Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-06-20
THE LESSONS OF LIFE.
Baccalaureate Sermon Preached By
Chancellor Holland
TO THE GRADUATING CLASSES
And Faculty Of the Western University
Of Pennsylyania
LOwLINESS NAY ATTAIN GREATNESS

The Baccalaureate sermon before the
graduating classes in the college and
engineering schools of the Western Uni
versity, of Pennsylvania, was preached
yesterday morning by the Chancellor, Rev.
w. j. Holland, D. d. The Chancellor
chose as his text, Matt *. 27-2S
After stating the historical circumstances
under which the words of the text were
uttered, the preacher pointed out the fact
that there is an essential difference between
the Kingdoms of this world and the king
dom of Christ. prominence is possible in
the kingdom of Christ, as it is in the king
doms of earth, but it is known by altogether
different characteristics, and is acquired in
altogether different way. In the king
doms of the world those who bear rule are
clothed with an aut hority the most signifi-
cant emblem of which is the sword, and the
possession of this power is generally accom-
panied bv more or less of pomp and circum-
stance. When Napoleon assumed the insig.
mia of imperial power a princely fortune
was expended in merely providing the trap
pings for the occasion. When the Czar en-
ters upon the duties of his high station the
capital is ablaze with light, the churches
reek with incense, the bells send forth their
chimes, cannons roar Thousand salutes,
and gold Is poured out like water. Who that
has ever witnessed so comparatively unim-
portant an event as the Lord Mayors process
sion in London has not been struck by the
fondness of those in high station among
men for display?
Display IN a Republican Land.
Even in this land Of republican usages and
simple manners. the General Assembly Of
for.
the purpose of entertaining the President OF
the United States upon the occasion OF a
passing visit to Boston. In the kingdom Of
the Lord Jesus Christ, on the other hand, 1t
is declared by the Founder OF that kingdom
Himself that it is not and must not be SO.
The weapons of Christ's kingdom are not
carnal, and it is declared that he who essays
perish me- 1s The most as s eminent M Subject of the
Lord Jesus Christ is he, who girded with
truth, having on the breastplate OF right
eousness and his feet shod with the prepar.
alton of the gospel of peace with the shield
of faith and the sword of the. spirit goes
forth to do battle gainst this worlds sin and
ignorance and misery. by love snbduing
Kingdoms, and causing the spiritual WASTES
to blossom as the rose"
The Chancellor deduced from his text
lesson of encouragement for those whose
eminently favorable. "The text shows us
that through the way of lowliness greatness
is attainable. 1t is not in the clouds, but in
the dust of the valley that the best place is
found for the living germ The mountain
tops do not noufish the highest forms of
life. 1t is in the dark soil at the feet of
the mountain that the seed best terminates
and grows.
The Lowly Spiritually Gr,at.
"Men are apt at times to be discontented
with their lot and portion of life, and,
like Salome and her sors, they wish and
even pray, as Salome did, that 1t may be
given to them to sit in the high places Of
power. Life is not made up of the excep-
tional. A world in which everybody should
be king would be world full of anarchy;
a world in which every man and woman
should be as rich, and as influential, and as
well informed mentally and as cultured
morally as every other man and woman,
would be a world IN which there would be
faculties and fine graces which flourish
in such q world as that in which
God in His goodness has placed you and me.
In such q world there would be no exercise
for reverence and no room for humility, that
crowning grace Of a truly Christian char
acter. The Lord Jesus Christ took a low
place in life as much for this as for anything
with self-respect the toiling and the obscure
who make up the millions and the billions of
the race-to teach us that lowlness in
earthly station is consistent with true
spiritual greatness; to teach us to respect
ourselves and to hold ourselves ever better
and greater and superior to the mere cir
cumstances of our earthly station: to show
us that rude labor may be holy If filled with
a holy purpose; that menial Offices are only
menial when we approach them in a mental
perform the humblest tasks in such a way as
not to forfeit the dignity of his manhood"