Page:The Education of the Conscience.djvu/7



OU have not time, you have not thoughts, to spare for many words on a Festival-day. And yet, just because it is a Festival-day, you look to have some words spoken to you: and your Festival would not be complete without something of a sermon.

For a Festival-day gathers up into itself for joy and gladness the life of the place where it is kept: and you wish, somewhere in the day at least, to touch upon, and glance at, the things which lie beneath all the holiday and hospitality; which give a reason to our Festival, because they give a reason for being glad that our school should be, and flourish. And you rightly look to Chapel for this: for nothing in human life is truly explained or justified until it is explained or justified by something which can bear to be brought into God's sight, or to be spoken in the Name of God.

And so, just because it is your Festival, I think I may boldly claim your hearing, boys as well as visitors, for a few minutes, while I ask for you this simple question,—Why we are glad that such a place as this St. Peter's College should be? If we know the answer to that, we shall know better how each