Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-07-27

anu olner more thorough processes. snort anu
easy methods are not in use in this Institute, as
the scholars tell us, and we hope they will never
be introduced. The old way of patient continu-
ance in well doing is the only sure path to glory
honor and Immortality in the occupations of
business as well as in the attachments of
Christian life:
OF thirty-two who joined the senior class,
sixteen have withdrawn on account Of sickness
and other causes, and fifteen have completed the
prescribed course, with the satisfaction of the
trustees, and one other has only failed to do so
by want of health.
There has been and there should be no dis
position to make the school large by retaining
scholars, who for any cause are unable to keep
up with the required progress of the class. A
course OF three years is too short, and the time
OF those who desire preparation for business is
too valuable to allow delay and wasted time on
account of the slow and the unfortunate. 1t is
peculiarly of those, who come here, that they
are impatient to go into business, and are too apt
to think that the unexpected knowledge they
may have gained here, is sufficient prepare
ton. 1t has been a repeated occasion of regret
to the instructors and the trustees that some in
teresting and promising scholars have been
launched on the waves of business with par
tial outfit. But it has been gratifying to hear
that even for those born out of due time, the
Institute has not labored in vain.
These respected founders were not permitted
TO see the hopeful operation of their enterprise.
Mr.. Boynton died before the first building was
completed, and MIR. Washburn lived but two
months after instruction was commenced. They
asked for no commemoraton of their benefac-
lions. The name of Mr.. Boynton was given
after his death to the hall Of instruction which
was built by the citizens of Worcester, with
generous contributions from those engaged in
mechanical business who have also made other
gifts, and some addition to this fund was made
by few gentlemen not residing in this city.
The name of Mr.. Washburn is spontaneously
attached to the excellent machine shop which
he erected. If this Institute shall attain the
success that is desired, the names of John
Boynton the first benefactor, and of Ichabod
Washburn, the greatest benefactor, will stand
high above those who may hereafter build on
their foundations. But their noblest memorials
will not be the goodly buildings that bear their
names. AS it was said for the architect of st.
Paufs cathedral, if you seek their monuments,
look around through the industry of our eX
tended country for the living frames that will
bear the sgnet of their benedcence. Those
who follow their example cannot obscure their
merit though they may make their work more
large and perfect and supply the means of am
pie support of an enlarged number of the best
instructors in our country. And there is now
visible need of more complete grading and suita-
BILE fences for the grounds which may on the
present occasion meet the eye of good taste and
generosity.
1t will be proper to say word concerning the
range of instruction which is adopted here.
This cannot be university, in which the uni
versa field of knowledge is to be reaped in three
years The universities, worthy of their name,
deserve all the honor and all the generous sup
port which they receive in their larger work, for
which they have sufficient time and ample
means. 1t is the aim of this Institute to con-
centrate and not expand instruction, and to do
what is attempted with such completeness as
will strengthen the mind more than it fills it.
Some addition to the departments and
the force of instruction is Immediate
ly necessary. The wise friend of the In
stitute who shall establish department for
training apprentices IN architecture will do much
TO cultivate knowledge of the convenient and
the beautiful, and will save the time and money
of our citizens.
Our debt of gratitude is not fully acknowl-
edged. The merit of the professors and instruc-
tors and of the superintendent of the mechani-
cal department in their luminous, inspiring and
patient teaching and their quiet discipline is not
unknown in this community, and claims a
depth of feeling that cannot be measured by
the few words which | can utter. Their works
praise them. And last, and not with less SINGER
ity, will thank the scholars for the faithiulness
and good conduct that have been honorable to
the Institute, grateful TO the instructors and the
trustees and most profitable to themselves.
Without good scholars there can be no good
school.
have been led to boundless fields, in which
have wandered with unbecoming haste farther
than intended. You have come here not mere
ly to view things as they are and look back
on their origin, but rather to prepare for better
things to come, and to receive instruction from
one who has united in his own training and in
the teaching to which he has devoted his life,
action and study, the toll of the hand and the
brain. | am happy to invite Prof. VIM P.
Trowbridge of the Sheffield scientific school,
New Haven, to offer the address of the occasion.
The address of Professor Trowbridge will be
found on the next page of this paper. 1t was
followed by a well written and handsomely de
livered address on the part of the class, with
valedictory by Elmer P. Howe, of Worcester.
His subject was "The Agencies in Technical Edu
cation" The distribution of diplomas came
next, and the exercises were closed by the fol-
lowing remarks of the president to the grad
uating class:
congratulate you, my young friends of the
senior class, that you have been presented to the
trustees on the threshold of responsible life by
your principal, who has impaired TO you so
much Of his own zeal and enthusiasm, while he
has guided you with indulgent consideration
through your brief and earnest course. You |
will not forget the faithful and impressive les
sons that you have received from him and your |
other able instructors. You expect now to |
graduate, as the word MEANS TO take step, |
good step; by such steps you may rise to the |
stars. lately had the pleasure to attend a col |
ege festival where heard an eloquent stranger,
who amused himself with the supposed absurd |
ity of calling that occasion a commencement |
(Which was the general winding up and end of |
all things" The word is a good one, as it is |
used in England and in this country, to signify |
beginning of the important duties of life that |
lie beyond the SecluSion of college or of |
school. In this sense you will now have your COM
mencement. 1t is deplorable that the mistake, |
to which have alluded, that the end of a col. |
lege course is the end OF intellectual improve |
ment, sometimes seems to have been made /
by those whose career in college was marked /
with honor and closed with the highest praise. |
Such a scholar will be more distinguished |
among men for his polish than his edge, and |
the proverb of Solomon is as true as ever that |
"there is more hope of a fool than OF him." For |
it is not uncommon that graduates are stimu- |
lated by consciousness of disgraceful negligence
and deficiency of their college course, and by |
an apprehension ofthe great objects of life that |
they gain afterward more than the college |
could have given. l need not caution you
against this error, for you know,
"How dull it is to pause, to make an end,
To rust unburnished, not to shine in USE"
Whatever may be your future occupations,
do not part with what You have gained here.
Garry the old studies through the paths of your
life. They will become more pleasant than they |
are to-day. Let it be your first object to have |
more perfect knowledge of the languages which |
you have studied than the skill and faithfuness |
of your teachers could enable you to obtain, in |
the time that was allowed. Language is not |
merely the instrument, it is the master of |
thought. Consider for your encouragement |
that your occupations will not probably be
more unfavorable for self culture than were
those of Hugh Miller, the stone mason of Gro
marty, who, with the help of a little self-taught
Latin, gained the distinction of one of the best |
writers of the English language.
You know too well the character and objects |
of the Institute to permit you to expect that |
you will now receive diplomas stating that in
less than three years you have become masters
in the arts which you have studied 1t is the