The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-06-19
DELAWARE
COLLEGE
Commencement Week
FormeraIly Opened
There Yesterday.

Newark, June l9-Commencement week
at delaware College was formally opened
Yesterday morning.. Rev. John Y. Dob
bins, D. D., Of Montclair, N. J: preached
the annual sermon before the Y. NJ. Y. A.
Tie baccalaureats sermon was preachea
last evening by Rev. Henry baker, OF
Grace Church. Wilmington.
1he college oratory WAS filed with stu
don, and their relatives. DE- Baker chose
his text from First Kings 2. 2: BE thou
strong therefore and show thyself man
.'The text OF the evening marks tran
sition point In the history Of Israel. A
great career Is closing anu u new career Is
lust beginning. A soeptre Of rule failing
from the hand OF the father is received by
his son These moments Of transition
sometimes give to US clear and adequate
views of truth. You are standing at the
close OF your life Of preparation, and are
beginning life of action. The counsel
of David to SonOn Is, therefore, appro-
priate for your guidance.
David must die; no personal affection
of public claim eau hold him on the throne
Of Israel beyond his time. solomon must
take his place. 1t Is this sense OF inevlta-
bio responsibility which gives to you It's
pathos and charm. There was tlmeli,
ness in this transfer of authority. Full OF
years and honors the aged king retired,
and fresh and vigorous the now sover.
eign accepts hisItask. solomon was called
to dominion, and to this each age cum
mons every individual life. David speaks
to him not Of the routine OF adminlslra-
tiou, or the order of royal duties, but d,-
rects his thought to the springs OF power
resonant charactec itself.
Zach man is cause in the moral
world; he is responsible for his own ca.
reer. Materials and opportunities arc CIV .
en- but the edifce OF manhood is erected
largely by his own diligence and devotion.
strength Is condition OF success. There
is a weakness OF body, intellect ana spirit.
You are to brace yourselves in every Iac-
ulty for ex.t else and endurance. ln order
TO rise to power you mast take seflou'
cheerful md comprehensive view: Qf ire
Shadow and sunlight meet together in
your conception, Your creed must con-
ccrn itself with here and tho hereafter
the earthly and the heavenly. You are TO
be strong you must not live superhclal-
ly; you must turn 10 tine sources vi hho"-
ledge and inspiration.
'sYou ore to be men, and yen are to
show Yourselves as men. Life is not spec
tacular but 1T is lived IN the sight OF the
race; you canhot curtain Of cohnne IL.
You are to be gentlemen, recognizing chat
courtesy IL the fine accent in which oil
truth must be spoken. You must have
cause, some concrete, practical phrase OF
thought or action, chanpioned by you ior
the worlds bGtternent. NO community
has been helped, no church reformed, no
i'll hurled bleeding and dying to the earth
except by the power and passion OF dolne
strong right arm.
"The age in which you live invites to
service by splendid inducements. May
your life 10 devoted to The highest ideals
and blessed with the nobcst inspirations
You may enter, If you will, lordly chlv-
airy, assured OF absolute victory.
Senior, will hold their class day exercises
to-day and the defamation contests Will
take place this evening The proRam Tor
the remainder of the commencement ls:
Tue. day, II a. m.-AIeeting of the board
of trustees in the assembly room Reclta-
ton nall. 8. p. m.-Anniversary celeDra-
tion of the Athenaeun Literary society
Wednesday, 1l.3o a. m.-Commehce
ment exercises. Orations by the members
of the graduating class; presentation OF
prizes; comforting Of degrees; address py
ii. b. b. Stnplcr, of New York city l.ao
u, m.-Luncheon in the library for vlsi.
Tors and friends of the college. Reunlon OF
the classes Of '73, "a, rs. '76 ~, '7s and ~
2. 80 D. m-Meoling Of the Alumni Asso-
citation in TIE assembly room, RECITATION
Hall. y. m.-Exhibltion drill of the Del
aware College cadets Sp. m:-Annlver-
sary celebration Of the Dolta Phi Literary
Society.