The times., 1901-05-27
FREEDOM THROUGH TRUTH
The High Mission of Scholarship Is
to Avoid Prejudices.
In the BnccnInurente Sermon TO
Graduates of Columbian University
Dr. Greene Advises Cultivation
of Independence of Thought.

The baccaIaureate sermon to the mem
bers of the graduating classes of the Co
lumbian University was preached yester-
day morning by the Rev. Samuel H.
Greene Acting President of the institu-
tion, at Calvary Baptist Church. Every
available seat in the great auditorium
was filled, and on the platform with the
Rev. DR.. Greene were Prof, H. L. Hodg-
kins, Dean of the university; Dr. Need
ham, Dean of the School of Law; Prof.
Monroe. Dean of the Post Graduate
School; Prof. de Schweinitz, Dean of the
School of Medicine, and Prof Hall, Dean
of the School of Dentistry
The theme of Dr. Greene's discourse
was THE True Mission of Scholarship -
and was based on the text. John. viii 30,
The truth shall make you free In de-
veloping his subject. the speaker said:
mo man comes free into this world of
ours He is fettered by ignorance, mex
perience, and complicating tendencies In
no other way can we account for the
waste and wear of life IL is the child
in his ignorance and willfulnesS contend
ing against the mother. the iil-adVised
citizen arraying himself against law and
order, or the honest but thoughtleSs work
man contending against the conditions
which are really the judge and hope of
his future.
ne mission OF ScnolarShlp is 10 leau
men out from the tyranny of ignorance
into the freedom of truth. None are free
save those whom the truth makes free.
"Oue might infer from much of COM
mon conversation and literature that
truth has no real existence, but this is a
matter of individual opinion. 1t would
remind you that it has-and it is ours to
find and obey. l cannot see that it is a
matter of conscience and judgment, more
than the law of gravity. 1t is the law of
life. If conscience and Judgment accord
with it one is. most fortunate; but if not,
it is still the law, and penalty must fol-
low its disregard.
Truth was incarnate in Jesus Christ
not a truth. but the truth. AS one fol-
lows the stream upward, he comes at
last to its fountain head; so, following
the law of life to its authority, one stands
In the presence, not of shadow, but OF
a life. 1t is the presence of Him who Is
the Truth.
''It is possible to know the truth a
link of the methods employed are found
i'm the connections of the text Christ had
been saying to his disciples: If ye con-
tinue in my word then are ye my disciples
indeed and We shall know the truth. In
other words. if we are faithful TO the
truth already known we have IN that
faithfuness the guarantee OF larger ap-
probation of truth.
freedom. He Is free whom the truth
makes free, and all are slaves beside. In
its clear light the darkness OF ignorance
is scattered partisanship dies and sin Is
borne from us as far as the East Is from
the West.
1T is no mere superficial freedom which
is guaranteed by the truth. 1t frees mind
and heart as well as hand and foot.
In concluding DR.. Greene, turning 10 the
graduates, said: Young ladies' and gem
tlemen, l congratulate you on the courses
of study you have completed, and :he
honors you have so justly won. | wish
you a large and prosperous future. !
would leave a word in your minds. so sim
pie and yet true that when drifted far
from those familiar scenes it should be an
abiding inspiration and strength.
IF you are to represent Christian edu-
cation as represented in this great uni
versity, you are to be disciples of the
truth, slaves to no sect, to no party, to no
prejudice, but abiding forever in a pas
sionate desire to find and appropriate the
truth. In the high mission you are to find
that freedom in which it has pleased God
to make men free.