The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-06-11

The Baccalaureate Sermon Delivered
by President j. j. Mills.

Special to the indianapolis Journal
RICHMOND. Ind, June 10.-At Lindley
Hall, Earlham College this morning, Pres
ident Joseph John Mills delivered the bac-
calaureate sermon in the presence OF
large audience. His theme was THE Spirit
and Mission of Christian Scholarship. and
his text was from Corinthians: Jews ask
for signs and Greeks seek after wisdom,
but we preach a Messiah crucifed.' The
sermon opened with a characterization of
the Jew and the Greek. and the historical
setting of the time to which the text
refers Among other things DR.. Mills said:
Scholarship for its own sake scientific
inquiry as it's own reward. learning as an
end in itself. are brilliant ideals. But when
set over against the mystery and destiny of
an individual human life are they ade-
quate? To "a voyager upon strange seas
alone is the rapture of soul in presence
of newly discovered contingent worth
the isolation and hardship of a journey
if he may not return and place his triumph
at the service of his race? Is 1t worth
while to cross the mountains to supply
the missing fragment of marble statue
If beauty has no use? Is the poets thought
a thing of worth IL Ii bears no message
to anothers heart? To .nese questions
The gospel which Paul preached to Jew
and Greek makes answer in no uncer-
tain tones. Learning and power are only
adequate to the explanation and mystery
of life when they are touched with moral
motive such as is found nowhere save in
the pattern of perfect man laying down
his own life for his fellow-men.
This is the great conviction which Is
slowly taking possession of the higher edu-
cation of our age. Intellectual gifts must
find a vicarious service as their only legit-
mi Trfra lea YnrIC
speak messianic voice to the world.
Whenever learning in any OF its chan
nels touches upon the physical or spiritual
experiences of men, the ultimate truth
and worth of its teachings will be tested
by their conformity with the truth as 1t
Is in Jesus Christ. Pre-eminently In fields
OF social and moral reform-in its bearings
upon the training and development OF the
human mind-in its dealings with the in
dividual and collective rights of men in
the relations of industry and trade-in its
influence upon the civil and political rela-
tons OF men-that scholarship and that
alone will abide and bear beneficial fruit
in the world which subordinates its investi-
cations and conclusions at every step to
the controlling concepts of the gospel of
Christ. The pattern and spirit of the heroic
Christ must be reckoned as factor in
every scientific solution of social and spirit
ual problems of the world. He came forth
from mechanics family and handicraft
is historically interviewer with the person
of Jesus. The background of His earthly
ministry was civic, political and social cor
ruption. business depression and poverty.
the student of sociology must deal to-day
were precisely the experience with which
He dealt. He taught the gospel of the
kingdom of heaven in vital contact with
the same complicated problems Of business
and industrial life that confront the think
ers of to-day.
ut is to the scholarship which is i'm
dued with His spirit and teaching that the
world must look for availing aid. so far
as wisdom can avail at all, in the great
problems of human society to-day-a schol-
arship that does not exalt abstract Chris
tianity while disowning the claims of the
personal Christ-that does not proclaim the
sermon on the mount as perfect ideal for
the contemplation of men, but as impos-
s sibls law for the practical life of men
self to its share in the mighty
tasks that now confront the re-
demptive agencies In human society with
the hope that before the close of another
century the time will ecme when wars will
have ceased from the earth, when there
shall be an international code of laws and
en- international tribunal TO pass upon the
vate monopolies, shall become impossible,
when cooperative industry shall prevail,
and when poverty and pain, suffering and
sorrow shall everywhere receive the min
istries of a practical sympathy among men.
For each of you, no matter what may
be the line of your chosen calling, there
awaits some part In this exalted labor for
the good of mankind. The true Christian
philosophy measures obligation by ability.
To fail TO discharge your appointed part
in the vicarious service of society is to
be unworthy of your training in Chris
tian college. The gospel of Jesus Christ
measures duty by opportunity. Make the
needs of your fellows the door of entrance
into life. In the kingdom of heaven great
ness is measured by service, and he is
pronounced greatest who serves most
Remember that life is not all a question
Of plenty Of room at the top for those of
tough fiber, clear brain and iron will, bat
of the strong and favored bearing the bur-
dens of the weak and unfortunate. Re-
member, too. that some of the highest
Christian virtues grow only in the place
of pain. AS you go out to your high calling
in life let conscience take the lead and
keep 1t well informed
This evening a public meeting of the
Christian associations was held, and DR..
David w. Dennis delivered the address.