New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-06-15
TALENTS PUT AT USURl.
DR. vINCENTs BACCALAUREATE SER
MON AT RUTGERS.
EVERY HUMAN POWER AND POSSESSION Is cAPA-
BILE OF TRANsMUTATIoN-THE DUIf
TOWARD SOCIETY THAT MONEY
OR LEARNING ENTAILS.


The baccalaureate sermon before the gradu-
ating class of Rutgers College was delivered IN
the Second Reformed Church of New-Bruns-
wick. last evening, by the Rev. Dr. Marvin Z.
Vincent, Of Union Theological Seminary HIS
text was from Matthew XIV, -, Thou oughtest
therefore TO have put my money to the ex-
changers; and then, at my coming should
have received my own with usury." He said:
The text formulates universal law. Power OF
any kind attains its true development by varying
ana multiplying it's forms and Applications As ss
force perpeuatcs and preserves itself by cnange
Power is convertible and capable or expression "a
different forms WEI power converts Itself into mus
GUAR power; friction becomes light ana neat, IN III
nature the clements of force are IN constant proc
of redistribution and reconciliation hVery-
Eyer ohcc enSowed with SUSCEPTIBILITY to the
action OF forces outside itself. An acorn, as an
acorn VIII not grow beyond certain point 1t mas
ony limited set OF iunG,oh n 20 .ot yn INTO it,
self and in order 70 fulfil It's destiny, 1t must ex.
form Of life IS evoved only through contact with
appropriate surroundings Lock up your acorn III n
a safe and you viii have no oak. Even when tree
it is not exempt from the law of exchange. 1t be-
comes a part OF ship. 4 factor In commerce or IN
o: in religion. 1t links itself with the enter
prize passion. greed or phi anthropy OF man
This is a Law OF mora! and spiritual life as ,ruy
theme OF Scripture Is Gods development of humanity
into His own moral image salvation, redem ip II;
sAnctihcaton, all mean ultimately me running ..
mans natura endowment into tn ana T9rs
varied the spiritual Ire ilS OF
u tn. lower life for the higher Of the kingdom OF
sense for the Kingdom Of spirit; OF the natural man
Tor the spiritual man. Refusal to eHchaahge your
nfe as a who.e shuts you out from the highest ana
fairest region Of life Flesh and blood cannot IN
hcrit the Kingdom Of God.
AN ESTIMATE OF LIFE.
This truth reveals to us the amazing depth and
force In our Lords words. He that would save his
life shall lose IT, lie that shall lose his l.fe for My
sake shall find IT," Life is not an end unto itself.
Il belongs to Gods universe, not to SET; and tho
life which IS selt-centred not only wthhods Its
contribution from the universe. but cuts ITSELF OH
from all those rich and potent forces which nre
lodged In The universe for II. 10 make II sodnke.
Life does not consist IN mere having possession may
he Gosie!. No man yeth unto himself Noth 1rn
in the universe is or can be an ISOLATED UNI, ne
fact Of possession Is modified ana cqh,to.!er ny v
fact Of re.atiOn. You cannot truly hVe ana mercy
possess II YOU merely accumulate and grow Dig IN
fortune knowledge. culture dettncSS OF aNS'Hihs
else. You are Il monstrosty.
KIND has Us share OF right IN you ana yours, ~
right is inherent natural and divine, Ike the f'ght
streams. the right OF organic connection According
10 thu CUR, 10 phrase. pay the debt of nature Is
80 p' 10 nav n bit to BAY The debt OF nature
liv" and serve. TO put out al our forces AT the eA
th@ pressure Of ministry ana the hard blows Of man
y conflict with evil coin them into new and grander
this law consciously into our processes OF seIedu-
cation. The tree and the animal oDey II Diinuy On
Thou oughtcsi 10 nave put my money 10 the ea-
changers" Ought" has 10 meaning Tor = tr.e:
Our obligation throw out our power ana facuity
into the range OF divine influences Appeals OPP
portunties force lying al tounc our i'e nhysica
strength scholarship, TO the TRANSFORMATIONS OF
the Kingdom OF God.
WHAT A MAN MAKES HIMSELF.
Begin at the foundation. Man is a material being.
He Is flesh az well spirit He has a body with
muscular power scuslous perception AMI appe,ites.
., L.
organism down az 10 original ieshiy ,evel. y
prizenghier keeps his power on the muscular plane
the usury he gets Is development OF the same brutal
forms OF power and the vulgar triumphs ana eInou-
mis- neshi, organism 10 higher uses and 70 nobler
destiny. but the condition OF entering uI" 49,
minlon OF n splri,ua energy, converting physical
power into spiritual 'Glorify God IN your DoaH !.
iusf- or YOU may change tenants and your body
become tho temple OF the Holy Ghost In snort,
materlt being 10 the thrust and transformation OF
His divine forces. Instead Of cu.tvating sensual
saw II Keep io~n the body. strike body blows at
sensuallsm. press toward ne marx ior the prize
or take mcchanical skill The deftness which ha,
49, ~ lm. - frui or violence becomes new
and better thing the moment II puts se.i under the
law OF bcnencen, Industry. Il takes on a new
direction. II Is transmitted into new and gracious
energies SKI. becomes beneicence. Inventive en-
lowmcnt pas into charity. DcNt"ri,y Is Wans-
lated into ministry. The native power aas a dlV.ne
quality conveyed into It and passes up into the rank
The srrit OF God ana workmanshp IT, no; forced; II
Is natural. inevitable ~ thc divine 9rdeT ne MAJ
u,al endowment is used bu; directed 10 hiSh'r eAds
ana backed with "a new inspiration, 49, hon. .Aa,
There Is Language. II - not hard 10 see now that
AMI quality according 70 the spirit which Is DeRini
II anl the nature Of ne mn,'ria4 WIN "m'vm u
d,1,s Rep, GOV n.,ny novelist or ver.iii,r lives and
rcvcs It partakcs Of its SURROUNDINGS ana Is a
power in the generation anu eNpl'ss'n vi ui'i"S
ana debasing ideas know iew more IsrD'S y pas
has formed itself out ~ the atmosphere OF vicious
poverty with IL mseries crimes Sn es an hs had
been crawling through a sewer. a..
great themes Of divine truth. and Is consecratrd 20
their proclamation; how II becomes Fanshkurei
10 nner ,bS ngJiaee Of the New Testament The
Greek language was selected foT th HOSptl message
coplousncss, feasibility, ACCURACY, nervous s'so,
needy and power Of nice dlsuucuoh; Dut II NAG
region than mat IN whch u "a5 no" ,e f1, -. i
such an important part How the 'sospel Nt'i anI
power or adaptation ~ sno" IT. - NIL 49,
purer ideas OF CHRISTIANITY me Hospr. cueI Jew w
posthouse the gai,ey-slavef bench the boxing,
match the foctracc the gaming table; and mitred
sorldness and cruelty TO mlGster at rs own a.tars
When speech has put Itself into contact WIN ,ne
divine economy. II becomes 81 new ana srahuer
power with new and granhef range OF relationship
BY means OF the exchange.
THE OBLIGATIONS OF SCHOLARSHIP.
IT is easy to apply the principle money and 70 all
material forms Of power. If mercy boarded they
vieli no usury ana shrink the soul OF the holder.
Ilut when a man takes the sources OF his wealth
and converts them into co.ege. hospital a iDra-
~ or church. he converts vulgar bulks into spirtu-
al forces. and multiplles their power thousand
fold; IT is a profitable exchange Nor Is the law re-
faxed for knowledge. culture or scholarship whose
natural tendencies arstocratic. selfish ana iso-
latng Culture INDUCES the tendency 10 Isolation
AT the worlds expense and at It's own expense.
Mental training scholarship. culture never attain
their best until they have been thrown into social
contact and have made their acquisitions ana
methods available to society. In short the educated
man belongs to society, and because society wants
him for It's own use IL insists on having hand IN
hia education Pure culture like pure god Is unit
Tor use. II needs the tougher alloy which only
ientIemcn of the graduating class: Each ono
~ vnu r.nes out from these college halls with q