The New York herald., 1922-06-19
END MORAL LAXITY,
ANGEL URGES Yale
Says Changing Standards
Put Strain on Character
of Educated Men.
LEADERSHIP is A DUTY
Also Warns of Disregard of
Law in His First Bac-
calaureate.
HOLDS SERVICE AS AIM
Thinks College Man Who
Fails to Advance Humanity
Unworthy Of Privilege.

n.
NEW HAVEN. June 1S.-RounainE or.
the first year Of his service as presi-
dent of Yale and delivering his first
baccalaureate sermon in woolsey Hall.
President James Rowland Angel this
morning besought the members of the
graduating class to make service to
humanity an object in their lives;
to obey the law and to refrain from
drifting with the current as far as
morals are concerned
President Angel took as his text
For unto whomsoever much is given
Of him shall much be required" and
dwelt on the duty of the educated
man toward the community. The
great strain put upon the character
Of the educated man, he said, is found
in the changing moral and religious
standards of the time and particularly
because OF the rapidity and violence
Of the changes. 1t can hardly be
doubted, he continued, that in the
United States. at least, the violation
of law has never been more general
or so widely condoned as at present
This Is fact. he said. which strikes
at the very heart of our system Of
government and the young man en-
tering upon his active career must
decide whether he, too, will condone
and even abet such disregard of law,
or whether he will set his face firmly
against this course. The effect upon
his own character of the decision he
makes, as well as upon the COM
munity in which he lives, Is of the
most critical Importance.
Again, President Angel went on. there
is widespread belief that the relations
between the sexes have undergone ma
terial relaxation in recent years. that
marriage Is daily less OF a sacrament
and more OF a transient adjustment In
the lives OF those directly concerned. The
university and the community have \
right TO demand that the educated man
should not merely drift with the current
Of the set in which his lot(may chance to
be cast but that he should look thought
fully and earnestly at these issues. and
others like them, and stand courageous
ly for those ideals and practices COM
mending themselves 10 his judgment as
most likely to promote a sound and
wholesome society.
Religion Under Fire.
Traditional religion. the speaker con-
tinued, is under heavy fire. Many pros
porous and worldly minded individuals
find It possible to disregard 1t alto
gether as intrinsically inconvenient
while others OF a more intellectual caste
regard II as a remnant OF the super.
stition of primitive man and beyond con-
sideration OF the educated. Others pro.
claim a fatal clash with the teachings
OF science and attempt to compel the
young student to choose between the
denial OF scientific evidence and the ac-
ceptance of true religion. Though these
are difficulties of no mean order. the
world has a right to expect that the
young educated man will come through
them with a saving faith In the primor-
dial place Of Righteousness and love In
the world. and reverence for the spirit
ual significance OF personality, which.
after all. lies close to the heart of ali
religion. and especially of Christianity.
Certain II is" said President Angel.
that no man who sees life whole. as the
EDUCATED man may be expected to do.
can disregard religious experience as one
of the majestic and enduring forces in
human life"
Educated men. said the speaker. arc
expected TO possess trained intelligence.
breadth OF intellectual outlook and Il
capacity for hard work, and their failure
in any one of these rudimentary re-
ouirements constitutes an indifferent o.
the education received, and every institu-
ton must be willing to be judged by tho
success OF students in meeting this test
Society having selected the graduate To
receive the most effective training
known. the community has a right to ex-
pect in return a sense OF obligation to
serve that community.
Concerning Life Task.
THE college bred man who does not
conceive his task in life as one COM
pelling him TO make some contribution
TO human advancement. as we'll as a
means of supplying bread and butter
and starting n bank account, Is unworthy
OF his privileges. No business which
cannot be thus justly conceived as pro-
noting human welfare can retain the