The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-06-11
I feeling

on wrong bases. but instead of feeling
above them, instead OF withdrawing,
partially or wholly, from the contest, he
rather plunges into the thick Of the strife,
appreciating his gifts in proportion as they
are of use to others, and not as means
of self glorifcation.
',Ihe man that enters upon his college
course may not feel n spirit beckonlng
him TO some special work, but he cannot
finish that course without recognizing the
spirit of the age calling for trained and
well armed men Never, rs ut the present
time. were such opportunities held out 10
the college graduate. But only by those
that are willing to humhly affiliate with
their fellow men, only by those that feel
that they are sent not To be ministered
unto but to minister, can these opportun-
titles be improved.
Old and New Insights.
James Tucker, .Jr., the second speaker
at the, tres chose for his subject "Old
and New Insights," An aostract is as
follows:
"Tbe human mind is constantly put
ting questions TO the universe. The divine
wonder that Plato makes the starting
-reint-ef philosophy -aB-evef- active
principle OF our nature, provided TO coun-
teract the world WEAKNESS OF the race.
In each successive generation Is rekindled
the freshness of youthful curiosity, To
stand as a mehace TO the security of
tradition, and the indifference of scepti-
oism.
"A nations history is the history Of its
ideals The moral worth of an age is
measured by tho height which the popular
conscience has attained. The indefinable
temperament of people mOulds It's
traditions, and these In turn react upon
the national life, until the ideal is crys-
tallized In the actual Greece worked not
from tho aesthetic sense, which was her
dowry, the unity of the good and the
beautiful, thereby planting the roots OF
duty in the soil OF the emotions. Rome
imIosed upon the nations the yoke OF
sovereignty In obedience to the orRaniz-
ing genius of her people; but subser-
viency to- law, which for time was an
instrument TO found her empire, became,
when misapplied u weapon for its do
struction. The Greek ideal was indvid-
ualistic but perishable. like tho beauty
IL enshrined, the Roman was national,
but lacking in spiritual impulse,
Seli.denial for society personal inn
mortality for the individual reconstructed
the pagan world on the basis OF Chris
tianity. Christianity itself, which with
stood the brunt OF barbarian invasion
and marshallcd the peoples ot Europe
under its standard, has suffered peryCr-
sion from time 10 time, which only
draughts from the vital stream of current
Thought have availcd TO remedy It's
medieval yestments have been laid
away. the modern garb assumed. The
church no longer Insists upon geocen
trio astronomy nor upon literal accep-
tatiOn OF the Scriptures.
lit Is evident that the Christian doctrine
has crossed the threshold Of another cycle
of change. and that 20 preserve its inilu-
ence uninpairod 10 has consented Co au-
other rehabilitation. Modern science
knOrks Ut The pOftaIS or feIIRiOn Wlth the
alternative Of war on alliance. Religion
has agreed TO translate her truths INTO
terms of our most advanced enlighten.
mont Co cast off tho slough cf creed ana
dogma and Co assert her essential human
iiy. From tho worm To man. from man
to what we make him, heroin lies the
responsibility at once and tho incentive
for .ho race. Here Is a hope such as never
inspired martyr on saint before.
"Our own generation Is the hrst 10