Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1855-03-31
VALEDECTnRY ADDRESS,
READ IN MISS CAROLINE CoBURS Al THE CLOSING or TIL
SECOND TERM Oh TIE sCsQCEBbSSA COLLEGIATE "
srTUTE, THURSDAY EVENING, MARCH %, 1855

II MIrS CAFOLINI LUBUKN, a CLUsING THE
SECOND TERM Oh TIE srsQCEBtSSA COLLEGIATE H
srlTUTE, THURSDAY EVENING, MARCH q, 1855
RESPECTED TEACHERS, FRIENDs, AND Fell
Low STUDENTS =: lime, whose onward flow
ceases not whose rapid current bears-all to
the boundless OCEAN Of Eternity, has brought
rs to the close of this, the second term of the
Collegiate Institute. But few short months
have passed since we met as strangers-to
those OF us who came from homes far distant
ali was strange and new. Now, while we stand
in this temple Of Justice for a few moments
let US cast the minds eye back upon ages past,
and contemplate the nations that were Man
was at first but Just elevated above the beasts
that perished, and for many ages his progress
is scarcely perceptible So it was with Greece,
Rome, aud proud England simple shep-
herds, rude and uncultivated, barely raising
one thought above the turf or which he trod u
aspred to naught but to gather the wild fruit
which hung within his reach, Or to dig the root
from the earth when hunger pressed upon him,
sprung the noble and polished Orator the wise
Lawgiver, the world-renowned Patriot, the
sage Philosopher and the stout hearted warrior
Of those ancient nations From such progeni-
tors did Scion, Lvcurgus, and LeonidaS, and
Demosthenes, and Cicero, and Caesar, and Gin
cinatus arise. The men who elevated ancient
Greece to SO high position among the nations
of antiquity we're the descendants Of barbarouS
tribes, but little removed from the beasts that
roamed over their uncultivated plains. Greece,
though long since lost to fame, is still remem-
bcred and sung rs the land of learning. wealth
and refinement For nearly two thousand years
she was bound TO the earth by unjust laws and
unreasonable severitv-but she fell not when
the mighty were upon her, but by her own fac-
tons Yes, she fell by the hand of her own
people though lovely and not forgotten, her
arts are no more ~ @
From classic Greece let US turn TO the sum
ny cline of Italy, where rose and fourished
the arts and Sciences Her fallen TEMPLES her
ruined palaces, her deserted and buried cities,
are still the wonder and admiration of the
world BY the vaor of her warriors she con-
quered the world and by the wickcdncss and
venality of her rulers, she conquered herself
While virtue was her guiding star her path
was upward, and her course onward While
integrity governed her councils and love Of
justice presided in her senate, she went on con-
quering and to conqucr---bnt when wild pas
sion dethroned reason, and tyranny stalked thro'
her senate chamber unrebuked, the hordes'of the
north came down upon her like one dread ava
anche, and sealed her eternal doom.
Ia Greece and Rome, the masses were ig-
norant, and all were superstitious The genial
influence Of the religion of Jesus was not felt.
The lights of science did not dispeI the dark
ness OF ignorance, and call forth the mind to
the contemplation Of things aboyeitscf- cf-w'lile
the few were learned, the many were in dcpIor-
able ignorance
Far back in the past, England, proud aris-
tocratic England, the home Of Bacon, of Nil
ton of Locke, of Newton, OF Chesterfield. was
but nation Of barbarians, whose religion was
one of bloody rites and deep degradation ITu-
man sacrifices smoked upon the altars OF hea-
then deitics
Now, how changed the country, how altered
the people What has wrought this change :?
The religion Of Christ. and the amelorating in
fluenccs of education. Where once the sayage
had his hut sec now great citics-whcrc the
wild beasts roamcd see beautiful hamcts, and
highly cultivated fields
Many pleasant associations are connected
with her gentle rivers, as they meandcr thro'
forest and meadow We feel that there our
fathers lived -tha there they looked on those
same smooth flowing streams there they suf-
fered for their faith h-there they noblv fought
in its defense. Thence they came to this, then
wilderness land, bearing that unviclding spirit.
which gave birth to those institutions which
shall bless our land forever.
We owe much to England she is our moth
cr land and we are bound to respect and regard
her as such Her noble veomanrv are those
from whom onr fathers received their brave
spirit. Our fathers With what emotion do
those words fill iS2 How are our thon-lts
carried back TO the time when prosecuted for
Righteousness sake, they forsook all but a prre
conscience and faithful God to seek an asy-
lum in this wilderness land, where unfcttcred
and free, they might worship that Being as
conscience dictated
In the winter of 1920, when the stormy sur
gcs of the briny deep were daShing with mad,
denel fury against the rock bound coast Of
New England, when rocks, and trees and
pebbles were sparkling with CONCEALED icy spray
when every thing on land and on sea was
dreary and forbidding, one hundred persons
with iron hearts and sincwS Of steel, and wills
that never Welded when duty must be done
landed on Plymouth rock. TIE ocean was upon
one side the wilderness filed with saya@es uT-
on the other. The rocky, frozen earth below.
and dark stormy sky above They toilcd,
and suffered and endured, but did not become
disheartened
They built churches, established schools, and
as their numbers increased, they increased their
religions and educational facilities Wherever
new colonies were planted, there were seen ris
ing the church and school-housc.
This element has kept pace with the growing
net!on, AMI it is this that has made America
what she is. 1t is neither her armies nor her
nav,es, hec lie hinstihle mines, delightful eli
mate, nor her fertile soil 1t is not to this we
owe our greatness. Other nations, over which
tyrauts rule with absolute despotisln enjoy all
these blessings, still they compare not with US.
No. Tot TO these, but to our churches. col