Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1868-08-20
ViddiebuTy college commence
nent,

Thi. Iay, under the new aryWsru nl
NJ commencement week, is given % H.,
alumni Tor their annual celebration Tic
occasion AWAY, call, 6ut a soolly num'
her Of the graduate, II odd Mid 70 ro'
new their allegiance to the institution
An unusual number Of the older grad
mates were present attended by several
clas, reunion, which take place, that 81
the elias, of ISIS among other Rev,
Byron sunderland, u, h., was the orator
aud NJ. l.. Mead, VI T.. II Albany, IA"
the poet.
The u,ua, procession was farmed at the
college, and, headed by the kegnc y. IL,
bras, band, marched TO the Congregational
church, which was reached about half
past ton After prayer by Rev nr w,
", Patton q Hartford, Conn, the orator
wa, introduced w Hon John W, Stewart
President Of the Associated Alumni,
pR. suNpERLANns oBtIIoN.
The speaker, after an elegant and feel
ing allusion to the changes whirh had
taken place around the Institution since
he graduated, said he would take a, his
subject Life, its Relations aud Phases.
lie disclaimcd any wish 70 be profound,
hut would present some practical thoughts
on the subject, In studying life there is
always limi, beyond which we cannot
20 While there should ~ but one final
aim, there are frequently many object, of
lie Ii has always been the aim of lu-
mainly 90 approximate "a an ideal life,
The seasons of life contributed TO its hur.
vest, thu, completing its analogy to ma
turc Love Of humanity. Of country, Of
self, love in whatever way il may be di.
reCtcd, il an element Of success. The pro-
grcsS OF civilization is DOING away each
with the necessity Of war. Nation, look
into others hearts us well as their faces.
Curiosity il sclf-stimulating agent,
without which man woula Observe
nothing, accomplish nothing Curiosity
Is the mother OF tho twin sisters -di.roy-
cry and invention. Is the faculties are
clements Of life, 80 there are laws govern
ing their operation The first Is oidor
Obedience 10 the laws will alone insure
the harmony Of the universe The law
of growth regulates mans growth and
development. The speaker quoted an cN-
tract from Thomas Fuller, to the effect
that often the dullest boy becomes the
greatest man lie thought he saw a strik-
ing description of Grant in the passage.
This alluslun 10 the General brought forth
burst OF applause, which was repeated
when hc told a witty story illustrative Of
the present political contest. The speaker
continued his analysis Of the law Of en-
largement, and gave a glowing deScrip-
ton OF the success which follows earnest
cIertion In the field Of intellectual
growth We have the religious, the philo-
sophical systems. works on science and
art, and on politics. There are positive
and negative thinkers, and the middle
men, who have no ideas The world is
full of imrrlcticahlc people. who can
never do anything Three theories of
life are prominent. The first is that man.
kind are constantly deteriorating, and
will finally end in complete ruin. The
second theory may be called that Of oscil- (
lation. II ascribesa pendulum-like move
ment to the world. We only advance to
a certain point, whence We rccedc. Both
Of these theories have considerable plaus-
ability. History may be quoted 10 sus- T.
tain both But the true Christian be-
lieyes in the progress OF society toward
better things. The amclioration of the /.
race is slow and steady. The speakers
description Of the progress of the world
under the Christian faith was exceedingly
eloquent and his brilliant peroration held
the audience in breathless attention.
DIR. Sunderland is AN earnest and inter
es.ing speaker, and his frequent salhes Of
wit rendered his rather long discourse an
exceedingly popular effort Some of his
stories we should like to reproduce if we
had space.
The poem by NJ L. Mead Of Albany,
was a sort OF general exhortation to the
alumni It was brought into witty and
agreeable verse, and was well received.
The church was well filled, the ladies, as
usual forming large share Of The au-
dience