New-York tribune., 1901-06-10
"FAI7H is NOT CREDULITY.'
so SAYS DIR. RAINSFORD IN THE BACCA-
LAUREATE SERMON AT COLUMBIA

The baccaIaureate sermon to the graduates of the
colleges of Columbia University preached yes
terday afternoon by the Rev DR. w. S. Rainsford.
rector OF ST. Georges Church. who spoke THE
Exchanging Demand Made Man for Belief"
The service held in the gymnasium. the gradu-
in caps and gowns occupying the space in
front of the platform. The platform occupied
by the faculties of the university and the choir and
orchestra. The professors entered in procession.
followed by the Rev. DIR. George r Van De Water.
chaplain of the university President Seth Low and
DR.. Rainsford
The chaplain read the service and the music
furnished by the choir of St Bartholomews.
sisted by some of the members of the old choir of
ST Thomas's and accompanied by seven brass IN
struments- The music was conducted by Richard
Henry Warren. of ST Bartholomews.
Dr. Rainsford said in part:
Good men sometimes differ about the reasonable
which faith is waning In all other depaTIments ,
mans life is at the hOw not at the ebo; We live
not all of them foolish tell us that this largeness
of knowledge is not consistent with faith. Others
more intciiigent more vital faith than man has
ever knowh With this latter view l am most
No thoughtful student believes that Jesus made
He demanded nd s faith 1 from 9 all We % demand faith
from men, and we are confronted by new eondi-
ton There are multtudes outside the Christian
Church as good, so far as we can Judge. as those
inside, There men who believe that il would
stultfy the best within them if they would comply
all departments of knowledge other than religion
cling the idea that faith and creduity have
something In common They believe with the boy
who defined faith believing things that amt
So This inane conception keeps many from
ceptlng the inspiring and uplifting force OF God.
we see credultty taking the place of faith and
working men up under conditions which make for
nervous exhaustion and end in moral desolation-
Falth Is the exercise of part of Ourselves-the
fenSlOuS instinct. Man advances in the evolution
of the race till the is satisfied with hearing
nor the eye with seeing; then he lifts himself
something abOve-he prays. AT "A certain point I'm
mans development he falls on his knees Man has
the instinct which Graves for God Men have
IhOuSht that this new knowledge would wipe out
talth but IL has not Yet been digeSted and trans
| lated into the vernacuIar When il is will
ind that instead of faith being something you
! 10 make bow and apology for il is the highest
\ attribute of the human being to thirst for God.
Man refuses development on the very part of his
! life where development is most essential Faith
mas 10 De adapted If it is to live If il has be-
adapted 1t has to change You hear il said that IL
II changes IL is not true. Just because IL is
| does change Change. change change is the rule
| faith that satisfied time satisfy longer
| look beyond and look above and see that God is
/ vital
Does this consort with she principles OF Jesus
Christ? say yes. say this who makes
no profession to scholarship that il is the opinion
0 0l ihe most profound scholars Faith Is not be-
| hevtng thtngs-t is bowling in reverence before a
/ person who represents the noblest in man and the
! DeSt IN God Recall those from whom the Lord de-
manded faith Not one knew a single thing about
| am not saying single word against the necessary
/ development OF doctrine by the Church, In q.
multitude OF cases, from the nature of the
fOrsook the main line of the faith that Jesus pro-
/ posed
| When the lamp of the soul goes out life is not
worth living l was once called TO the deathbed OF
had failed. He summed it all up in the words Il
| have groveled."