The Portland daily press., 1872-07-10
BY TELEGRAPH.
MATTERS IN MAINE.
Commencement at Bowdoin.
Inaugural of President Chamberlain
Interesting Observation-Disclosures, &c.
ISnacial to PreSS.l

% BOWDOIN COLLEGE, July 9.-To-day was IN
many respects the great day of the feast, and
the church was well filled with students, salum-
nj and friends of the College. to listen to the
inaugural address of President Chamberlain.
Not many of the trustees and older members
of the alumni have arrived in town, but the
town is full of representatives from all the lat
er classes, who, full of zeal for Alma Mata,
have turned out en- n,asse with their good
clothes, clean linen and polished boots, to cele-
brate the new glOries of Bowdoin.
Many of the trustees and overseers arrived on
the afternoon and evening trains. There will
be meeting of the Boards this evening. The
concert will also take place this evening.
The order of exercises this afternoon at the
church on the hill was as follows:
1. Prayer by Prof. Packard.
q Introductory addresses to President Cham
berlain by Chief Justice Appleton in behalf of
the College Government.
8. Presentation of Oxford cap to President
Chamberlain by ex-President Woods in a snort
Latin address. "
4. Address in behalf of under graduates by
A. +. Moulton of the incoming Senior class. IA
8. Prayer by DIR. Fisk of Bath. -
g. Inaugural address of President Chamber
lain, and presenting the keys of the College by
Hon. S. p. Benson in behalf of the trustees and
overseers 2-iiiyy
The following is an abstract of Gov. Cham
berlain's excellent inaugural, which occupied
over an hour in its delivery:
After referring to his connection with the
college President Chamberlain proceeded to
state how soon after his connection his work
begun; how manifest were the needs of the Col
lege, though not well defined to hold the pub
lie confidence. The task was great when he
first looked at the dear old college; it stood
erect, though it moved not, apart from the peo-
pie, supported by a few proud men in its lsola-
tion-after its glorious history-its distinguish
ed roll of Presidents, Professors and graduates;
something in the expression cold Bowdoin
seemed like Ilium .fuit - Some piousk Enas
had borne away the old Anchises, and its story
took on an antique epic style. Whereof in like
fashion the first books were the best. Almost,
its grand oldllegends lived as voices of herald
of proud ancestry, rather than the wringing
watchwords of an onward cause. Gentlemen,
something had come between the college and
the people. Maine men sent their SONS abroad;
the State relinquished its control, and then
withdrew its countenance. The church began
to think the college had no claim on it. The
boards did not trust the college. The finance
officers sought to prevent the spending of funds,
rather than enlarging them. No bonds of
union controlled the alumni. Even the pro-
fessors enveloped themselves, at the return of
graduates, as from a chilly atmosphere. In
deed it seemed that church and State, orthodox
and liberal, aristocrat and democrat, alumnus
and alien, had entered into league to hold
aloof from Bowdoin,
Meanwhile the times shot past the college.
Left out of the current of human sympathies
she stood still. She stood, however, vital with
the spirit of her early age true to all the trusts
as far as lay in her power hardened and knit
together by the struggle with adversely. Solid,
self-reliant, characteristic, grand in her soil
tude shining from afar. Its influence, though
limit tod mo- ta w n
had the courage to come here took on stamp
of rare manliness. Still the college was small.
Our professors were called to larger labor, and
were above humbling themselves to hold these
lowly chairs But they are all gone save one,
who still breathes on us the atmosphere of her
youth. Distant be the day of her exaltation.
But glorious as this day has been, it was but a
lingering twilight now. Night was advancing
near. The brightest day must decline.
No strange verdict was that by which the col
justice but fate thus declared Things that dc
not deserve to die, must die. The vortext near
ed and deepened toward the vanishing poin
The case was desperate Gentlemen, you
the danger, and in your desperation you resort
ed to the heroic treatment. There was danger
that the remedy might be worse than the dis
ease RutthoW to rise again? How to begin?
Young men passed by the college because she
furnished not the education DESIRED To meet
this Iexigency, to carry out the wishes of the
of the trustees devolved labor which l did not
err in calling task. There were two cou
of policy we might confine our efforts chiefly
| holding our own, strengthening the things that
remain, or we might accept the challenge OF
the times, advance boldly to the key point OF
the position and begin in right earnest to en-
| trench. The old course has the advantage OF
| calling off all doubt and debate as to what we
were going to do 1t would be the track be-
hind us and not the assay before us. The for
| mer and more cautious way would be an easier
one for the actors certainly, and would have
! the merit of awakening less criticism of the
part of enemies and less notice from anybody
We cannot tell exactly what was to be done
why not 90 forward and commit the college tt
its position, and make the support OF Its friends
not thing to be desired, but a necessity
| Should the college live, or should it die. Re
| jecting totally the main question, should Il
merely live. Adventurous and r9sh the decis
ion may have been, but unwise 1t has not ye
been proved. We said it is better to move on
Rather spend our whole capital in dozen year.
and then die, than dwindle along until men be
| gan to doubt our right of decent burial, ant
| leaye ps to rot above ground.
Gentlemen Of the Boards, We took you at
4 Your word. We said it better to put the college
| on the front lines now, than try TO induce PEG
! pie to lend money to see Whether we could dc
it. We believed that when tho friends of the
| college saw the flag on the heights they viii
keep it there and they will There is our new
departure and its indication. But to bring i
more clearly before you; besides the old cours,
! of study we warranted new one