Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-07-01
For Brethren and Companions
Sakes the Theme of His Dis
course Yesterday.
The 10TH COMMENCEMENT
The REV. DIR. c. v. Grismcr the Spe ak
%r Mt the Y. N. c. A. Anniversary
"A. n. lockwood, Jr., q. w.
Powers and ID. w. Harris
the winners at Speaking.

given by President NJ H. Buckham at
the First Church Sunday afternoon,
the large auditorium being well flied.
Shortly after 8 o'clock. the class. In cap
and gown, and headed by President
Buckham and the Rev. F. G. Guthrie,
entered the church and took seats res
erved for them on either side of the
center aisle at the front The marshais
were r. w. Collins of the academcal
department and F. F. Phelan Of the
medical department. The medical grad
yates number SO and about 70 will grad
uate from the academical department.
the number including Il generous sprink-
ling Of young ladies'
The Rev z. g. Guthrie read selections
from the scriptures and offered prayer
after which the church choir sang Shell
iey's anthem, "Hark Hark. My Soul"
President Buckham then delivered the
sermon. which follows:
THE BACCAI.AUREATE SERMON.
For my brethren and companions sakes,
will now say. Peace be within thee.
Psalm CXXII. s.
These words suggest two reflections
which flow into each other, first, how our
personal affections humanize places and
events and secondly, how these personal
affections furnish the motives to what
we think and do and are
For my brethren and companions
sakes, It was the heart of Israel ycarn-
ing toward Zion which here utters itself;
It Is the universal human heart voicing
its interest in places and events because
Of the human personalities associated
with them. Jerusalem was the geogra-
phical and political capitol Of the
Israelitish people. AS such II was in
their eyes imposing and august. But ii
was much more: It was the seat Of Israers
patriotism. the center Of Israels religion.
Thither the tribes went up; there they
held high feast; present to their eyes II
was their glory: distant from them 1t
filled their imagination. One Of their
poets said Of Is:
Thy saints take pleasure in her stones,
Her very dust TO them is dear"
From these poets all later enthusiasts
have borrowed phrases wherew1th to
express their affection for sacred places
Who that has a human heart in him
does not know the spell which sanctifes,
glorhes certain spots of earth. and who
II no stops TO think. does not recognize
as the chief element in the charm
the personal touch which gives it's color
and distinction? Scenery. beautiful or
grand, has attractions In and of Itself
for every eye that has soul behind it,
Mountain. lake. forest. ocean: the
Valclusa fountain, the blue Danube
Alpine peak and glacier. Niagara,
canyon, geyser: wonders and glories in
Vulnerable; I'LL this magnificent earth
which the Creator has given to the chill
dren Of men. But one CLEAN Of humanity
one touch Of human nature. outbids
them all in It's appeal to the human
heat. Once on a time while a throng were
gazing enraptured upon the gorgeous
scenery OF the Yellowstone. mother
eagle was spied circling around her nest
on a pinnacled crag. bringing to her young
food snatched from the gorge a thousand
feet below, and for the half hour during
which this daring feat OF motherhood
was being accomplished the scenery TO
the spectators might have been a thous-
AMI miles away. When the train stops
at Niagara ten minutes to give passengers
sight Of the cataract. three-fourths of
the men keep on reading their papers. Is
It conceivable that there would be any
such apathy, ever the part OF
habitual travellers, II the train passed
in front of Mount Vernon. or Gettys-
burgh, or Arlington? Tho earth has
In all It's lands spots which have
become memorable because Of som.
human incident some tragedy, some
heroism. some supremely interesting
event. sad or joyous which the hui
man In us delights 10 feel over again.
1t is this that sends people not In other
respects sympathetic with what IS
grand and deep In life. roaming all over
the world, that they may get into
touch with the spirit p d sentiment that
has made certain places memorable.
Why are so many Americans more Gag
er - see Europe than their own coun-
try? IT is because their own country,
new as yet. scantily stored as yet with
historic memorials and associations, at
fords them comparatively few incite-
ments to that kind Of admiration and
reverence, that large sympath'' and sor-
rows. which to feel. gratifies. and we
may say flattens our sense Of the hui
mainly within us. The history Of the last
generation. crowded as II has been with
events OF tragic and pathetic interest,
has added to these memorable places
In our country more than all the preced-
ing generations. And thereby Is our
country enriched emotiOnaIly and spirit
tually, even though the enrichment has
In It large. heritage Of sadness both
for us and for our posterity. This pro-
found truth, that things memorable in
human history are to 80 large an extent
pathetic and tragic, the great Roman
poet felt and uttered In that untranslat-
able pharse respecting the ::tears which
are in all mortal things" II this is a
pagan philosophy which may conduct US
through the Inferno of lifes experiences