The Portland daily press., 1896-06-29
CHRISTIAN OPTIMISM.
Subject Of Colby's Baeealaureate
Sermon Yesterday.
BY EX.PRESIDENT HENRI Y F. ROB
BINS OF ROCHESTER,.

Views of the Natural Optimist and Natu-
raj Pessimist Equally Partial and Dan
gerous-Optimism of Christianity the
Only Safe Faith--Addresses at yesper
Service by DIR. ShaiIor Matthews.
Wateryille, June 2S.-The commence
ment exercises of Colby University be-
gan this forenoon with the baccalaureate
sermon by ex-President Henry 3. Robins,
now of Rochester, N. Y. There was an
immense crowd of people in the Baptist
church where the services were held. The
theme of the speaker WAS Christian Op
tism." His text was from Romans,
xv:13. The speaker said ''In view Of
the statement of a student of the current
phases Of society, that Gray ..melan ncholly
spreads over a questioning and disillus-
ioned age I think such theme and suoh
text appropriate for sermon to young
men, just going out to contribute to the
work and spirit Of the age. In the text
| Paul discloses the secret of the quench-
| less hope that upbore him on eagle
wings from the beginning to the end of
his marvellous career. The question for
| us is.-How can we catch his spirit?
How can young man maintain hopeful
ness am i'd the inevitable changes, dis
couragements and ills of human life.
1.-TWO opposing voices reach him upon
entering llfe's battle one of natural
optimism 1.-THE other Of natural pessimism.
The views of both are equally partial
and dangerous. A pessimistic view dis
courages all high ideals and lofty achieve
ments; the optimistic view shuts out
half of the facts Of life, conoeals its haz-
ards and nourishes self confidence ana
self-indulgence, which Is fatal to high
character and noble action.
| Between these extremes stands the
clusively on the bright or dark side of
things, interpreting both by Christian rev.
elation and harmonizing both in a consist
ent scheme of thought and action.
"He constructs his optimistic scheme,
first by assurance that God is q person,
morally perfect, known by external reve-
lation Of the historic Jesus Christ, and
| by the eternal revelation Of Christian
| experience. Ali things in nature and
| life, work together for good to them
who love God. God puts into them as
means of discipline of life, according to
their capacity and fidelity, His holiness,
power. wisdom. love and blessedness
/ Il. 0rJ SFo
minister ofeglory to be revealed in them
| God sends no man, whatever his heredity,
capacity and environment, into the
battle of life to inevitable final defeat.
If he accept Gods plan for him, he goes
to certain victory. He is heir Of God,
and so is heir of the future. From him,
whateve- the past may have been, what
ever the present may be-. the best is yet
to come Not backward to the good old
times does he look. The complete real
ization of Gods thought for him waits
for the perfected city Of Gcd. Onward
and upward he looks for better man
and better times through triumphs, de-
feats, joys and sorrows. Through life
and death he presses forward in the reso-
lutte, God-inspired hope of the Christian
optimist, both for himself aud race, ever
singing as he goes: "The best is yet to
be-"
| A new feature was inaugurated in the
college chapel at p. m, in the form of
vesper service. The chapel was crowded
with students, alumni and townspeople.
The service was led by President But
ler, and an address was made by DR..
Smaller Mathews of the Chicago Uni
versity, formerly professor of history at
Colby. His subject was, "The Scholar
In the Kingdom of God"
| The speaker said the kingdom of God
was essentially the fraternity to be grad
ually attained by men; that every effort
for good may be regarded as an attempt
at realizing this fraternity; that the
realization involves spiritual, rather
than material forces; that tho Christian
scholar mustSbe sharer in this advance
and must furnish an abstract ideal of
better social life and aid in its accom-
plishme Mt thus becoming an element in
the formation of Christian society.
The anniversary sermon before the
Boardman Missionary Society was
preached this evening by Rev. Fred M.
Preble of Camden. His subject was
Goods Great : Gift" The sermen
was "a plea for the dedication of the
students entire powers to God
| A. II. Evans instructor In Greek and
Latin at Coloy University, has been
elected principal of the WaterviIle high
school in place of D. T. Bowman, re-