New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1874-06-18

| Y
: the slave. Charles Sumner will ever be re
membered by a grateful people, and his nam
will be handed down to the latest genera
ton as one of the noblest benefactors O
his age.
might add many more ilustriOus names
to those already mentioned, whose industry
frugality, integrity, self-sacrificing sDrit ant
devotion to duty and principle, we would d.
well to emulate, but must not trespass TOT
long upon your patience. But you will bea
with me while call your attention to mar
who has done much to mould the lives ant
character of hundreds of young men in thi.
land. Although he has left the stage of &C
ton and to-dayis resting from his labor and
enjoying the pleasures Of eternal felicity, yet
his works do follow him." DIR. Francis
Wayiand is one Of those noble men of whom
we love to speak and whose life is so fraught
with interest that we love to dwell upon it.
From life so full of incident and variety Of
experience, we can learn much and gather
many useful lessons. DR.. Wayland is doubt.
less so widely known that it is scarcely nee
essary for me to dwell upon his pure life, yet
to the student it will not, probably be amiss
II mention few of his many beautiful traits
OF character. He was man of remarkable
power of mind as well as force of character.
His well-cultured intellect was secured by
very great effort He was, while student,
obliged to strive against poverty, and to a
large extent was dependent upon friends, but
he soon rose above this and looked out for
himself. Trained under such circumstances,
he was peculiarly fitted to sympathze with
the poor and those who were striving to pre-
pare themselves for Il useful life. His waym
heart was quickly moved 10 sympathy and
many one has felt the genial influence of
his generous heart. AS an energetic pastor,
he was generally beloved, and as President
OF one of our institutions of learning, he did
much to shape public sentiment. He early
espoused the cause Of the oppressed, and en-
tered earnestly into the discussion of the
| slavery question, and denounced the system
as vile, wicked and debasing. He was Il
progressive man, and was alive upon all ques-
tons OF the day, whether in church Or State.
While his mind was fully developed, his
moral nature proved that it had not been
neglected. Surrounded by Christian influ-
ence in his youth, he grew up well-devel-
oped and well-rounded man. The moral law
was as clear to him as the noon-day, as is
proven by his "Moral Science" which bears
the impress of a massive intellect and noble
character,
Judge Chrstiancy, of Michigan, who was
associated with him for a few weeks as eX-
| amlner at West Point, says: "With DOW
eriul and massive intellect, he combined the
frank simplicity of child and the tender
ness of woman. His whole being exhibited
the transparency Of truth, and we felt as
much attracted to him by the purity and
amlability Of his character as by the great
ness OF his mental power"
nave presented to you several illustrOus
men of history all Of whom were men of
experienced and well-cultured intellects.
Yet not all of them meet my idea of True
culture. have presented these characters
TO you to impress you with the fact that
although man may be well educated
IN the common acceptatOn of the term, yet
II he be not well trained morally he is sadly
deficient, and his life will be failure.
DR.. Wayland is one of the truest pictures
OF True Culture. In him stand forth all the
traits OF character.which go to make truly
educated man. Let us emulate this noble
man because we recognize him as embodying
our idea of True Culture.
| l said in the beginning of nv remarks that
the successful farmer must understand the
nature of the soil that he must be we'll ac-
qualnted with the fertilizers best adapted to
1t: that he must work-toil late and early :
then, with Gods favor. sending the refiesh-
| ing rams and lnyigOratlng sunshine, he will
reap an abundant harvest. Man is cultivat-
| ed IN the same manner. differing, of course,
in the means employed. His training begins
in very early childhood and the impressions
made then are lasting hence the Importance
OF proper training while young. In order
that we may bring forth good fruit - achieve
grand results-we must be acquainted with
the SOLVE must know ourselves. Oknow
and have control Of ones self, is of itself a
victory.
The farmer puts the seed in the ground,
and after giving it proper attention, in due
time the fruit is gathered. The seed that is
sown in the mind is the thoughts or ideas it
retains of those things presented to it by
direct study or otherwise.
We obtain development or cultivation by
a variety of means, all of which may be
summed up in the phrase Thorough educa-
ton. therefore recommend to every one
to acquire as thorough an education as posi-
BILE. Let as many as possible take collegi-
ate course. You must not think that such q
course is all you need; for when you are
studying, you are but preparing the soil and
planting the seed. The culture is seen when
| you present some results-when you produce
fruit. 1t is necessary for us to know the
means to be used for securing proper culture.
The first and most important means is to
make it our great end to secure thorough cul-
ture and to make the most of the powers God
has given us.
Would you be successful student: Then
apply yourselves; bring to your aid every
thing that is of value. 'There is no excel
lence without labor, is an old but true adage.
l mention as another and very important
means: Intercourse with superior minds.
We come in contact with great minds by
reading. Through the best books men OF
culture and intellect talk to us, give us their
most precious thoughts and pour their souls
into ours. BY reading the classics we come
in contact with the philosophical minds of
antiquity and become acquainted with the
history and customs of the ancients. Take
as your intimate associates Milton, Shakes
peare, Burns, Scott, Longfellow, Tennyson,
Macaulay and Bryant. Read all the best
writer's and speakers OF the day.
The last and most important book | call
your attention to is the Bible. From this,
the greatest of all books we learn of Him
who is the Creator of all things we learn
the great fundamental truths which are the
basis of all human action, and we also learn
Of the great plan of salvation. This book
contains the purest thoughts and noblest
sentiments to be found in any language.
search the Scriptures, for in them We have
the words of eternal lfe."
AS l have told you what to read, trust
l. you will pardon me if tell you what not to
read. There is kind of reading which the
student is apt to indulge in, and that is, nov.
ell reading. L refer to sentimental novels
These are very injurious and tend to dwarf
rather than develop the mind. In very
many instances they utterly destroy the
reader.
: AS you should shun improper books, SC
also avoid those associates who tend rather
to corrupt the mind and taste than to improve
: them. :" Evil communications corrupt good