The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-06-13
ADVICE TO GRADUATES.
The Rev ]. G. Allen breaches
an Instructive Sermon to
Hasbrouck Students.
GODS PURPOSE IN EVERYTHING.
It is to be Judged by the Pro-
vidential Circumstances
Surrounding us.
GODS PURPOSE IN EVERYTHING.


Of Hasbrouck Institute, in the Bergen
Baptist Church, by the pastor, the Rev.
]. C. Allen, D. D. The church was pref
tily decorated with the usual array of
flags, bunting, ported plants. palms,
ferns and cut flowers, and. although yes
terday was the hottest Sabbath expert
enced this year, the church was well
filled. The Hasbrouck graduates. with
faculty and teachers of the institution,
came together aAd made a splendid show
ing. completely filling the front pews
allotted them. The musical programme
was very elaborate and delightful. There
was the prelude, Meditation" on vio-
lin. organ and harp; a chant, Gloria
Patri," by the church choir; List the
Cherubic Host" baritone solo and fe-
male chorus, and during the offertory
service Master Harold Elgas, the boy So
prano from New York, mi Holy Fa-
Their" accompanied by Mr.. Theodore
Arnheiter on the violin and Mr.. H. I.
Pond on the harp
Mr.. Allen took his text from Gen., Kill, 2,
Il will bless thee and thou shalt be a
blessing" The pastor spoke of the call
of Abraham to illustrate the Divine pur-
pose in blessing. gradually leading up to
the fact that education is a blessing and
those receiving it are blessed not for
their own sakes but for the SAKE of hui
mainly. In speaking of this he said
Goods purposes are ultimate in the
brief span of human life as in the majes-
tic sweep Of worlds. He is the Alpha and
the Omega-the beginning and the end.
Throughout the universe He has the initial
- = II a. -xznJ5 il - aIro1,1+d fEHrcfs
and Last And in all the course of His
providence-whether in the individual or
world life-the end is constantly in view
at the beginning. Everything is planned,
everything is adjusted with reference to
that end. So in the Divine plans, the
present and the future. the partial and
the complete, the initiative and the
ultimate purpose, are blended But all
along the development, the present and
partial are subordinate. And so far as the
agency of man is concerned. Leaders are
qualified by discernment of this larger
purpose. Emerson well said. When the
Master of the universe has points to carry
In his government he impresseS His Will
in the structure of minds All this IS
clearly illustrated in the call of Abraham.
The marvellous exaltation Of individuality
by Divine use. the profound significance
of purpose in that use and the most direct
and personal accountability to God as the
honored proto-martyr, Stephen. describes
it in Inspired words. The God of glory
appeared unto our father Abraham and
said unto him., .Get thee out of thy couf-
try and from thy kindred, and come unto
the land which I shall shew thee" Up
into the land of vision came the patriarch
to receive at the overshadowing glory a
command, a life mission to the race. I
will bless thee and thou shalt be a bless
ing. In thee shall all families of the
earth be blessed
ssNot for Abraham's own sake was he
blessed and his name made great, but
that he might be a blessing to others. He
was not only the appointed guardian of
truth of knowledge of one true God in
the world. but the progenftor of a Savior
for all mankind. In both regards 1T was
to be literally true and fulfilled. In thee
shall all families of the earth be blessed
In the concluding words of the promise
is expressed the utmost limit of all his
tory. For beyond the blessing of all ma
lions there can be nothing more
temporal blessings, wealth, influence,
a great name and numerous families were
given to Abraham, but these were only as
a means to the end. God never does
things on a small scale. It is clear that
God appeared to Abraham for a pur-
pose and was the source of all his bless
ings. Just as really is God the source of
a distinct purpose in the bestowment OF
blessings. To learn and apprehend that
purpose is the first step towards its ac-
complishment- We must know where we
are called to go before we can go there.
what we are called to do before we can
do it. God called Abraham, showed him
the land and told him what to do with IT.
The blessing gave opportunity power
to obey. In like manner we are to Judge
by the providential circumstances sur
rounding us what is Gods purpose. We
are to keep constantly in mind, that the
Supreme purpose of God for US IS service
~ ~ A = IL a1o h1accin O &c NOT CON-
ferred merely for the receiver, but for
larger humanity. Every blessing is a call
to service. This Is Gods plan. This is
His purpose. Furthermore, service is the
tons, you are ambitious. Listen, And
Jesus called them unto Him and said. Ye
know that the princes of the Gentiles
exercise dominion over them. and they
that are great exercise authority over
them. But it shall not be SO among you
but whatsoever shall be great among you
shall be chief. let him be your servant.
Even as the Son of Man came not to be
ministered unto, but to minister and to
give his life a ransom for many.
would you see this principle in real
life? Come to Santiago. It is night. A
long, low and dark object is stealing in
shore and running along under the
s SHADE What IT, is Mind + and : what aa,ng is lit It's s
what Commodore Schley described as a
perfect hell of fire. and the Jaws of
DEATH Not merely to bottle up Cervera
not merely to do an act of war, but to
save life at the risk and almost certain
destruction of her own crew. In name
and deed will Lieutenant Hobson and
those men live imperishable while history
survives. Lieut.. Hobson stands today
UNNECESSARILY higher before that deed of
heroic daring and self sacrifice. His SER
vice is the measure of his greatness. 81
again are fulfilled the words of the text:
He that findeth his life shall lose it, and
he that loseth his life for my sake shall
find 1T
"A good education Is one of the great
est blessings that can be bestowed. Its
prime object is not knowledge but power.
1t is not a blessing for its own sake. nor
entirely for the SAX of the individual,
but for use in the service of others. You
Yale student. who. after four years
work, spoke his little piece at commence
ment. and then hurriedly telegraphed
his mother, Educated He thought it
was all done. 1t is fitting to place be-
fore you the ideals of great men and
educators that you may better under
stand your position and work" .
Mr.. Allen here quoted several well
known university presidents and educat-
ors on the subject. Among them Presi-
dent Butler, Principal Peterson of Nc
Gill University, Chauncy M. Depew and
Edmund Burke. The minister then went
on to say
composition. Every educated man IS, in
virtue of that fact, a missionary Of God
for the enlightenment and the uplifting
of mankind. The omnipotent God, giver
Of every good and perfect gift, teaches.
ITO whomsoever much is given of him
much Is required.
The educated man is IN capacity. allied
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