New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-06-17
LAST WORDS TO GRADUATES

PRESIDENT HILL on THE LIVING FAITH.
THE nACcaI.AUREATE SERMON TO THE DEPART
ING CLASS OF ROCHESTER, UNIVERSITY.
Rochester. n " June l6 (SpeciaD.-Dr. David j.
nm president OF the University Of Rochester, de-
vered the baccaiaureate sermon at the First Pres
byterian Church this morning in the presence OF
large congregation. I,s text was Ephesians ILL.,
ls 10. The following are extracts from the dis
course
THAT faith rs dead whose objects wholly in the
past The great Office d, Christianity has been 10
iir,.nn away the nfe.ess ritual and decayei rad-
ions Of a merely retrospective religious habit, and
IN set the golden OF humanity IN the future, IN
sssd w 81 ah hf ths new Tvs s It's
''metanoia change Of mind or recons'Tuetioh h oi
period when man FIRST became conscious OF mis- own
,bs verfec,on OF mankind Henccicrward humanity
feels the expansion OF a new life. and new sense
Men are disrellmg the great illusion thu, Nature
and God are contrary forces. and are seeking INN
rather than in those which are ncs' obscure The
foundations Of religion are to be soIgh; IN those
which are best attlstcl in mans daily life and most
central and inexiinsushaele IN MS nature ior mes
which - based the ndissolublc engasemen, OF ne
l.ower. the grandeur. and the necessity OF right
eousness. The vii. OF mortal men dld not .DeSet
That when has created the tragedy of human
history is mans responsibility to God me new
ward energy that sets him IN harmony Win his
task and lis purpose.
What history dcsiAnates as progress is the AM
mai becoming the human. the human becoming the
social tire social becoming the ethical and the
ethical awaking to a consciousness OF divine SON
Wben Jesus disclosed the law Of conscience as
the law OF liie He opened the nature OF man 10
ali true culture. and TO all nobility through the
knowledge OF the truth in .ove.
IL r notable that recent critic of these last
decades Of our proud and fertile century should
br.ns agains. many of It's best-known repres enia-
tjyes the charge Of decay and degencr3cy And yei
Whatever may be the truth justice Of this lnd!ci
ment il is certain that wherever there j. loss OF
moral vigor a;rophy OF spiritual faculties. de-
generation has set Ii is not the !rui; OF free-
If can grow and gather strength: nor IS II the
fruit OF knowledge. Tor knowledge Is the condiiloh
OF all personal ami social development IL comes
from the disuse or perversion OF "A lacuN' Ho'h
some narrowing Of the processes OF lie
The antidote against degeneration Is grown anu
growth is promoted by ana effort. Inc teSt
OF manhood Is in strength OF purpose. in the WIZ
Will rs in the affections. and he Is aimiesS anu IN
potent who is rooted and grounded IN the lOye
OF something that bcgets In his heart command
ing purpose. Wha; the time needs. ana me Only
Thing that can give greatness 10 the coming century
is strong current OF sef-forgetful affection going
and sustain it. inward movement toward
something demanded by felt necessary ol gu.
nature, a seif-renunciation in the interest," VI
d nober and grander life. new ialth IN d ne"
world TO be conquered by new man ,
To be a participant in the furtherlng ana coihp,e
ton of the Kingdom of God il; man. 10 plant me
seed OF a greater future to be the appointed iofoe
the new man in the ceaseless growth ana eNpdh-