New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-06-25
NEED OF ACCEPTING NEW TRUTH.

NEED OF ACCEPTING NEW TRUTH
PRESIDENT BARRows AT oBERLIN COLLEGE
URGES HIS HEARERS NOT TO BE PROVINCIAL.
Oberlin Ohio. June - (speciaD-In the great
tent the college campus. before large audience
President Barrows delivered this afternoon the
bacCalaureate sermon, The Study and Appro-
praton OF Divine Wisdom" He said in part:
It is painful adapt ourselves to new conditions
unless our minds are always hospitable 10
Church is not moving forward in the lines which
have become dear to them. associated with the
Iege life and with their own successful Iabors but
that the fooshness Of God is wiser than men Tas
divine activity advances In many ways II We CON
only as he works in our Church. according 10 our
methods. We may ind after while that the age
mas passed us by, that We are stranded. that our
ofS soma 0f ,b Is gone f2j.1d ., .b Moody one
that ne was in dsnser OF Ss G 9 some IsuT Of
his wide usefulness because he appeared unable TO
adjust himself 10 the new truths OF the Holy
amid their past successes. and may discover that
renaenfs Of he od 9espsiTn ana beatbe spirit
SIN pervadinG Christian society. Buried in the
sutotionany conservative find in previous ages
their highest ideals and. like the Chinese OF 70,
old times not for the good time coming. Alas. for
the presen II Is Ignorance or
which makes one believe that he would be glad 70
dspel deusion. but delusion returns TO each one
The wisdom Of the past is invaluable; it is a
fippant mind that does not reverence it. there Is
need OF caution In accepting what Is new All
in education and politics are not new gospels Of
Intellectual and social salvation In the life OF the
college and the community and ofNthe church, ana
in our own individual lives we may be In danger OF
not stepping bravely cneerfully out into the fuller
freedom, the broader spirit, which Oberlin has done
so much to make possible The world has accepted
many of the great lessons which this college has
taught from the beginning. but, like all other in
sututions that have wrought great things; has she
not herself been exposed TO the peril of becoming
self
Freedom and self-government are ideals for
schools well as for the State. Institutions must
spirit and tendencies OF time. Barriers already
broken down cannot be rebuilt. Rights and prtvi-
Ieges granted cannot be revoked. Doleful COM
plants that the world moves on IN ways We 90
not like will not restore the past OF command the
future. We ought 10 believe that God is working
as lovingly and as wisely now as ever before. We
the intrcaCies and complexities and freedom Of to-
day the simpHCties and restraints OF sixty years
ago. any more than We can compress the music OF
into the simple form OF the GreSorian
Chant. And remember that enlargement OF soul
and wide Widowed intellectual and spiritual hos
pitality becoming to those who are learning In
Gods great school In this age OF commercial and
spiritual cOsmOpolitanism you must not re-
main provincial. Whatever concerns humanity con-
whole worlds redemption proves himself wanting
In n liberal education. I almost envy you what
your eyes will of the twentieth century when
shall have gone hence, the churcheS or thr1st
brought together great social problems solved. ma
tlons drawn into brotherhood the area of bar
harism reduced, peace the worlds law In the
and for those and other tolls you will need grow
ing equipment OF mind and soul. You will require
ethical for dilettantSm, wisdom which the study
OF literature and life has humanized a wisdom pro-
foundry respecting the past, yet emanctpated from
the despotic control Of tradition