The Commencement Annual

Author : University of Michigan
Publisher :
ISBN 13 : 9781330973578
Total Pages : 130 pages
Book Rating : 4.9/5 (735 download)

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Download or read book The Commencement Annual, 1896 (Classic Reprint) written by University of Michigan and published by . This book was released on 2015-07-08 with total page 130 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Excerpt from The Commencement Annual, 1896 In his great address on Mars Hill Saint Paul declared that God "hath made of one blood all nations of men," and also that He "hath determined the bounds of their habitation." The brotherhood and the separateness of nations are thus clearly set forth as of divine appointment. If they are so, they must be compatible with each other. It must be possible and right for nations to lead each a separate life, and yet to live in brotherly relations. There must then be some proper way of cherishing the sentiment of patriotism and at the same lime a brotherly regard for mankind. We profess, as individuals and as a nation, to be governed by the principles of Christian ethics. We are all agreed that patriotism is so commendable a virtue that we despise, if we do not hate, a citizen who is devoid of it. We are all agreed that our nation, if it is to be respected by others or by us, must maintain its rights with dignity and self-respect. While our country cherishes this spirit of manly independence, what attitude should it hold toward other countries? What spirit should we cherish toward other peoples? What relations should we aim to hold with them? These are questions which it seems proper that you should consider in a spirit at once christian and patriotic, as you are about to go forth into active life, where you will play an important part in shaping public opinion. I believe it is not unbecoming the day or the occasion that answer to them should be sought in the spirit of devotion to our country, of love to our race, and the Father of nations. Perhaps at the outset we should ask whether it really is possible for us to cherish the sentiment of patriotism and at the same time the spirit of brotherhood towards the citizens of other nations. Some distinguished writers, like the Russian, Count Tolstoi, have maintained that the spirit of brotherhood ought to overpower and drown out the feeling of special devotion to one's, own country. That eminent author goes so far as to say, "if patriotism is good, then christianity, which gives peace, is an empty dream." There is a story that the great and good Fenelon once said, "I love my family better than myself, I love my country better than my family, but I love the human race better than my country." The parable of the good Samaritan has been cited as condemning patriotism. No doubt that wonderful parable, which more than almost any other teaching of Christ, shows the extraordinary reach of his mind beyond the prevalent ideas of his day, does bid us regard the remotest dweller on the other side of the earth as our neighbor, and commands us to do what we may for his help. But, after all, we cannot forget that God has set us first in families, then in nations. Our primary relations to our families are necessarily closer than our relations to our nation, and our primary relations to our nation are necessarily closer than our relations to the race. We may, however, find it our duty in the spirit of Fenelon's words, to tear ourselves away from our families and give our services and lives to our nation. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.