The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-06-13
TUEUNIVERSITY FINALS
crosr,g ETTRCIsEs ar THE UNI
rrRSJrY AND WfsHINGTON& LEE.
Rev Henry Van Dyke's Baccalaureate Scr
mon-IItersry society Celebra'ohs'
Annual Boat Race at Lexington.

CHARLOTTESVILLE VA, June Il
s,acisl-The commencement exercises at
,bo University were inaugurated last
evening by the annual sermon. II was
,,.oacbod bv the Rev. Henry Van Dyke,
n, New York. His subject was THE
Personal Christ" He sad the true relig-
Cos, was one Of adaptation. and must use
the language Of to-day. and not the dead
tongues OF ten centuries or even OF two
centuries ago. But. while possessing the
character Of adaptation. II must also have
the element Of performance. an energy
ALWAYS the same, an essence, not mere
manifestations. working toward unity.
and 10 accomplish the result Of conform
ing the age 10 religion and not religion to
the age.
The age is one sometimes described
as I'm transit. time OF doubt as 10
where we are TO arrive, and yet il Is
not one OF irreligOn. So far from being
q time Of sc0fing and NOltalrlan sneering,
the present shows an unusually high
general average Of morals. The age de-
slr.s 10 worship. though II may not know
how.
IF" said the preacher. II were asked
TO make an esCutcheOn for one time. !
would paint three bishops dormant, the
Interrogation point rampant and write
the motto, Whether"
A tone Of melancholy breathes IN our
modern literature. Man was made as
ship. 20 be steered. and not 10 drift; ana
drifting. his lot is melancholy, and unbe-
lief speaks with the accents Of regret
The questionlngs OF the day cannot be
met with scientific sermons by preachers
who have only a bowling acquaintance
with science. Preachers Of the past made
blunders along that line which preachers
OF the present avoiding. VIII match win
errors Of another sort. Fossils found IN
stone would not to-day be explained by
saying that God put them there TO CON
found the minds Of the ungodly sclentlslS'
but good men laundering over otheI IaC,S'
may. instead OF destroying doubt by me
foolishness Of preaching Increase II by
the preaching Of foOlishness. fauond'
theology. while exciting admiration leaves
much ga he desired Philosophy cannot
produce faith by change from one system
~ THOUGHT 10 another. Christianity is
,,or. tbon consecratcd philosophy, or
Lortizad logic. The ,rue Gospel If the
Gospel Of a personal Christ. and II viii
save
II meets the special needs n our doubt
Ing ace. because IL IS the Gospel Of a per
son. A person Is n fact. Philosophical
declarations are vague. but Christ.
person. cannot be dissolved into a Greek
myth or Jewish legend. lie IS a fact.
and HIS religion IS real Truth is mighty
and wni prevail but somehow 70 never
docs prevail until a. becomes incarnnted
I'm "a poreon Paul said. not / know what,
but 81 know whom I have trusted
II is the Gospel Of the supernatural.
Christ can never be accounted for or
explained on natural grounds. All such
attempts have failed. II any such at
tempt is yet existent fl but awaits IT'S
successor which Will destroy IL. and be
DESTROYED In turn The heroes and the
great Of the natural world have come I'm
groups-PlatO with SophOcles. Shakes
poare with Beaumont and Fletcher and
Ben. Jonson-but Christ is I'm immense
solitude. None ever approached him.
He alone never sinned on earth. never
doubted. never sought truth. Tor he was
the truth: he was more than man. Napo-
leon said ! have known men, and ! tell
you Christ was not a man.
II IS the Gospel of the existence Of God,
and rests on the life Of Christ. Seeing
Christ. the men Of the first century saw
God. He was the spiritual offspring and
representative Of the divine personality.
has seen them
II is the Gospel Of person who saves
from sin. The most profound and urgent
craving IS FOR cleansing from sin and the
only name which VIII cleanse IS Jesus
Christ HIS death begets desire for
pure ne "1f my sins are forgiven. and
I know u IS for his sake ONLY"
Ministers. said Dr. Van Dyke. are no
more ey mpt from doubts than the physi-
clan Is from the dlseeSes he treats. There
Is one safety only hold on 20 the person
Of Jesus Christ, and see the world through
HIS ewes.
The hall WAS crowded with n bright
audience. largely Of young ladies' and
young men. The service was participated
ga by the chaplain and bv tho Revs. y. Z.
Liuscomb and John u. Turpin.
Tonight the Washington Literary So
ciety held IT'S celebration. 4. r. GllmOur.
of Virginia. presided. The orators medal
went TO Mr. a. b. Chandler. Of VIRGINIA.
and the debater's medal 70 Mr. Henry
Nininger. Of Virginia.