Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1847-09-10
RNTB JOWRNAH Ia
ADDEs

OF the Hon. JNo Y Mason, l. L. D., before the
ALUMNI ASSOCIATION of the University Of
North Carolina, delivered in Gerard Hall,
June ID, 1917.
Mr. President, 8 Gentlemen Of the association:
In appearing before you to-day, while | re-
gret that your invitation had not found one
possessed of more leisure than have had In
which to meet its requirements, | am glad of
the opportunity which has thus been afforded
me, to testify my continued interest in my H.
ma Mater, and my sincere regard for those
great purposes of science and OF virtue which
it is the fortunate office of an American Uni
yersiIy TO promote.
After intervals of absence-somc of them
embracing more than quarter of century -
we visit again, mindful vet of our literary
brotherhood, the cherished scenes of our youth
"iul studies, and renew for few brief hours,
amid the fragrant memorials of Chapel Hill,
our ancient companionship of letters, and our
old associations of classic life. Tuning aside
from our accustomed pursuits, we exchange
the greetings of friendship in halls long sacred
10 religion and truth and before the affairs OF
our early worship, we gather fresh motives OF
gratitude to the venerable Institution whose
virtues they commemorate We surrender
ourselves to the mild influences of the day and
the occasion. We forget the discordS OF pro-
iessIonal strife the hard competitions of bust
ness; the feverish thirst for fame: and hush
ing all the thousand voices of party zeal, we
bow ourselves in unreslsting submission TO the
divinity Of the place.
In such influences we find our best prcpar-
alton FOR the Anniversary which we celebrate
1t is festival less of the head than of the
heart 1t has more concern with generous
impulses and warm affections, than with the
cold deductions of reason, or the dry specula
lions of metaphysics. 1t is wisely intended
not so much for the exhibition of hoarde,
knowledge and the discussions of abtrust
thought, as for promotion of kind feeling, TIKI
strengthening OF good resolves, the awake nlnG
and quckenng of spirit of Improvement II
ourselves and in others 1t brings together
from remote places and from various paths
those whose only memories in common clus
Ter around this seat of learning; and it thus
perpetuateS attachments which might other
wise lie buried for ever in the dust of wears
In this view of its character, it claims the re-
wards of patriotism, no less than the regard.
OF friendship; and strengthens our union a
citizens, by reviving our connection as stu
dents The bonds which hold together GU
extended confederacy of States, are not thos
alone which are to be read in written constitu
lions and gathered from the enactments of lie
{ gal codes; but those, rather, which are foun
IN the interchange of social kindness; in III
attractions OF literary intercourse and in tn
manifold associations which spring from tn
commumons OF religion and the pursuits c
business. Every institution, therefore, which
IKE our own society, gathers its members G
frequent periods from distant sections and dill
ierent States, forms new link in that mo,
important chain of causes, upon which W
must chiefly rely, under Providence, for H.
support and perpetuity OF our republican sys
TEN.
In behalf of that system, how numerous an
powerful are the motives which appeal to ,
on an anniversary like this. The tranquiit
Vi 'hese academic walks, the circumstance
oil OF them. under which we assemble, spea
70 us OF benefcent Government and pro
peIea country: The experience, too, of evel
'"s u Us entorces the same lesson with Il