Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-08-03
COMMENCEMENT AT COLBY UNI
VERSITY
FROM Our REPORTER I:


The threatening clouds which have been
hanging over these classic grounds for few
days have scattered, and to day strangers are
enjoying the pleasant walks and drives about
town. As distinguished visitors we noticed
Gov. Perham and family, Ex-Gov. Coburn'
Gardiner Colby, DR.. Childs and Josiah II.
Drummond.
This morning at 10 o'clock there was a
meeting of the Trustees, but thus far no special
business has been transacted other than the
usual appointment of yearly committees, &c.
The Dedcatory services of the Marble
Lion of Lucerne took place this afternoon at
the Memorial Hall. Music was furnished by
Chambers band. The hall was completely
filled. DIR. Cummings of Concord, N. H..
was appointed chairman, and after making
brief Introductory remarks, stating the
object for which they were assembled, in
troduced Rev. A. X. p. Small of Portland,
who made some deeply interesting remarks.
1t has been said that heroes never die. He
that saveth his life shall lose it, There is
living that is dead and there is dead that is
living. The history of those lion-hearted
heroes whose memory this tablet keeps, will
live as long as the granite rock. Poor indeed
is that country which has not secured in last
ing memorial the names of these heroic men
who fell in its defence. These were men who
fought not with the power of Hercules but
with cultured power. Their object and aim
was something more than the mere display of
scientific chiyalry. How appropriate that
here in this Memorial Hall, on these College
grounds, their fostered home, their names
stand recorded. Speaking lessons are these;
in the long future to come they will inspire
the young hearts with patriotic emotions in
behalf of their native land. Their bones may
be at Antietam or the Wilderness, but here
let their names stand in pure gold in the solid
marble. We owe double duty-a duty to
the soldiers, and a duty to those who have
been so earnest in obtaining this marble
lion, memorial which any college in the
world might be proud of.
DR.. Ides was then introduced and made
some extended remarks upon the great lessons
which we are to draw from the lives of those
men who have accomplished more than they
knew. In closing, the audience all united in
singing America Some stereoscopic views
Of the lion were in the hall for sale, taken by
Carleton, and so artistically that every word
on the tablet is readable.
took place this evening at the Baptist church.
The speaker Rev. j. ID. Fulton, of Boston
Mass, announced his subject as 1.-THE Force
that Wins" Accept congratulation from the
world outside that you are here. You being
in College means more than we are accus-
toned to think. High hopes are being built
upon you. Scholarship is a living force and
with rarely an exception is the force that
wins. Does it attain in New England the
recognition that it deserves? At some length
| he proved that it did not and showed that not
| outstanding our common system Of Schools,
| Academies, and Colleges, there exists a for
midable ignorance. Why is it that so many
| young men in our farming districts are grown up
! in ignorance. After glancing at the few men
in numbers in our Colleges, and showing
that it was not of poverty nor of feeling of
| cast that closes the door against the individ-
ual, but because ignorance is not felt to be a
curse, and education is not regarded as a
| blessing. There is reason for alarm because
in the land just saved from slavery there
seems to be concentrated effort to a free
school system, and the consequent gen
eral diffusion of knowledge. Those who
| plead for the divine right of slavery
now contend as strongly for ignorance
under the garb of protessedly christian
| purpose. At some length he showed that
| nothing could be worse for christianity or hui
mainly than this plea. The greatest gift to
any age is educated christian manhood. He
illustrated this by mention of Hugh Miller
and others like him, who have won laurels
for science in the garb Of working men. AS
in the days before the civil war, men fitted
themselves for high positions of responsibility,
so be assured, young men, that there are re-
sponsibilites which will yet require all your
skill and requirements. There are eyes rest
ing upon you, waiting to assign you places
where every power with which God and Ma
ture and culture have blest you, shall be en-
ployed for the high veal of humanity.
To morrow's letter will give an account OF
Commencement Day. The Glass Day exer-
cises which were assigned to Thursday by a
vote of the class, will be wholly ommited.
| Some parts were not ready that were essen
tial.