The Religious Herald

For the Religious Herald.

Commencement at Williams College.

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass., Aug. 19.

The commencement exercises have just closed and they have been of an interesting character. Presuming that your readers may take an interest in the doings hereabout I send you a hasty sketch of the week's proceedings.

On Sunday afternoon the President delivered his Baccalaureate discourse from Genesis 5:24. "And Enoch walked with God, &c." He began by remarking that it was ten years since he entered upon the duties of his office--this was his tenth parting address to pupils leaving the institution at the end of their course. In addresses to previous classes he had laid before them their duties in life, their responsibilities to society, and in other respects had endeavored to prepare their minds for the social, moral and religious relations of their future life. He would, at the end of this decade, somewhat depart from his former addresses, and confine himself more to their relations to God. As they were about to set forth in the journey of life, it was a matter of concern what road they would take, and what company they would have. And he would exhort them to walk in wisdom's way, and "walk with God."

It might seem strange that he should refer them to the example of a man who lived before the flood, ignorant of science, art and social progress, who never saw a steamboat, or sat in a railroad car, or conceived of a magnetic telegraph or even of a printing press. But as man is not only sensitive and intellectual, but also rational and moral, so there are truths which have regard to the reason and conscience of a permanent and unchangeable nature, while those of mere sense and intellect are transitory. This distinction was admirably presented by the president. In the quiet morning of time such permanent truths must have been more deeply felt, than in the tumult of modern society.

Walking with God, he remarked, consists 1st, In a recognition of God, in his works, his word, and his providence; 2d. In love, and 3d. In obedience to God. He then exhorted his pupils to walk with God. 1st. Because it is our duty; 2d. Because God invites us all to walk with him: 3d. Because walking with God includes all other excellences and forms a complete character; 4th. Because it ensures contentment, and makes disappointments impossible; for he whose will is fully subjected to His will, will deem every ordination of Providence perfectly good: 5th. Because if we walk with God, God will take us to himself.

The discourse was admirable in every respect, and formed a lofty close for this first decade of Dr. Hopkins' presidency.

On the evening of the same day the annual discourse before the Theological Society and the Society of Inquiry, was delivered by Rev. Dr. Cheever. His theme was Romanism, which he characterized as the grandest obstacle to the preaching of the gospel at home and abroad, and as such worthy the attention of the societies he addressed. He founded his discourse on 2 Thess. 2:8. "And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming."

He first described the revelation of the papacy, by which is to be understood gradual corruption of christianity, which went on by almost imperceptible degrees, till without exciting alarm at any one point of its progress, the system, with all its manifold atrocities was fully revealed. He traced the history of these corruptions. History, he said, was valuable as showing the testimony of God's providence relative to any system of truth or error. It is valuable, not for the purpose of deducing an historical christianity, or an apostolical succession; but the apostles are the only historians that establish the true church, and the succession of true ministers of the cross, though centuries should intervene between them, is the only apostolical succession.

This system of darkness is to be destroyed.-- not by force, but by the spirit and word of God. Political revolutions may destroy the Pope's temporal power, but his great spiritual despotism-- that which stamps him as "that Wicked" can only be consumed by "the brightness of God's (spiritual) coming." He spoke most eloquently against the proscription of the Bible and the intolerant suppression of protestant teaching.-- This cannot be persisted in. Publicity will destroy it, for persecution will be known, by the power of steam, in every part of the world and public opinion will awe the persecutor. He advocated a union of protestant states in demanding for their citizens toleration. Such a demand could not be refused. If Paul could appeal to Nero, christian men ought to be permitted to appeal with confidence for the protection of their governments. But without such protection ministers are safe. The priests, not the people are bigoted. The people will protect those who come to teach them. The apostles were not afraid of persecution, and if protestant missionaries would enter catholic Europe with the zeal and boldness of the apostles, they would be protected of Heaven, and accomplish glorious results. He concluded by a fervent exhibition of the grounds for hope and confidence. Let the church imbibe more thoroughly the Scriptures and hide them in their hearts: let them but receive a new baptism into the experience of the power and grace of the gospel, and the glorious prediction of the apostle will speedily come, and we, or our children, may hear "as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, Alleluia! for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth!"

Such is a feeble sketch of this great effort. It was worthy of Dr. Cheever, and in connexion with the Baccalaureate discourse, made an auspicious beginning of the commencement week.

The Prize Rhetorical Exercise on Tuesday evening was very creditable to the speakers, but, as a whole, not as good as usual. This exhibition was closed by an address before the Adelphic Union Society by Rev. Samuel J. Prime. His subject was Truth, and I will not attempt an analysis of it. It was well conceived, happily illustrated, and listened to with attention.

The Oration before the Alumni by Prof. Benedict of Vermont University, was pronounced on Commencement day. It described the growth of the Scholar and the intimate union among the Educated men of the land, with its happy influence in moulding opinion and producing moderation and harmony of sentiment and feeling.

I will not particularize with respect to the orations delivered by the graduating class. The style of speaking was manly and spirited, and the general tone of thought exhibited, was sound and wholesome.

The degree of A. B. was conferred upon 32 young gentlemen. The degree of A. M. upon Dr. Ferris Jacobs of Schoharie, N. Y., and Dr. Adam Nichols of Quincy, Illinois.

The weather was very pleasant, and though the exercises were long, yet a large audience listened with close attention throughout. The music, by Dodsworth's Cornet Band, was of a superior character.

The scenery of Williamstown is of unequalled beauty, and would well repay a visit, even if it were the sole attraction. The mountains which hem in the valley and seem to shut in the college from all communication with the outward world, the green, wooded hills that diversify the landscape, the beautiful streams the scattered and picturesque dwellings, and shaded walks, and the tasteful grounds that surround the college buildings, all present a picture of beauty that the stranger never fails to admire, and of which the citizen is justly proud. The railroad nearly completed to North Adams will leave little to be desired in the way of means of access, and we may anticipate that increased numbers of the sons of Williams and of those who sympathize with them in the love of sound learning, will gather around this literary festival in years to come.

S.