Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1893-06-30

exceptionally cool and bright wealth.
er, crowds of people, the largest grad
uatihg class for some years, the prosper
GUS financial condition of the institution
and the hest of feeling In all quarters
combined to render the exercises of the
93d commencement of Middlebury col.
lege, which began on Sunday and ended
Wednesday night, notably pleasant for
all concerned.
THE BACCALAUREATE
The exercises began on Sunday morn
Ing. when President Ezra Brainerd
preached the baccalaureate sermon at the
Congregational church. 1t was a union
service and was very largely attended,
every seat being taken. The service be-
gan with an organ voluntary by Mrs. G..
D.. Miner, which was followed by the
singing of the doxology by the choir and
congregation. Rev. A. w. Dickens, the
Congregational pastor. made the invo-
cation. Prof. Hawu of Brooklyn sang a
baritone solo, zone Sweetly Solemn
Thought" and the 91st Psalm was read
respOnsively. More music, a scripture
lesson and prayer by President Brainerd
ended the opening exercises.
President Brainerd's text was Mark
XII, 22-"Jesus answering saith unto
them, have faith in Cod. The discourse
was an able, interesting and forcible ex-
position of the Importance of faith to the
Christian life. The preacher said, among
other things:
''It is a grave error to interpret Christ's
teaching concerning faith in prayer to be
that the petitioner will receive whatso-
ever he NAV ask for, If he but expect 1t
with perfect confidence. Faith in God
achieves far better and greater things.
| ltrio
brings the soul into vital CONNECTION with
the unseen things of the kingdom of
God.
"There are certain mOmentous and prac-
teal questions in life which cannot be
settled beyond dispute by the ordinary
methods of scientific inquiry and proof.
There. are many truths that we cannot
prove, but should heartily accept by
faith. Still Christian faith is not senti-
mental. but rests on Il solid basis of rea-
son. We believe in the unseen things of
God because of the authoritative voices
that speak to us through the ages; the
voice of the great teacher, the voices of
the wise and good of all ages and the
voice in our own souls that impels us
as by instinct to credit the truths that
redeem our manhood.
"rhe thought-wOrld in which the spirit
of man lives and moves is very largely
such as Le himself makes it bv his faith,
or lack of faith. The most glorious
things in Gods universe fade into moth
ingness before the spiritual vision of him
who refuses to believe in them. If we
are pessimists and believe that all is
vanity and vexatiUn of spirit and the
day of death is better than the day of
ones birth, then 1t is so for us, so far
as our conscious experience is concerned.
One who disbelieves in immortality is
precisely IN the condition. so far as this
life is concerned, of one actually depriy-
ed of Immortality. On the other hand,
positive filth can eXalt life and enable the
human will to triumph over all obstacles.
We are free if we believe in our moral
freedom. We may overcome all evil if
we but have invincible faith In our power
to overcome"
In conclusion President Bradford adj
dressed as follows the members of the
senior class, who had seats in the front
of the church and arose to hear his part
ing words:
Dear Pupils of the Senior Glass =
We have sat face to face so often during
the year that has past, we have discussed
together so many hours the great prob
lem of the human soul, that it is hard
for me to understand that have spoken
my last words of instruction. | have
sought In this my last opportunity to
emphasize the value and power of Chris
tian faith. In few more days you
will break ranks and scatter to the various
posts in life to which Providence may
call you. But wherever you may &c, the
sterner phases of life will confront you.
There will be more or less of struggle,
more or less of disappointment, if your
lot is not to be altogether unlike that of
ordinary men and women. But the
glory of life is to triumph over obsta-
cles. land this is the victory that over
cometh the world, even our faith.
IL want you to keep bright Through the
coming years that vision you now have
of high and holy realities. Cherish as
far as in you lies the enthusiasm of your
youth, its ardent friendships, its conf
dent trust in Gods goodness. its gener-
GUS impulses, its fearless courage. If
you do this, whatever may be your out
ward fortunes in this world, you will
never be troubled by the cynical inquiry.
us life worth living?" Year by year
you will acquire richer store of blessed
memories. the world will grow brighter,
work will become less burden, God
will seem nearer and the life to come
more full of promise.
"And now we bid you an affectionate
God-speed as you are about to leave your
college home. Whatever the future
may have IN store for you, in its hours
of sorrow or of Joy, in its moments of
triumph or of disappointment may you
ever remember to the hour of death that
we are saved through faith"
The singing OF the hymn "Onw ard, e,
Christian soldier" by the choir and
congregation and the benediction by
President Brainerd closed the service.
THE Y. NJ. c. A. ANNIVERSARY.
Sunday evening at o'clock came the
anniversary of the college Young Mems
Christian association, at the Congrega-
tional church, which was we'll filled.
President II. A. Wicker of the association
presided. The anthem, "The Lord is
our refuge" was sung by a quartet
made up of DR.. Sheldon, F. b. Seeiey, ii .
E. Wells and Earl T.. Cushman. Rev.
c. F. Noble, pastor of the Methodist
church, read the sixth chapter of Ephe-
slams, beginning with the 10th verse, and
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