The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-06-09
EARLHAM COLLEGE.
Prof. Ebert Russell on the Greatness
of the Christ Life.

Special to the Indiana polls Journal.
RICHMOND, Ind June s.-The bacca-
laureate sermon at Earlham College was
preached in the chapel at Lindley Hall this
morning by Prof. Ebert Russell, a
graduate student at Chicago University,
formerly head of the biblical department
at Earlham. His text was from Gal. V, 6:
For i'm Christ Jesus neither circum-
cision availeth anything uncircum-
csion: but faith working through love-" A
freer translation reads: IF a man is a
Christian. neither circumcision, nor the
omission of it, is of any importance, but
faith, working through love is all impor-
tant." Mr.. Russell said in part:
THE history Of st. Paul may be epit-
omized in the words of an unknown sage:
The way of life is wonderful; ii is oy
abandonment Ii was by abandonment
that he grew TO be. after his Master. the
most powerful influence in history, the
greatest expounder Of the religion OF Jesus,
the man next to Jesus whose life We can
take as an example of the highest in human
attainment He abandoned not only his
sins and his personal ambitions, not only
his ignorance and prejudice, not only
mistaken path for correct one, but he
abandoned also his birthright, his right
eousness, his achievements, his place and
power and even his ideals. All these were
temporary. perishable. He cut his life loose
from their bondage, their mortality and so
lives still.
''It is our privilege, as we'll as Paul's, 20
live in an age which calls TO abandonment
and 10 life. Change and progress in all
lines of activity is a commonplace of our
thought The modern conscience for
truth as found in the individual experience
and the pursuit of IL regardless OF cost or
consequences have made it necessary 10 re-
write every department of knowledge. The
adoption of the theory OF evolution alone
did that. No textbook written twenty
years ago ADEQUATELY represents present
knowledge The discovery OF the laws OF
nature and the resultant control over nat
ural forces have changed radically the in
dustrial and commercial activities OF men.
Religious thought and practice have
not been able TO escape the influences or
these changes.
I'm the midst of these changes many
have begun to say neither circumcision
availeth anything nor uncircumdsion
about things many OF US prize as eternal,
inimitable truth; about forms OF thought
and institutions about social customs and
religious rites and beliefs that seem TO us
to be the supreme prize, to embody all that
is worth while In human endeavor We are
tempted to feel as the Jews in Paufs day
felt-that the faith, hopes and privileges or
the fathers even that all good, all truth,
all religion are disappearing in devils
chaos, and there is nothing In Slgnt 10 take
'The greatest that is required of or that
can be given by any man is the duty OF d.
recting his own life. whether in public or
private sphere, according TO the spirit that
gives and asks not back, guards the wei
fare of others regardless OF its own, that
|
treats the enemy as the friend. and that
overcomes and removes evil by good. This
is to be done, too, not as a work or su-
pererogation not as a luxury. but as
do It is for us to make an oasis OF love in
world OF selfishness where life's weary pill
grims when they come to us may rest in the
| shade Of ministering palms and refresh
| themselves with waters not fouled with
| contention and hate.
This is not an easy way of life. I would
IL
| task in life and betrayal or my trust as a
minister of Christ TO offer you a task that
would not be difficult. The vigor OF your
| youth, your intellectual powers and your
! gratitude TO parents and teachers, 10
| church and state for the fuller life they
| have opened to you by means of the educa-
eager 10 achieve the difficult. Jesus Christ
| honored us all when He set before men the
most difficult OF all iasks-the achievement
| OF the divine ideal You will find IL hard
| to leave behind the heritage Of ages OF ami
nal DroDensities and unbrotherly conflict.
] harder still to break with the traditions OF
selfshness and egoism that finger In our
! institutions and bring 10 bear upon US the
weight of custom and social law. But Jesus
did this difficult thing, and by virtue of the
1 spiritual power whose sources He disclosed
| to me we may initiate His life.
ut is in the so-called petty duties Of life
1 out OF which character is formed and in
which IL is expressed that the life OF love
1 is hardest Only those who are truly great
| can do loves service without STOPPING
! without humiliation. Only in the con-
seriousness Of divine origin and divine
| destiny can we. too, take a towel and wash
| the feet Of men who feel too great 10 do the
service for themselves or their brothers
The distinguishing greatness OF the
! Christ life is open 10 us all. Ii is such as
| this: 10 be a peace with all men so far as
| I'm us lies, TO relieve the friction and soften
| the jars Of daily contact with men 20 bear
| the ills Of life. great and small patiently.
| to forgive readily, 10 return with Kindness
rather than 10 ignore petty Sights. and 10
| live above the jealousies and scandals OF
| social intercourse. And this not i'm a spirft
| Of stole self-sufflciency or proud indiffer-
| ence. but from the strength of love sym
| patty and patience. II means 10 guard
| carefully the rights OF others while not in
| sisting own. 10 use our abilities and
| superiorties only for the common good
| to choose an occupation as a means OF sun
| plying the wants Of men. TO keep the ideal
| and 10 use wealth as a means az serving
| others. of brotherhood perpetualIy incar-
nate before men that they may feel by the
| power OF living character the awfulness OF
sin, the beauty Of holiness. the greatness OF
| love"