The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-06-12
PRINCETON'S RfCCIL4URE4T E.
President Patton Alludes in II to the Drey-
fus Case.

PRINCETON, n J., June 1l.-princeton's l52d
annual commencement was begun this morn
ing in Alexander Hall with the baccalaureate
sermon delivered by President Francis L. Pat
ton to the members Of the class OF 'o3. The
academic procession. com posed of the trustees.
the faculty and the graduating classmen
formed in front Of Nassau Hall at 1880 and.
wearing caps and gowns. marched to Alexan-
der Hall. Seats were reserved on tho platform
for the trustees and professors and in tho body
OF the hall for the seniors. DR.. Patton said in
part:
There is prevailing impression that men
are losing their hold upon religion. and that
scholars are having n hard time with Chris
tanity. | do not know why II IL so or whether
1t is SO. ! imagine that the opposition is more
in the feelings than in reason. Christianity is
worthy OF the scrutinizing attention OF all men,
and especially educated men. Education con-
sists OF two things. di scipine and information
An educated man must have an answer to
moral problems; he must have theory OF the
universe. and he cannot interpret this world of
thought without putting God back of it. He
must have some theory of society. Some OF
the questions he will have to answer are Do
] exist for the State +? Am absolutely at its
DISPOSAL? If you are endowed with immor-
tally you are intrinsically OF more importance
than many States.
Then comes the question: For what does
the State exist? II the individual is not i'm
mortal 1t may be that the function OF a State
Is to get the greatest possible pleasure, for the
individual. Z necessary by force. In that
the army its idol. do not take this view OF
the functions Of the state. and. therefore, |
pray from my Utmost soul God speed the ship
that bears that lonely prisoner across the deep
to "A verdict OF justice and to reversal OF the
verdict that has deserved the execration Of the
nityili 1aI NO ri | u
because / see the awakening OF that country
to a belief that there is such a thing in the
lief in common justice. They say that ,Zola,s
novels are not nice don't know for don't 4
for Justice and thank him for it.
then there is the question OF the patholog;
zeal contlti9ns OF socletyiwhoth,shr S Sft W,
the problem with Christian charity. These
should think upon and ask himself For what
"kelgion is worthy of the attention OF edu-
Gated men. and when have said that | sum
it all up with the words. What shall it profit a
man II be gain the whole world and lose his
In his final remarks directly to the ,Gradu.
ating class. pr Patton conEratuIated them on
the interest he and his colleagues would have
in their future. He closed his address as fol-
1T will be hard to plod on with bare recog
milton OF your honest work when men through
crooked methods win success. but it Is for you
to do your duty without complaint and to en-
dure hardships as good soldiers, of Jesus
Christ You are to 20 out to war against wrong
in the world. Besides the task OF suppressing
rebellion within the empire Of your own self
hood. you are charged wit tn the responsibility
I Of reinforcing the moral forces Of the world.
The weapons of your warfare are not carnnl,
but wisely used and with the skill which your
trimming should have given you, they are
mighty to the pulling down OF strongholds Of
evil, Take, to you the whole armor of God {;
quit you like men; be strong; and may God.
Who only can. give you the victory"