Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1871-09-29

! bound himself, 10 the ylgor OF MS menhood,
the University of Vermont" up to the quie
Sabbath morning when be died, under the SHADOW
of the College which We might slmost saw bi
own hands had reared, the University of Yer
mont, its prosperity, its growth, its perpetuity
never ceased to be the chief anxiety and hope q
his life.
And l wish to say more than this. No
forgetting, for an inftSnt, all that others hay
done for the University, wishing to do full jus
hce to the eminent scholarship by which som
have shed luster on its annals, to the wisdom
and ylgor which others have infused into i'll
policy, TO the beueyolence with which still other
have contributed to its resources still sincerely
beiieSe that to no one man is this institution 81
deeply indebted, for what it has been and what i
is, as to Professor George Benedict. He came t.
1t when it vas nothing but a possibility. Il
had hsd an existence of twenty-five years, bu
no history. Its buildings were in ashes 1t,
library consisted OF "a few baskets full o.
motley books in the corner Of deserted store
house" Il had no course Of study, no ideas
apparently no mission. and no reason TO be. lie
brought to 1t LJpe, which it needed first Of all
things, vigor unboundei, an irrepressible and
contagious enthusiasm, and that racy, sterling
! good sense which, more than anything else
! wins public confidence to the cause which j,
J trluu=eFs hhh hHcls hi lual II hlue- TEuiu
/ the day Of his coming, the University began Il
/ have history. His faith and hope drew other
men here. By then united efforts, inspired always
by his earnestness and enterprise, the institution
soon rose from its ashes, funds were secured stu-
dents came, and the college began TO have a
recognized character among the Institutions Of
the laad. 1t was Mr. Benedict who got together
the materials Tor erecting the present buildings,
q losd Of timber here. keg Of nails, box Of
glass, barrel O, lime, weeks or day S
work there. lie drew with his own hand the
working plans, after which the College dome
was buiit lie wrote the well known pamphlet
on the course Of study, which attracted 50 much
attention from thoughtful men all over the land
His energy raised the subscription which gave
the University its first forward movement, and
which purchased its rare library. The instiiu-
ton which in 1925 he found mere parchment
charter and 3 handful of books, he left in 1917 a
well established, vigorous and if not large yet
Influential institution Of learning. And though
a large debt Of gratitude is due to the many
others who contributed 20 this happy result, yet
il they were here to-day, there is not one among
them sl who would not testify that their master
Spirit was Prof. George ". Benedict.
and perhaps i, may be pardonsble in ne 10
add my persousl testimony to the deep interest
he has taken in the fortunes Of this college, and
to the value O! his aivice, in more recent times.
Amid the dark days which the university has
seen in our own times, it may almost be said that
bis faith and courage have saved il a second tine
lie always had q hopeful word for US when he
thought We needed il. Many and many an
hour | hsve spent with him, recruiting my
own sorely-triei faith and braciug my tagging
hone. while he rec0untel in his CHEEKY style,
the manner in which they Of the olden times
went through worse disasters than We knew suy-
thing Of All the recent changes il the policy
of the institution he hsl carefully studied. aud
was ready az any time TO discuss with all the
interest and familiarity Of one who was person
ally responsible for ;he issue Of every move
ment Ii Mr.. Angel were with Us today. he
would, know, add his testimony 10 the
warmth of Alr. Benedict's interest in the college,
and 10 the value of his sivice.
After rtlyiny from the hrst assault Of his
last illness be sent for me that he might give me
his views on some college MISTER which deeply
interested him. / am now c0uyinced-as indeed
suspected AZ the time-tdst be thought it likely
he might not have another opportunity OF giving
his last legacy Of advice to the young friend who
had always valued it 20 highly. and who now
needed IL more than ever. l found him too weak
to deliver II to ne, but 1 believe thst ! know
what It's purport would have been, snd shall
give il al the weight Of a last testament.
II this were the proper time and place, It
would be pleasant 20 to recall and admire few OF
the many admirable traits Of Mr. Benedict
character iu particular IL would be deig httul 20
dwell on his spirit Of youthfuinefs, in 50 ~ =
nan rarely causlci The thought Of him en-
sties US TO believe the common saying thst the
secret Of perpetual youth Is 8 perpetual iutcrest
in those who sTe young This interest be &C
quirei while q college officer, sud he never los-
f. Some of US can recall the mingled pride sad
pleasure with which be said p the seu.-ceuteanial
gathering: elias any professor 10 the institution
me, tLe smile OF recognition from more OF lis
alumni than ] have, or taken more o. them ty
the right hand than MYSELF
ltw5u3 be refreshing also 70 dwell on his
power of hearty EMO meut Tie seemed 20 enjoy
all eui17ah g and 81. beautiful things lie l07ed
society Ho Lowell music. lie loved tua. Il
WIS GOOD to hear his laugh. Il would res0uai
through room and out OF doors and windows,
and into the hearts cf the pssssrs by. and yer
be- was o deeply devlut man, spiritually Minded
man. No one who ever heard h.n pay ia biz
iau.ily or 10 the prayer meeting could lJuttWnere
his treasure was sul his heart s.s'. Especially 20
one could lock On biz serene and sanity face SIS
be handed about in this church The cmblems Cf
bis Sayiours death. 81 bout feeling sure that the
peace % Gli b5p, his heart and mind through
Chris, le...s. And WHY may not say what we
haveaut-ltsaa-- tia; wonderful face of his Be-
vigorous anil so spiritual. so market 81 l.nee
h- r5we- ana b- tenderness such sweetness
We now and then See upon the f.ce of an sgei
woman who has ,ceA much suffering aut has
cone clt of j.. p--i-.ai ami fgI.Elt. but So much
intellectual force bleeding with e. much spiritual
refinement Do human face is o-e Of the most
One other thing should like 60 mention, in-
VOWED indeed m what have sl-esiy said. The
most wonderful. thing IN him was the complete
triumph Of the spirit over the holy. We are
sometimes asked 10 bslieyc that the temrer. tae
diso9sitisn. the .l85le % tLe s.ul are jus, ghst
the boiy io-ocs upon &c. / ylans Col that
orr friend has given us 80 complete q reiuia.iou
of this doctrine. sni has 50 tri1uphlutly vim
li5a--i the surlemacy ot spirit over matter Ills
cas-. nav h. aided o. those Of Dr. Claiming and
Robert Hsn. ana tie hosts Of others in whau
G5l's grace triumuhei over the ind-milies OF
diseased body. These men hardly knew y bar
well dsv ~sa Were they then morose. petulant,
d.gu7niir-9 Wssuct our friend consuicuous for
kiudliness, h1pefu.aess, even far kind Of hilsr-
i-vg Who1e 1rasp was warmer than his even g
tse hand Of tie stranger At whose house was
young or ola more welcome, Who was the
castues1 guest t1a- ever spent 81 evening ST
your treslde Il seemei as though be vas lie
tcrmincl never 10 yield 20 the pelyer-e Wllms
Of an enieebiei body one particle Of that native
sprightluess with which God had endowed him
snd whe7eTith be bad blessed two generations
q his friends
In order 20 10 Ar. Banelic anything
Ike justice, We should need also % recall
his career as citizen "a one interested IN every
al d #HN.
~ 3, an, -. T,e 49, ,, nssj - he
brought arsiust the college men, thst Trey did
-.' -. -
m, Hs threw himself Win All his chsrac.eris-
II. a-l5r ami vebenepce into ali the Questions Of
The dav His ardsr was indeei sometimes mis-
talsn t,.r tsprar and his vebamepce for raDeor.
b, mon who ii rot roVv how urtarl, ir,Dossibls
IL was for him 10 do ANYTHING bv halves and
,.u,If, imnossibl- ,5 bsrb1r nl-vijl ia his most
kindly heart He carried the same COURAGE and
hope,alDes, into ruflie questions as into ,be A.
r--.-f..r. - q. 81 60. 3. . t..