The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1873-06-28
FEMALE COLLEGE.
Essays Read at Commencement by
the Graduating Class
"cREpo"-pY MANIA ELLINonAM.

SOupOSIuB Nuo Gu8A4su lhuSuhEci ueAIll
all are derivatives tfom more ancient di0
lecis. They all vary In degree and kinC
of excellence, but there are none that 81
, perfectly represent deep, profound ant
Impressive thought as those derived from
the Latin, for no other language combine
somuch beauty inthe words and force Il
the conception conveyed. For Instance
from the verb CredO, admitting oil such {
wide yet clear definition in It's nativI
sense, we have several variations-a
credit, q very essential attribute to q goOC
name In order to obtain e7sds1ttaL', neces
sary to impose on the ereduIity of, thu
creditor. Also credence and creed, imply
ing faith and trust. These are terms o
tho most important and comprehensive
significance, although they admit o.
slight distinction in regard 10 their mean.
ing, yet oil through the influence OF a
common magnet, radiate sound, the one
important centre belief. Indeed, belief Ii
the great centre Of knowledge. To prove
that this principle Is even more than Is
claimed Tor it, we have only 10 consider
what would be the condition Of mankind
were they deprived both Of the power
oil belief and its opposite, disbelief.
Would not the main spring Of
thought and reason, and consequently
OF action be removed. Nothing would be
known Of the world without, or the world
within. To distinguish the real from the
ideal would be impossible. Proceeding
farther, suppose man thus constituted,
and the brute creation endowed with its
present instructive powers, we might ques.
ton which class made up the higher Or
der Of animals on earth; the race Of man
would long since have become Cxtin:t.
For, destroy the cohesive force that at
tracts und binds the whole human family
into one great body and what becomes. Of
the elementsP But united through trust
ing confidence, belief and faith IN each
other and in cause Of all things, the race
Of man stands firm and inVincible against
the rayages OF time, ever adYspcipG ihl
hepursuits Of knowledge. And with the
combined results Of patient thought and
Investigations, illuminatCs the dark cav
erns and intricate passages Of the human
understanding. Belief Ia universal and
inseparable principle implanted in every
mind. II Is cultivated and improved by
education and experience; but that It Is
mate, Is proved by its being one Of the
first principles exhibited by child. What
moro beautiful sight than the inno-
cent confidence Of childhood? No
cloud OF doubt for q moment OvershadoWs
the sunlit morning OF life. This propen.
sitY 50 perfect, unsullied and pure in
childhood becomes corrupted and tarnish.
cd by contact with the world. For here
Is found prevailing, all, varieties Of belief.
Some place the most implicit reliance in
certain subject while others as stoutly
pronounce it to be visionary and vain. No
TWO ever did, does or will believe precise.
ly alike Ia every particular, Frequently
these convictions are founded upon mis-.
understanding or ignorance Of the subject.
Habit exerls powerful influence over the
belief. Many historical incidents oil po-
litical and religious controversies have
originated in Tie contrary lights IN which
people have been accustomed TO regard
the question Of disagreement. What, but
the iofce Of habit causes reform9llols4 %
bsso foug and trenouSly resisted. As q
vessel, ipsfiQ lepee OF helmSman, Is
tossed end q tTef NJ 81 directions Ut the
mere VII gsYsa, equally 80 do
the.b1lfl u euate when 4Rhuen.
ced bJel eoutrolled by reason.
Wh6eSad ELECTS Continually follow from
the tbetiei heihg2 governed by love,
anger, fStfe Aaa ~ like passions.
Famiiik ne Si9e ds friends separated, |
character an Citation prematurely
ruined. Itis ula bsessary to refer TO the
annals of the past for examples Of this
while loo mdhy are furnished In the every
day affairs Of life. This power, howeYer,
Ia not limited to the smaller and more
private circles Of society; but like q. cons
migration growing stronger and stronger
at each step Of It's progress Its power Is |
felt in the domestic affairs of nations and |
In their intercourse with each other. |
Was 1t not the love Of glory and power
that impelled Charles First 10 6eliepb him.
elfjustifed in 30 grossly imposing on the
rights OF his subjects? ~ =
Surely anger predominAted in! the
breast Of Nerxes when. he believed he |
could punish the waters Of the Helespout
for destroying his bridge Of boats, But
II there Is such variety OF opinions and
beliefs with regard to this short life, how
infinite must they be respecting the eter-
nal lie. They form indeed mighty struc.
ture, whose summit extends far above
the cloud, while It's base covers all lands,
Here are found such beliefs or rather |
doubts, as those of Hume, Voltaire,
Rousseau and Others, who through perhaps
an over extensive study Of the sciences
alone, were led gradually TO doubt
the existence Of all things; in
GLIDING creator and hsnSsIueS. Had
they done what they confessed them.
selves not to have done. read the Bible
with attention then, instead Of diving into |
the mines of nature with materialistic |
and half athcIstlc thoughts and purposes,
they would have recognized with Newton,
Milton, Dick and others, the voice OF God |
In all things. Eminent critics agree that |
In point OF literary merit, nothing 10 equal
the Bible has ever been written. Carlyle |
says that Ithe book Of Job iIlRll men'Rl
book, sublime soErow, sublime feeoucil-
iation, such living likenesSes never" since
were drawn. But aside from It's literary
character, Is It not one Of the finest illus. |
trations OF firm faith in the goodness and |
Justice OF God?
The belief in future state Of rewards
and punismen6 may be said to be unlVer.
sal. Democritus Of old put out his eyes
that he might not see the hight, but |
that did not prove the rest Of
mankind 10 be blind. So, II few
sceptics blind the eyes of their under
standing, It constitutes but-a weak srgu-
ment against the doctrines they deny. OF
course, the most diverse and conflicting
opinions prevail as to theEsys and means |
best adapted to the end In view But that
end add the fundamental doctfino of re- |
lIgion are indeed the true concord Of all /