The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1911-06-19
WILLIAMS COMMENCEMENT
PRESIDENT GARFIELD DELIv-
ERS BA(CALAt REATE.
Tells Hearers That Men Nowadays Act
without Considering and cites the
Initiative. Referendum and Recall
as Evidences Of Popular 1mpatience.

Icus heuvtTS BudN NVWuuayS wv
without considering and cites the
Initiative. Referendum and Recall
as Evidences Of Popular Impatience.
WudIAMsrowN. Mass. June 1S.-This
is the day when Williams College begins
to take account OF itself for another COM
mencement.
Ninety odd young men heard from
President Garfield that from now on
they must shift for themselves.
But President Garfield made the bacca-
laureate sermon as pleasant as he could.
He told the near alumni that their places
here cant be taken provided they do their
duty.
The alumni of OF her years began coming
on Friday and by last night the reunion
houses of iWs. 1906 and the other five
year classes were going almost full blast.
A band came this afternoon and by
to- o-morrow there will be many more.
There won't be a reunion class without
! its perpetual concert and accomplished
conductors
John + Russell. professor Of philoso-
ply, TO whom commandments are serious
affairs. conducted the service Presi-
dent Harry A. Garfield. however. preached
the baccalaureate sermon.
= DR.. Garfield told the young alumni.
one of whom is his son. James Garfield.
valedictor of the class, that he wanted
Williams College to understand its obll-
CATION to the country
If our relation to the body polite is
in any wise vital. and believe 1t Is. he
7 told them. "A paramount duty rests upon
| Williams College to keep itself strong
4 efficient. a place where not only intellec-
I tual things are exalted but where body
and mind are held in subjection to the
spirit. to the end that we may send forth
leaders eager to serve and able to ad-
vance the standards of our national life
leaders conscious of their mission because
their preparation is complete
DR.. Garfield declared that the college
graduates Of 1911 have different job or
their hands from that Of the graduates
Of half a century ago. There are more
of them for one thing. and none Of them is
supposed to keep quiet. Men nowadays
are impatient with deliberation. They
act before they have time to consider
thoroughly.
Il venture to say he remarked. that
Isaiah would be voted slow. he would
be urged to get busy to get out and do
something for Judea. his critics never
suspecting the eternal quality Of his
meSsa ge to the world. But our impatlence
with de liberation is not confined to busi-
ness and social relations only. II is
everywhere. from the forcing of fruit out
of season TO reforming society by leglsla-
tion.
We mistake popular desire for popular
will" proceeded Dr. Garfield. who il n
brother Of James r. Garfield. Secretary
Of the Interior in Mr.. Roosevelt Cabinet
If our Legislature move, too slowly. We
prod it with the initiative. If IT pursues 9
course contrary to expectation we c,irt
it with the referendum. In our i'm
patience we recall executives and ever
propose to violate the sanctuary OF
Justice and drag judges from the bench
because. daring TO consider and to know
they render decisions contrary 10 popul1i
feeling.
Il do not mean TO say tha, Legislature
are models of wisdom or that courts ar
: inerrant Indeed. they too are afflicted
with the disease of the times. ] meal
merely to point out the way in which We
: the people. 60 feverishlv about this i'm
por,ant matter of living and governing
Ne are failing in our selfi-mposed tas
partly because Of the selfishnees an
, greed of men. but also because We NOV
1 about too constantly and too rapidly I
, consider and to know anything
> Another. and what Mr.. Garfield charac
teri7ed the most serious arrangement 7
{ be brought against Va nowadays. is tha
Y we aren't religious any more. but merel
q moral Tho next step, he suggested
r might he rebellion against morals. jus
: as many have risen against the authorit
I I Of religion
e. ",'unest doubt Is an evidence Of III
and strength no said, hit these VIII
= d. not consider who 10 not know. cannt
I d, Mt Inc man or woman who repid
a'a- religion hecause II interferes wit
MS pleasure will the more readily ~
aside morality"
lhis afternoon there vas meeting
Mission Park. fat of ground upon whit
y lrI wears ago Williams students forme
the first foreign missionary organi<atic
IN America The Rev DR. Chaunc,
Good,ich. who graduated from William
in 1881. and i back for nifty yea- reunlo
,, spok. ot missionary work in emma.