The Portland daily press., 1874-07-23

with the trustees in their efforts to meet the
conditions of Gov. Coburp's gift, believing that
the success of this movement Is essential TO the
prosperity of the university.
The alumni meeting was very full and the
tone of everybody was hearty, cheerful and
hopeful. The good condition and bright pos
poets of the college very inspirting to the
alumni and all its other friends.
TRUSTEE MEETING.
The trustees have held TWO sessions, both of
which were occupied with reports of the COM
miItees on amendments to the bylaws, changes
IN the curriculum, examinations and the adj
mission of the alumni to participation in the
government of the college, but no important
action was taken in any direction.
GRAFTON BEFORE THE LITERARY SOCIETIES.
The annual Grafton before the litera y socie
ties was delivered iu the evening by Prof w.
Q. Wilkinson of Rochester N. Y.
The orator took for his subject "The claims
of the Higher Education By the words
''Higber Education he meant what was I'M
parted at high schools and colleges in distinc-
ton from what is taught at the common
schools. But the higher education does not in
GUIDE the special training furnished by profess
sional schools.
The first claim of the higher education is
that the lower or common school education rests
upon it as basis Those who have given the
subject little or no thought suppose contrary
relation to exist
1t is extremely doubtful whether the common
schools could originate first. 1t is also very
doubtful whether the common school having
originated second in order, could MAINTAIN and
perpetuate itself without the help of the high
er school. For light this doubtful point let
us look at the history of education, and next
at the reason OF the matter as far as we may
hope to discover the reason. What does the
history of education teach as to the true rela-
ton between the higher and lower education?
Which, if either, has been the parent of the
other? In China the higher and lower have
EXISTED from remote ages of antiquity. Confu-
Gus founded here system of education which
more eifeetually difuses knowledge, such as
Chinese believe knowledge is, to all classes and
all individuals OF the people than does any 9th
er system OF popular education in the world
But Confucius represents the higher educa-
ton.
In India the higher education exists without
the lower. Education there is close monopo-
ly OF the priestly and noble castles. The mass
OF the population remain 10 abject ignorance.
In Egypt also we fluid the higher education
without the association of the lower. Tue edu-
catlonal history of the Jews also comedies with
the above. Moses the human founder of the
the Egyptians. In Greece and Rome the lower
education descended from the higher.
Descending from the results which have been
received from the ancient anti-Chrstan world
to the subsequent ages of Christian history, the
same order of precedence still is seen in Eu-
rope. The early Christian fathers themselves
the alumni OF the higher education, founded
such schools for the people as the circumstan
OF the age demanded and made possible In
America the higher education preceded the low
er: Massachusetts was the first among the
colonies to legisate for the establishment of
tree schools This was in 1647. But already
IN 1855 the foundations of Harvard College had
been laid.
The second claim of the higher education
was that the igher education is necessary
condition CT the advancement of knowledge
beyond existing bounds. The schools of the
higher education furnish more advanced
Knowledge to which one may add by stand
ing upon the shoulders of giants some little
increment OF his own. The great pathfinders
IN the world of scientific discovery have been
men of broad and generous culture. Bacon,
Newton, Lebnitz kepler, Descartes, all re-
ceived their training at seats of the higher ed
ucatlOn.
1t is fashion just now to disparage the science
OF mind in favor OF the science of matter But
W. find illustrations of the dependence of the
philosophy OF matter upon the philosophy of
mind 10 great men Pascal, by his study of
metaphysics, was qualified for making those
remarkable mathe NAUTICAL and scientific dis
coveres which made his name famous. New
ton was wisely conscious of his dependence
upon his predecessors. But apart from this
the higher education serves to help forward the
movement of the race along the pathway of IN
teectua discovery
The third and last claim is that it is an es-
sential condition of the conservation of knowl-
edge in the world. The problem of conserva-
ton is not so simple as It might SEEM The
history of KNOWLEDGE IN the world has not been
an uninterrupted series of movements in ad-
vance. There has been many catastrophes
The next age has often neen unable to inherit
what the preceding one was able to bequeath.
Since 1t Is impossible that common school
education should mpart to all of us eyerv-
thing known, 1t follows that to secure our most
advanced acquisitions in knowledge against the
peril OF future catastrophe, we should, by oen-
ereus support of the higher education, wish to
lncrea the number of those who may take
this great interest in custody and pass it safely
over to the hands of still more numerous sue
cessors again.
GENERAL NOTES.
Twenty-eight candidates for admission have
been examined, and considerable number
more are expected at the next examination.
The secret societies are holding their reunions
tonight, which are very we'll attended by the
boys.
Gov. Di1gley, E. P. Weston, Col. Fred
Robbie, Ito see about the classical school at
Gorham,) DR.. Champlin, Hannibal Hamln,
Gov. Abner Coburn. and Prof. Mitchell of
Chicago, are in attendance on the exercises.
AT the reunion and class supper of the class
of 49, the following members were present.
Mark I'll. Dunnell of Minnesota, Rev. John
Rounds, Rev. DR.. A. X. P. Small. Prof. Ed
ward d. Mitchell, d. D., of Chicago, Rev. Sol
ONION E. Bixby, William S. Green of Spring
field Mass, Hadey P. Hanson, Esq, of Bos-
ton, Dr. E. F. Sanger, Salem Wilder, ESQ.,,
Rev. NJ II. Tarbox, DR.. George A. Pierce