206 A Baccalaureate Sermon
faith. Neither reason nor science can solve all your physical
or spiritual problems. Only faith can do that, only a full
realization of Pope’s immortal line: “It is but a part we
see and not the whole”. Nor need faith be unreasonable.
I was recently struck by a few sentences from Harold
Begbie’s novel, “The Great World”. “It is difficult to be-
lieve that unintelligent forces of nature develop mind, but
it is not so difficult to believe that mind brought these natural
forces into existence. Therefore, it is easier to believe in
God than not to believe in God. Begin with mind, not with
matter.” And further: “The most striking quality of
evolution is direction. It moves intelligently. Whatever
else wanes and ebbs, knowledge increases, man is growing
in knowledge. His mastery over nature increases. But to
grow in knowledge without growing in goodness is obviously
dangerous. Mastery over nature without mastery oveç
oneself leads to destruction. Therefore, the moral order is
essential to evolution. Evolution, in fact, is governed by
a moral principle”. And life too must be governed by a
moral principle, for a life that has not religion for its basis
is a wasted life. That is the message which Hebraism
brings us. That is the word for the fulfillment of which
thousands have been placed upon the rack and torrents of
blood have been shed. But you may object : “Your picture
of the message which Hebraism brings us is painted in very
somber hues”. But that again depends upon the point of
view you take. If you think religion is a synonym for
sadness your view is not mine. David dances before God’s
ark and says: “Serve the Lord with joy”, “I was glad
when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the
Lord”. It has been said that a Roman’s face was typical of
vigorous courage, a Greek’s of refined sensuousness, a
Christian’s of divine sadness. I would amend the last word