Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-06-23

good Of ourselves and Of our fellow-men.
History enshrines upon her pages the
names of many whose actions were regu-
lated by the purest and loftiest impulses
of our nature, and whose memories are
and ever will be deservedly held in rev.
erence by succeeding ages.
In proof Of this how many names
might not enumerate, but 1t will suffice
TO select such only as are necessary to
illustrate my subject. Let us then
transport ourselves far back in the his
tory Of the world, to a time prior to the
glorious dawn of Christianity, and form
a profession which might be supposed
the least pleasing TO God, least likely to
be chosen by those influenced by lofty
moral aims, select brighter example
the Macabees. If to them be denied
the purest, the noblest motives, then
must the same be withheld from all sue
ceeding warriors.
The Syrian came to pillage, destroy,
peryert. TO render themselves yea, more
than slaves, TRAITORS to their God! These
were the motives that gave courage to
their hearts and strength to their arms.
Their innocent babes and gray-haired
sires called upon them for defence,
and they withheld it not. Contrast such
motives with those which actuated Alex
ander of Macedon How bright the one !!
how dark the otherl Principles such as
influenced the former justify any nation,
ancient or modern, in an appeal to arms,
and entitle the intrepid soldier to the
most distinguished honor that it is in the
power of his country to bestow; but the
age has gone by when the everlast-
ing tread of self-aggrandizement, as
was that of Alexander, will be allowed
to pass unchecked, But il may be
asked, Are we to confine our eulogy OF
the warrior to those remote times? By
no means. This one instance, however,
is sufficient to show that he who chooses
to pass his life in the camp may, by
moderation and justice, ameloriate the
horrors of war and save his own soul.
Since Constantine led his victorious
legions into Italy, that sacred sign
which shone out so luminous in the blue
vault of heaven, and beneath which he
was to emerge, has softened the hearts
of men. Heather barbarity has given
place to Christian heroism, and mercy
characterizes the truly heroic. All
honor to the military profession, when
motives such as the facts so beautifully
embodied in the following lines call the
hero to the field:
"Strike for our alters and our fires!
Strike for the green graves Of our sires!-
God and our native land!
Let us now investigate the motives
that induced those who have rendered
their names illustrious in the more peace
full, learned professions to devote them
selves with such ardor such persevering
self-forgetfulness, to the study of those
sciences which so greatly conduce to the
pleasure, happiness and benefit OF So
ciety To what except to those noble
principles, which feel can justly claim
for them, shall we attribute the wearying,
yet unfagging, efforts of the tutor, the
statesman, the physician, astronomer
and geologist? True, each of these may
be pursued for personal qualification or
emolument, but each is also capable OF
infusing higher motives into the soul
those OF making God their ultimate aim.
What was Alexander under Aristotle ?
Nero while guided by Seneca? These
were heather preceptors. but they had
their more than equals in the Christian
Alenins, Dunstans, Fenelons. How shall
we estimate the self-sacrifcing Gallons
that are to be met with in the medical
profession? or the O'Connells among
statesmen? Affection, pestilence and
oppression can alone compute their
numbers.
Now again look upon the brilliant
skies and be surprised that minds such
as that of Newton should, while making
Investigations, pause in reverential awe,
and be overcome with the sublime ideas
they received of that Almighty Being by
whom all systems are controlled. Nay,
rather should we wonder that there can
be found skeptics who, gazing upon the
glorious armament will dare assert there
is no God. ! have said that in God are
conferred the loftiest Of the moral aims of
men. To spread the knowledge of His
holy name, the missionary leaves his
home, and fearlessly traverses the vast
continent or tempestuols ocean in quest
of souls, happy if he can gain them no
otherwise, to give his life in exchange for
their salvation. These disinterested eff
forts for the benefit of others; these sub
lime impulses are proofs of mans supe-
riority over all other living creatures,
and Indicate the grandeur of destiny.
They should be cherished as our greatest
treasures, and we should prefer to live in
a tub, like Diogenes, and subsist on wild
roots than seek to win the applause of
the world by acting contrary to our prin
ciples. Nothing but the Infinite can
content the soul of man, for the relations
Of the soul to the Infinite are many and
great. Everything around, above, be-
meath speaks of Him from whom we
come, to whom we tend, and in whom
should be conferred our every hope. aTf
When this fair piece Of composition
was concluded, Miss Keith came forward
and in very touching address presented
a large and beautifully-bound book to the
graduate hung the gold medal of honor
around her neck, and placed chaplet
of white blossoms upon her intellectual
brow, as tokens Of the esteem and friend
ship in which she had been held By her
teachers and schoolmates. Miss Brookes,
in accepting the tokens, returned thanks
in Q very sweet and feeling manner,
eliciting the applause of all present.
Miss B. Avent then spoke, with good
emphasis and graceful action, appetite
prologue, when, after strain of music
by the Sodality Band, qqs8ff
VERY LONG DRAMA,
arranged fqr the occasion from the Life
Of the Empress Josephine, commenced