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 ZAPH-NATH PA-A-NE-AH. 
 
 BACCALAUREATE 
 
 TO THE 
 
 GRADUATING CLASS 
 
 OF THE 
 
 INDIANA UNIVERSITY, 
 
 AT THE COMMENCEMENT OF 
 
 MDCCCLVII. 
 
 /BY 
 
 REV. WM. M. DAILY, D. D., LL. D., 
 
 PRESIDENT . 
 
 £ BLOOMINGTON: 
 
 PUBLISHED BY THE CLASS. 
 
 1857. 
 
\U"1 
 
SENIOR CUSS FOR 1857, 
 
 TO WHOM THE FOLLOWING BACCALAUREATE WAS ADDRESSED, 
 AUGUST SECOND, 1857. 
 
 HIRAM ALLEN, Jr., Delphi, Indiana. 
 STEPHEN G. BURTON, Perryville, Kentucky. 
 JAMES M. CLARK, Demorestville, Canada West. 
 HIRAM W. CLOUD, Louisville, Kentucky. 
 GEORGE W. LEE, Greencastle, Indiana. 
 AUGUSTUS D. LYNCH, Madison, Indiana. 
 HAMILTON S. McRAE, Spring Dale, Indiana. 
 URIAH MULLIKIN, Bloomington, Indiana. 
 JOHN D. PERING, Bloomington, Indiana. 
 WILBUR FISK STONE, Oskaloosa, Iowa. 
 STEPHEN THRASHER, Shelbyville, Indiana. 
 SAMUEL M. THOMAS, Logansport, Indiana. 
 J. HOWE WATTS, Santa Fe, New Mexico. 
 GEORGE C. WILSON, Onargo, Illinois. 
 JACOB V. WOLFE, Carlisle, Indiana. 
 
 SCIENTIFIC. 
 
 JAMES M. BROWN, Clinton, Indiana. 
 ALFRED E. GRAHAM, Bloomington, Indiana. 
 DAVID A. ROBERTSON, Paris, Indiana. 
 
ZAPH-NATH PA-A-NE-AH: 
 
 BACCALAUREATE. 
 
 "And Pharaoh called Joseph's name Zaph-nath Pa-a-ne-ah." — Gen. xli: 45. 
 
 The road to position and power is open alike to all. This 
 is evident, from the testimony of history, and the biographies 
 of distinguished characters, who have exerted an influence 
 on the world upon a large scale. But especially is it true in 
 our own country. Even adverse circumstances cannot throw 
 impassable barriers in the way. We often hear it said that, 
 "Circumstances make the man" — and this is offered by the fal- 
 tering and the feeble, as an excuse for their shameful failures. 
 But, the truth is, Man, to a very great extent, makes the cir- 
 cumstances. And if unbidden, adverse circumstances gather, 
 and frowningly throw their dark shadows athwart his path, by 
 unbending integrity, unwavering decision, and unflagging en- 
 ergy, he triumphs over all; and becomes a Leader, or Prime 
 Minister, in spite of circumstances. The most formidable ob- 
 stacles become as cobweb barriers, before the irresistible en- 
 ergy of firmness. Difficulties which would cause the feeble, 
 pampered sons of luxury to shrink back in dismay, only pro- 
 voke a smile from the strong character of lofty determination 
 — while he steadily moves onward, intent upon convincing the 
 
6 
 
 world what wonders may be accomplished by resolute perse- 
 verance and patient toil. 
 
 These principles are finely illustrated in the history before us. 
 
 Joseph, the son of the Patriarch, in his early life, was sur- 
 rounded by circumstances the most adverse; and his "foes 
 were they of his own household." Yet by strict integrity, de- 
 cision, and force of character, under God, he won his way to 
 position and power, in spite of all opposing influences. Pha- 
 raoh awards to him the palm, and in the text, heralds the fact 
 to all the world, by calling his name Zaph-stath Pa-a-ne-ah. 
 
 Passing by many of the criticisms on the etymology of this 
 word, as being to a great extent doubtful, if not entirely use- 
 less, — we understand it to be an Egyptian epithet, which des- 
 ignated the office, or position of influence, to which Joseph was 
 raised on account of his character for discretion and wisdom. 
 Pharaoh says, "There is none so discreet and wise as thou art: 
 thou shalt be over my house, and according to thy word shall 
 all my people be ruled" — Joseph thus becomes a Leader in 
 the land — a Prime Minister among the people; and this is 
 what is meant by Zaph-nath Pa-a-ne-ah. 
 
 You are about to go forth from the halls of your Alma Ma- 
 ter, to act your parts among men — not as Joseph from the 
 home of the Patriarch, under circumstances of dark adversity 
 — but cheered on by the smiles of kindred and friends, with 
 all that mental vigor and manliness of character which a libe- 
 ral education confers, and with Baccalaureate honors cluster- 
 ing around your brows. Under such circumstances we have a 
 right to expect that each one of you will win for himself un- 
 dying honors. 
 
 There never has been a country, or an age, in which richer 
 fields were opened up for educated young men, than our own. 
 All the elements of advancing civilization are at work, and a 
 fair and equal field is offered for the competition of all. You 
 have every inducement to enter upon your work with vigorous 
 determination to make the most of yourselves, and to manful- 
 ly play your parts. If you remain obscure and useless, it 
 will be your own fault. Rest well assured, if you fail to be- 
 come influential men. it will not be — nav, it cannot be — for the 
 
want of opportunity, but rather for the want of industry and 
 
 enterprise: 
 
 "Men, at sometimes, are masters of their fates, 
 The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, 
 But in ourselves, that we are underlings." 
 
 Society greatly needs young men of an honorable ambition 
 in life; who are determined to be useful according to their abil- 
 ity, and to increase their ability by diligent study and the 
 practice of virtue. Not such as spend their time in saloons 
 and at the billiard table, and whose greatest ambition is to 
 make a fine figure in the ball room and at the dance. But 
 rather, those, who, like Joseph, keep themselves free from idle 
 dissipation, and enter upon their career with frugality and in- 
 dustry, fully determined to develop their minds, mature their 
 characters, and strengthen their judgments, so as to be able to 
 discharge all their high and responsible duties, with faithful- 
 ness and efficiency. If you will only go forth with such no- 
 ble purposes as these, and place yourselves in battle array 
 against all the evil influences so busily at work in society, we 
 will hope for a glorious future, and you shall each win the 
 name of Zaph-nath Pa-a-ne-ah. 
 
 On this interesting occasion, when you are not likely to for- 
 get what may be said, your attention is called to The essential 
 importance of decision of character, in order to the accomplish- 
 ment of anything eminently good or great, and to constitute you 
 Leaders in Society. 
 
 I. The Importance of Such a Character. 
 
 The chief influence which every man exerts is the influence 
 of character. It is an individual work, and the most impor- 
 tant which any one of us can perform. But on a close inspect 
 tion of the world of men, we find, comparatively, very few 
 characters determinately marked with strong individuality; 
 and yet these few, lead and control the common mass of mind 
 around them. It is a remarkable fact, that nearly all the great 
 effects produced upon the world, have resulted from the influ- 
 ence of a very small number of persons. Very often the mas- 
 
ter spirit of a strongly individual character, sustained and dig- 
 nified by uncommon mental resources, has more power than 
 the collective influence of a vast multitude of persons, whose 
 characters were moulded in the common manufactory of cus- 
 tom, and sent forth like images of clay from the pottery, of 
 kindred shape and varnish — Men who have no individuality 
 of character, but are mere particles of a class, and their histo- 
 ry may all be found in the newspaper chronicle, or in the nar- 
 rative of the gossip or the sexton. Swarms of such neutrali- 
 ties are to be found everywhere, who have no character, unless 
 their sharing of the general properties of human nature can 
 be called such. 
 
 We have seen persons anxiously hesitating between opposite 
 determinations, while at the same time they Were impatient of 
 the extreme pain of such a state of mind, and almost envied 
 the decisive instinct of brutes. They wished for some circum- 
 stance to happen which would deliver them from their wretched 
 suspense. They thought that the accomplishment of a certain 
 end would be a good thing, and that they would attempt it al- 
 most immediately. But the next day they doubted whether it 
 would be prudent — or thought that probably this might not 
 be the right time — or inquired, "What will tne people say?" 
 And thus they vacillated from day to day, precious time was 
 squandered, and they accomplished nothing. But the man of 
 decision in their very midst, and surrounded by the same cir- 
 cumstances, promptly carries out his every design: — he says, 
 "Other men have done much greater things, and I can do this" 
 — or, "What man can do, I can do." To him, difficulty is on- 
 ly a stimulus, urging him on to triumph, and he feels that "The 
 oys of conquest are the joys of man." 
 
 There are some men who wonder how all the embarrassments 
 in the world happened to meet exactly in their way. They 
 imagine that they would have pursued a very decided and de- 
 termined course, if their talents, health, or age, had been diff- 
 erent. Vain imagining! Such men cannot be said to belong 
 to themselves. If they dared assert they did, some puny 
 force would seize the hapless boasters, and to their sorrow, 
 convince them of the utter futility of their claim. They be- 
 
9 
 
 long to whatever can make capture of them. Persons with 
 stronger faculties, can take, and dispose of them as they 
 please, in spite of their irresolute action. They are neutral 
 elements, seized upon, and carried along by a succession of 
 events, and handed forward in helpless passiveness from one to 
 another, without any determined principle in their own char- 
 acters, by which they might have made the events serve them. 
 But there are others who seize upon the circumstances, and 
 make them subserve their chief designs. Even the casualties 
 of life are made to subserve the very design which they seem- 
 ed at first to threaten to frustrate — and they seem to bow to 
 the spirit which will not bow to them. It may have cost Caesar 
 many anxious hours before he fully decided to cross the Rubi- 
 con, yet but few hours elapsed between the decision and the 
 execution. Any one who fully understood the character of 
 Caesar, would have contemptuously smiled at a bare intima- 
 tion, that, though he had resolved, he would not dare to act — > 
 or, that though he might cross the Rubicon, there were other 
 rivers which he would not cross- — or, in short, that any obstacle 
 would deter him from prosecuting his determination to its ut- 
 most consequences. 
 
 With a mind thus characterized, the passions are never 
 wasted; but all their value is secured, and their animating 
 force is thrown into effective operation. And when such a firm, 
 decisive spirit is recognized, it is singular how the space clears 
 away around the man, leaving him ample room and freedom. 
 All allow that with a man of so much energy it is wise to keep 
 the peace. There is a general feeling that the decrees of such 
 an inflexible spirit must he right, or at least, that they will be 
 accomplished /-—and hence his almost unbounded influence as a 
 Leader. Such a spirit convinces us, that, there are stronger 
 agencies in the world than electricity and steam, and far more 
 enduring monuments than the Colossus of Rhodes, or the 
 Temple of Diana — -the agencies and monuments of matchless 
 mind; and it is thus the aristocracy of talent is more than a 
 match for the vaunting aristocracy of wealth. 
 
 We have, in this country, a great nationality. Egypt was 
 narrow, and Greece but a speck, when compared with this 
 2 
 
10 
 
 broad land of ours. Burke's "two millions in America/' have 
 already reached twenty -five millions, and will soon be a hun- 
 dred millions. This great nationality demands great men—* 
 men of refined tastes, strong intellects, and thorough culture 
 ■ — with warm, earnest hearts and solid characters, who can, 
 with ready perception, clearly distinguish between what is 
 right, and what is tvrong, and who dare to do the right: — these 
 are the great necessities of the age. 
 
 Gentlemen, think us not presumptuous when we tell you, 
 that in our estimation it is ignoble, if not disgraceful, not to be 
 able to answer, with some degree of certainty, these simple 
 questions, " What ivill you be?' " What will you do?" Even 
 at this early period in your history, while pausing at the 
 threshold of the University to receive the honors you have so 
 nobly won, you should be able to answer these questions, with- 
 out any special revelation, as in the case of Joseph, by dreams 
 of "binding sheaves in the field," and "the sun and the moon 
 and the eleven stars making obeisance." Only determine that 
 you will have individuality of character, with mental and mor- 
 al features strongly marked, and consistently combined, and 
 your name shall be called Zaphnath Paaneah. 
 
 The World, of late, has been fully waked up, by the power 
 of the press, steam, and electricity. The elements are all in 
 commotion, and the tide of humanity is rolling onward to 
 something — we know not what. The calmest waters and 
 steadiest currents are ruffled and agitated by winds and tem- 
 pests — 'and often the angry waves seem to be dashing over our 
 bark. In such times as these, we need men — true men — men 
 of mark, who will be able with calm, but heroic decision, to say 
 to the raging elements, "Peace, be still," and to the angry 
 waves of human passion, "Thus far shalt thou come, but no 
 farther." Pericles said of the Athenians who perished in the 
 Samian war, "The whole earth is the sepulchre of such illus- 
 trious men, and their memorial, better than all inscriptions, is 
 rerjosited in the eternal and universal remembrance of all 
 mankind." Let the record of such worthies have an inspiring 
 power upon you, to urge you on in the road to excellence, 
 and make you ambitious of becoming high-minded men, that 
 
11 
 
 like Daniel you may "stand in your lot at the end of your 
 days." 
 
 It is not necessary that we should dwell longer on this 
 branch of our subject, and we pass to notice, 
 
 II. The essential elements of this Character. 
 
 We are willing to admit that much of this Character may 
 depend upon the physical constitution. How the corporal or- 
 ganization affects the mind, Physiologists must explain. We 
 only assume it as a fact. In the material construction of 
 some persons, there is something which augments, if it does 
 not create, stability of resolution and energy. Something like 
 the ligatures which a certain class of the Olympic combatants 
 bound around their hands and wrists, it braces round, and com- 
 presses the powers of the mind, and gives them a steady and 
 forcible spring and reaction. It is generally found that per- 
 sons who are remarkable for a decisive character, have pos- 
 sessed great constitutional firmness. We do not mean by this 
 that they have been free from disease, or that they had a cer- 
 tain measure of mechanical strength — but rather a tone of 
 vigor which is the opposite of lassitude, and adapted to great 
 exertion and endurance. In such cases, the physical becomes 
 a proud ally of the moral nature, and sustains it in unremit- 
 ting energy. 
 
 When we compare the lion with other beasts of the field, 
 which are much larger in bulk of animated nature, we find an 
 illustration of our position. In courage and determined ac- 
 tion, the lion is vastly superior to animals of larger bulk. Now 
 this must result from some modification in the composition of 
 the animated material. And an analogous difference is found 
 to exist, to some extent, in the physical constitution of human 
 beings. Some possess more than others, of the physical qual- 
 ities which belong to the lion. 
 
 But all this constitutional hardness, cannot form the true 
 character in the absence of the superior qualities. It may 
 produce that contemptible kind of decision better known by 
 the name of obstinacy — which resembles the gravitation of a 
 
12 
 
 stone, rather than the reaction of a spring — and is a dead 
 weight, rather than a manly strength. Hence we call your at- 
 tention to the mental characteristics essentially necessary to 
 constitute the true Zaphnath Paaneah. 
 
 1. It is necessary that you should have confidence in your 
 own judgment. 
 
 This you may think is not an uncommon qualification. True, 
 men generally have a flattering estimate of their own under- 
 standing, and a self complacent assurance of being right. 
 Still we hold that the quality we commend is rather uncom- 
 mon. How many persons do we find all around us, who are 
 willing to forego all the honor and pride of setting an example, 
 just for the privilege and safety of folloiving one. They 
 anxiously inquire what each person may think on the subject, 
 and their own perception of the track of thought, by which 
 they hoped to reach their conclusion, is confounded in the va- 
 rious opposite opinions to which they listen. 
 
 But we do not maintain that a complete reliance on your 
 own judgment, is, of itself, a proof of strength and rectitude. 
 On the other hand it may be a case of intense stupidity. Con- 
 fidence of opinion may be possessed by a person in whom it 
 will be contemptible, if not mischievous. Still it is an essen- 
 tial element in all dignified actors in human affairs. It is fool- 
 ish in a weak character — but the man who is rightfully decis- 
 ive, is always ready to justify his complete confidence. He is 
 conscious that objects are presented to his mind perspicuously 
 and distinctly — and not like the shapes of moonlight, or like 
 Ossian's ghosts, "dim forms of uncircumscribed shade." But 
 several trains of thought, drawn from different points, lead 
 him to the same conclusion; and thus he finds that his judgment 
 does not vary, in utter servility, with the various moods of his 
 feelings. From this we must conclude that experience and ob- 
 servation are necessary in order to a high degree of this char- 
 acter. Still a very protracted course of time is by no means 
 necessary for this kind of discipline. By great vigilance in 
 the exercise of observation, and a strongly exerted power of 
 generalizing on experience, a man may, in a very short time, be 
 well supplied with a large share of that wisdom which is deri- 
 
13 
 
 vable from these sources. Long before a man is old, he may 
 be so rich in experience, as to rely with perfect confidence on 
 the decisions of his judgment: — and hence the great achieve- 
 ments of strongly marked characters at so early a period in 
 their lives — such as Hannibal, Bonaparte, Newton, Burke, the 
 younger Pitt, Wesley, Washington, John Quincy Adams, and 
 Calhoun. 
 
 It is, however, a part of this independence, that such a man 
 will hold himself perfectly free to change his opinions, if infor- 
 mation communicated should furnish a sufficient reason. And 
 he will listen too, to information, even though it comes from 
 one for whose judgment he has no respect. If his informant 
 will only give him an accurate statement of facts, he does not 
 care how indifferently he may reason upon them. He feels 
 that it is entirely a work of his oiv n, after receiving the infor- 
 mation, to deliberate and resolve. 
 
 In all the great work of life upon which you are about to 
 enter, we would have you cultivate, under God, a noble inde- 
 pendence and confident self-reliance. Never, no, never consent 
 to be the mere satellites of any earthly luminary, however gor- 
 geously it may shine. Never become basely dependent upon 
 others for your position and influence, but rely upon your own 
 force of character and intellectual power; and with manly, 
 Christian self-respect, think, and act for yourselves. We do 
 not mean that you should be offensively abrupt, rude, and re- 
 pulsive, in your intercourse with society. It is not necessary 
 to your independence, that you should wrap yourselves up in 
 a robe of ill natured self sufficiency, and present porcupine 
 points in every direction, to the detriment and annoyance of 
 all who approach you. Far from it. Such a course would 
 render you a loathing to society, rather than a Leader. , The 
 most independent and self-poised men we have ever known, 
 were the most respectful and courteous in their manners. You 
 should always have a due regard to the rights, opinions, and 
 feelings of others, while in all that respects your own rights, 
 responsibilities, and duties, you should be self relying and in- 
 dependent. When William the Conqueror was called upon by 
 an audacious and successful Pontiff, to take the oath of fealtv 
 
14 
 
 in behalf of England, to the Roman See, he nobly replied, "JT 
 hold my Kingdom of God, and my Sword." Let it ever be 
 your truthful boast, "I hold my position and influence of God, 
 and of my own intellectual and moral force of character." 
 Remember that the Great Teacher himself enjoins upon us, to 
 "call no man master." 
 
 2. A strong will must accompany your conclusions of thought. 
 Without a cogent feeling, impelling you to carry every inter- 
 nal decision into action, you will accomplish little or nothing. 
 You may have a very dignified judgment, and yet be in the 
 hapless plight of having no effective forces to execute your de- 
 crees. It is important, then, that you have a strenuous will — 
 a total incapability of surrendering to indifference, or delay, 
 the serious determinations of the mind. Your intellect must 
 be invested with a glowing atmosphere of passion, under the 
 influence of which, the cool dictates of reason will take fire, 
 and spring forth into active, living, breathing powers. 
 
 Carefully observe any remarkable man of decisive character, 
 and you will find that he never sits down delighted at the labor 
 of successful thinking, as if he had completed some great thing; 
 but he rather regards this labor only as a circumstance of pre- 
 paration for action. Hence you will always find him in the de- 
 termined pursuit of some object, upon which he has fixed his 
 eagle gaze, and he never loses sight of it on account of any con- 
 fusion around him. He disdains to adopt a purpose which he 
 would not devote his utmost efforts to effect — and he never 
 withdraws his exertions through indolence, debility, or caprice. 
 Such a man is linked to his determinations as with iron bands, 
 and never surrenders his object to any interference, except it 
 be to the uncontrollable dispensations of Divine Providence. 
 
 A systematic energy indicates a mind in which the passions 
 are commensurate with the intellect, and hold a correspon- 
 dence with it, something like the faithful sympathy of the tides 
 with the phases of the moon. We have had occasion in the 
 recitation room, to call your attention to the effect of what is 
 called the "Ruling Passion." If its objects are noble, and its 
 movements regulated by an enlightened understanding, it is 
 certainly a great happiness; as it never fails, in such cases, to 
 
15 
 
 give consistency and stability to character. It sweeps away 
 all trivial objections, and brings all the powers of the man in- 
 to the service of the favorite Cause, and almost opens a way 
 through impossibilities. And if to this is added the force of 
 habit, the determination becomes invincible, and it is almost 
 certain that such a man will persist, and have triumphant suc- 
 cess in his favorite Cause. 
 
 In the narrations of history, we sometimes view even an 
 agent of dreadful designs, who extorts from us something like 
 a sentiment of respect for the unconquerable mind displayed. 
 And even our regret is mingled with admiration, and we are 
 ready to exclaim, "What a noble being this would have been, 
 if the "Ruling Passion" had been Goodness. We bend in 
 homage before that ambitious spirit, which reached the true 
 sublime, in the reply of Pompey to his friends, who so zealous- 
 ly urged him not to hazard his life on a tempestuous sea, in 
 order to be at Rome on an important occasion: "It is necessa- 
 ry for me to go, it is not necessary for me to live." 
 
 We admit that many decisive characters have, unfortunately, 
 taken an ignoble direction; still there are men of the noblest vir- 
 tue, who furnish us with a display of that decisive energy which 
 is so ennobling to human nature — constitutes nature's noblemen, 
 and makes the Zaphnath Paaneah's of the world. Such, for 
 example, was the illustrious Howard. The energy of his de- 
 termination seemed almost a vehement impetuosity; and still it 
 was the calmness of intensity, and the very reverse of agitation 
 and turbulence. He was not like the small stream which has 
 no force only when swollen to a torrent; but rather like the 
 great river, uniformly rolling on with resistless force, and 
 bearing away every obstacle. His attention was fixed on his 
 object, and though it might be at the greatest distance, it al- 
 ways appeared to his great mind, with luminous distinctness* 
 Such a man can accomplish anything which is within the 
 sphere of mortal activity. 
 
 If you ask for examples of this character where the eternal 
 happiness of mankind was the "Ruling Passion," we will point 
 you to George Whitefield and John Wesley. They were cer- 
 tainly noble instances of this intense necessity of action. The 
 
16 
 
 great Cause which was so often found to be languid in the 
 hands of many of its advocates, under their administration, as- 
 sumed a restless urgency, and an all-commanding power. But 
 as far above all, we refer you, with reverence, to the Great 
 Exemplar, who said, "I must be about my Father's business. 
 My meat and drink is to do the will of him that sent me, and 
 to finish his work. I have a baptism to be baptised with, and 
 how am I straitened till it be accomplished!" 
 
 The resolution of a strong ivill is next to omnipotent. It is 
 said of Sheridan, that at first he was exceedingly timid, and 
 often obliged to sit down in the midst of a speech. He was 
 sensible of the cause of his failures, and being greatly mortified, 
 he said one day to a friend, with great emphasis, "It is in me, 
 and it shall come out/' And from that very moment he arose 
 in brilliancy, and triumphed in a finished eloquence. Here 
 was a conquest of the will, and it made a hero of the man. 
 Be, then, bold in spirit, and never allow yourselves to indulge 
 in doubts — remember they are traitors, and only dwell with the 
 feeble and the faltering — and God himself has said, "He that 
 doubteth is damned." 
 
 It is related of Tamerlane, the celebrated warrior, that he 
 once learned a lesson in determined perseverance, from an in- 
 sect, which had a lasting effect upon his whole future character 
 and success. On one occasion, when closely pursued by his 
 enemies, he took refuge in some old ruins— and while there, in 
 his solitary musings, he saw an ant tugging away, and trying 
 to carry a single grain of corn: — he repeated his unavailing 
 efforts sixty-nine times; and each time, as soon as he reached 
 a certain point of projection, unable to surmount it, he fell 
 back with his burden. But lo! the seventieth time, he bore 
 away his spoil in triumph, and left the wondering Tamerlane, 
 even amidst the old ruins, exulting in high hopes of future vic- 
 tory. 
 
 Now, like this ant, in the hiding place of Tamerlane, you have 
 some one thing to do — and if you would accomplish anything 
 great, in this short life, you must apply yourself to the work, 
 Avith a concentration of all your forces — waste no time — and 
 as soon as your plans are finished in deliberation, commence 
 
17 
 
 them in action — And all this will require the strong will, of 
 which we speak, as an essential element of the Leader. 
 
 3. Courage is an essential element of this Character. It is 
 not enough that a man should be adventurous in thought, alone. 
 He may sketch and admire an excellent scheme; but if his 
 heart tells him he has not the courage, or noble daring, to real- 
 ize, or carry it out, he will be mortified to think there are 
 courageous men who would venture what he dares not. And 
 if, perchance, he brings himself up to a resolution of braving 
 difficulty, he is soon chagrined at the timid, cowardly linger- 
 ings which keep him back from the trial — and he finds himself 
 accomplishing nothing. But the man endowed with true Cour- 
 age, in connection with the other elements, says with sober 
 consciousness, which is as far removed from bravado as it is 
 from timidity, "My convictions and determinations are linked 
 together, and I dare to act." The phantoms of fear he cour- 
 ageously looks in the face — and on him they lose all their 
 menacing glare and ominous tones; while he exclaims, "Z dare 
 to do all that may become a man." We all feel to despise a 
 being whose agency is continually enslaved by the gloomy 
 shapes of the imagination, or by the threats or frowns of man. 
 You would even feel indignant at yourselves, if, in the com- 
 mencement of a great enterprize or adventure, you could think 
 of nothing but the pit by the wayside, into which you might 
 possibly slide, or of the mad lion that might possibly lurk in 
 the thicket. You feel that you should disdain to compromise 
 the interests which rouse you to action, merely for the purpose 
 of gaining an ignoble security. 
 
 The conduct of a man possessing the character under con- 
 sideration, is always individual, and often deemed singular; and 
 hence he may reasonably expect frequent trials of his Courage. 
 But if he has the proper invincibility of temper, he will soon 
 disarm all hostile forces, and make even scoffers feel that it is 
 a bootless hostility to joke and sneer at such a man. People 
 are always mortified when they find that they spend their 
 scorn in vain — and soon become tired of the sport. A man of 
 the right kind, a true Zaphnath Paaneah, has something else 
 to do than to trouble himself about the mirth of fools, even 
 3 
 
 k 
 
IS 
 
 though they might idiotically laugh in a chorus. By such a 
 course they only convince him that they do not regard our hero 
 as belonging to their class — and he has the pleasure of con- 
 gratulating himself on having won his way to a far different, 
 and higher class. What would you think of your pursuits, if 
 they were comprehended and applauded by every trivial, 
 thoughtless being around you? And what would you think of 
 your Couaage, if it could be abashed by sneers, or needed con- 
 tinually, ignorance and levity as its allies? Although we abhor 
 the actuating principle of Almagro and Pizarro, in their pro- 
 ject for conquering Peru, yet we cannot help admiring the 
 hardihood of mind which made them regardless of scorn. And 
 the Abdiel of Milton is a noble illustration of that invincible 
 courage which rises, not only above the derision of the multi- 
 tude, but also that of the proud and elevated. 
 
 But the highest and most noble decisive energy of character, 
 is that which confides implicitly in the Supreme Power — Here 
 it rises to the true sublime. The man who who has an unwa- 
 vering confidence in the Great God, dares the attack of every- 
 thing within the whole sphere of mortality; and presses onward 
 towards his object, even though death in its most frightful 
 form, be impending over him. Belying upon his God, nothing 
 moves him from his conscientiously formed purpose. With 
 your general knowledge of the Bible, you will readily call to 
 mind, as illustrations, the case of Daniel, who promptly braved 
 the decree which consigned him to the den of lions; and of 
 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, who said to the vain and 
 haughty tyrant, "We are not careful to answer thee in this 
 matter," even though it consigned them to a "burning fiery 
 furnace." Such, too, was the character of the courageous 
 Paul, who exclaimed, in an hour of peril, "I am ready not to 
 be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of 
 the Lord Jesus:" — "But none of these things move me, neither 
 count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my 
 course with joy, and the ministry which I have received of 
 the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God." 
 Here was true Courage and peerless heroism. And such was 
 the character of Luther, when cited to appear at the Diet of 
 
ID 
 
 Worms, under very questionable assurances of safety. His 
 friends advised him not to go — -they warned him by the exam- 
 ple of John Huss, who was not saved from the faggot and flame, 
 by similar assurances. But Luther heroically replied, "I am 
 called in the name of God to go, and I would go, though I 
 were certain to meet as many devils at Worms as there are 
 tiles on the houses." And we must not fail to mention the 
 man who in our text is called Zaphnath PaaNeah — the lovely 
 and conscientious Joseph: When besought by a beautiful and 
 fascinating woman, of high rank, to "do a great wickedness, 
 and sin against God," with a conscientiously formed purpose, 
 he is able, even in this emergency, with readiness of decision, 
 and that promptness of action which indicated a strong will, to 
 fly from her, though at the loss of his robe, which was left in 
 her hand — >He preferred the boon of & good conscience, and the 
 favor of God, to the smile of a Princess, or the favor of 
 Egypt's throne: But by his conscientious heroism, he finally 
 secures the favor of the throne, wins his way to position and 
 power, becomes the Saviour of the land, and is called ZapknatH 
 Paaneah. 
 
 In the above cases, Conscience held the supremacy, and in- 
 stead of ''making cowards" of its possessors, we find that in 
 connection with a strong reliance upon God, it made heroes of 
 them all. Hence we say to you, with all these examples be- 
 fore us, 
 
 ''Fearless let hiin be, who trusts in God*" 
 
 and your characters shall be clothed with grandeur and true 
 sublimity, and earth and heaven shall look upon you as manly 
 men. 
 
 Such are the chief elements of the true Leader. But these 
 elements must act consistently. There must be a combination 
 and full agreement of these principles in the mind — all the 
 powers and dispositions of the mind must consent and co-ope- 
 rate, in order to success. You know the charioteer may har- 
 ness his horses to the chariot, but unless he can make them 
 draw together, with all their capacity for fleetness, even a 
 
 k 
 
20 
 
 cripple with a crutch, might leave him far behind. And just 
 so it is with the mind: even one discordant principle will great- 
 ly deduct from the strength and mass of its agency, and also 
 counteract and embarrass all the other principles. Hence in 
 the perfect character we expect to find a harmonious indivisi- 
 bility of mental impulse — -all the powers co-operating and act- 
 ing in concert: — Then the prevailing passion will have its full 
 force, and be able to throw activity into the specific system of 
 conduct, and make triumphant success certain: — And the 
 name of such a character shall be called Zaphnath Paaneah. 
 
 III. The Discipline Necessary to the Attainment op 
 this Character. 
 
 The careful study of the characters of men who have reach- 
 ed imperial eminence, will readily suggest the discipline ne- 
 cessary to the attainment and proper exercise of this character. 
 
 1. It is necessary that we should have a clear and compre- 
 hensive knowledge — especially that knoivledge which bears upon 
 the subject of our pursuit. 
 
 You are all familiar with the instances which show the effect 
 of complete knowledge on the determinations of the will. But 
 as important as this knowledge is, we are often pained to see, 
 to what an extent, even in our own country, the vital inter- 
 ests of humanity are committed to the direction of ignorance; 
 — In all such cases our only consolation is in the doctrine of 
 a particular Providence. 
 
 You should never lose sight of the great importance of know- 
 ledge. Remember that a new principle discovered, or an old 
 principle applied to better advantage, may act and re-act upon 
 millions, and roll on eternally in constantly widening circles; 
 and thus vitally affect the interests of the whole State, the 
 whole Nation, or even the whole World. All this you must 
 admit, or else deny the common brotherhood of man, and ig- 
 nore your own immortality. How high, then, are the motives 
 set before you to seek for this complete knowledge, with untir- 
 ing research: — and especially as the same course of life which 
 will conduct you to self-respect, and honor among men, will 
 
21 
 
 also lead to the approbation of God, and a crown of unfading 
 honors in Heaven. 
 
 2. You should cultivate a conclusive manner of thinking* 
 Your general course of thinking should partake of the nature 
 of reasoning — and be reduced to strong and patient discipline. 
 Always unite a diligent study of the past, with a close obser- 
 vation of current events — and thus keep yourself in sympathy 
 with your own generation; and at the same time be able to cor- 
 rect its extravagances, and lay your guiding hand upon its en- 
 thusiasm, by your lessons of wisdom, gathered from the whole 
 sum of human experience. The teachings of history will often 
 be needed for present emergencies. Every decade of years 
 has its errors. And to the uninformed, these appear new and 
 perplexing, while the man well read in the history of the past, 
 can easily trace them back through their dark channels to 
 some far-off fountain; and thus having detected them in their 
 source, he can effectually expose and correct them, for the ben- 
 efit of his age. He thus becomes an acknowledged Leader in 
 a great reform, and the people call his name Zaphnath Paa- 
 
 NEAH. 
 
 3. The interests to which you devote your energies should be 
 of a dignified order. This will be highly conducive to the for- 
 mation of this character. Indeed it is absolutely necessary in 
 order to give the passions their full scope, and thus bring out 
 the whole man. 
 
 The rude and uncultivated man, may regard his stomach, as 
 the center of all his wants, and the only interest to which he 
 should devote all his energies — and thus, with the brute, be 
 wholly earthly und sensual. But the educated and refined 
 man, should be daily animated by the ceaseless throbbings of a 
 far nobler life; and the quenchless fires of his ambition should 
 burn with higher and holier interests. Humanity should 
 engage his attention — for it he should live and labor, with 
 a benevolence which is spiritual and angelic, and makes 
 him an ally of his God, as manifested in the Lord Jesus 
 Christ. 
 
 4. Above all, you should have your own conscientious appro- 
 bation of your own conduct. This will have a vast influence 
 
 ^ 
 
22 
 
 upon your character, and greatly contribute to your decision., 
 and persevering constancy. The highest style of manhood, 
 is, the character with an enlightened conscience, which is kept 
 pure by following its dictates in the light of Revealed Truth — 
 one who always trusts and obeys his God. Such a character 
 is one of the most sublime and glorious objects in the Universe 
 of God. This is the last step in the ladder, in the process of 
 reaching the lofty character which we commend, and it brings 
 you to the crowning grace- — even "honor, immortality, and 
 eternal life." 
 
 By such a discipline you may all become exemplars, giants^ 
 and Leaders, among your fellows, and be honored with the 
 name of Zaphnath Paaneah. 
 
 Gentlemen: The relations we have held to each other in this 
 University are now about to close. In some respects this, to 
 us, is a painful fact. Our daily intercourse for mental and 
 moral improvement, has been uniformly pleasant. And now 
 the earnest collision of thought and opinion, in our preparation 
 for the duties of life, cannot be terminated, without some emo- 
 tions of sorrow* Your Instructors feel this very sensibly. 
 
 But you are not only to part from your Instructors, but also 
 separate from each other. And there is something in your 
 character and relations as a Class, which gives to this thought 
 a peculiar emphasis. With an unusual degree of homogene- 
 ousness and good fellowship, in a class so large, and brought 
 together from so many different localities, your hearts have 
 been silently knitting together, so that now, when the hour for 
 parting has come, the mutual Farewell ! will be spoken by 
 each with reluctance and pain. 
 
 And you cannot fail to remember that one of your number 
 — a dear friend and Class-mate, of rich and rare promise, has 
 gone down in the very midst of his studies, preparatory to use- 
 fulness;, to an early grave. Charles Smith Miller, is not in 
 your midst to-day; a candidate for University honors! But 
 we all have good hope, that instead of the Baccalaureate, he 
 wears the fadeless laurels of Heaven's honors, and that he is 
 numbered with the blessed. "We saw you weep at his sudden 
 
9 P. 
 
 departure, and exclaimed in our hearts, "Behold how they loved 
 him!" His memory is precious, and will be cherished forever 
 in your' "heart of hearts." 
 
 But there are emotions, connected with this occasion, of a 
 far different character. We congratulate our common coun- 
 try, upon the accession to her walks, of such a large Class of 
 cultivated and liberally educated young men — "with sound 
 minds in sound bodies." We all look forward to your future 
 labors with intense solicitude, and with high hopes of your use- 
 fulness and success. And you know the ground of our con- 
 fidence and expectation concerning you, as a graduating 
 Class. I beseech you disappoint us not. Go forth, and 
 whatever may be your profession, or pursuit in life — what- 
 ever your relation to society — or wherever your lot may be 
 cast, resolve to he men. Your Alma Mater will forever be cry- 
 ing in your ears, 
 
 "Act well your part, there nil the honor lies." 
 
 Do not fail, in all places, to pay due attention to the cause of 
 Christianity — and in connection with this, and your profession- 
 al studies, by your readings of science, elegant literature, and 
 current news, prepare yourselves — and keep yourselves pre- 
 pared, to be Men amongst Men. 
 
 But in your earnest struggles for intellectual pre-eminence, 
 Be Christians. Be careful, that you do not suffer a deterio- 
 ration in your religious characters. Give a portion of every 
 day to sweet and solemn communion with your God, and let 
 your whole public and social life be interspersed with practices 
 of private devotion. Take as your motto, the mighty maxim 
 of the great Luther — "Study and Prayer, Prayer and Study." 
 Like the wrestling Patriarch at the brook Jabbok, prevail first 
 with God, and then will you most assuredly become a Leader, 
 and "prevail ivith men" 
 
 Finally. Aspire to a full share in that "Inheritance which 
 is incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away," bequeath- 
 ed by the "King Eternal, Immortal, and Iuvisible, the only 
 wise God our Saviour," and "reserved in Heaven for you" — in 
 which I humbly hope to have a share with you. 
 
 k 
 
24 
 
 LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 
 
 028 342 329 3 
 
 Go, gentlemen, go forth *to your life-long work. And may 
 you each be accounted worthy to wear the name of Zaphnath 
 Paaneah. My prayers shall always follow you, that when the 
 labors of life are over, you may all be crowned with immortal 
 honors, in a Holy Heaven. 
 
 God Bless You. 
 
 S&B. 
 
 /