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As the Representative of a revered and honoured class, I rise to
announce to you, the painful and melancholy intelligence, which doubtless you
have too truly anticipated. Viz. that the amicable connexions which we may have
formed for one and another in the space of four years will no longer be
exercised or strengthened together. That our collegiate career is finished, the
Days of our Pilgrimage here are numbered, and a few transient moments only are
left us: to exchange the last fond look — to dwell in sweet communion
— to indulge the deep emotions of the soul — and to impart the last
offerings of duty and affection, which we owe to you and the stroke of dismemberment.
But, a termination has not only come to these but likewise to our existence as
a Body. This night will witness our dissolution, this night perhaps will
witness a Union severed — a Body separated which will never be wholly
united again.
We who have received the full measure of the honours and privileges
of our Society must now gird on her intellectual armour of "Virtue and
Science" and embarking with all our hopes and fears on the untried ocean
of
And we hope that you will preserve and perpetuate that harmony and good-feeling which have generally characterized our intercourse with one and another. That frankness, courtesy to each other, discretion as well as firmness and the strongest disposition to harmonize with each other shall preside over all your deliberations and regulate your actions. And that he may win the applause and gratitude of your hearts whose amiable demeanour and happy temperament can preserve harmony in your body.
We would in the first place caution you to suffer not envy and
selfish motives to array themselves against the generous feelings of your
nature — thereby prisoning the sources of true friendship and producing a
spirit of malignity and detraction. Consider that the influence and standing of
the
Again bear in mind that for the inducements which were partly held
out here, you have consented to leave your peaceful and happy homes where
innocent and free you sported merrily along the sunny hills and green pastures
of life's fondest and dearest recollections, where the vigilance of a parent's
care or the tenderness of a Brother's or Sister's affection have entwined
themselves around your hearts, that you might associate yourselves in the
cultivation and attainment of that discipline and knowledge which shall prepare
you to assume an eminent position in the great Society of the human family.
Weigh well then the magnitude and importance of this mission here and
disappoint not your fair expectations by idle neglect and inactive ease.
If some of you more gifted than others shall set out with fairer
prospects of success, winning the applause of merit and talent let not this
damper your ardour nor discourage your efforts, nor cause your spirits to grow
weary in the contest. Slow, plodding perseverance and resolution often outstrip
the swift and well-gifted in the race. Only keep before your minds the various
objects of a noble career, the honours to be won, the benefit to be derived
from the present, and the incalculable
By an early exercise of speech, you will acquire a facility in
delivery and a fluency in language, both of which are essentially necessary to
the becoming expert and ready Debaters. In like manner by early accustoming
yourselves to the improving employment of c
Remember that here you pass through that discipline preparatory to
entering the field of controversy and the stage of public discussion, and that
while you sit admiring the brilliant efforts and happy displays of others
without manifesting a disposition to participate therein you are slighting the
genius within. You are beholding others arming themselves with those
instruments which in future they will more successfully wield, and at the same
time you are yielding to them the full position of privileges equally yours
— permitting them to excel you in noble exertion and ardent devotion to
the "love of Virtue and Science.
And while you should give diligent and unceasing attention to all
Society duties and requisitions, yet you should in no manner misimprove the
facilities affordedhere in your Library. Endeavour to acquire there from that degree of
intelligence and information which shall make you accomplished and efficient
members of Society, serviceable Agents in the future transactions of business,
and more especially which will enable you to diffuse the benefits of knowledge
in the circles of your acquaintance.
The inducements presented here are extensive and inviting to every diversity of mind and variety of taste. Here are the philosophy and wisdom of the Great and Good of every age and clime — the profound sentiments and reflections of Jurists and Statesmen — the lofty eloquence of Orators — the sublime effusions and contemplations of Poets and Novellists and the extensive researches of the Historian — the Scholar and Man of Science thus affording expansion to the mind, indulgence to the fancy, and enlightenment and refinement to the literary taste.
Add to these facilities the solid learning, the discriminating
criticisms, and the astonishing and successful discoveries and results in
Science in the Nineteenth Century so elegantly compiled and embodied in the
Quarterly Reviews and Magazines of European and American presses, and you may
exult in the enjoyment of treasures in the possession of few. Go then to these
Writings and Chronicles of the great and immortal Dead, dwell in sweet
communion with them reveling in the rich reflections of the past, and
prophecying
If however the numerous advantages presented here are not
sufficient inducements to awaken you to noble and strenuous exertion, if the
prize of literary merit wears no fascinating charm in your estimation, and if
the promptings of a laudable ambition palpitate not in your bosoms, then
gratitude to those parents whose hope and stay this side of eternity are your
prosperity and well-being should appeal to every generous impulse of your
nature. For how often do youth trifle with the most inestimable blessings of
their parents and benefactors, and adding care to ingratitude "bring down
their gray hairs with sorrow to the grave". How much more often still do
they forget in inglorious ease the great objects of their destiny and passing
listlessly through the vale of Life alive to none of its real incitements and
fascinations but,
But, Fellow Members, there is an inscrutable and All-wise Being
whose solemn ordinances and holy injunctions it would be folly to oppose by
whom we are reminded, "Of the vast concerns of an eternal scene" and
whose awful dispensation recently in our midst we have been brought so
sensitively to feel and regret. Scarce eight months since and of the numerous
and lively group whose voices commingle here in meekly and harmonious
intercourse there was one whose youth rejoicing in the vigour and bloom of
health, whose hopes, joys, fervid anticipations, perhaps glow ambition united
to the many amiable and worthy
When the pride of the forest is preyed upon by the worm, we are not pained by its gradual decay. The rude tempest passes by and it falls in the beauty of its foliage. But we have far different emotions when we survey the prostrate trunk which has been scathed and withers and see that the brightest prospects of his life were over cast, almost as soon as his morning sun had arisen.
Then, Fellow Members, let its solemn teachings, its sad
recollections, perhaps its bitter disappointments remind you of the destiny and
end which await you all; and teach you that while replenishing your minds with
intellectual wealth, you should not neglect to secure an interest in that
inheritance which is the
If as the pilgrim you feel your zeal warmed and your spirits
enkindled in revisiting the shrine of early and ardent devotion, what must be
the feelings
But we hope that you have also returned to manifest your generosity
and philanthropy in extending to us a cordial greeting in the great Citizenship
of the human family. That you have come prepared to clothe us with the parental
garb of your protection, and to offer us those counsels and that experience
which age and observation have assisted you in acquiring. For how else could
you so well display your patriotism or gratitude to the
Thus we greet you, and we also sollicit your kindness and generosity in anticipation of that meeting and intercourse as fellow Citizens on the highways of life where we will shortly join you — travellers of time and eternity never all again to assemble until the trump of the Archangel shall sound. At that dread and awful sound may we all arise with "joy unspeakable and full of glory." In the behalf of my classmates I bid you an affectionate Farewell!
Is all this to be at end? Is this golden band of kindred sympathies
and warm attachments so rare between friends to be broken forever? Perhaps it
is for the best, it may dispel an allusion which might have kept us in mental
vassalage, which might have taught us to indulge and cherish hopes destined now
to be disappointed. But it is hard to give up the kindred tie! And there are
feelings dearer than interest, closer to the heart
But we go not hence to forget the pleasant associations formed here nor to dissolve the classic charms which shall still linger around the beloved garden of thought and Elysium of youthful imagination, nor yet even to devote to inglorious ease the bright prospects of future honors; but to enter the arena of more active and vigorous exertion to call into exercise those instruments of Virtue and Intellect which it has been our diligent study to pursue and posess.
We have now reached that period of life a more disengaged but a more arduous station from which lies open before us the "double road of active life". One branch at first even and level will conduct us to places precipitous and impassible. The other though steep and rough at the entrance will terminate in perfect smoothness. Thus, he who takes hold of fixed principles and pursues with undeviating footsteps the second of these will find his station serene, his prospects delightful, and his descent to all the practical attainments perfectly easy. This we are encouraged to do as the great objects of our destiny are scarce yet commenced. We have ran one race nobly, accomplished one achievement, but a more trying and important one awaits us in the adventurous career of life.
There is an expectant and anxious throng who are awaiting at the
goal to welcome and receive us into the participation of all their fortunes and
pleasures. Kind and indulgent parents to bless, warm and devoted friends to
But then to meet these there is much expected of us. We are expected to return laden with the fruits and seed of well-spent labour time, and to offer on the Altars of gratitude and affection those kindly offerings which their benevolence and sacrifices have assisted us so eminently in procuring. We are expected to return from these seats of Learning with minds well stored and disciplined in knowledge and science, prepared in time to assume a prominent part in the affairs and transactions of our country. That the kindly influence of these may fall and flourish in the waste places of ignorance and depravity to the advancement of Letters and the melioration of mankind. And it should be expected of us (being no less our duty) to use our endeavors in the removal of those deep rooted prejudices which hold the misguided intellects of our Countrymen in mental vassalage. The true objects and purposes of Education should be explained and enforced by us who have felt most their influences.
Then we may be assured that no feeble and irresponsible task lies before us. To sit down now and conclude to pass the rest of our days in inglorious ease should justly elicit the severest reproaches of the present and future. For in so doing we should prove no less recreant to our parents and friends than destitute of patriotism and the great objects of our creation.
Let those of us therefore who have performed well the various
objects of our mission here, set out in the more
We have a wide and extensive field for noble exertion and spirited adventure, promising rich rewards and crowing honours to all who will diligently labour therein. Our choice of a profession or vocation though should be adapted to the peculiar talents and capacities with which we may be endowed — so as to secure the most credit to ourselves and benefit to others. In none will we meet with success unless we persevere.
The Science of Law will open up the great highway to all the honours and trusts of public distinction, but it requires unbounded devotion from those who desire to attain eminence in that Science which "has its seat in the bosom of God" and whose "voice is the harmony of the world."
Medicine will unfold an extensive field for the exercise of that skill and those attainments which relieve suffering nature from the afflictions of disease, develop the charitable feelings of the heart, and promote the extended blessings of humanity and philanthropy.
The sacred calling of the Ministry instituted by the Saviour of the world and occupied and adorned so usefully and gloriously by him is also worthy of our highest consideration, affording a theatre for charity, philanthropy, and all the virtues of the heart more glorious and renowning than all the acquisitions of terrestrial greatness. For panoplied in the strong armor of the Christian hope, the breastplate of righteousness, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the spirit what need intimidate us, what cause more noble and humane could inspire us, what achievements more illustrious, or rewards more blissful and enduring than are prepared for our coming.
If however none of these shall engage our attention and pursuit then we may go to the inviting shades of sweet retirement where unmolested by the conflicting opinions of party strife we may pleasure in the dignified pursuits of Science and in the indulgence of those charities of the Soul which spread peace and contentment in the private walks of life.
But, My Classmates, whatever may be our pursuits there are certain
moral principles of action without which it is to be feared we will miss the
mark of the prize of our high calling. Fortified however with a good
heart and a sound understanding, we have nothing to
fear from the shafts of envy and virulence which may assail us. We shall pass
untouched through the fiery elements of malignity and come forth brighter to
all and dearer to our friends.
It is the mark of a truly great mind to dare to be virtuous at the expense of reputation. It matters not what opinions others may entertain of the purity of our motives, the integrity of our purpose, or the correctness of our moral principles. These it becomes us to regulate by our own consciousness of right regardless of men. Let us be "just and fear not. Let all the ends we aim at be our Country's, our God's, and Truth's."
Need we also be reminded of that ordeal or vice through whose
seductive enticements we must all pass. Yet few possess the prudence and
unyielding firmness requisite to pass it in safety. We may be assured however
that character derives much of its luster and fortunes much or their elevation
from the untainted purity and irreproachableness of youth. Masculine virtue is
a necessity to real eminence as a powerful intellect. And he that is
Then let the voice of reason and experience warn us to shun the dangers that lurk around us, and conduct us in the ways of pleasantness and in the paths of virtue and happiness.
But why trespass longer on your indulgence, why endeavour to depict the mysteries which belong to the future when in so doing I delay but a few brief moments that solemn and funeral like procession which we shall exhibit in passing without these walls.
Now, My Classmates, let us go hence and mindful of our duty let us endeavour to perform it. But let us not forget the circumstances under which we part. If a common misfortune can reconcile enemies it must strengthen and invigorate the attachments of friends and brothers. Let us cherish for each other the kindest feelings of our hearts and bury in one common grave the frivolous antipathies of youth. Let us persevere in the inmost recesses of our hearts the amicable connexions formed here. And when the hour of adversity shall darken the horizon of our hopes, and the inconstancy of fortunes favours shall visit us, then will we deplore each other's fate with that silent, but eloquent and heart-felt mark of affection — a tear.
th—43.