Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-06-25
MARCHING ORDERS HIS THEME
In Baccalaureate Sermon Names
Conditions Prerequisite to
Advancement of Civ
ilizatiOn.

calourc1te service of the 10th commence
rent Of the University of Vermont was
held on the college green SUNDAY aft
crnoon at half-past four o'clock. Pres
ident Guy Potter Benton delivered the
baccalaureate ecrmcn. Between 1900 and
1900 people were In Attendance, and ex-
lressions of appreciation were heard from
all at the close of tho service.
The grove of pines near tho north end
ot the college green formed the getting,
IN accordance with the custom estab-
lished two years ago. The platform was
banked with peorics and roses and ne
ture did all in her power to max" the
exercises pleasant and successful.
Tho procession formed in front of the
Williams Science hall, led by Grand Mar
shall Charles f. Allen and Senior Mar
shals Louis w. Batchelder and George
l.. Steele 1t was joined by President
Benton at his home. The column then
marched northward on University place
and across the green. AT the head OF
the column were President Benton,
Grand Marshal Allen, and the Hon Rob-
ert Roberts, Chief Justice George NJ.
Powers. and the Hon. Elias Lyman of
the board of trustees, the Rev. e. G.
Guthrie and the Rev. c. j. Staples. With
the academic and medical faculties they
marched through the lines of the seniors,
who had split in double ranks.
on the platform were President Benton
Prof John E. Goodrich, Dean George IT,
Perkins, Dean ]. w Votey, Dean J. L.
II a
Dean Nathan F. Merrill The chape
pulpit was placed upon the platform
Music was furnished by Barton's orches'
ira, which played the strains of Largo
for the professional. Guy N Hull was
choirmaster OF male choir of IL.
Prof. j. E. Goodrich gave the invoca
ton and later the prayer. The doxology
and Gloria Patri' We're sung.
Dean George II. Perkins read the frs
scripture lesson. Deuteronomy I. 5-2l
Prof. Samuel f. Emerson read the sec
ond lesson, Revelation XXI, lilo The
hymn, The Son of God Goes Forth e
War" was sung. President Benton ther
delivered the sermon, followed by thu
closing prayer. The congregation sans
Coward Christian Soldiers" and Presi
dent Benton gave the benediction.
PRESIDENT BENTON'S SERMON
The theme OF President Benton's dis
course was Marching orders" based OF
the text eye have dwelt long enough il
this mount" President Benton spoke IL
part as follows:
Movement as a condition of existence
Is universal and eternal. 1t governs
worlds and nations and races and men
and has done so from the beginning
Progress is forever the law of life
There are four conditions that are pre-
requisite to the advancing movement o
civilization: first, leadership; second, &C
tivity; third, rest; and fourth, obedience
LEADERSHIP NECESSARY.
Progressive movements of large bodie
of men, as tribes, communities or nation
are impossible without competent ant
courageous leaders. Observe If yo
please that God called Abraham to lead
ership. Moses was his later successor a
a leader of Israel God reached the ram
and file with the command to move
through the voice of Moses, the recoG
nized leader Of the hosts,
Anarchy Is the eterna! foe of progress
Israel learned by 800 years Of lawless
moss that government without chief
impossible. This was the epoch of tn
! judges, ali when disaster threatened III
! people, the, were quick to recognize quail
! tiles of leadership and follow the self
| constituted or 6ivinely appointed CON
| mandcr as he might direct When tn
/ emergency was past the leader abdicate
! nj bo INT nJIyrV nv
Ill another crisis made leader neces
sary. Anarchy, therefore, Is not, In an
sense, a modern theory. It was tried fc
three centuries by one OF the oldest {
civilized races and pronounced by the
own confession an ignomlnjous failure.
ISRAEL has demonstrated to the genera
lions. by a ftful history, from Its sma
beginning, through varying fortunes
NE tragic finale. that leadership Ia e.
Hntiai to progress. God thunderc
hrough dull ears, TO complacent spri
,he significantly suggestive declaratic
aye have dwelt long enough in tn
mount" but could Israel have move
from the mountain without Moses in II
Forefront? Would there have been
lhosen people without tho leadership
ABRAHAM In the beginning?
WOULD DECAPITATE ABRAHAM.
The everlasting effort to bring all 4
Yace to a dead level finds its presen
day expression in the socialistic prop
ganda. If Abraham were living no'
fanatical reformers, seeking to make g
men of the same height, would decai
tate him. The socialist would cut Off Il
head of every tall man and put eve
3warf on stills The socialistic dogma
Karl Marx. and those of his belief, r
fuses absolutely to give recognition
this essential principle of leadership II
collective ownership OF all the means
production is their demand. This end
socialism Is to be accomplished by ella
var Until the proletariat, stung to despe
alton. shall wrest the power from :
few and. rising from the tyranny of ca
,talism. the buried common people W
come forth in resurrection robes. eve
man to be his neighbours equal Witho
. superior OF inferior. The increasing w
fare of the working classes under the
re of men OF genius and talent, h
giver the deathless lie to Marxism, a
has declared anew the necessity of G
ecutive ability to lead the armies of h
\ mainly forward through service to pre-
perity. peace and happiness
k.rhere, can potr'bg many leaders amo