Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1894-06-29
COMMENCEMENT.
a41A oE MlpplERuRY oollEoE.


THE BAocALAUREATE
sermon was preached in the Congrcga-
tional church by President Ezra Brainerd.
No services were held at the Methodist
and Baptist churches, and the people of
these, together with the out-of-town folk
and the regular attendants upon the Con-
gregational church, filled every seat.
Mrs. Miner presided at the organ, and
Misses Ella and Mabel Bond, Elga and
Jessica Stewart, Mary Steele, Alice Cush-
man, DR.. W. II. Sheldon, f. l.. Cushman,
IL. f. Wells and Joseph y. Peck COM
posed the choir. The musical features of
the day were of high order. Rev. A.
w. Dickens, the pastor, assisted in the
service, the order of which was Organ
voluntary by Mrs. Miner; anthem, lie
Deum, by choir: doXology: invocation
by Rev. Mr.. Dickens; solo, CONSIDER the
lilies by Prof. lawn: reading of Psalm
l03 responsively; anthem, God is my
refuge" by the choir reading of scripture
lesson, the 9th chapter of Luke, by Mr..
Dickens; prayer by President Branerd
hymn, Lead, kindly light, by the choir;
solo. "Soft southern breeze" by DR..
Sheldon; sermon; prayer by the pres
ident; hymn 7S7, "We are watching, we
are waiting. by the choir; beuedction
by the president
President Branerd's text was the first
clause of the DIST verse of the 9th
chapter of Luke-"But we hoped
it was he which should redeem
Israel" He set forth clearly and con-
cusively the fact that with a persons
growth in knowledge and experience
changes occur in his conceptions of relg
ious truth, but that the outcome of these
changes is a firmer and stronger faith.
lie said, among other things:
The disciples had thought of the
Christ as an earthly king, who would
rule with power like David. When their
crude fances were dispelled by the
death of the Master, they were IN des-
pair Yet even then at their side was the
risen Christ, hencefOrth to reign in power
and glory in the spiritual lite of the
world. The incident illustrates 4 not
infrequent experience in the lives Of
thoughtful men today. Often the
cherished beliefs of earlier years are
rudely shaken as by a mighty tempest.
Our first conceptions of great truths are
necessarily obscure and distorted. \
mans opinions and beliefs are not the
absolute verites of Gods universe, but
such ideas of them-more or less made
quate-as his mental capacity has enabled
him TO entertain. The cherished faiths
that have profoundly stirred the hearts
of men have had within them the kernel
of truth. But with the growth of mind
there is need of doctrnal readlustment.
In the earnest soul doubt is not Away :
devil born" but phase of the normal
process of spiritual growth. 1t should
not issue in chronic dependency. but il
the re-establishment of faith in "a more
intellectual form.
He who goes forward in life with in
tegrity of purpose and manly courage
can never meet with failure. He doubts
only to believe again with purer faith
He dies to old experiences, but only &c
live again in realm of higher thought
and purpose. He may mourn for Il while
over disappointed hopes; but straight
way he builds brighter hopes on tirmeT
foundation. He regrets the overthrow
of past Illusions, but they pass away
only to give place to the enduring truth
Mary Magdelene mOurned for the loss
of the dead body of her Lord; but 10
even as she grieved, within the very
touch of her hand, stood that beloved
form, no longer dead, but alive forever.
Dear PupHS Of The Senior Glass After
a year of almost daily intellectual com
panionship the time has come for my
last words to you as Il class. | recall
with unallOyed pleasure the many hour,
that we have spent together in the ole
Senior recitation room, studying the
prepleXing questions of psychology anC
peering a little way into the deep my =
: teries by " hich human life is surround
ed | appreciate the warm interest tha
YOU have manifested in my instruction
though sincerely wish might hay,
taught you better and helped you to /
deeper insight into the serious problems
that have come before us. But | am
sure you have learned some lesson,
aright-the inherent dignity of the
human soul, the inestimable value OF
righteousness, the need of candOr anC
and mOdeSty in all our thinking.
want you TO keep these lessons il
, mind through all the years of life be
fore you. Ever be true to that which il
highest and best in your nature. Have
indOmitabe courage; for life is Away
glorious success TO him who properly
adjusts himself to his spiritual environ
) ments. If difficulties confront you Ca
, they certainly wild attack them brave
ly; you will have either the Joy o
{ triumph or, learning the lesson of defeat
acquire fresh strength with which t
renew the battle. II cherished hope
are overthrow, rise above your disap
pointments through the inyincibl,
power of will. The endless future il
ever before you Gods universe Is wide
great possibilities of good are still opel
to you. Or if intellectual doubt come
/ and with its cold hand of palsy touche
the beliefs by which we live and the!
appear as idle fancies, even then keel
up the brave fight. There Is fresh al
somewhere for the stiilled spirit. II
conduct be true to your deepest convic
5 ton of duty, think out candidly ant
: carefully the dark problems of life, an,
3 in Gods own time you will attain t,
} the repose of a better faith.
| The II members of the graduating elias
had seats Immediately in front of tn