The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-07-29
James whltaeld Wood. edltor Free press.

Rev. Nathaniel McFetridge Oil City, class of
1864.
Professor Charles B. vastine NJ. D., Medical
College, ST. Louis, Missouri.
The Board of Trusteesat the morning session
before the commencement, conferred the follow
ing honorary degrees
That of doctor of Philosophy" upon Profess
sor Charles II. Hitchcock State Geoogst of
New Hampshire, and lecturer in the Pardee
course.
That of Master of Arts" upon Rev. Francis
X. :. lunsicker of Carversvile, Pa: Rev. Ed
ward h. Blyden, Professor of Ancient Lam
guages in Monrova College Liberia; A. c..
Newpher of Lancaster County Normal School:
George r. Kaerchcr, Pottsville, Pa.
No Doctorates of Divinity were conferred
Thomas D. Logan discoursed pleasantly of
''The True Ambition" He said:-
The desire for the attainment of excellence
is heaven-appOnted feeling, and is not blame
worthy. Few men start out in life without the
determination to do something for mankind but
many fail. What is the cause Mistakes in
regard to proper calling are not, for although
man succeeds best in that for which he is
pre-eminently fitted, yet faithful performance
OF the duties of any profession will insure some
degree of success. it's not mistake i'm regard
to the field OF labor 1t is mistaken ambition
which causes so many failures. A desire for
honor without labor is the false ambi-
tion. The true ambition prompts to desire
ultimate success only through the faithful per-
iormance OF present duties. 1t is a noble feel
ing, which is worthy to be cherished bv every
true man. The American scholar should possess
1t. lie must devote his labOrs to the eradication
OF ignorance before he attempts to advance fur
ther the standard of science Here is work
which must be performed by patriotic scholars
Since there is so much to be done. let no one
told his arms and wait for some immortal alb
straction to visit him. Let each work for the
omelioration of his fellOw-men, and then he will
be guided by the true ambition: let him live for
ha RI la -a,i1 Of
him, as OF Brutus, "This 1Cds a man.
The yaledictory, by William Q. Scott, of Wash
ington city, was an eloquent address, and was
chastely spoken
Citizens of Edston:-On the brow of the hill
that looks down upon desert-bound Damascus.
bedecked with the bcwildcrng beauty of the
lovely valley encirclcd by the Abana and Phar-
par, the dazzling streams that leap from the
rocky sides of lofty Lebanon, the False Prophet
reined his steed and exclaimed, MAN can enter
but one Paradise l will not enter this one
below, lest | should have none above With
less extravaganza yet with equal delight, we
have gaZGd from yOnder hill over the enchanting
vale embraced by the welded waters OF our sill
very streams And gladly, too, under the even
ing shadows, we have descended the muse
favored hill to be refreshed by cheery welcome
to the hearts whose warm Goodwill welded
them to ours in loyin. unison, and the homes
where the delightful amenities of fireside
friendship became dOubly pleasant when
adorned with the graccs of beauty and refined
by the yigOr of intelligence. In this parting
hour when the melodies of merry music and
the fragrance of beautiful flowers are so
strangely mingled with the sad words of scparn-
ton, there comes the full sense of the joys we
had when the sweet cOurteSieS of the evening
circle were added to our daily feast Mt the Cas-
Italian fountain of yonder academic shades.
And when in the future we rest by the waysde,
our eyes will fondly turn to this scene of our
delightful stay, and our memories Will love to
hon
The union of hands which began our friendship
is to-day forever broken, but the union of hearts
which grew therefrom is a spiritual unity wider
than space and more lasting than time. And
now we beg you to accept the grateful offering
we bring of hearty thanks for your kindly deeds,
and to follow our footsteps in the future for
| giving the faults and remembering the virtues
| of the class which now bids you hesitating
| farewell.
| Gentlemen of the Board of Trustees:-We are
strangers to each other yet the sons of Lafayette
cannot but revere her guardians. We eXult with
| you in the magnlfed power and expanding fame
| of our Alma Mater Founded on the eternal
rock, Christ Jesus her power is more permanent
| than the everlasting hill whereOn she stands.
God is the sum and centre of all science. May
| He be your wisdom in the device, and your
power in the execution, of evcr-grOwing and ever
greater schemes for dear old Lafayette. Her
multiplying facilities for disciplining the leaders
| of American progress give earnest of the coming
| day when your fostering care shall have widened
| the way ana supplied the means Tor tnaC mas
| terry of the principles OF every science which
| finds their addition and conveyance in Hin
who is their sum and centre. God bless you il
! your exalted and eXalting labor of developing
into stupendous power and perfect symmetry
this word-regenerating institutions for it springs
from the eternal rock, fountain of life to
| dying world.
Mr.. Chairman We miss to-day our beloved
President; but though an ocean separate us, al
unseen bond unitesus, and our spirits commune
| voices QuiCk silent plpC-
trio thrills. He animates US all. With double
spirited power he has breathed new life in tC
our Alma Mater, and now with bounding pulse
and elastic leap she speeds swiftly to the front IL
the race of glory With personal magnetism
he has drawn a growing patronage from every
quarter of the land, and with wise counsel ha
constrolled the conflicting elements of college
life. His Midas hand has touched with colder
beauty all appliance The MUSES. will love t
dwell amid the enchanting scene devised fO
your Parnassian height. Nonarrow bounds MAJ
circumscribe our Alma Mater, for the eagle eyt
of her royal guardian looks down from world
encircling view, and scans the radiatOns of he
influence to the outer bounds of space and time
Her sons have already heralded her name il
every continent, and her President now demand
tribute from the intellectual treasures of boil
hemispheres. Wherever he may be this day W,
know that his spirit is at this hour hOverinI
here; and to that felt though unseen presence tn
Glass OF '69 now bids an Northumberland
Gentlemen of the Faculty:-What shall | say
to you! Year by year successive classes &C
knowledge the completeness of your instruC
tions and speak the parting words. Yet thi
| eVer-rccurring separation is ever new. Tn
bonds that bind us are strengthened by the dali
Intercourse of years, and the occasion that sep3
rates us is powerless to sever the unity of on
: spirits. Let the merry music and fragrar
l flowers heighten the gladness of this gala-day i
| other hearts than ours; for we are sad in th
| closing hour OF our intimate communion wit
the beloved instructors to whose laborious cal