Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1868-07-03

part, you have nobly remained at vour
posts, doing your whole duty to God and
to man, regarding not your lessened sala-
rles, and accepting mplaininely yonr
diminished sphere of action. Within and
without the recitation rooms. YOUR in
fuence upon the minds of the class has
been OF universal advantage. In the name
of my classmates, heartily thank you.-
Every true friend of the University prays
that you may be induced, for its own fu-
ture good, nay. for its very existence, to re-
main IN your present positions.
! OF the venerable man no longer seen
among your number, and who breathed
out his last sigh in the arms of our class
upon the very spot where / now stand,
can scarce trust myself to speak Ripe in
years and in reputation, doubly endeared
to all by his cheerful piety, his rare attain
ments and his noble heart, Dr. Phillips
may truly be declared, in the language of
Tacitus, "felia; non cite soLesna cla,ilute, sed
etione opportuaitQte morris ;:''-fortunate not
only in the lustre of his life, but also in the
seasOnableness of his death.
Like a shadow thrown
Softly and sweetly from passing cloud,
Death fell upon him.
His sun indeed ''hath made a golden
set" May the memory of his virtues slim
ulate us to follow his pure example
Our class bids you, gentlemen, an affec-
tionate farewell
Fellow Students It is sad to think that
in few brief moments [ can address you
as such no more. In such an hour all the
petty rivalries inseparably incident to hui
man intercourse are forever
6 In the deep bosom of the ocean buried"
Though can hardly hope to influence you
by parting advice, yet the interest of the
occasion may cause some suggestions to be
remembered. Then, my friends, in the
struggle between liberal and conservative
principles, part in which you are soon to
take, do not permit the present crisis and
political designations to have an undue in
fuence upon the choice of your opinion.
You, whose opinions are now in process of
formation, should encourage no morbid at
tachment to obsolete institutions. Tie
yourselves down to no creed of political
faith to no dead issues. North Carolina |
feels the want of men trained to think out
for themselves solutions to the great pro- |
blems of the day. [ trust that you need
no stimulus to persistent diligence in the |
acquisition of knowledge. I will not paint
the high rewards which await the educated
men of the South for, in the simple Ian
think about being directly rewarded the |
better for us. But there is one reward
which will not fail yoa. because it is inhe- |
rent in the very fact of deserving it: the
deeper and more varied interest you will |
feel in life, which will give it tenfold its
value, and a value which will last to the |
end"
Into your hands, ow-students, are
committed the future reputation of the
University and the welfare of the Societies.
Faithfully discharge these sacred trusts and
you will have done well. Finally, brethren,
to speak with the inspired Apostle, "What- !
soever things are true, whatsoever things
are honest, whatsoever things are just, what
soever things are pure, whatsoever things
are lovely, whatsoever things are of good
report-if there be any virtue, if there be
any praise, think of these things"
My Classmates When I turn to you [
find how utterly inadequate are words pre-
pared beforehand to interpret the language
of the soul. I feel that to you the fitting
valedictory is the cordial clinging grasp of
the hand, the swelling tear, the throb of
the overladen heart. 1 envy not the man
who can realize that we are now together
for the last time.
s'For cold is he whose memory finds
No kindness when we part
Where mind has mixed so long with mind,
And heart has linked with heart''
Our student life is lover. The goal for
which we have been impatiently striving,
is at length reached, and yet we cast a
longing, lingering look behind. There is
tender fascination in every building-every
tree, every shrub. We would fain linger
yet awhile among scenes SO dear.
But we, who are henceforth to be work
Of 10
shrink from action. Especially while the
blessings of constitutionalliber are denied
to our people, the South demands from its
educated sons persistent heroic labor
Think not of self in the contest.
s'In such cause It's glorious cen to fail"
Dear friends, fellow soldiers Ye who
have so nobly borne aloft the star-lit stand
ard of a lost cause, when you go forth into
the ssclamor and rumor of life to be, guard,
I beseech you with Jealous care, the repnta-
ton Of your lost comrades in arms Defend
against every attack the purity of their in
tentions, the glory of their achievements
Of them, as Of the patriots of Client, we
may truly say,
They died like heroes. for recreant step
Had eer dishonored them--no stain of fear,
No base despair, nc coWardly recon:-
To earnest labor in behalf Of the South
the approval Of your oonseiences is not the
only stinul&nt. See before you the price
less Jewels entrusted to our protection-the
Women of the South. These are no unfa-
miliar faces. We have seen them in our
darkest hours of peril, the ''angels of the
Hospital" who ministered with loving ten
derness at the bedside of the sick and woun-
ded, who wiped the death-dew from the
brow of the dying, and closed with tears
the eyelids of the dead. Their safety and
honor are committed in part to our hands.
God grant gentlemen, that we may prove
equal to the charge
] earnestly pray that we, the last regular
Senior Glass, may prove worthy successors
of the distinguished men whose names are
enrolled as Alumni of our venerable Uni
versity.
Leaving our Ahpa Mater in her hour of
gloom, her very distress should endear her
more closely to every generous heart. If
her sons prove loyal to their mother, and
be ever ready by word and deed to defend
her fair fame and advance her interests, the
cloud which now Overhangs the University