitration, legislation and
protit-sharing bring all their benefit from
the spirit of the gospel. The temperance
and the race. issue have. come as far as
they have by the steady pressure of
Christian truth and he who teaches that
God hath made of one blood all nations
of men to dwell on the face of the earth,
will make it possible for the dark skinned
to dwell by his lighter brother, with JUS
tice secured and the hour of privilege
open To worth and honor. The saloon
hates the church because it reads its doom
in the principle of which the church is
the expression. In the questions of pub
lie education, that will crowd for an an
swer in the near future, genuine Chris
tian manhood will be at IA premium. The
great questions of our national life call