The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-06-17

The First Baptist church was filled to
overhowing with very fashionable au-
dlence yesterday afternoon. when Rev.
W. III. H. Faunce ID. D., president Of
Brown university. preached his second
baccalaureate sermon.
The Seniors. wearing caps and gowns,
marched down the aisles shortly after i:3O
o'clock, and took the front seats re-
served for them.
Or. King of the First Baptist church.
read the scripture, and after Offering
prayer Dr. Faunce preached the bac-
calauraeate sermon. The music was eX-
ccptionally we'll rendered by chorus Of
the Glee clubs OF the university and Wo-
man college.
THE BACCALAUREATE.
Cen. l.. 2s "Replenish the earth, and
subdue 1t, and have dominion"
However we may interpret the sub
line first chapter OF Genesis, as prose
or poetry. as history, vision. legend or
prophecy, the essential truth al the heart
OF IL grows constantly clearer. That the
one God. personal and conscious spirit
is the sole source of the visible and var
led universe. that creation is not "A single
act but an unfolding process, an ever
enlarging expression OF the Creator, that
the crown and goal of this evolutionary
process is man, that behind the quaint
symbolism OF tree and fruit talking SER
pent lies the eternal tragedy OF the choice
of evil and separation from the divine fei-
lowshp--this is truth confirmed by all
philosophy and reiterated by daily expert
ence.
But we do wrong TO read that hrst chap
ter of Genesis as simple tragedy. Mil
tons epic may be the story of death
and all our woe" but Genesis is the story
OF life. threatened and stained. but sure
in the end to conquer Nothing that man
has done can change the original verdict,
God saw that IL was very good, or dim
the glory of the original command, Have
dominion" All the other commands of
the Bible are variations and expositions
of the original Have dominion II Is
worth our while 10 ask In what this do
minion over the earth consists, and what
we are doing TO achieve IL.
A LONG REFUGE
In Rhode Island IN 1886 a lonely refu-
geo stepped from his boat on the river
and heard the greeting what Cheer
There was no cheer, save his own in-
domitable purpose. lie had entered a
wilderness Since then tho forests have
been felled. homes built, cities have arisen
and hurrying rivers have been harnessed
20 flying spindles and shuttles.
The meadows have been cleared and
farms developed Where once were stag
nant marshes are gardens: where the salt
tide flowed out and I'm are passing trains
and a noble capitol looks down upon a
happy city In place Of the wiswam
the school: I'm place Of the savage war
cry. the church bell-surcly all the his
tory Of our little state seems the realiza-
tion of one meaning OF the primal man
date. Have dominion"
And this process Of reclaiminE the
waste places of the globe for humanity
e. advancing today with indeScribabe
swlftness The sense OF conquest IL in
tho air The pean OF Anticipated victory
IS heard on every side Formerly the
student who graduated from college was
plunged into cynical world SIS glowing
iron thrust into cold water
But today the world Is aglow rs well az
the cullcge Tho skill and enterprise ot
our generation are penetrating into the
ends Of all the earth. and humanity IL
flushed with the ioy OF conscious achieve
ment. stanley has opened tho heart OF
Africa. and dark continent T. no
more.
siberia Yields up SIS secrets to- the greal
railway. and the realms of ice and snow
arc bccom nC the homes of men. tn,
Nue is damned locomotives climb from
Joppa 20 Jerusalem md the earl n
nbodos OF m1~ become tho some ~ hi,
latest t-ur1phs The isinude ~ IN,
south Pacific yield un their woods ant
spices and pearls az ihe demard cf -
western .natlons ard alrcafv f0utf
America Is ofering lts vast untI2icseS