New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-06-17
THE REVIVED INTEREST IN RELIGION.
PRESIDENT ANDREWS DELIVERS THE BACCA-
LAUREATE TO BROWNS GRADI-
ATING CLASS

LAUREATE TO BROWNS GRADt:
ATTNG CLASS
Providence. June Is (spee:aD-The annual baccl-
aureate to the members of the senior class
of Brown University delivered by President f.
benjamin Andrews this afternoon in the Old First
Baptist Meeting house The graduating class. in the
cap and gown. marched down College Hill to the
church at O'clock
President Andrews chose the subject OF his
sermon. THE Revived Interest in Religion" taking
his text from Psalms xvii. -: Il had tainted un-
less had believed to see tho goodness Of the Lord
in me land of the living He said in part:
Men cannot hold up against the woes OF probation
tute 4 divine order quite the most significant Of
contemporary facts is the vide reawakenins' amons
age OF faith awaits civilized countries. The pendu-
um which had swung so far out toward the ex-
rested there and destined never to return is
travelling back upon its track and bids fair soon to
\ century ago il was fashionable to speak of re-
igon wiih rlicdlc te ei0rt Beng maze 40 qs
The rise OF the evolutionary theory however
less prevalent Of considering beiei in these super
ma tura realities as working n stage IN man up
YET far removed from ito brute origin; Darwini'n
unbelevers. with the more radical infdels preccl-
ing sSOrned religious conviction as unworthy OF the
modern mind. With modern thinkers az THIS IS
changed and today not recognized leader IN
tizes rel zion as a doluson The assumptions 81
naturasm absolutely contradict not only our sp2n,
moral convictions. that are OF vital momcn, to so
rietv rogross instead Of retrcgression is to mark
its future Na:uraIsrn can give no reason why any
sentiment impulse or c3ny.ction; wnch " 81 I. ai
more worthy Of constipation
If natura,ism is the truth. morality is but hap
Is unsubstan;al and is nothing Fl SO but
a habit by which our thoughts chance TO take one
course rather than another. All inat gives dignity
to life al that gives value TO effort, shrinks ana
fades under the piles glare OF creed ,hai N S,ln man
beings need in order 10 I've well on our earIh 10
day 1t Is enthusiasm FOR rshteousness' II Is n'shy
sefdenial and heroic sacrifice not innocence: nnt
nobility: not maintenance upon present moral levers
n"i IN beoe certain that natural!sm furnsso no
motives adequate for these aitanmenis
Turning then to the chief spiritual truths so
valuaby emphasized in writings OF recent date. DF
Andrews spoke particularly OF two OF them:
one is the office Of religion in promoting c'viiiza-
ton and progress and me other, the fact that N
obcyins this mighty impulse toward advaheGd nv men
have. without fun cons rousness been snliru " d
profoundly rational nsEEn' ThS hI' tS oa ICON by
Mr. Ealfour. Religion has been a .eailne Il ~, Mt
alnos; the sole efficient factor in social cF"iuA1r
survival OF the Attest OF development through strife
and right up through human HE, inrousn me
forms Of life is to degenerate; not TO ADVANCE ir.
rstiona; man nae not drrd MIN Inc cxactinc
conditions OF progress ana sh,lufs,e '-in n irY,"
furtNer AMI further behind
tn npuls, and The rational ooas.dcraiions that
prompt men reAo.utey 10 enter into the tsn, OF
In. resisting FOR themselves and the race ne tenn
ency t. run down are at bottom religious fI,si'1,
has not gone on answer TO naiural'uc t,'',;iSS'
or selnsAne.s OF any kind hut IN spite OF se"'Si-
ness Al tn ,owcr promptngs OF our nature oP-
pose H. The motive power j. rchg''h ,, 80
The proposition OF naiurtiism tnai me ulihsr ai
parently confronting our senscs are .@ 80, 30 ro,yn
able realities the realities most Ger amy kr'Mn
is an out-and-out Assumption Practically SUR as
We NAV be that there ia world outside u-. We HA'r
ro,hiug that car be called proof that th'fc - ,Hi
sensations mast have cause; the -uS,"s'on %
w1rd supplying such cause IL natural am W.
are Justified IT, accepting ihat n!Poih,'9 M."m y" ",
rrd that II enables Us 20 forejlige ne stream Oh
rerccniions, winch 1t Is put forward T. explain
do not believe with 'lr baI'pn ma ma any
ascane from these perplcNiuce - p''slnle VI,
less We are prepared to bIne to the r,niy -
~ world IN. Irs suppo.iiOn that IT was me "''"
-" rsiionaI BEING who made q intel ishl" ana ~
,se same time made us in however feeble fash'oh
allie 70 undcrstand H.