St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-06-02
HAMLINE GRADUATES
Hear DIR. Bridgeman's Annua
! Baccalaureate Sermon.


Hear. DIR. Bridgeman's Annual
] Baccalaureate Sermon.
Yesterday at Hamline university was
the beginning Of the end for the class OF
80, the baccalaureate sermon being de-
liyered at II o'clock by the. college pres
ident, DR.. g. FL. .Bridgeman, assisted in
theopening services by Rev. William
Mckinley, of Hamline, and DR.. Cyrus
I D. Brooks, of Minneapolis. The chapel
was beautifully decorated with ferns
aud flowers, the rOstrum particularly
being almost concealed i'll its foliage OF
green. The members of the gradual
ing class. numbering eight, were seated
{; together in the auditorium near the
front and facing the speaker. The ser
mon was. Of its kind, a perfect .one, full
of deep thought, earnest effort, and so
fitted to the occasion that each and
every one of the class must have felt in
; it particular comfort and consolation
for himself. Contrary to the custom
which has usually obtained at Hamine,
DR.. Bridgeman began his sermon, by
direct address to the class; indeed, all
through the discourse the thought was
clearly manifest that 1T was for those
eight young people that the sermon had
been pr epared, and for their admOnitiOn,
I. guidance and comfort it was preached.
/! He said:
3 My dear young friends; [ would wish
+ for the last time to establish the famIl-
{ lar Gus tom Of the lecture room. 1t is not
lmy purpose to- give you very much of
/ advice. | remember whenI was of your
age and IN your circumstances was
richer in advice than in any other thing.
do not apprehend that you will suffer
for the want of it. Ii so there are plenty
i otspeople to give it. This is your service
/ and practically separates you from the
| Institution. You probably have never
| before looked out upon the future with
/ SO much of anxiety as you do to-day. j
/ should like to comfort you, and in your
/ outlook into the future point you to the
/ source of all comfort and consolation.
My task is the easier since you all ara
+ Christians, and as Christians | address
You, not for myself alone but for my as
sociates, the members of the faculty,
your teachers, WHO have watched over
you in the years of your study here and
have become, in the close relations
which must exist between student and
teacher, your personal friends. | ask
you, to consider with me these words:
1.-The Lord is my Shepherd, shall not
of san old poem, yet like the creation
about US, always new. Had it been i'll
.spired on this beautiful summer morn
ing it could not be fresher, more quick
ened, or better fitted to express the
highest, best and deepest thoughts of
| ife. 1t has never become antiquated.
THE KEYNOTE OF THE POEM
Is found in the first sentence. 'The
Lord is my Shepherd" Who is this
personage-Lord and Shepherd? Who
is He? 1t is all important for US to
know. Lord indicates divinity. No
created being is Lord of the spirit.
Without mediation there could be no
reconciliation between an offended
the Father, dwelling in unapproachable
light. but the Son, our Savior-holy
divinity among fallen humanity; di-
vine. yet visible in form. To under
stand the term Shepherd one must for
get his surroundings and go back to
the time when David tended his fathers
sheep; live over i'll thought his simple
life among the hills; follow his train of
thought, and learn the true meaning of
the expression. David was king when
he wrote this psalm butsfle had been a
shepherd, and in giving voice to those
words he lived again the life of his early
years-viSiOnS of the past were his re-
membranes Of faithful guidance of his
ffocks, the patient search for the wan
dering sheep, the careful guard
ing against all danger, and in
the flood of memories and
recoIIections which were upon
him-a light broke over his soul, a new
truth forced its way home to his heart,
and he exclaimed, The Lord is my
Shepherd''-even as to them so is the
Lord to me-"
From this point in the sermon DR..
Bridgeman proceeded to show the an
alogy between the shepherd life of
David and the life in its ministry and
death of Jesus-the great shepherd of
the world. That from the first part of
the sentence ''The Lord is my Shop
ton, the last be inferred. II shall not
Wharf.-The wants of man are many,
but those of mostmoment are the wants
of the soul. There are two ways of
reaching that spirit of confidence to be
able to say II shall not want" The
first is faith in the promises of the
Bible, the other is simply faith that
our wants will be supplied. "The Lord
is my shepherd" If that is true, then,
though promises fail to meet your case,
confidence in God above as your shep
herd will carry you safely through the
dark places. The speaker reviewed at
some length the empire of God, his
means of grace, his holiness. Gods in.
these, and since He is yours
to-day, all things are yours,
If. when you go from these college
walls and leave these familiar scenes
behind you, you can say, 1.-THE Lord is
my shepherd" then you may say, Il
shall not want" When you come into
doubt, as surely you will, you
-. WILL NEED A GUIDE.
How He can aid it is useless to ask,
but that He can aid you do not doubt.
You will lose your way often III life.
but if your main principle is trust IN
God you will find it again. Trust the
ADVICE of no casuist, but look only to
Jes3ls-consolation shall not fail you in
your deepest hours. 81 will not leave
YOU comfortIess." When sight fails
walk in faith. believing all must be well
while you walk >in desus. He cannot
revoke His promise. LET this consola-
ton comfort you in coming. years.
Let nv fiuaI word to YOU be, trust in
God-follow:His guidance: it is the only
Way to attain true peace; as you in
crease in years 1t will be "a great JOY to
be conscious that you have tried to walk
with God. Be true to the truth; be
| true to your cOnscience.and to your God.
[ do not say farewell. L say God speed.
and in commencing you to His care and
loving kindness, pray for His richest
blessings upon you as you 60 forth to
enter upon life'S duties. The conclu-
sion of the sermon was most Impressive.
and as the benediction came in low and
reverent tone, the perfect silence which
fell upon the large congregation, filled,
each heart with the solemnity of the
OCCASION and bowed each head in silent