Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1858-07-08
aAccALAURBATD ADORE ISIS

Scientific majority. We have IN at1uent terml-
nology. political and conventional majority.
And with equal propriety we may have liter
airy and scientific majority.
Our best photographers concur in represent
ing majority rs the period of "Gull Hge"-the
age at which ancestors in Britain ana
/ America, legally permit young man to manage
his own affairs, or to become his own guide aud
guardian in matters of property. In Colleges;
the idea associated with graduation is very
nearly similar to that of majority in its political
| comprehension. The management of our pc
cuniary and political inheritance devOlyes upon
us at majority; and the management of our
literary aud scientific acquisitions equally de-
| wolves upon us at graduation. Our fortunes are
not made at majority; nor is our education per-
/ lccted at graduation. Both are to be, and ought
to be prosecuted with earHeStness and asSihuity
for years to come We are, indeed, in both
cases, sometimes fortunately, and sometimes
4 very unfortunately enancirated from tutors and
J governors. Laws and customs not, indeed,
immutably and universally opposite and felicit.
Ous There is something of compromise in
them all. Perhaps indeed, after the whole case
| Is argued il may be admitted that they are, in
the great aggregate, the most eXpedient . I'D
telicitiouS that could he brought to bear upon
the destiny of the world.
Be this, however. as it may, it is certain that
neither our fortune nor our education is Stereo-
TYPED and perfected either at majority or gradu-
| ton. We are, indeed, then merely licensed to
prosecute the business of self ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.
/ But in commencing and in prosecuting the husi-
ineSs of SelfdeVelupment and Seii-aggrandiZe-
neut, there are certain purposes and objects of
paramount Importance to our own success,
| which must never be lost sight of, during our
| whole career; if, indeed, desire honorably
and fciicitously to he personally and socially all
that might nc, and all that we ought to be,
! in order to- the glory OF God, the happiness OF
man, and to the perfect and complete enjoyment
LII
snsceptibiliteS, aud cravings Of our whole i'll
te lectual, mural and spiritual nature; and these
| too III perfect unison with all the manifestations
nf spiritual and eternal universe eliminating
| iii, and rIdiating from the restoration of the
empire of the universe to Gnd the Father
when all rule, all authority, all power, and all
| glory, known OF movable, by angels or by man,
shall have been delivered MP to Cod MS he was
before the first mt broke the silence of eternity,
and as he will eternaily continue to be, in the
admiration, wonder, love and praise af the uni
verse of a,imiring and adoripg worshipperS of
every rank, order, and degree of dignity, ma
jesty, and grandeur. And is not this u consutn-
nnlor most devoutIy to be wished-mOst con
sentareOus with every rational, moral and Spiri
| tUal appetency and craving OF our enlightened
aud rrgeueraied humanity.
Yunng gentlemen, am not disposed, nor do
feel it necessary or expedient TO deliver you
another lecture upon any special thGme in the
whale circle oi your past studies. We are only
seeking for a few valedictoTy words, i'll cnngrui-
| ty with your achievements and thp splendid
field open TO Your vision in this gigantic
infant community, aud in this new world of
analgaunateh humanity, standing ufron the e%
| perenccs of 55G2 years lackiug only 1873 yeaYS
Of the Millcnhial nge.
| Philosophy teaches that we should lont into
the future through the SpectacleS of the past and
| present. And this, too. with especial reference
the part we should take in the existing scenes
Of our own generation
! Every enlightened man must feel, and realize
the fact that he WINS mt created for himself
solitary and alone. Neither did he choose his
ancestry, his native cnnntty, his contemporaries,
| his language, nor his education, in its rudi
mental and Characteristic elements OF some
it is said, they the creators of circumstances;
aud of others, they are the creatures of circuu,-
stances. Neither of these is wholly true
| They are, indeed, in part the creators of cir
cumstances. Washington and Napoleon were
| both creators and creatures of circumstances
But neither of them in equal degrees.
! "rhe lot (of human destiny Is cast into the
| urn: but It's decision is wholly of the Lord ~
So said Solomon when fairly represented in our
vernacular. But sinners hal,lS mot unfrcquent-
| ly place the SHARES in which their own feet arc
caught. "l'hrre is too "a tile in mems af-
fairs which, taken the finw, leads on To for
tune" But who OF hirnsef, can imfiibly know
that tide, that happy moment, aud launch into
the troubled waters.
The safest, the Sonndest, and the most prac-
ticable philosophy or wisdom, IL first TO reaizc
the fact TINT every hmmau being has mission
and work TO do in this present wor d. and
| that too, with reference to the eternal future,
not Gully involving his own destiny but that of
Others; and occasionally involving the fortunes
of thousands and uyradS for numbcrless gener-
atiunS.
Some wise man has said, ut a fearful
thing to be man." The immortal Jung has
said;
so, he and thou shalt be god
| And half seli.made, ambition low diyi.. I"
This is rather cxuberantly poetic in the court
of christian reason. But how often does the Ay-
| perGols
| Soar too high, or creep too low,
Exceed the truth, thinS' marvellous to Showi"
Christianity, indeed teaches that every person
in Christ'S kingdom has MT merely n mission
common to all mankind, but special mission
in a special field, sspregnant, too, with special
duties, special donors and special emoluments.
In rciereI e to these cmoluments, we may APP
propriate the words of our most contentious
poet,
''Thou hat mot covet, is wise command,
But bv \ i by the wealth the Sun surveys;
Look AIT er, the command atands quite reversed,
And aVHrce is u virtue most Divine"
Hence, said much greater man, and much
higher authority, "covet earnestly the best of
| gifts" And vet, lac adds, II will show YOU a