New-York tribune., 1871-06-01
COOPER UNION COMMENCEMENT.
PRESENTATION OF AN ADDRESS TO PETER COOPER
MR.. CoOPER's REPLY.

! PRESENTATION OF AN ADDRESS TO PETER COOPER
MR.. COOPERS REPLY.
The twelfth annual commencement of the
Cooper Union for the Advancement Of Science and Art
was celebrated last evening in the large hail. which
was crowded in every part The exercises opened
with prayer by the Rev +. A. p. Barnard D. D., Prcs
dent of Columbia College Daniel b. Preston delivered
the sautatory address, Science and Invention, and
was followed by julius Rettg with Oraticn in Ger
| man. on Progressive TeleTaphy."
The financial report was then read by Wilson c. Hunt
the Treasurer. From jan l. 1870, jan l. ISL the to-
tai receipts $45s52 49, expenditures 1926 Is; bal
ance m treasury Jan. 1871, Sl.977 5G unpaid loan,
s. Oon leaving deficiency of s23 go The Secretary
Abram g. Hewitt on behalf of the trustees made oral
report of the objects and purposes of the Cooper Union
The work of the institution he said is based upon sound
mathematical training. 1t deals with young men and
women who are already engaged in industrial pur
suit During the next year is proposed to give two les
SONS evening" instead Of one heretofore large pro
vision has been made for instruction in art the object
being TO prepare young women to gain livelihood in
some one the many branches OF art for which they are
well adapted properly trained. During the past year
the readingroom has been treat success and has been
visited by more than 100000 persons.
The library has grown very slowly, and the first use
that Will be made of the $4,000 which Mr. Cooper has
lust given for its will be to make complete
reference library for all branches Of science, art, and
general literature.
A
half Of the graduates and pupils OF the Union, in sub
stance follows:
ADDRESS OF THE GRADUATES.
HoNoRED FOUNDER AND president: We tender you
our earnest congratulations that In the providence OF
Almighty God, your life has been prolonged beyond the
ripe age years. and that you retain that
vgor OF body strength of mind, and warmth of heart
which promise you many years Of usefulness and honor
Your history presents rounded and complete record
as mechanic, as merchant, and a patriot. Keenly
apprecatng the great importance of practical scientific
KNOWLEDGE to the industrial Masses you determined to
place such advantages within their reach through pro-
ect conceived in youth cherished through thrifty man
hood, summaed in the meowness of age At that
period in life when men enter reluctantly upon untred
schemes and when they cling most tenacOusly to their
possessions you generously cOnsecrated the bulk OF the
fortune you had been patiently accumuating for half
century, TO found the Cooper Union for the Advance
Science and Art institution that in the pres
ent and in all after time, shall stand as workngnans
legacy TO his counymen al once "royal in magnitude
beuefcent in design" The grand and solid success
which has attended it in the past will be vastly strength
your ifc-yonr noble birthday offering of $4,000
tabsh, IN connection with the Institution valuable
Reference ana Lending Library.
Tie Cooper Union has lessons for the rich well as
ioI 'Ios9 IN thG humeler ranks OF ne. Hslng mere IN
" everlasting protest" agai1st the ayarice aud amb-
ton which rear OyershadOwlng fortunes for per-
sohu eauncalloh' III teaches such now the{ may
become the masters aud not the slaves" " Of their
memorial OF their love and perpetual source Of pubc
good; 50 that when they shall be forever
IN the walks Of men, they shall live on through their
beneaCtiOns, IN the embalmng love and gratitude Of
mankind. In conclusion, Sir, can but renew
gratuatiOns that you have been spared 10
the day that completes, under such promising
auspices the Twelfth Annual Commencement Of
an Institution That long years ago rose before
your vision distant and shadOwy outline: that Won
have lived in period without parallel in the annals of
time that wonderful progress in the Industrial arts
and physical sciences which heralds the dawn of a
brighter era for the tOing millions and that Won have
labOred dovOtedly and effectively it, rcazltion
A career prominently useful ana iu-triol- h. the
prelude fame neither transient uncertain While
virtue, patriotism, and philanthropy are hGnOred ON
earth corded in heaven your deeds shall moi dron
from the memory your fade from the Iins df
mem In love ana gratitude they shall cyermore Iedi-
cate 10 you exalted station n the Pantheon where
from every age and cline cnshrncd iu holy keeung
that royal brUthcrnOOd-the benctactOIs Of humanity
The following Is the principal part Of Mr.. Coopcr,s
reply: ..,..
MY YOUNG FRIEsDs II needed any reward for my
bn ble efforts benefit my fellow-nen, the touching
language of yOur address, and this expression Of your
affection and gratitude would be ample compensation for
Iabors however oXacng and sacrifices however great.
While yet child, leaned that the "hand Of the dill
gent maketh rich" andwhateycr OF wealth / have
achieved has due primarily to habits Of patient IN
dustry formed at the outset Of my career IL did not
take long for me 90 learn that drunkenness was the
parent the larger portion of the poverty vice. and