The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1875-05-27
VOLUME X.---NO. As.
Gov. Chamberlain's Declination.

We stated last week that Gov. Chamber.
lain had declined the invitation to deliver
the anniversary address before the literary So
cieties of Erskine College, His reasons for de-
cllning the invitation are set forth in letter
addressed to the committee, which we COPY
from the 4. r. Presbyterian:
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
May 10th, 1875.
Gentlemen: Your pleasant and pleasantly
conveyed invitation to me in behalf of the
Philomathean Literary Society of Erskne Col.
ege, to address the Literary Societies of that
Institution on the approaching Commencement,
July 7th, has been received.
1t would be pleasure which should great.
ly enjoy, and a duty which I should readily &C.
cept, to deliver such an address, if it were not
for the fact that am now under a previous en-
gagement to perform similar service on the
30th of June, at Yale College, my Ahm.a Mater.
l assure you that it is not a merely formal re-
gret which l now express in saying that if the
two occasions had been presented at the same
time 1 should have accepted yours.
There are many things which in the9ecuiar
situation of our State and people should have
hoped to say, which might tend to the peace,
happiness and hopefulnes of my fellow-citi
zens.
BY this do not mean our local politics-far
from it. Such occasions should be sacred from
the approach of anything savoring of the party
politics of the day, unless it be some discussion
of the great common principles which underlie
all government and hold together human socie-
ty itself
But 1 should have tried particularly to i'm.
press upon those whom should have addressed
the incalculable importance, at this juncture,
| of deep and true scholarship. By scholarship,
I mean familiarity with the recorded product
Of the worlds thought and action. Than this
nothing can be more essential to broad and
wise views of present events and duties. No
occasions call more loudly for those influences
which scholarship and culture can alone fur
nish than when "the times are out of joint
True catholicity of mind, true lberality of life,
are to be gained by resort to those vast treas
ures which constitute the learning of the world.
The true scholar is the truest man. He is pa
tient in adversity because he is in thought and
feeling the companion of Socrates and Galileo.
He is undaunted by the mockings of changing
fortune because he remembers Aristides and
Erasmus. He is hopeful and enterprising in
the pursuit of truth because he lives in the
company of those who labored to hasten results
which they knew they would not themselves
witness This is the spirit of scholarship
reverent, recipient, docile, on the one hand
bold, hopeful, farsighted, on the other-but al
ways generous and helpful to all.
Can any qualities be better suited to this
day in South Carolina Can her sons bring to
her service better gifts than these?
1t would be a great privilege to endeavor to
enforce and illustrate these thoughts to SYM
pathizing audience, such as your Commence
ment would furnish-but must not attempt
it now. sat down indeed merely to thank
you and to tell you why can not serve you on
the 9TH of July. At all other times and in all
ways within my power l am, very truly, your
friend and servant,
D. II. CHAMBERLAIN.