Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1871-08-09

pursue these under the accumulated advan-
tages which colleges have been celebrating
FOR centuries, and which separate colleges for
women could not hope to. originate for them
selves for generations. OF course this would
he an experiment. but who will. deny that
some Experimenting in this field IL sadly
needed?
In thus attempting to explain and vindi-
cate the new policy of this Institution, l
have deviated ffom the usual style of inaug-
ural discourses, partly because the crowded
exercises of the day left me no time to pro-
nounce, aud YOU no patience to hear an
elab Jrate address such as might have been
appropriate, but mainly because the thing
have most at heart is To see the friends OF
this University, Old a.-..,, new. consolidated
into ono strong body of supporters, among
whom there shall be no jealouses, no claims
of priority, no feelings and no convictions
that will interfere with mutual respect and
common attachment to the Institution. 1t
is rs obvious as any fact Of daily observation
that the University Is making hosts of new
friends by the forward steps she has recently
| taken j.; and it is 10 me matter of the very
deepest interest that all our old friends should
be assured that these steps are in the right
direction that the old ! nlyeTsity is neither
dead nor dying that she never seemed so
likely now to be good for thousand
years. Ii Is at once my highest pride and
my deepest responsibility that | am here to-
day because the Alumni of the University
wished 1t 50 accept the responsibility
with all It's implied Obligations. And while
| pledge myself To administer the affairs of
the University, as far as in me lies, with the
e. tCrprisc which viii be demanded of me by
a vigorous corporation, an aspiring faculty.
body of high minded students, and an IN
teTestei public, l pledge myself to you TO
keep the Institution, so far as in me lies,
true to the faith which it has wrought into
sixty seven successive classes.
Inc most valuable endowment any college
can have is good history. An Institution
which has had career of three quarters Of
century has a stronger guarantee for
anothcr ccntury's duration than could be
gwen by any amount Of money, or of imme-
diatc prosperity. Why 90 YOUR hearts
yearn So lovingly towards the Old Universe
ty, as wc always hear you say? Ii il be
cause you are proud 20 attach yourselves to
the honorable past of lbs career, its noble
advocacy Of high and unpopular truth its
serene dchtncc of disaster ard hardBhIp its
long line of poor scholars who have made
many rich and above all, its academic
creed its phIlJsophic faith its traditional
ideas ana convictions. When We are inclined
to envy the newer colleges Of the country
their uutrainmelled opportunities, their
splendid possibilities OF achievement, let u
remember that this means for them a half
century OF experiment before they can attain
STABILITY ou which their future can be cal
culatcI. Tins college has history behind II
IL has gone through T. militant hllt-century.
it has fought many good night for the faith
il held 10 has carried its banner through
hardships and dcsertIon and temporary de
lctC IL has held fast to It's faith when older
and stronger Institutions wavered. It has
accumulated and has TRANSMITTED from class
T. ela-s, from administration to aduinistra-
tion, "a patrIm.ny ot ideas and beliefs Tor
which it, sons, II need he, would die as they
died t3r their larger patrimony the nation.
Sooner than that this humble hut cherished
home of their youth should cease 10 he the
home 70 which their untramme.ed hearts
could tan1ly Turn. the homes OF all high
thinking and grand faiths, and should be IN
yddci by tuJ-e sensual heresIt- IN philosophy
and morals which degrade the intellect OF
man and brutaiIzc his spiritual scnsIbllitics,
| believe that hundreds ue YOU would take
down again the fast ru>tIn- tire-luck and the
-ctbadri,t sword now hanging ia Your Offices
and Libraries, ami once more - forth u do
or die 90 tie righteous cause. An Institution
wLlcl ua- such "a past and such present
surely has also a future. And nope 1t Il
not presumption IN ne - say that our future
is almost a- certain - our past. In fact we
have -lrcaiy entered upon our future 1t
Aa- h.cn prepared Tor u.s. aud we have but
u - IN aud possess TIA future. ID not 81
bulIaury. ut least If expansion. OF useful
ness, 1t reciprocal confidence and service be
tween the COLLEGE and the people tu:are
iu wHIc. son Ca the oldest and most caer-
isaet IDEAS OF th's Institution may vet be
realized, ud IN which it saaI. 20 ON 70 re-
co.ye and Oo.k out into achievement all
tie u,w ideas waich God hy His Holy Spirit,
-itil c..~c to break forth from His most holy
vorl and from His most glorious works
In b name. AMI =. pending ,u HIS help. let
Us - forward.