The daily morning journal and courier., 1907-06-24
THE YsLE BACCALAU AUREATE.

THE Y4LE BACCALAU UREATE.
 The reason why the annual message which the President of Yale University bears to the graduating class and through them to the outside world Is watched for with more than the conven- tional interest Is because the standards of Yale life are believed to more nearly represent the American standards of life than those of any other American institution of learning. This Is not so because other institutions are so much lacking in superior moral and intellec- tual qualities as because 1t has remain ed the policy of Yale to accept as her guiding principles the faith that guid- ed the founders and early patriots.
 Ever since the first baccalaureate was preached at Yale by a clergyman of the Congregational church the theme has been pride in country, faith in its mis- sion and preparation for the fulfllment of prophecy. That was the theme yes- terday of President Hadley, the distin- guished lay preacher. Each preacher has adopted his own setting for the theme and has addressed it and dressed 1t as he preferred, but no one has ever failed to dwell impressively upon the duty towards the country which an ed- ucation at Yale imposes. It would seem in the ordinary movement of things that this annual obligation on the part of Yale's spokesman to point out the path for Yale men to follow would in time box the compass of the finest thoughts and the most sympathetic emotions, Quite likely this has been done already and that nothing original remains to be said. but the helpful fact does remain that each graduating class as 1t appears demands to hear from the lips of it's own leaders the truth re- spoken, and to it's ear the truth comes in the raiment of revelation. It is that need of the graduating class which makes the task of the preacher not only easy but aided by the surest of insplra- ticns. the affectionate interest of his audience.
 Men are apt to rate higher in value statement which comes from one of their own time provided 1t gives express sion otheir own convictions and inward aspirations. For this reason the follow ing paragraph from President Hadley's baccalaureate yesterday will find a ready assent from the young men about 10 go forth to do battle with the world as well as from the older men who have been in the fight and tasted it's sweets and bitterness. The first group believe with all of the affectionate ar dor of early graduation that the follow ing statement is statement of Yale fact; the second group know from ac- tual experience and close range ob- servation that 1t is true. It is this: "The only safeguard (against the temp tations of the world) is to extend the conception of Christian honor in our social relations as we extend that of Christian clean Illness In our personal relations; to makes up ones mind once for all not only to hate lie, but to hate the false system of standards that will either leave the way open for deceit or dis cuss the possibility of a compromise with It." It Is by firing just such a simple expression of the philosophy of contented life at young men about to graduate that untold good is done, for 1t not only has the reinforcement of the preachers known earnestness but it appeals to the reason of man kind.