Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1861-08-09
IAppREss 10 rHE CLASH

to receive the farewell address of the
President
LApDREss 10 THE CLASH
I have but a word to add in more dir ect address
10 you, Young Gentlemen, and that chiefly a word
Of generalization. Leave-taking, and farewell
greetings, are, indeed, in some sort, painful always
The last instructions, the last counseIs, tne ias1
admonitions. the last words CT encouragement anu
cheer, have a prevailing tinge of Sadness because
they are the last. But 1t is often a dear and
cberisbed sadness. Our richest and most fruitful
experiences are often connected with such scenes.
1t would be pleasant to look back with you over
the path you have trodden together so long and so
happily, and especially to join you in acknowl-
edging the Divine favor, in sparing the lives Of
all who entered the course with you, or Joined in
It afterwards. Some indeed we miss to-day, whom
We would gladly see amongst you. But death has
not thinned your ranks. The badge of mourning
does not, az sometimes, darken the scene. Some Of
tho.e who left you are here, l doubt not, TO wei.
come you TO the battle Of life which they were
compelled to enter before you with such prepara-
ton as they had. Thank God for al this, my
young friends, and find in it a pledge that Ae will
take care of you, if you are true to yourselves and
to Him.
But my congratulations chiefly refer TO this
time in which you are called into active life, and
the kind Of preparation with which you will enter
it. 1t is a time such as recurs only in long Pc
riods-oDoe in a hundred years, peThapS-a time
When hostile issue is taken as to the validity Of
the great principles which underlie society; when
men are put to the crucial test with respect to
their confidence in those principles and their
fidelity to them. Of all the providential blessings
for which we have occasion dovoutly to thank
God,-and who can number them this. is the
- that be has given Us our being in these
stirring times. Not that war is better than peace,
far from it. All righteous war is in order to just
peace. There lies its obligation and glory. But
war against sir is better than peace with in
such we hold the war TO be which will mark
10 history the present time. Awar by which the
world is reused, by no transient, superficial ex-
cjtcment, but by that profound emotion which
stIrs the manhood Of a man, and discoses how
much or how little of it he has in him. The
events Of a day, at such a time, are often more
pregnant than those Of ordinary years. The sig
nifcance Of a lifetime Is crowded into a single
month. You may now see what life means what
a man is for. You are called upon directly to
take sides. You must do it. You cannot escape.
The great principles and eternal truths Of Gods
government, cry aloud with a voice that the very
deaf may hear: He that is not for us is against
US. What a grand necessity is that, young men
What a glorious privilege is yours, to live in such
a time J
And | trust you will prove worthy Of the time.
That is saying much, I know. But l also know
that the principles which have inculcated in your
discipline here, are Gods truth: that they are,
therefore, vital; and that taking root in the soul
they will bear the precious fruits which we have
been contemplating, converting a man into a
friend Of God, and true co-worker with Him, into
q friend Of man, and his true benefactor; into a
good man, a good friend, a good citizen. Take
up then into your being the christian life; let
that actuate and guide and support you, and you
will not fail to be worthy of this time and Of any
time and of all times. Imbued with these senti.
ments, young men, enter the great conflict, as God
may guide YOU. Choose your side, maintain your
post, fight your battle as in bis service and under
his eye, and your crown and reward shall be the
benediction of the good and the favor of God.
The following hymn, composed by Mr..
Leavens. of the class, closed the exercises.
which were something over two hours in
The church was crowded as usual.
HYMN