Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-07-02
Vermont Methodist Seminary.

The anniversary exercises Of this institution
commenced on Sunday, the Goth ult., with the
Baccalaurcatc Sermon by the Principal, Rev
j. 9. w. Coke. Ills text was from the Epistle
Of Paul to the Colossians, third chapter, second
and third verses. "Sct yourafcctionso on things
above not on things on the earth For 20 arc
dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. +"
1t was a well prepared, able discourse, incul-
eating noble incentives to a life of virtue and
sclfsacrilicc, and enjoining the education Of
the moral and physical nature as well as the
intellectual. 1t was repete with beautiful and
exalted sentiments, fcelingly applied to those
about to leave their Alma Mater to engage in
the more active duties Of life, and concluded
with direct application Of the subject in m
address to the graduating class.
On Monday evening an address was delivered
by Hon. G. w Willard, upon the Education
Of Woman" lie commenced by saying This
seat Of learning is named The Vermont Meth
odist Seminary and Female College The name
Of the institution, however, suggests that young
women may here complete their education, while
the young man makes this school Of prepare
ton. It is female college it is male sem
mary.
Much that is said for and against the CO
education Of the sexes, has force, and probably
there is no parent who does not feel that there
are objections to IT, And yet the question Of
the broader education needed by women is not,
and cannot be settled o. oquestion Of oxpedion-
cy 1t is one Of the rights Of human nature.
Every mind as well as every body has rights
equal to that Of any other person 10 unrestrict
ed growth and development. Neither sex in
this respect has any superior rights One
would hardly say that the son had a right
superior 10 that Of the daughter 10 the food on
the common table, and he has no better right
to the nutrition through which the intellect
has its growth
The education Of woman cannot be what it
should be until IL has some definite object in
view. We educate our boys, understanding
that their powers and capacities are to he en-
ployed to some purpose in after life. Why not
educate our girls in precisely the same way?
Why not give them an education that shall not
stop with diploma, butrcach forward through
life, and become a development and growth
parallel and equal with nun?
After defining the proper discipline in the
education Of woman, and commenting in an
able manner upon the many objections against
the enlargomentof woman educational sphere,
Mr. Willard closed in the following strain 81
would have woman frec-free 20 utter every in.
spiratiJn which is youchsaied her, 20 follow
every aspiration Of her soul, to 70 from
achievement to still higher achievement, from
work to still higher, nobler work, as she is
moved, not as man is willing. ! would have
her what she has been given possibilities Of
being, not what man iancies She should be
would have the whole heavens opened to hei
in which to Try her pinions Because We
imagine she has not the wing, Of an eagle, it
does not follow that we should clip her wings
and chain her to the ground in order to trans
form her into an ideal bird. She will if free
rise according to the strength Of her wings
whether it be only into the lower sky, Oh
whether it be with the eagle into the highes
heavens, straight towards the sun Thus un
trammeled and free, even as man is untrammel
cd and free let her make her struggle for life
as he makes his, with no human letters on hei
hands, and no human barriers shutting hei
out from any place in which her band an,
brain can find employment. Let us away will
all artificial, unnatural regulations, whether
Of law, or custom, or prejudice, or society, an,
rive woman an equal chance with ourselves