Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1899-06-30
IN CAPS AND GOWNS.
THE COLLEGE CLASS OF so JolNe
THE ALUMNI.

"Old Midd" Holds Her Ninety-Ninth An
nual Commencement-A Week Full of
Interest to Alumni and Undergraduates
The Exercises in Detail.
The 99th commencement of Middle
bury college is a thing of the past, but
its memory will linger for life time
with the eighteen young men and women
for whom it possessed so great a signifi-
canse. In all those respects which 90 to
make up the cherished memories of the
graduate, it was in every wise the peer
of any that has gone before.
President Brainerds baccalaureate
sermon, which on Sunday, the 25th,
marked the first event on the program
for commencement week, was listened to
by large audience at the Corgrega
tonal church. At the time fixed for the
beginning of the services, the grad
uating class filed in in caps and
gowns, and took seats in the first pews
The music was in charge of Mrs. G.. d.
Miner, who has for many years made it a
feature of this service. On this occasion
it consisted of an organ prelude from
Wely, an anthem from Mendellsohn,
"Rest Ye in Peace" by the choir; solo
by Miss Ella Bond, the anthem "Dream
of Paradise Gray, by the choir, and the
closing hymn, "My Faith Looks Up to
Thee" The choir pieces showed the
careful drilling of the large choir by
Mrs. Miner.
President Brainerd read chapter from
the Bible and gave the opening prayer
For his sermon he selected Lev. V: Il,
and said in part
The text LEV. V: ~ directs our atten-
ton to the Importance of correct religious
beliefs. A knowledge of practical truth
is one of the most imperative duties laid
upon us. Good motives are not an all
sufficient guide to right conduct we
must be guided by the best light of truth
that is obtainabe. God has given us
reason to enable us to act wisely as well
as conscience to enable US to act Justly.
The evils which naturally result from
erroneous beliefs are not in the least
mitigated by the believers sincerity.
God in Judging Us may Tighten our con-
demnation in view of our ignorance and
good intentions. But natural law is in
eXorable. If pick up a piece of hot
iron, it will burn, even though | had
good reason for thinking it cold. If
believe in the doctrines of sensuality,
the wretched debasing consequences of
such life will not disappear because of
the sincerity of my belief. All error is
harmful it is born of the father of lies,
and in producing mischief and failure
and discord it is true to its parentage.
The days of The inquisition are past.
The world has learned the absurd made
quacy of such efforts on the part of fall
lible men. But God the nfallible Judge
still holds an inquisitiOn. He requires
every man to do his, best in ascertaining
the truth, and has fixed in the nature of
things a due punishment for all real
heresy. 1t behoves us to be "sound in
the faith, hot perhaps as others count
soundness, but as it appears to us in the
best light afforded by reason and revela-
ton. Read correctly, interpret correctly,
think correctly, teach correctly, act cor
rectly is the mandate that comes to us
from the bible and from nature, from
God and from conscience and if we dis.
obey it, we do it al our peril.
During the past college year 1t has
been my privilege, in the daily work Of
the recitation room, to study with you
the laws that govern our mental life and
the ideals that should shape our conduct.
Some of US have walked little way in
the footsteps of the great thinkers of the
past, in their attempts to explores the
mysteries that surround our everyday
life. You have doubtless been impressed
by the fact that what we know is but a
fragment of the great universe of truth
that lies about us. The lamp of knowl-
edge-Or, il you please, the searchlight
of science-illuminates, after all, only a
small region In the vast world of realities
But let us remember that this limited
region is the sphere in which we move
and live. God has given us faculties
that are sufficient for the practical needs
of life. His word is lamp unto our
feet, and light unto our path. 1t was
never intended to reveal objects that lie
far off in the distance; but 1t shines
brightly and clearly on the duties that
lie Immediately before us.
You have come to that point in your
life where you may be said to have
reached your intellectual majority.
Hitherto you have been pupils; hence
forth you will be rather teachers. Till
now you have been largely under the
control of parents and instructors, here
after you will be guided chiefly by the
dictates of your own wisdom and con-
science. We can wish for you nothing
better in this parting hour, than that
under Gods blessing you may be wise in
your day and generation; that with all
candor of mind you may seek to know
the truth; that laying aside all selfish
prejudice, you may see clearly through
the coming years the pathway of honor
and of duty. So may your lives be a
source of good to others, and you your
selves attain to the highest ideals of
manhood and womanhood.
Sunday evening at s o'clock the an
niversary meeting of the christian asso-
Citations of the college took place in the
Congregational church, and they were
very largely attended, many people from
the country driving in. The address OF
the occasion was delivered by Rev. Mar.
tin Evarts Cady, ID. D., of Chicago, ILL.,
He took for his subject "FrendshIp as a
Motive to a Higher Life" AS in the
morning services, the music of the choir