New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-06-13
DIR. PATRONS SERMON.
STIRRING WORDS TO THE GRADUATING
CLASS AT PRINCETON.
CAUSE AND HAPPENINGS OF THE WAR DISCUSSED
IN RELATION TO NATIONAL MORALITY
AND GODS PROVIDENCE


AND GODS PROVIDENCE
Princeton, y. j.. June l2 (SpeciaD.-Presldent
Patton delivered the annual baccalaureate sermon
- the graduating class Of Princeton University
In Alexander Hall at II o'clock this morning The
hall crowded by commencement week visitors
and many were unable to gain admittance Inc
usual academic procession was formed IN 'front.'
Of Marquand Chapel at 1920 n. m. and moved
promptly TO Alexander Hall, where the exercises
OF the morning held The procession was
headed by President Patton and NJ. Taylor Pyne
OF the Board of Trustees followed by Colonel
John T. McCook and J. W. Alexander. also OF the
Board OF Trustees. After them came the Uni
yersity professors In academic gowns. with bright
colored hoods indicative of the various depart
ments. and finally the four classes of undergradu-
ates. The senior class marshalled by Robert
". McKevey tho junior class by James L. Crane
the sophomorcs by Walter G. Booth, and the
freshmen by II. H. Braly. the presidents OF the
four class organizations The senior class sat In
the body of the house on the lower floor during
the sermon. while the members OF the otNel
classes took seats in the galleries.
The presidents subject was THE Idea OF Cod
taking his text from Acts xvii. Is: I'm Him we
live and move and have our being lie said IN
part
The idea OF God holds very large place In hui
man life. 1t matters not how we got tnlS lued.
We have II and 1--WE In II, me 'dea ems ms 81
whenever ee; al the conception OF ruin Lr ruin
We ind that onr world is = world Of thought re-
lations must we not conclude t .and SOM mem TO
exist The idea energies likewise wnen we A.
tempt to cOnstrue the universe. II is also tIie
necessary decomposition and postulate OF all sci
cntnc endeavor. Those engaged IN mgtaph! S,Ts
have the ide, OF God back OF them In order IT., 10
accomplish anything. The trouble has been IN the
as 3a' s sst ha ie b S% but the he
terialist has attempted TO cut away the
evolution no knowledge could ever get start Bu5
even II 1t did get started. how could we trus. ~
in God how can we trust our belief In evolution :
want something to s1ara az dee this tns must feel
that back or me there IS everlasting thinker
istence s OF God might be summed in the two
words and inhnity EmplrcSiy N wg nm, must
have been a cause Metaphyscally, we conclude
that II there such cause lie must DC III
finite. allwise and an-powerful
NATIONAL MORALITY.
At the close President Patton said:
Gentlemen OF the Graduating Class: wish 10 Ca, Ca,
your attention 10 some OF the obvious lessons that
follow from this discussion In the hrst pIacc; ~, H.
II you give up God you abrogate the command
mentS. but If you believe In God; right IS no MAJ
OF cxpcieucy interest. And right Is mater is,
that concerns nations well as individuals Just
now all Individual interests are subordinate to those
or the N 2nona 1n moray PhG war IN winch we
are engaged. far the natural history OF II -
n maj is he confidence OF two streams OF feel
ing. which. meeting at Washington, became an
overwhelming torrent one was a ieeInE oorh h, %
Christian influence. and the other ieenng wh pn
might easily have found expression Wi'1ou1 any a.
from religion. II Is your prlViese aia du'y "S ,ho
Gated men to 20 back ~ ethical emotion ana IN INC
light Of ethical principles reacn an cth5Sa' noei,i
IN answer 20 The question "ls II right Inc moran
qu, stion as to Inception OF hosties has been SUI
perseicl by the emerring moral questions respef.
Ing the use That is 10 De- mu' oi t''r ne ~,
tory What we ought 70 do Is 20 Dc deterinineu'
but hy strictly moral considerations II Il or even
less importance that a man should D" tsht t'ai
f1at be- should mean to Doe tight FOR he may 20
p.~s respect for the fundamental Obligation 70 seek
10 DO rlgnt Rcm,mbcr that National morality an ana
National morality Is tho aggregate y Individual
morality and asain what TIE NATION rorS .ne III,
dlfidual feels naturally that he can anord 70 mn
tnt-. National ~rons-ioug must DO irTeparable In
jgfy TO private morals
PRovIDENcEs PRESENT LESSONS.
Again l want you to realize the fact that there
Is a rational doctrine OF Providence There is such
thing rs the logic OF events the inevitable re-
srf tic innrcn OF history. the spirit OF the as"
And we fc,l our helplrssncss In its presence. We
protest IN vain We say Will not merge our
personality IN the stream OF public sentiment But
We are oyerporne Tho impsrlous ought capi ,a-
Iltes 20 the stubborn is And when II Is all over
Tcconcii" ourselves TO th. situation by Saying
"nd ln view. now. b"lcN. IN i@'','c'Dr "oa' ,
mean that feel sure Of how God regards mat
~, "God agree Si win mc": nor does belief IN
Providence absolye IN" from my duty TO have an
H. logic OF events shows that It Is right to do
wrong But can and do take a somewhat opti-
mis'ic view Of 'he word In The Lght Of Gods
providence / must do this or else surrender my
sc.f 20 dreary atheism We are having some
very important lessons IN Providence now. History
knows NO retreats Every step wc TAX. shGts me
door behind us The boom 81 Dewsys can mon
ncioss the Pacific has made us forget for the tine
being at least the Farewell Address. ana mas
brought the Monroe Doctrine into new set OF re-
ia;. ons do not pretend 10 say what God means
by this war beyond the adyanc" OF CIVILIZATION,
of r,us Christian
strcng thouing OF the bonds OF friendship between
ourselves and blood relations beyond the sea
But should beltie Providence if saw only new
outlets trade In the promised prizes OF war, !
am sure that except as serving moral ends. God
Is not Interested In our expanded schemes OF com
mercializatlon-
THE WHOLE DUTY or MAN.
And stln again bid YOU use your lie under the
great idea Of serving God. DO your work always
as tn the great Taskmaster's eye. II is your duty
10 serve the State. but remember that you do not
an immortality that Will outlast the State. /, may
he your duty 10 serve the State peril.
at sacrlnce. OF life. But whether you are called
TO such service or not remember that there are
der great public service. And I'm referring TO these
forms 81 service | may be permitted to remind
you OF the typical public man OF our age and race
who has Just gone 10 his burial In Westminster
Abbey: the typical University man, may add,
who gave his splendid powers 10 the state. and
through his long fe combined In rare degree the
excellence OF high scholarship strong and consc!en
tlous statesnanship and humble Christian faith.
And 80 he bore wilhou, abuse
The grand old name Of gentleman.
DETAINED by every charlatan
And sai.sd b. all gnobs use
But It IS allowed only TO few to attain to con-
sIicuous place and influence In public affairs. /
would have you remember. however. that. after ALL
the most potent public service is that which Il
col, mi Christian