St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-06-01
BACCALAUREATE U. OF Nj.
President Northrop Talks to the
Glass of '91


The baccalaureate services at the
University yesterday attracted a large
throng of people. The day was perfect
and the occasion seemed to be almost
heightened in its Importance by the
charming surroundings. At o'clock
the members of the graduating class
took their seats in the coliseum build
ing where an audience which numbered
nearly 1900 people had already as
Sembled.
The baccalaureate praise service was
begun with the singing of hymn by
the university chorus of over thirty
voices and the congregation. Rev.
George Paddock invoked divine bless
ing upon the assemblage, after which
George W; Ferguson sang a solo en-
titled, Jerusalem Gounod." The
lam Kincaid was followed by a
solo. Fear Not, On. Israeli" by
Mrs. H. V. Winchell and
Rev. M. Marshall lead in prayer, and
solo, 1.-The Holy Vision" Guonod, was
sung by MIR. Ferguson. This closed
the Introductory part of the programme,
and there was lull, broken only by
the rustic of the many fans that were in
constant motion, as President Cyrus
Northrop stepped forward, and in his
usual calm and simple manner gave the
address. In substance he spoke as fol-
lows:
The Presidents Address.
The company of young ladies and
gentlemen who for years have been pur-
suing their course of study here have
| now completed their work in the uni
verslty, and are waiting to receive this
week such reward of their labors as the
university by its diplomas can bestow.
Some of them have completed their pro-
! fesSional studies and have already
chosen their work for life: others
have yet to select their vocation.
They are gathered here i'll the after
! noon of the Lords day to unite their
voices in songs of praise for the mercy,
which has followed them through all
their college life; and to listen to the
final words of counsel which they are
larger world for which all their past
life has been preparation. We all
| feel friendly interest in their welfare
! Good wishes are in all our lips, and con-
| fident expectations of their success are
| in all our hearts. But if we could see
the future in the instant, we could see
now the varying futures which the
| members of the class are TO experience.
We yet could not decide with unanimity
whether they are to meet with success
| or not, so varied and SO incompatible
are our ideas as to what constitutes sue
cess"
IF ask the theologian what is sue
cess he will answer: MANS chief end is
to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.
! The attainment of his is success
Doubtless it is. But what does glorify
God? That is the question to which
| even the church has not given a uni
| form answer"
Then followed an account Of deeds
| of the jealous fanatics of old. who COM
mtted horrible crimes, thinking that
they were clarifying God and doing
him reverence.
Theological definitions are some
times useful" said the speaker, eff we
know what they mean. But when we
ask ourselves what true success is in
our country, and in our age. what man
or woman, standing on the threshold of
active life shall do to achieve a true
success, we need for an answer some
! thing more specific and more practical
than general theological formula,
misunderstood and miSinterpIeted
both by its friends and its enemies in
| the past, and whose full meaning, as
shown by the light of divine impression
and love. the world is now but Slowly
coming to understand.
acknowledge. Fame and Power
all depend upon the way we use them.
Even to get religion as it is called,
is not enobling if not used for
the right. The problem of success. i'm
its ordinary sense, is serious one to
| every one, and even the problem of how
to secure comfortable living is an i'm
portant one. The world really owes no
one living until he has earned it, ana
the world does not always seem willing
to give one chance to earn it.
The question is nots how life can be
sustained, but how can one do the most
for themselves and others? Death NAV
come, as is has come to many Young
graduate. But who can say that those
who live to old age achieve greater or
truer success than they who are called
home in youth. For even the little
child who lives but few months does
not necessarily live in vain. Death
does not end all, does not end life, does
not end the influence Of a good life.
The necessary foundation for success
in life is good character. A good char
acter inspires confidence, and without
confidence, justified or not, as the case
may be, success is impossible. A bad
character is almost an inSuperable OBJ
stacle to success. Character not only
restraints from evil but leads to good
works. Success that rests upon popu