The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1875-05-21

y
bright and hopeful as you stand upon
the threshold of the workin prospect.
And it requires no prophets ken to
predict successful career in the
highest and best sense, if you adopt
these words Of inspired wisdom as
tho basis Of your prosperity Socu-
lar education, however broad and
thorough cannot of itself guaranty
success. Without the Divine bless
ing your life will surely prove dis
astrous failure even for this world.
Many college graduate sleeps in q
dishonored grave. Many an honered
man of his class has gone down to
the lowest depths Of infamy. A
brilliant intellect and thorough in
struction are not enough to help us
to lead the life for which we were
created. Goddess knowledge is q
bitter fountain sending forth streams
Of corruption and death. Perhaps
never before in the history of the race
hayethere been more signihcantillus-
trations of the tendency Of an unsanc-
tilted education to cultivate that nat
ural per3ersity Of heart and life
which positively defeats the personal
ends for which God has given exist
ence, and special advantages; besides
being powerful means Of leading
astray the immature and unwary, il
man has been elevated above the
brute by his reasoning faculties, t
cannot be that this higher range Of
intelligence should be o special cause
of enlargement from the Giver Of
that intelligence That an unsancti-
fed culture does choose such fields Of
inquiry and develope such specialties
X DEMONSTRATION as tend to destroy
the need or advantage Of o Divine
author and Governor. of the world of
sense, and world Of morals is too
patent to require proof. Happy for
you, my young friends, if in laying
here the foundations of your real ed
ucation, they have been laid broad
and deep upon the immutable rock Of
divine truth; and if your education
shall be henceforth sanotifed aand
consecrated to its true uses by rev
erential regard for God, the source
and end Of all valuable knowledge,
begin with the fear of God and your
future will be crowned with abundant
success. a,a rg siis.si
Remember, dear friends, that as
YOU leave these scenes which are hall
lowed with sacred and pleasant asso-
citations, watchful eyes and loving
hearts will follow you with tender in
terest; your future course will form
part Of the historical record Of this
institution. Besides parents, teach
ers and schoolmates, your Al,aD 1iaier
has claims upon you which can never
be innocently ignored or forgotten.
Your influence for good or evil, will
reflect honor or dishonor upon the
College whose name will hencef0rth
he associated with your own, Future
generations will look back with inter-
est to those whose characters are now
shaping the educational facilities Of
uryoung aud prosperous city and
State And tits ofathe first eonse-
quence that the principle enunciated
in the text should have q leading place
in the instruction given in these halls.
II is Of far loss consequence how lib,
eralU or limited may be the financial
endowments, how large or small tho
classes, Of graduates compared with
the character and influence Of those
who here receive their education ii
holiness TO the Lord Is written upon
these walls, and if those who go forth
from thence to mako their mark upon
the world arc God fearing men and
women, many shall rise up and call
blessed all who share in this glorious
work. 1t is u great privilege to pre-
pare theyoung for tho practical duties
Of life, but it is far more blessed 10
guide their feet in the paths Of heay-
only wisdom. This Is the noblest
and most important part Of the work
Of these self-denyiug teachers, and Of
the parents and patrons Of this and
similar institutions. II may not seem
especially ennobling to devote the
brightest years of life to a work when
the superficial results appear 50 men
gre, but be assured that real self
sacriice for Christ's sake, will receive
rewards unspeakably great oven in
this world, even Of these comparative
y small classes who graduate from
year to year. Some priceless jewels
may be receiving the finish which
viii fit them for an early setting in
the Sayiors crown Of glory. Some
may be inn course OF training for an
honorable pnrt in the ininisEry.ioi
reconciliation. God may from among
these young people be preparing en-
bassadors for Christ whose mission
on our own shores, or in heather
lands may make heaven and earth re.
ioice with thronging thousands Of re-
deemed aud glorifed souls The
/ church whose fostering care you seek
may among your ranks find nble OK.
ponents Of tho faith she holds dear
and call to the first positions Of dig
nifty, and influence your sons and
daughters Remember the text ol
the day; There is no restraint u
4 the Lord TO save by many or by few. :
! And in your estimates Of the benefits
Of sanctiied education, do mol
leave out Of the account the indirect
/ advantages to very many who aro mol
enabled 70 graduate. s'3g-t
i Christian culture will make i'm.
presgions upon many Of the youthful
i minds and hearts more durable thar
4 Inscriptions upon marble tablets, o.
pillars Of granite. Christian homes
tho crowning glory Of any land, and
an efIectu0l barrier against vice and
lRwlessnesg, will find lheir germ il
tho seed sown III tho course 81 ii.
struction already indicated. Tho
children Of many homes may b'
saved from disgracefol ignornnbe,
and ,,,o.y nnufaF tho li0houf ouio0