The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-06-08
DR.vAN DYKES BACCALAUREATE.
Not Simple Life With Flabblness anu NOT
strenuous One With Set Jaws.

| PRINCETON, N. j., June THE Rev. Or
Henry van Dyke preached the bacca
laureate sermon to the graduating class o.
| Princeton University in Alexander Hal
| this morning. There are, he said, two
| phases of life that are being talked about
a good deal at present the Simple life
| and the strenuous life" But the simple
| life which blandly ignores all care ant
| trouble, all evils and conflict, soon becomes
| DR.. van Dyke declared. "fabby and IN
| vertebrate, sentimental and gelatinous,
| and the strenuous life (which does
everything with set jaws and clenchee
fists and fierce efforts soon gets to De
strained and violent, prolonged nervous
spasm." There is, he asserted, golden
mean between the two, life that has
strength and simplicity. courage ano
calm, power and peace, and that, he SAID
is the life Of the man who strives to over
come evil with good.
Evil" said Dr.. van Dyke, ais potent not
So much because it has command OF money
and battalions, but because 1t has control
of the hearts of men. 1t spreads because
human hearts are empty and ready TO wee
come the uncean spirit 1t persists De
cause too much of what we call virtue Is
age virtue-the poor piety which terminates
in a trembling anxiety TO save our own
souls H.. :,
There are monstrous evils and vices In
society. Let intemperance be Tor US tne
type Of all, because 80 many oil me o'lers
are its children. Drunkenness ruins more
homes and wrecks more lives IMAM war
How shall we oppose il? do not say thaI
we shall not pass resolutions and make
laws against it, But do say that we can
never really conquer the evil IN inns way,
The stronghold of intemperance lies IN
the vacancy and despair OF men , '' inhar
The way to attack it is to make the SOBER
life beautiful and happy and full OF m
terest Teach your boys how to work.
how to read, how to play, you fathers,
before you send them to college, II you want
to guard them against the temptations
of strong drink and the many siiaine ,'e any
sorrows that go with it. Make the lie OF
your community cheerful and pleasant
and interesting you reformers, PROVIDE
recreations which will not harm them II
you want to take away the power OF the
gilded saloons and the grimy boozlng denS'
Parks and Fairgrounds, Libraries ailh reauI
ing rooms, clean homes and cheer1us
churches. these are the efficient foes of
intemperance.
You will find monstrous falsehood
disguised in sentimental costume IN the very
modern comedy OF Christian Science when
dresses tDe Upuldl VI eNi III poo.o'a'
of white frock and pink ribbons Ike an in,
nocent shepherdesf among ngsol lamos scs hy,l
1T does not exist. A most persistent
nothing, most painful nothing. e Eyii
is as real as the fire that burns you, the flood
that browns you. Evil is negative-yes'
but it Is a real negative, as real as darkness
as real as death.
The positive way is the only ettlclent
way to combat intellectual error and spirit
ual evil Ny bro others, if any of you are
going to be preachers remember this, what
we men need is not SO much an answer
to our doubts as more nouri shment to our .
faith. The positive method is a lso the
only way of victory in our struggle with
the evil that dwells in our nature, Many
men thrust the vice out and then forget to
lay hold on the virtue. They evict the
unclean spirit and leave vacant house
To cease to do evil is important but to learn
to do good is far more important. Refor-
nation never saved man; transforina-
ton is the only way; Try negative, re.
pressing religion, and you may live, but
you will he an invalid. Try positive, vital
religion and you will be we'll"