Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1873-07-18

ment were turned to mourning and with
an impressive eulogy on his characteristics,
closed his discourse, which was given in
DIR. kitchell's quaint and simple manner,
and was well received by the numerous
listeners.
ANNIVERSARY OF THE PHILADELPHIA So
cIETY.
In the evening occurred the exercises of
the Philadelphian Society, the address be-
ing delivered by President Buckham, of the
.. V. NJ.
After pleasantly acknowledging the
courtesy of the invitation to address the
students of Middlebury College, the speaker
announced his theme as "The relation of the
literary spirit to religion" This is a more
important question than the attitude of
science toward religion, because literature
reaches Ear larger number Of minds.
Bring up young man on Homer, Virgil,
Dante ard Shakespeare, and inwhat attitude
have you put him toward God
You must answer this question from books
and not from the lives of their authors.
Many holy strains have been penned by men
of impure lives. Again you must not es
innate the religious influence of any liter
AZURE by the proportion of distinctivey reli-
gious doctrine in it, Many religious books
repel by their harshneSs or disgust by their
weakness. Often a genial literary work
puts the mind in a most tender and recep-
tive condition for the word and spirit of
God to act upon.
A. hal r II
which is best in humanity. 1t may be de-
fined as the canonized thought of the race
Like Belgian rose-garden it gathers all
the choice specimens of humanity for the
improvement of the stock. Men are wiser
and purer in literature than in life. So
crates is a greater man in Plato, than the
actual Socrates. Thus literature ennobles
our conception of man and of life, protects
morality, and hands men over to religion.
prepared to welcome and embrace it.
The spirit of literature is unuoOrldly. 1t
sides with poverty, with modest worth with
plain living and high thinking Its sternest
invectlves are reserved for successful crime.
for tyrants and oppressors, for arrogant
wealth. With what loving hand 1t draws
such portraitsas CHANGERS poor personne
of town." Jennie Deans, and the Lady
Clare.
Notice next the charity Of literature. You
can hardly find character that draws
your unmitigated hate, except in Dickens.
and this evinces bis inhumanity. Millions
Satan is an archangel only half-mined
Burns tried to say hard things to the Dell
but broke down. Humor, which fills so
large place in literature, is the laugh Of
charity.
Again literature is largely THEOLOGICAL. es-
pecially English literature. All the great
truths of the Bible could be rescued from
loss in the literary shrines. The scholar i
constantly reading the most precious and
vital religious truths in his literary studies.
In the approaching conflict between re-
ligion and irreligion, Science, Philosophy,
Literature, are all our allies. Let not
modern piety commit suicide in pet Let
piety have sufficient selt-respect to dare to
be generous.
This i but an imperfect abstract Of very
able, interesting and impressive discourse.
TUESDAY.
MIDDLEBUEr, July Is.
Very warm was the weather Of to-day the
showers of last evening seeming to have
cleared the atmosphere sufficiently to allow
the unremitting days Of '' old Sol - to have
unobsiructed freedom. The exercises Of the
day commenced with a gathering of the
Alumni at College Chapel at % a. III. where
they listened to reports Of committees. and
appointed committee to present nominal
tons for officers for the ensuing year, and
orator and poet for the nth anniversary,
the committee to report at a subsequent
meeting In the Neurological Report, six
deaths were recorded. After the register
ing Of the Alumni present, the meeting ad
journed till Wednesday morning at Q
O'Clock.
ANNIVERSARY or TIE ASSOCIATE ALUMNI.
The Alumni and friends then formed in
procession, and TO the music Of the sherman
Band, of Winooski, marched to the Congre-
gational Church, where:the literary exer-
cises Of the Association were held After
music by the orchestra connected with the
Sherman Band. and prayer by Rev. DR.,
Cushman, of Manchester, Vt, the Grafton
was delivered by Rev. L. \. Austin, class
Of So, Principal of Kimball Union Academy
a Meriden, y. IL.
REV. Mr.. AUsTIN's GRAFTON.
Taking for hi- topic, the scholar duty to
the State, he undertook to impress upon his
hearers that the scholar should be educated
with the view of taking part in politics. He
drew a comparison between the old Roman
government and the government Of to-day ;
and what the surprise Of Roman would be
to witness some Of the workings Of the
present day Then the prime element was
unity uOir it was every one for himself
in wonderment would he exc.aim. q.
Temporal o, Mores' The politicians Of to-
day are feeding on the very life-blOod Of the
republic. but we have better hopes there
Is vet soundness in the heart of the nation.
Putrefaction has not yet reached the vitals
of the State; new constitutional yigor will
be revived. People are seeing the corrup-
ton, and they will cure it they will not
submit tamely, although they are patient /
people, and bear most anything. When /
political servant proves recreant, We can /
discharge him, and the people are 81 doing I
they demand reform: their theme I
l. publication Of politics. The pul- /
pit even Is discussing the duty oi /
the citizen. The press, both religious /
and secular, Is sending forth health-glving |
sentiment to all. The nations appeal /
should come to the scholars heart. Let US
think of our work for living men, and let
old-time themes be laid aside for the moment.
Call in our thoughts from literary matters,
and come to the plain, practical considera-
ton of the scholars duty to the State. The
scholar too often makes himself a reclrse.
and does not come forth among the people,
but prefers the company of his books; and
- e. nf Il sFna
of life And 50 better educated men are
kept from giving their opinions to the
world. The speaker thought that profess
sional men should be more acquainted with
all phases of life Educated business men
pay more attention to literature than to the
duties of citizenship, are willing the country
should suffer, if they can get richer. The
schools should pay more attention to tram
ing the scholars in those principles that Will
fit them for statesmen. Educated men com
plain that they can not assimiate with
many of the political followers. and hence
leave the field TO be managed by profes-
sional political leaders. Those men, to do
their duty, must leave their present po-
sition, and take hand in politics. The
training given to a scholar is necessary IN
the study of the problems presented in ma
tional affairs. So-called leaders are not
leaders, but are at the head because they
have the sagacity of knowing where the
masses want TO 90, We lack true leaders:
They can be supplied from the educated
masses. and from nowhere else. And to
these the nation cries out for help to rescue
her from the dangers that threaten her.
The scholar owes debt to the Republic be-
cause it has fostered the institutions to
which he owes his present position. And
when the nation calls for them, recreant
ire they if they do not respond. The
scholars aim should be to perfect him
elf in craftsmanship. The college does
not make statesmen. but places him
IN high vantage ground for acquiring the
principles. He must study other nations.
earn from the past. Let every scholar be,
,ome worthy expounder and defender, OF
,ur constitution, cleaning his knowledge
rom every field As We derive bene-
it from the study of the dead languages,
- H. a.