Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1861-08-02
Glcnwood Ladies' seminary.

GIcnwo0d Ladies' Seminary.
The examination at This Institution occupied lonr
DAYS, closing on the 25th inst with appropriate an
niyersary exercises The school is one year old
1t opened with one hundred and twcniy-clgh'
Young ladies in attendance and twelve teachers IN
the several departments The average attendance
has been l2l; instrumental music class - and
graduating class 25 The sermon to the graduates
was given by Rev L. NJ. Rollo Greenhushi the
address by Rev. j. f. Rankin, St Adams The
report Of the examining committee was highly
complimentary to the success and thorougmcss OF
the school. The following is the Principals adj
dress to the class upon comforting the degrees,
"YouN0 LADIES The past of your lives is all
expressed in the present What you are to-day,
is but the summary of what You have been during
cach moment from infancy to maturity. Every
added effort and influence have aided in the devel
opment of your intellectual and moral character.
Bv this GRADUAL and impcrccptble process you have
gained your present position, and you now stand
before me the approved candidates for the honors
of Graduation.
Tie past have been years of toll hut this, you
should remember, is the only condition of desira
bic atanmcnts; they have been years of depend
encc and subsection, but yet full of JOY and hope
From mistaken views of your relations and duties
YOU have sometimes been restless under the re
straints Of home and school life But when other
years have passed awayi when your homes are
broken up forever, and fond parents and faithful
III .N-iaK
and feelings will be entirely changed. You little
realize now, with what tenderness and sympathy
YOU will then revert 10 the scenes of childhood and
youth and with what mingled regrets and thought.
fulncss YOU will remember the fidelity and severity
of those who have watched over you in the family
and in the school
Do you hope for happier days than you have al
ready experienced! You hope in vain. As you
leave these halls of science, you 90 forth to meet
the cares and responsibilitesthc stern realities Of
life. That you may act well your part in the
sphere allotted you by providence, is the end for
which you have been educated.
Hcnceforth, young ladies, you must sustain the
character and discharge the duties of educated wo.
men You follow in the train and come to take
the places of that noble band who were the archi,
tccts and builders of American civilization, and
through whose agency and influence American
character has been formed and developed And
while American institutions owe much TO the fe
male culture of earlier times these same instm
tions have done much to elevate the character and
position of woman. This peculiar feature in oul
civilization has attracted much attention even il
foreign lands. The distinguished Bishop Wilson
of Calcutta paid most truthful and touching trib
ute to the honor of our country, when he declared
that American women, the wives of missionarie,
whom he had known in Asia for many years, real
lied his best conception Of cultivated Christian
womauhood, of genteness and refinement Of man
ners, combined with the highest qualities of heroic
excellence A French officer at an entertainment
given in Virginia at the close of our revolution
after having paid his respects to the mother Q
Washington, exclaimed as she retired from the MS
/ sembly-room leaning on the arm Of her son, N
wonder America has such leader since he has ha
such a mother.
Young ladies, let not this national reputation su
fer in your hands. You are descendants of nobl
sanccstors. They have passed away, but they hav
left to YOU their example, the record of their hoI
principles, the stirring coqucnce of their earncs
lives. 1t is yours to their work, honor thc
memories and emulate their virtues.
The importance of your influence is measure
by the relative position you occupy. Your oblig;
tons are commensurate with your attachments, an
much will be expected Of you in the various rels
lions YOU sustain in life Your efforts to secure a
education are all lost if you are not in consequence
better daughters and sisters better prepared t
make home happy, and to exert upon others NOR
refining influence. Your discipline has been i
vain, if you are not now more earnest as you ar
better qualified, to the field of usefulness an
to toll for the relief of human suffering. And vo
viii prove re :rcmt TO your sacred trust-yo
will have forgotten those noble minded women VIII
shared largely in training this nation in tn
stormy days of its infancy, if you do not rcmcmbc
your country in this hour of her peril.
The mothers of Washington and Adams an
many others, the women Of the revolution, left a
imperishablc legacy to their pos,erity in their al
duous fe-work of toll, sefdenial and suffering =
They consecratcd their learning, their womanl
sympathy and their lives 10 the cause of Freedom
They bathed the flag of our country in their tear
and prayed that the hand might be ,cifhered whic
presumed to strike il down. 1t was theirs to All
IN cunning our liberties. and in forming the glor
Gus UNION which has so long showercd its blessing
upon our whole country lit is yours to aid in pre-
serving uniaruished that ensign of our freedom
and in transmitting, unbroken, this noble structur
Of our national government to generations vet /
come.
As pioneers among the graduates Of Glenwoo,
we shall expect You, young ladies, to honor you
Alma Mater. BE an example to your youngc
sisters who will hereafter share your tolls and r.
sponsibilitics Exhibit at all times and in all ri.
ces, a character at once earnest and sincere ami
bic and conscientious. Despisc the arts by whic
too many of your age and sex seek to attract
short lived admiration. Frown Indignantly upo
the batteries which lead to vice BE jealous of an
influences which might cause the slightest devatio
from the path Of rectitude. And above all. a
knowledge the claims Of our holy religion upo
your serious, practical attention. In all matters
religions opinion take the Bile, and not p8iiosopL
for your guide In your faith and practice, NAL
GHEIsr your living example aud the only sour,
q your hope Conscious Of your own ignornn,
and weakness, seek light and strength from on li.l
convinced Of sin, implorc the parloning grace an
5 mercy Il Him who has power to forgive, to rcge
G crate aud TO save. And 20 not henrc until 70
/ have with Mary chosen that good part viii,
shall never be taken from YOU
Accept now, young ladies, this roll Of parcllme
Z which 1 l. - IL