North Carolina standard., 1851-07-05
From the Trenton True American.1
PRINCETON COMMENCEMENT

PkINCEION COMMENCEMENT.
The usual ceremonies which 'precede or usher in
terday in the Presby Church at Princeton The
town was thronged with vsiters and the church was
filled with a delightful auditory. The music (Dod.
exercises highly creditable.
In the afternoon, the Hon. A. w. Venable, of NJ
c., the speaker selected to address the members of
the American Whig and CIiosophic Societies. deliv-
cred very peculiar and original, yet very abe chaste
and finished oration. We necessarily give but
very meagre outline of its Po ints and purport, and
regret to do it such unavoidable injustice. 1t will
doubtless be published in full, to retrieve the
impropriettes of our misconcepton.
The aim of the speaker to impress upon the
minds of his youthful hearers the immensely of the
claims of the world upon the citizen scholar. He
beautifully described the destiny of the scholar
and drew an impressive distinction between him and
the mere bookworm. He defined the great duty of
the scholar for the benefit of his He said !here
was such thing as individuality in arnng, which,
when carrld to excess, amounted to selfshness and
was baneful in lis tendencies. There also
ciaHiy, which, exuberanty INDUCED, was in effec.
spendthIit prodigaty. He then described the hap
py union of these qualities, separaby banefu when
carried to bountifuily beneficial when har
moniously blended.
The scholars duty is also to disseminate truth. No
man lives for himself. In this effort he should not
content himself with occupying a passive position,
but he should also occupy his energies with the
position of error
He urged upon all the necessity of exercising Wig
lance in inquiry. Freedom of inquiry can never
suit in injury truth. If the Bible cannot tand the
test OF severe scrutiny 1t is unworthy of belief
1t puts forth tese plain, unvarnshed fac ts and hu
man reason is permitted make it's deductions
If it is true it has nothing fear the increase
| of knowledge, art, and science. The uprolIing of
the musy mummy, or the mysterious deciphering of
faint and oubtul hierogyphics upon barks of trees
and ancient tombs can never coun terbalance its i'm
muta5le truths.
He said instruction should be given in relation to
things, and not merely wOrds. The creates men,
tai indigeston-an intellectual disease-while the
other strengthens and invigoates the soul. Men
variousy gifted and he who possesses greater powtr
of mind and body must control society.
He uttered some singular ideas Disappearing of pub
lie school education, which forbear attempting to
sketch for fear of unjust misrepresentation.
The reat point ofhis address that Me0rY with
out practice is unavailing in general benefit The man
who acts exercises thought in his VOCATION and there
by advances the good of his either in mechan-
ca or literary position In this connexion he allu-
ded to the Worlds Fair tri butte the worth of
the ingenuity and mechancism of man. To the states
man and scholar must the world look for direction and
advice, but equally great is the machnist and agri-
Gu lurlst. Iherdeeds greater than those of the
warrior. He called upon his hearers read books.
but study men-study Nature-most of all study
your minds.
He forcibly remarked that the worst effect produc ed
upon society was by combinations based AT
this point he evidently meant much than he said.
and pointedly exclaimed-'' Beware of associated
mschief-ma kers-never seek to obtain influence by
fattering vice justfyng wrong. Mental without
moral culture is curse, rather than blessing TO
cety."
The closing part Of his address contained beauti-
full tribute to the memory of DR.. Stanhope Smith,
whose deathbed he attended He said that his last
hours were marked by the afabiliIy of the gentle
mai, the refinement OF the scholar, and the Lightly of
the Christian. He referred, in similar ran the
death of Dr.. Green, another of Nassaus presidents,
and paid high but well-mered compliment to
Professor Mclean, who is the only remaining
ber of the faculty of 1919.
He alluded ecingly to the recollections of his col
lege lfe and in speaking of the two literary societies,
Justly remarked that their influence exceed
by any other advantage of this revered institution.