The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-06-26
Retiring, President of
Yale Says His
Farewell.
LAST BACCALAUREATE SERMON
Tells About the Reward of
a Life Well
Spent.

New Haven, June 25.-Presdent TIM
othy Dwight, the venerable retiring
president of Yale university, today
preached his last baccalaureate SER
mon before the graduating classes Of
the academic and the scientific depart
ments. This service was rendered all
the more interesting because the &C.
casion was also the fiftieth anniversary
of President Dwight's own graduation.
Many of his old classmates were in the
chapel.
The graduating class occupied the
greater part of the body of Battell
chapel. All of them wore the academic
robe, and with the many visitors from
out who are here for the com
mencement season, the scene was ole
long to be remembered. A remarkable
tribute of respect and affection for the
venerable president was witnessed,
when, Immediately after the benedic
ton was pronounced, the entire body
of students turned instinctively toward
the central aisle through which the
president passes out of the church, and
acknowledged his farewell with silent
was noticeably affected and the hushed
audience was deeply impressed.
President Dwlght's sermon WAS
based on the words of the Goth Psalm
Thou makest the outgoings of the
morning and evening to rejoice" His
sermon was very simple, it evidently
being his desire to express in a WY
that was very personal his deep sensi-
bility of the fatherhood of God, and in
his own language, he said, he looked
back over his own history and was
moved to express his heartfelt graft
tude for" said he, Il see evidences
there of the existence of a loving IA
theirs care and leading. want no evil
dence that does not belong to my own
life to make clear to me the existence
of father and God"
The sermon was devoted to the de-
velopment of the thought that lie is
a constant growth from youth and i'm
maturity to old age. He compared the
course of life to a long and bright sum
mer's day which in successive periods
gradually and evenly changes. His
own time of life, he said was the late
afternoon. The uncertainties that face
the youth leaving college change to the
stern realities that confront the men of
affairs, and these In turn change to
success and achievement. To the old
man who has run his course comes the
reward of life well spent. In this
period the sweetness of the memory OF
a successful life and a conscientious
striving for the supremacy good cheers
the old man in his sunset hour. This,
the preacher declared, to be the hap
piest and richest period Of mans earth
ly career, and the fact that with ad-
vancing years man does not feel him
self anything but young, he believed to
be an evidence of immortality.
His address was largely Of retro
spective and personal nature and en-
bodies the principles which he has often
repeated to the classes which have met
him more directly. He desired on this
last occasion of his meeting the student
body as university preacher to set be-
fore them the belief which has cheered
and guided him. In conclusion Presi-
dent Dwight spoke feelingly Of the long
vacation which now opens up before
him. He looked back upon his career
and found in it more of Joy and happi-
ness as the years have gone by.
At the close of the sermon President
Dwight added valediction in the most
solemn and impressive manner, his
voice often choking with emotion.