Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-06-26

The baccalaurcatc sermon preached
Prof. S. i. Emerson Mt the univer-
~ gymnasium Sunday afternoon
as. in part, ms follows:
~ came that they may have Life and
ny have it abundantiy. John y. 10.
Life! Abundant Life That is the
nversal quest That is tho sufficient
JASON for the existence of this spin
Ing globe. The sea. the soil, The sur
bundnG atmosphere itself are crowded
it'll urgent life germs. tnnumbercd
,'rs before man appeared the life strug-
g began Into the midst of It man
rs been ushercd Primitive man in
b. society he created changed the
anncr of the life struggle, hut con-
uncd IL with sharpeued intensity.
ribcs. races. civilizations, In their
ager oues. are still entanged in the
bcvjinble life struggle. What is the
Iusning OF it all? What is the goal
nd what is to be the outcome? What
Life and why should the one thing
hich all men desire be subject to this
hcvitablc conflict? Long after Moses
I'D codifed the Ten Commandments
nd Socrates had proclaimed the
Drenacy of the moral law: Just when
AUGUSTUS Caesar was transforming
cres BETTING her worldwide sway-a
obrew youth from the remote hills of
udea proclaims the abundant life which
~ men eagerly crave.
Let us try to generate into the mean
hg OF Jesus astonishing statement.
esps certainly means that life does
OF consist in possessions What one
as. is no evidence of what one is
Pie struggle TO possess is not a struggle
pr life. 1t is for the most part miss
ng of the way of life. 1t is n pursuit
x the shadow and n neglect of the sub
tance. 1t Is the error of foolish
|uerile. shallow souls, who mistake
appearance for reality and show for
oidity.
And Jesus would say that a civilization
|uilt up about possession, however
proud and puissant and however solid
IS foundations may seem to be, has not
he promise Of the abundant life with
|ut which its massive walls are destined
% crumble. its fair artistry withcr. and
It's treasures of skill and ingenious in
|ention perish For possessions are but
vestiture for life: never l,fe's sub
|ttute.
And Jesus would say that the creations
f power are in similar case, empires.
governments, constitutions, the vast
fabric of the constituted state. these
fontain no promise Of life. They may
|orm by hap a convenient scaffolding for
fe'e protection, but are much more
liable to cause its repression. They
hre not the instruments of lifes action,
but skilfully articulated devices for the
restraint of Maynard impulses for the
ntransigeance Of life or rather for it's
ravesty.
1nordinate ambition, overweaning pre-
Bumption, consuming lust Of power, the se
destructive forces which originate in the
human soul, must be restrained, sub
|ected to regulation, surrounded by the
network of custom and legislation. The
vast mechanism which enfolds society
may regulate, but it cannot augment life
md least of all create 1t.
And Jesus does not connect his promise
Pf life with knowledge. The accumu-
ated store of knowledge contains little
bf life-giving impulse. The vast mass
pr knowledge consists Of endless re-
terated traditions, ancient maXims the
minute chronicle Of mans varied expert
ence. but with little recognition of his
life springs.
These substitutes for Life which men
have pursued so eagerly Jesus rejected
He showed their emptiness and their
futility.
THE TYPE
This Hebrew youth presents the type
Tor all human development. In Him is
disclosed by anticipation. the prescribed
goal for the institutions of men. for the
organization of society, for the ideals
OF art and literature. To attain this
goal, to multiply this type of man a
Thousand fold, to reproduce in unlimited
measure this fountain head of Life
this central source Of control, OF Judg-
ment, of creative activity-this is tc
assure to men and to society participa
tion In Abundant Life.
This type of man appeared opportunely
The old fabric of society composed OF
rival sovereign communities was dis.
solved. The old faith in patron deities
was being undermined The old artistic
Impulse which had held aloft noble
ideal was losing vitality.
The world was being reconstructed, al
races. all tribes of men, all religions
all cultures were being gathered into
one comprehensive human association
The word humanity had gained currency
Essential man IL Invested of his acct
dents. 1t was fitting that distinc
type of man should be recognized and
goal set for ultimate achievement
It was at this moment that this Hebrew
youth appeared and announced tn,
promise of the Abundant Life and il
His own person redeemed the promise
disclosing the hidden sources of self
directing, self-animatng, self-perpetuat
ing vitality with its Unreasonable posi-