Commencement Week

The following is the addresa of Dr. Angelí, delivered Bunday p. m., in University hall : The teachings of Chris t in depictinji lile abound in paradoxes. The Beatitudes pronounced in the Sermón on the Monni contaln perhaps one oí the most remarkable collections of paradoxes in llterature. Our Lord used these expressions, ■.■ may believe, not primarlly because paradoxical lorms nf speech are sure to arouse attention. but because liis utterancea are simple statements of profound truths. It is eternally and everywhere truc that tlie poor in spirit are b'.essed, for theirs is the Kinicdom of Heaven, tliat they thai niciiirn are blesaed, for they shall be comforted, that they that hunger und thirst after ïighteousness are blesscd. they shall Be filled. Another of these spiritual paradoxpg -hieh our Lord seenis to have l;e n fond of repeating in one [onn or another to his dieiples is that through hmnility we reach xaltation; tiiai we are to move and lead and bless men liy ministrlng servante to them rather than by being served by them. Perhaps in no [id lie set t 11 is lorth more strikinsly and emphatically than in hls simple but wondei-tul worda BDOken to the twelve when tlie mo her of James and John came to ask Thaf hei Bons migbt eit.one on iii;lit hand and one on his lef t hand, in his klngdom. When the ten were moved with lndlgnatlon concern Ing tlie two brethren, lu: nttered those memorable words "Ye know tiiat the rulers of the Gentiles lord it óver theni, and their great ones exercise authorlty over them. Nol so sha!) it be among yon; but who■ would become great among yon shall bc your minister; and whosoever would be first among yon shall be your servant; eren as the Son oí Man carne, not to lie ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransoni for many." This doctrine of leadership througb geil Bacriíice may well 11 commended to your thoughtful considération tod.iy. Jí there ís any class oí persona who are called to the duty and the privilege of leadership, it is the class who like yon have received the advantagefl of hlgher edueation. Let nu' nol overstate the case. Sonie who have received the most ampie and thorough intellectnal training are so wanting in 01 her essential qualificalions for leadpmhip that they follow rather than lead. V.nt the natural endowments being eqnal, the educated nuist and do Ruide the uneducated in a very emphatic sense. Taking the iacts as we find them in our Bociety, the well trained practitioners in the profesBions, the teachers, the stateamen, the editors, the business men of large intellectnal grasp shape public opinión and mold the habita oílif.1 In a very marked degree. lt is 110 tlattery of you to say that you -vill find SPIVPS ealKMl Til IIH1 oí mifunctlon of leadership in greater 01leager degroe. It Ls a oall whlch, I un sure, all of yon are willing, and moert of Jrou ambitiöus to obey. The. conditions "f Buccess ín this Ieader8hlp ii La well for as to understand. Iet us try íirst. to guard againsi Borne mistakes ín interpretln the worde of our Lord, and secondly to examine th grounds apon whicli i', is reasonable to belleve thai the spii-it of self-sacrlfJce i the moral quality whlch pre(iiiiinciitly fits one lor high moral leadership. I. JjOá us notlee somo oitoupous views concernlng what i-i ínvolved in cnltivattng the Clr.-isüan spirit of self-sacriílce. 1. It is tan error to suppoae that such a sj)irit forbida Intelleetual development and culture. Theic is no sliadov of support for sucli a belief in anv teaching of Christ or of lus apostle. On the contrary the wliole drift of theteachinga of tne New Testamen) is a practical lnjonctlon to us to develop. to the utmost our powera of scarcli-. ing alter and finding' trutli. We are ïcvercntly and eagvrly to stiuly (od's waya and God's works. Wc. are to presa on in our quest nfter trnth aa after hld treasure. We are to train and discipline and enlarge our powera of aUDrehendlntt the great thousrht-a of God. Learninx is not neeessarUy the enemy of humillty , but may be its ally. íi i-; pedantry whicb Is proud. Great ecliolarshlp is modest. Historically it has been true tliat wherever the ('liiirch has flourished in reatost purity and power, Bchoole and colleges and universitii's and librarles and museums and all the agencies oí lntellectual culture have sprung up Innumerable om t lic stars ol heaven for the Messing of mankind. And amonsï those fii'eat ('hristian leaders. WÜO liavi' helpi'd to niake epocha in the hlstory of the Cliristian Charco is a long nll of men, who have been equally consplcuoua tor thcir s])irit of Christian se!f saeriHce and for thcir brilliant and profound acholar8hlp. 2. Again, it is au error to supposp that the spirit of self-sa.crifice does not oxist in onp who is consclons of intellectual and moral power. The ('hristian spirit does not do vlolence to the conêtitutlon of our beinx. A man who has markel mental nnd moral torce and so the power ol nfluenclng men cannot grow ii] to manhoort without findiiiü; it out, any moro than agiaut can grow up wlthoni 'indlng out thai he is stronger tlinn u- of hls fellows. lie may be taimln to aay tliat lie does not know anythlng f liis power, l)nt to say so is hypoc■isy and falsehood. It is also true hnt inordinate coneeit may lead a vcak man to believe tha1 hela stronR, md a fool to Tiolieve that he is Mise, md a Pharisee to beliee that he is ühtcmis. Bul a man morally and ntellectually etrong may without n ock of proper humüity before God, in vhose siiiln lie kaows liis strength is ut weakneas, bc aware, after the tesis ■i expertenee. ot t he power a itii whlel) rod has endowed hian, and may lay i 7lans f - leadinít men ai-iuin as bêomes one vrho !s responslble for tho y use ni sncli power. Xay, it ir is his dmv so to lay lús plans and then to execute tliem wïth all liis visor, llis power is a taina given him to ase. But how shall he tisr i i efl c tuaüy, unleea he ís conscious tiiai he - it? in all ages greal mm ol marked endowments, ol strong convictions, oí mighty moral torce nave come to the Iront, speaking as those having autlioiiiy, the autlionty wiiiuh belongs io superior mental and moral power, and ha ve drawn men alter ihi'iii, and yet these leaders have been men o! the eweetesi and most devoted spirit. While then we do nol need to Btifle our consciousiicss ol power, we lo ye1 need tp remem'ber tha1 one ol the beaetting sins of men Is to overeatimate their io'.-. a. lt is au error to suppose thai tl1 spirit ol seli-sacrlltce is incompatible with acense ol gratllication at the approbation ol rood men. The ascetic spirit wonld stille tuis ieeling. Hut it is impoesible to crush it altogetiier. And it is Implanted [n i a good parpóse, lt encourages us and ngi heiva as In rlghi doing. consisteni with the greatesi humillty and self-denial. lt needs to be sharply distinguished trom vanlty and from :i desire lor the indiseriminate praise ol men. lt must nut be ratilied a1 cosí ol the sacrilice ol truth. Devotion to duty must guide as, even thouiïH lor a time tne commendation of good men is withheld. Bu1 when sucn devotion Is followed by thi probatlon ol the puxe and the worthy.wi' may give our hearts up unirvedly to the satislaction which this aifordfl. lt is a foretaste i plaudit ol the last day, "Wel! gl iiKl .111(1 ïaiUlIHl HTïail,. 4. It is an error to Buppose tha1 the spirit of M'lí-sai'riíici' must rob us of (Jelight a seeing uur labora brlngEorth good iniit. and ol the privilege oi manifeating our delight. The tiusbandman may rejoice over the liarveat. With thankiulness that God has crowned bia efiorta with blessing, he may take courage and with all humilIty glrd liiniscü' {(■ ni'w exertion. Nol palled vip wit h unseemly pride over Ms own achievementfl. recognizing hia dependence iiki:i a Eigher l'mivr tor all jiroviilcnti.il ai'ls. lic may becheered and nerred by each worthy victoiy that he wiae íi' more gtreuuous endeavor to find the way ol truth, and to lead men in it to a higher and better lile. In uní' word Chris! ianity doea nol iis to a mean and cringlng and i-aven and ascetlc lile, luit to a weet and large and healthy and forcefnl lift'. It binds nn noblo faculty with gyves, but bida is expand all our powera and grow to our loftlest Intellect ual and moral Btature, until we take on the perteci likenesa of the Maater: We are to bow in humllity bofot-o (iod, but before men we are to stand oreet. with a puro conscience and a clean soul, and a proper self-respect. Yet like our Lord and Master we are t( lead them by minlatering unto them with thp. spirit of nnselflsh devotion to their good. II. Let us observe now some of the groimds on whlcta it is aftlrmed that the spirit of eelf-gacrifice Is one oí the easentlal qualilications of high leadership. 1. It needs no argument to convince ■us that selfiehness in a man neer attraets us, but alwaya repela us. We are bom wlth au admiratlon of inagnantmity. We are drawn at once towarda the man ol large heart and noble soul. We instlnctively fee! that we want to toe near htm. We are inore ihan ready to follow hlm. AVe are eometimes in danser trom our enthusiasm for him. of neglecting to coneider whether hls judgments are sound and wtee. We are s gure that hls impulsea and lntentiona are right that we are tempted to leap to the conclusión that hls opinlons and his measurescan be adopted without question. The profonndest announeeinent of the great truth that magnanlmou self-sacrifice is the mightiest attractIng power on earth was that declara tion ol oar Lord "And I, if I be lifte up from the earth, will draw all mei unto myseif." He foresww that this coming act ol his seli eurrender wotil -it last touch and draw the hearts of ;ill men in all time with a iioivor mightler than the power of all evil A great moral principie was proclalmed and illnstrated by him. We may all illustrate it in some degre in om lives. and wleld the power which springs from dovotion to it. On the other hand a man may have largo intellectual gifts. great genius iind great Iearning. hut if he is known to bc mean and solfi.sh in spirit, he cannot long remaln a leader in any good work. Men may admire his genius and praise his Iearning, but tliey will despise the man, and visit him wlth the severer condemnatlon because of bis rare mental powers. They will lx' shy of lus approaches, and will suspect his motives wlien he a.sks them to follow him. Hi' may by artífice concoal liis truc nature for a. time and by his brilliancy gain a temporary lollowins. lint sooner or later thej wlll strip him of his cloakg of deceit exposé hlm to the BCorníul gaze of 1I1 Avorld, and leave hlm the vlctlm o public distrust or contempt. 2. Again, it wlll help us f o under stand liow the spirit of self-sacriilci qualiflee one tor the leadership of men 'ii we remember tliat men are movei to actiou tlirouprli thelr moral nal ure and not primarily through their in tolloot. The Intellectnal conviction raust be such is appeal to thelr mora nature, if they are to be stirrcd t deedg. Tlie eloquen.ee which ïiio-t pow eriully sweepe men on to action mus come fiom a sincere and noble heart Henee gome ot the profound 1 on eloquence have classed it among the i-t es. The ho'.low and emptj M"o:-ds of the hypocrite, however rea mant. do nol thn!! our souls, })Ut are as eounding brasa and tinkling eym liáis. The legend lias come down ti us fi-om the middle ages thai a bulle dlpped in the blood of a human hear ncver failed to go straifjlit to tin heart at whlch it -as almed. So tin word which comea welllns; up Iron the depths of an unselfish soul is i in word which sinka into another BOu and kinciles in ii the passion tor Qnself jsli and noble actlon. The most bril liant intellect ual display of the niai who lias no noliility of soul beliind his iuti, ueuillliui as TIK' ])lleant of the aurora on a winter 8 niuht, and llke ili.it iu;y bc gazed 01 with a ccrtain admlration, irat like -that. it has o Uie-glvlng heat and no ïructifylng power. 'old intellect, liowrver dazzílng it s manlfegtationg, doe jiot lonjï or strongly move men, bui a tvarm heart, however huinblo. does always and everywherp, touch the prings of gympatfiy and of act ion in us all. This is tlie ezplanatlon of the lailnre of many aman of exceptional mental endowmenta to win the hearte f others and turn thom whlther te ■vould. Thlg wonld-be leader wondere i many of his admirers wonder why Jus extraordlnary tálente have bo little power to more men. The reaeon ia Bimply that men'a hearts are nol warmed Into aflection and confidonce. by intellectual Ice ad whitei sepulehres. It is a loving and nnsell isli heart, whether in phllosopher or peasant, in statesman or plonghman, whlch attractg and slirs and Wina another .heart. Youn.n Bcholars are apt to make a mistake Btere. From thelr earliest days in school they are so gttmulated to set a hifíii yalae on lntellectu.al levement, they ar" so often Incited i o the hlfthest endeavor by b ina jiciintcd to the examplea of men ol gréai amir.Lí. that they are In danger ol irgetting innv large and essential an lemeni ol power is the cultivation ot trong moral power. Posslbly our Lera are Bomewhat at fault in not lore diligently guardlug our pupila galnsi mistake. Whoever is al ault. I think that by no others is o inirdinate a valué attached to meiv iaellectual brllllancy as by Btudents In ollege, In bhelr Judgmenta ol each j t in-r. ii is perhaps owing to thia .ui more trequently than to any other hat the subsequent lifo of eoll e ftradlatea compela a reversa! or modlfication ol the verdict In college ol atulenta on each other. Too olten the rllllant man who ebone preemlneni In cláes-room fails to make upon the wo;lil any Impression comparable to hai whlch liis lellowa had predlcted iiim. becauee ol the poverty and leannesa and meanneaa ui' hia soul. Sometimes, indeed. Buch men may become eminent leaders in badneaa and The cohorta "f wlckednesa may follow a man of congenial spirit, if he have great talent and an Imperial w 1. Uut even Napoleon, whose genins and whose power of will Uave pertapa never been surpaased, tound it tecessary to make hie countrymen beLeve that ihey were lollowlng hii u-iiieve undylng glory for Pr.ance. n however, the leadership lor good, hu tor evil, that we are considering today. ]t is thai alone to which yon ispire. It is by winning the hearta of men through the manilestation ol unselfish love in your hearta that yon are to altain lilis pow ::. Again, 11 a man is to be a leader, he must eon r.ilie,- ili-it he cares more for the u-iith. tor the cause whicta lie is esp Ing tli.-m for belng pralsed as the de tender ol the truth, as the Champion oi cauee. He musí show them that hls devotion to the truth is unsemsn. Kit bec ornea appareni tha1 his motive in gecurlng triumpli ol a princip.e ,,,- a party ís prlmarily u secure lus own exaltatlon and fame, he i ouee lereft of a large part of lus ]mver. If on the other hand liis eonduci slums thai he Is so flred with a passion tor what lic deerns the truth that though w suffer in Lta defanse, though he toe peraeeutecl for riRhteousness' sak(. though he be called to glve up everythlng for the cause he has ea poneed, he is vet ready for the sacrifice, then hls passion bccoraes contagioua, his cnthusiasm kindies many hearté, and ardent followera crowd upiiii his footstoiis. Sn I.uther, renouni-inir the hopea of ecclesiastical preferni, -in whlch lic had every rlght to cherLah, and doclaring liis purpose to stand for w4iat he deomed the truth of (lort, thoiiKh there should be as many devils in his path as there were tiles on the house-tops, Bwept half of Germany altear him. It Is the physlcian who manifestly cares more for the cure than for the fees of his patiënt, the lawyer who is obviously more intent on protecting the rights than on drainiiiR the purse of his cliënt, the statesnian who alma at the public Rood rat her than at his own elevation to place, tnat has tne power ui ttn.rn.cuim: and guidlng men. To be the leader of men one must show in nll his life that he regards the cause as greater than the advocate, the truth as higher than tlie most gifted herald or most valiant defender of the truth. 4. Let us look at two or three of the greatest leaders of the race. Turn your eyes back to that gigantie and imposiñg figure, sitting at the very gateway of our earliest authentlc liistory, Moaes, the leader of the Jews out of bondage. He was learned. we are told. In all the wisdom of the Egyptlans. That is equivalent to Baylng that he was one of the great scholars of 'his age. Egypt was then wliat Grreece was later, what Germany is now, the home of all the highest learning of the -woi-ld. Whatever was most valuable in BCience and in its application to the neede of man, whatcvrr was most graceful or most tmpostng in art, whether in aculpture or palnting or architecture, whatever avis most profound in philosophy in that age, these all were to lx; found in Egypt. Moaes was familiar wlth them afl. Our record reads, "He was very great ia the land of Egypt, in the sight of I'haraoh's servants and in the sight of the people." He could doubtless have used his talent and learning and commanding inïluence with liis people so as to have won favor at court and to have enrlched and exalted lilmsell. Pharaoh might well have wished to reward and honor him, if he would have consented to help keep his oppre8sed race tranquil under their heavy welght of bondage. He might well have enjoyed the glory whlch flattered the pride of many an obsequious courtier of liis dar. Hut what do we read of him? "By laith Moses, when he waa grovrn up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh'8 daughter; choosing rather to be evil entreated with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin lor a season; accounting the reproach of Chriet greater riches than the treasures of Egypt." Spurning the renown, and the honor, and the riehes, which the credit oí royal Hneage would have given 'nim, he chose to Ibe evil entreated with the people of God. In the spirit of absolute self-sacrifice he devoted himsell to their cause. Thongh hls modeBty led him to Bhrink from the high task to which God called him, though he declared in all luiiuility. "Oh Lord, I uu not eloquent, nelther heretofore, nor sinee thou has spoken nnto thy Bervant; for I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue," ye1 he ylelded with Bweel doclllty when G06 replied "Wim luit li made man's mouth? or who maketh man duinb or draf or Beelng or lilind? is it not I the Lord? Now therelore go, and I will be with thy niouxii, mm leacn wiee wiiiu uiun ghali gpeak." Yes, Indeed, lus worde were to make Pharaohs tremble and the ehildren of Israel t be triad, i"eaueè he waa to speak in the name of t li f (dil of Justlce and trntli and wltb a hcnrt pilTged of solfishness and full of the -;:i oi loving self-surrender. The mo-t halting and stamme-rlng worde oí -ueh a man are frelghted and snr charged wltn an eloquence and power whlch thri'ls au dswaya human hearte. [ .■;! rtnx behind lüm 1 he splendor oi 1 he most luxurious capital on earth, thte greal man cast in liis fortune with a hand of fugitive t-laves. Belore his steps the seas openeü, tbc flinty rocks bnrst forth with spring of running waters, tho manna dropjied frora heaycii. Earth, eea and sky came to liis help and he brought his people after promieed land. Tho lieroic and sclfmanlfold trials to the verge of the sacriiiclng lilV whlch he lel in their presence, the sanltary and moral and cellgioue training whlch he save them, the lofty code which he fi-anied for them make us reveré htm still as Hie greal leader, ilie mal gaint, the greal lawglver oí [srael. The very name ol the Pharaoh who pureued hlm lias to be hunted for in forgotten graves, the splendora of Egypt are buried in the sands, the childi-en of 1 he proud masters oí 'lie Israelitea are themselves abjeel iKinilnivn, but the glory of the patiënt, Bell saeriftclng Mosea is as nnfadlng as the sun, and the intluence oi his huinhle but magterful spirit is to 1)0 feit to the end of time. Or look al thai Kreal teaeherolNew Tesf anienr times, Sa ui of Tarsus. Carehilly trained by Gamaliel and others in all the wledpna ol the Jews, familiar with the lariffuage, 1 he poet ry, and the phllosophy of the Greeks, the i Bcholarly nation of his time, with hi indomitable energy, his flery sp liis lofty geniua he was destlned to the hlghest honorg 'm the Jewigh church. Uut in ilic nvíul splendor ot that llght which broke apon hlm on iiis way tu Dámaso U8 all hls ecclesiastical ambition dlsappeared. After this came aperlod ol secluslon, doubtiess oí prolound tneditation, and probably ol great spiritual struggles. Bul when tiíai period was ended, wlth what unseliish devotlon dld be give hlmsell i bis great task oí spiril nal leadership ol the Gentiles. Whai perila by land and by sea, what hardshlps (rom poverty, from expoaure, trom persecution, from Lngratltude were Iiíb! While tolliog al the humblesi handlcralt tha1 he raigal Huis earn hls dally bread and nol burden the churches whlch he was strlvlng to builil iip. who ever heard him utter a word of refreí thai he had gaeriflced hls proud posltion In the JewlSB church! Whlle bearlnf? with bhe spiritual dullness, the backsllding, even the gross and sensual slns ol some ol hifi converts, who ever heard hlm repine tha1 he had sacrlilced all his high ecclesiastlcal prospecta ol promotion that he might minister in the sii;-ir ol the master to I who at times so tried and discouraged his soul'.' And in that supreme hour, when having worn himsolf out in wearieome toll, he was living a prisoner ol the Roman Em ■ . v. l-th the headsman's axe gleaming m the air e him, wlth what words of triumph dld he cheer his anxlous (1 ' I have foughl a good fight. I finihsed my course. 1 have feepi the faith. Heneolorth there Is lald u .'i crown ol r nees, which the Lord, the righ J.udge shall give w many . [n all Buecei i - has thls cry ol victory ol the dylng martyr nerved i brave livea and ti (I'M 1 llS. i vcm were called to day ü ■ froni ;H human hii iid lor centuries lias Ih-mi doing mos1 ui lead the thougats md shape the lic of men, would you not name the g ea I to the Gentiles? In Inying aside Hi' local honors which awalted the proud and zc.-t Idus v cutor, Saul of 'ia-sus, has become the bishop of all Christendom, the teacher and leader lor all coming centurles not only of the whole world known in hls day. inn also of natlons of whose names and of whose exis! he never dreamed. Thcn' is not one of us whose thought and whose acts are noi aöected erery day of lives, whether are conacloua of th ■ oi' not, by the worda and the lile of that man who ptave hlmself up, body and .soul. to the blessed work oi proclalming that th" free grace of God was offered altke 10 all. the Greek and the Jew, the barbarían, Scythlan, bond and f ree. Wlth "what a erway he rules in the Intellectua] and the spiritual empire of the world! How eertaln it is that his dominion te to increase in bread th and in power, as the natlons risc more and more to the f uil apprehension of the depth and rlchness of hls Bplrltual nature and the lull scope of hisexpositions of divine truth. Studente! who does not wlth a holy covetoiisness long for those noble tralts Oí UUIlCgülitJU UUU IUU C lin.li ftJ", whi''ii were essential qúallttea In the leadership of Moses, the great acholar of the OU1 Dtepensatlon, and of Paul, the great acholar of the New? But, after all, the eüpreme example of leadership through liumiliation and selt-sacrtflce is tliat of our Lord and Master himself. It were pesumptuous in os to attempt by any analysla to lay bare aÜ the hidden gourcea of lus power over men. But we can all see and feel Bomething of the proloimd Bigniflcance of hls declaration that lie w'ould.if he were liftcd up on the cross, draw all men to Kim. wecan sim' that not alone 'by the unapproachable wisdom ï llis teaehlngs, but ye1 more by the tter self-denial of His spirit, by 1 1 is absolute devotlon to the good of men. bv llis manifeetatlons of love for iis. the helght and dcpth and length and breadth of whlch we cannot lully comprehend, He has drawn and is da-awing and molding and leading the race towards righteousness as no other being who lia.s appeared on eartb has ever done. It is because Moses and Paul had so much of Hls spirli tliat they had such signal power of leadership for good. But how vast is the dlstance between Ilim andthem, and between Hlsworls and thelr work. None win be more glad bhan they to aee thelr work gwallowed up in Hls conipleted work. Now even the weakesi of us may reverently and truthfully hope that as we share the spirit of our Lord, we shaii aiso have somethiaji! oí the power of Leading men aright. What boller and nobler amtrttlon can inspire youT hearts, as you go forth now to j-our work in Mie? Without this spirit you may perhaps win a certain ndmiratlon ïrom men of your intellect ual giftB, you may even wleld a positive power in leading men astray. Your vanity may be tickled awhlle, by the conscionsness of such jiower; but can there be any permanent satisfaction to you in the exerclse of any lo.'irlersilihi liowever eonsnicuous. cepi the leadership towarda rood? I know wdl enoutrh the generoua and noble Impulses of early llfe to be uure wh.it is the response of your liearts at this moment to that question. In this honr so full of lofty aspirationa you do desire to make the world happier and better. Wha1 wlser counsel tlifn can I glve yon as my partinp; adrice than to aak you to treaaure in your nearts those wordfl ol our Iord and Hia diseiples, "Whosoever would become ffreal among yon sliall be your minister; and whoaoever would be first amona' yon sliall be your servant; .rn aa 1 lie Son of man carne not to be minlfltered unto, but to minister, and to give his llfe a ranaom for many."