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About Yale Alumni Magazine | View Entire Issue (Nov. 15, 1899)
716 VALE: ALUMNI owWEEkiuy DR. JOHN BROWN’S LECTURES. Something About the Theme and Scope of the Talks of the Great Bunyan Scholar—A Charac- terization of the Man. [By Professor Benjamin W. Bacon.] Another notable character has en- riched the annals of the Yale Lyman Beecher lectureship on preaching, and for the third time in as many years the incumbent has been chosen from among our brethren beyond the sea. Dr. John Brown of Bedford (Eng.), however, was no stranger. Two previous visits had familiarized many of his American pul- pit colleagues with his noble face and presence, strongly recalling to many New Haveners the honored features of Leon- ard Bacon, and all. had known him through his historical and biographical works, especially his Pilgrim Fathers and their Puritan Successors, and his Life of Bunyan. ‘The latter, in particular, has DR. JOHN BROWN. not merely the virtues one would expect from an author who for thirty-five years has been pastor of Bunyan’s Church, and during all that time a devoted student of Bunyan and the great Puritan move- ment, but above and beyond this some- thing of the old vigor, earnestness and directness of Puritan speech, the rare quality of plain and pithy English, which makes it a model of biography. In such hands the subject of Puritan Preaching in England was _ peculiarly well placed. After the brilliant lectures of Drs. Watson and Geo. Adam Smith, reviewing the function of the pastor and preacher from the standpoint of the student of men and the student of the Prophets, it was a specially felicitous time for the new departure of a histori- cal and biographical treatment of the subject, and those who attended the lec- tures will bear witness that the interpre- tation of men and history was worthy of the succession. Side by side with the much abused “apostolic succession,’ whose pettiness, when interpreted in the childish sense too prevalent, Dr. Brown himself has done his full share to expose, he traces for us a real succession of the Spirit, ex- tending back through successive genera- tions of men on whom the tongue of flame had rested; a succession which reaches not merely to the Reformation, but beyond it to the itinerant preaching orders of Franciscan and Dominican monks, those reformers before the Re- formation in whom the ignorance of the masses revealed by the dawning light of the Renaissance awakened a Christ- like compassion. Seeing the multitudes they were moved with compassion, be- cause they were as sheep having no shepherd, and they set about teaching them many things. Wyclif was the dis- ciple and successor of the preaching friars, and the Lollards perpetuated the leaven which wrought the Reformation in England. Such a succession need not stop.with the Renaissance, nor the missions of the age of Charlemagne, nor with the apostles themselves. It reaches back to - meetings. the great prophets of Israel, the educa- tors of the people and champions of religious liberty against sacerdotalism and usurpation, whether by priest or king. ; But the subject called rather to the later history. The period of the Refor- mation was marked by the preaching of Colet and Latimer, peculiarly Scriptural in type; for the living springs, so long sealed up, had but just been uncovered, and from them the progressive, Protes- tant element of the Church of England drew its inspiration, till the old bottles could no longer contain the new wine, and the founding of New England and the Puritan Revolution gave room to the ferment. “Theologicallv and spiritually the Pilgrim Fathers stood in the ranks with Cromwell’s Ironsides.” But Puritan preaching was the reverse of ignorant fanaticism. Born of the new enlightenment of the Renaissance, matured by the revived study of the Scriptures produced by the Reformation, its home in England became more and more the great universities, particularly the University of Cambridge. Here Ezekiel Culverwell inspired John Win- throp, William Perkins set John Cotton of Boston on fire, and became the honored teacher of John Robinson. A great succession went parallel with that of the. Colonies through all the dark and stormy days of the Restoration, and in it shine forth the great names of John Bunyan and Richard Baxter. The period of the early seventeenth century was the scholastic period of Puritanism. Scriptural preaching gave place to doctrinal. Dr. Brown desig- nates it the period of the Cambridge Platonists. The great dreamer of Bed- ford, on the other hand, gives his ideal of the Christian minister in the charac- ters of the Evangelist, the Interpreter and Mr. Greatheart. Preaching was brought back to reality. The consecra- tion of Baxter made godless Kidder- minster in like manner a garden of God. The beginning of the present century witnessed a sorely needed revival. The old fire of living reality in preaching had gone out. Formality had destroyed the vital connection between the spirit- ual life of Scripture and present human experience. Binney, Spurgeon, Dale of Birmingham and Maclaren of Manches- ter, are the great English succession of our own century who restored it. With varying talents and characteristics, these truly great preachers have brought the Gospel before the minds of our age as reality. Binney, the teacher of Maclaren, was “a devotional man talking intellec- tually.” Spurgeon won his way by a tremendous personality. Dale was an independent and constructive theologian. Of Maclaren, Dr. Brown says, “If ever a prophet of God in this modern nine- teenth century had the burden of God on his heart, and a ‘thus saith the Lord’ on his lips, that man is Alexander Maclaren.”’ If we may characterize the lecturer in two words, we should emphasize Dr. Brown’s sincerity and spirituality. Not a great orator, he impressed by a quiet and engaging frankness of demeanor, enlivened not seldom by a touch of humor. Greater men have preceded him, but of few of them we shall carry away a more lasting and a more grate- ful impression. > dn ~~, Debating in the Wnion. The meeting a fortnight ago, brought about by the Yale Debating Association for the purpose of raising the interest in debate, at which President Hadley and Prof. Sumner spoke to a large as- sembly of students, seems to have had the desired result. The two debates of the Union already held have been well attended and there appears to be much more enthusiasm manifested by the members of this body than has been seen for some time. The sharpness and vigor of the contests showed that there is first-class material here and all efforts from now on will be bent to its develop- ment for the Harvard and Princeton It is quite likely that a very strong team. can be produced. The two questions debated were: “Resolved, That Great Britain was justified in her demands on the Transvaal,” won by the negative; and “Resolved, That the Presidents should be elected for a term of six years and should be ineligible for re-election,” also decided in favor of the negative. These new men have been elected members of the Union: 1900—A. N. But- ler. 1I90I—E. B. Christie, J. M. Patter- son, W. M. Maltbie, Ray Morris, W. B. Howe, F. D. Bonner, M. D. Cahn, G. G. Henry. P. D. Moody, P. T. Gilbert, T. W. Russell, R. L. Atkinson, and J. A. Keppelman. 1902—-Paul Jones, K. Spaulding, P. M. Howe, J. C. Higgins, H. E. Colton, R. B. Nisbet, A. Roraback, Ki. Reed, Py Ve DD Gott, Be Gz Tee S. Newman, E. Lehman, C. A. Roberts, A. F. Escher, A. B. Clark, Mason Trow- bridge, L. H. Talcott, W. T. Garrett, F. H. Sincerbeaux, and E. G. Norman. The present officers of the Union are: President, A. D. Leavitt, 1900; Vice- President, R. H. Edwards, 1901; Secre- tary, P. C. Walcott, 1900; Treasurer, R. O. Wells, 1901. The Executive Com- mittee consists of W. S. Coffin, 1900; K. Bruce, 1900, and W. H. Hutchins, root. a> >» a Bicycle Squad ‘Begins Work. About thirty candidates for the Uni- versity Bicycle Team reported to Cap- tain E. A. Strong, 1900S., November 2, to begin the preliminary Fall practice. The squad will continue to ride from ten to twelve miles on the road two days in the week, until December 1. In spite of the moderate pace set, it has already cut the squad down to twenty-five. No definite arrangements have yet been made about a coach, but in all prob- ability G. H. Collett, who had charge of the team last year, will again act as coach in the Spring. The Spring training will be started in February, when there will be daily work in the Gymnasium, and later track and road riding. Captain Tweedy of last year’s team is the only one of the better riders in the University who did not «return to College this year. The men who are now in training are: We 4:-42nrien, 1000:S.* Lo He Strouse, 19005) 7 a. VV Pasiey, 1001 5.* P.. I. Gilbert, 1901; M. Moore, 1902; S. H. Stone, 1902; W. M. McCutchen, 1900; R. &. Hutchinson, rooo; A. H. Carver, 190013: J, ME. Watts, 1000 S.; GH. Smith, 1900 >.>) 15. -F.2 Sttone; 1002 65° &.+ Is Mason, 1902; G. E. Sykes, 1903; C. A. Brady, t003; G.-G:° Durant, Jr.; 1903; W. C. Langley, 1903; H. A: Rightmire, 1903 FF. A. Elmes, too2;..W. -L.. Lyon, 1902; N. R. Potter, 1902 S. St 6D ae Intercollegiate Shoot, The annual shoot of the Intercollegiate Gun Club will be held at Wellington, Mass., on the morning of the Harvard- Yale game, November 18, under the auspices of the Harvard Gun Club. Princeton, Pennsylvania, Harvard and Yale Gun Clubs will send teams and the competition should be very close. A. silver loving cup will be given to the winning team and a smaller cup to each member of this team. The contestant, regardless of team, who makes the high- est score of the meet will receive a special cup. The shooting will be at clay targets, thirty to a man. Practice is being held regularly three times a week for the candidates of the Yale team at Scheutzen Park, New Ha- ven. Among the leading candidates for the team are Captain F. M. Eastman, ro02s| H.-L. oomis,. 1900 B; CE SB. Spears, 1900; E. B. Knowlton, 1900 S.; A. B.: Maynard, ro00:S. + D: C.: Palmer, 1900; C. B. Schley, 1900 S., and E. S. Brooks, rgor S. hs at Owing to the time required for his other duties, Professor George E. Beers has been forced to resign the Secretary- ship of the Law School. His succes- sor, Prof William T. Foster, entered upon his duties on November 3. Football Pneumonia Don’t get it. You are going to the Harvard game on Saturday and no man can tell what stress of Boston weather you may meet. But you can be prepared for anything. The right under- clothing, the right sweater, a warm rug—these are good in- vestments just now. CHASE & CO. New Haven House Block. Henry Heath Hats. A RETURN MEET. HMiarvard and Yale Willi Challenge Oxford and Cambridge. While no definite steps have yet been taken toward the arrangement of a re- turn dual track meet between Yale and Harvard and the English Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, it seems almiost certain that the American Universities will have an opportunity to retrieve next Spring the defeat which they suffered in England last year. The Yale and Har- vard undergraduate managements are now in communication on the subject, and it is probable that a challenge will soon be sent, as the initiative must be taken by Harvard and Yale, the defeated contestants. The meet would of course be held on this side of the water and would have to take place in the latter part of April, or the first day of May, as Faculty regulations in England make other dates impossible. In conse- quence of conflicting dates the Yale- Harvard Dual Meet would have to be postponed until a week later than it is at present scheduled, but this would be a matter of no moment. If these preliminary arrangements are brought about between the American Universities the details will be put in the hands of a graduate committee similar to that of last year, consisting of two grad- uates from both Yale and Harvard, who will be selected by the managers and captains of the two track teams. They would in all probability be the same men who acted in that capacity so admirably last year. ——____+09—__—_ Princeton’s Increase. The catalogue of Princeton for 18 Q9- 1900 shows a very decided increase in the numbers of students inrolled. Last year the totals in all departments amounted to 1,099, while this year the figures are I,I94, or an increase of nearly nine per cent. The gain is chiefly in the upper classes, as the Fresh- man registration has fallen off twenty-— six, the number being two hundred last year. An improvement is looked for however in the class entering in Igoo. as the number of those taking prelimi- nary examinations this Spring was ex- ceptionally large. The total enrollment of the Academic Department this year was 686, as against 633 in 18990, and the Scientific Department registration is 307, a gain of 29 over that of the pre ceding year. In the Graduate Depart- ment the present enrollment is tar. which is more by 13 than that of 1899. KNOX Hats are “Fit” allthe Season.
