AUTONOMOUS - Madras Christian College

QUARTOSEPTCENTENNIAL SPECIAL SOUVENIRwith churches or with missionaries. The very plan of theworld shows, as we have seen, that in them there is evil andmistake. They are not to be your standard. They have noauthority as your guides. It is of Christ you have to judge.He stands apart, seeking to found no sect and to upset none,seeking only to make men know that each one of them hasa place in the Father’s heart.” Well, if Christ upset noneWilliam Miller upset many by those words, very radical andstrong words.1837 was our first day but that did not set us where we arenow, that was another date – 1937 - but there were someyears of preparation first, to make what we have now a veryspecial and wonderful place. Nobody can be of any doubtof that, sometimes I have say to the students in Canterburywho worship daily in the great Cathedral, “Don’t take suchgifts for granted.” And when I came here, like the Queenof Sheba, with all this green around me and also the Hallsgiving that community flavour, my breath was taken away.It is a wonderful treasure, a really wonderful treasure and Isuppose I could speak about the courage of Principal Hogg,for it must have been a really nervous time, taking the wholeCollege which was built in the city and bringing it out here.But I actually want to mention somebody entirely other.There is a book which was written in France, it’s a littleparable and I have read it many times over the years notknowing whether it’s a true story or not. Its title is ‘The ManWho planted Trees’ and in the book it shows just one mangoing out and collecting acorns and seedlings in a barrenlandscape, in a valley that was dry of water and in a villagethat really wasn’t very proud of itself. Every day, unknownto people, he took some of the seeds that he had softened inwater and with his walking stick would make holes and plant200 each day. He did it for three years, and slowly as thetrees grew streams started to run again and the village hada completely different atmosphere. Now there is greeneryand a sense of creation rejoicing in the seasons once again.This was only because of the activity of one man. I oftenwondered whether it was true, until I came here. And ofcourse it is true because Edward Barnes and his wife Aliceover the short number of years that Edward lived, he died in1941 having coming here in 1932, planted out in the sameway the beginning of this green landscape which surroundsyou. It was a beautiful activity. I would want to give thanksas a visitor for that activity although he didn’t belong to myown denomination of the Christian Church. He was a Quakerbut just as Canterbury breaks down barriers so too MadrasChristian College breaks down barriers over and over againin embracing people of goodwill and of faith but declaringby its very foundation that fulfilment is in that little childof Bethlehem before whose vulnerable, silent humanitywisdom and knowledge knelt. “Celebrating History, ServingHumanity”, we know where wisdom is to be found, we knowwhere the place of understanding is which is more preciousthan gold. We know from the sacred scriptures what themystery of God is. It is found in the fulfilment of the divine inour human image which we Christians believe is Christ. Notin easy answers which Solomon gave the Queen of Sheba,for humanity is a hard thing to comprehend and has to betreated sensitively as God treats us. Nevertheless, this 175years, which is really only a beginning for this wonderfulCollege, is a cause for great celebration. Treasure all youhave but know all the time that God wants that gift laidbefore him in the shape of service to humanity whom you willtry to serve wherever it is vulnerable. And if you look aroundand think that the world is too big and the subjects we studyare too complex and are going to be beyond everything yourhead can manage, then don’t worry for God has given you asan individual very special gifts but at the same time you area part of a community, a community of care and hospitalityso others will complement the gifts which you have. Thereis a line in one of your Hall songs which perhaps sums it upas we gather here in celebration facing the future in a newbeginning, having given thanks for the past and wonderinghow we may serve the problems of humanity. Some of youwill know the music, I don’t, but I like the lines, “The wayyou face the problem is to start with you and me”. Thisafternoon looking back to the past we say “Thank you” andthen looking forward to the future both in this place and theplaces we intend to serve the world in Christ we hear Godsaying to us “The way to face the problem is to start with youand me”. Thank God for that past, and God bless you for thefuture and the next 175 years. Amen.24