Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1876-06-16
JUDGE DICK,S A ID Ia E - AT
CHI

CHAPEL HILL
In accor lance with our purpose here
,ofore intimated, we lay before our
readers the remarks of Judge Dick
introductory to the address delivered
u, him before. the University at the
recent commencement. After icing
introduced to the large assemblage
present by Paul G. Cameron, Esq,
President of the Board of Trustees,
Judge Dick said:
Honored Faculty and trustees, Young
Gentlemen of the University, Ladies
and Gentlemen, Jly F6kIOoO-Citi
Gems
The sunlight and dews of heaven fall
on nearly every part of the earth, and
these beneicent messengers of God
WHY the germs of grass, and tree,
and flower with the energy of vegetable
life and fill the realms of nature with
verdure, fruitiulness, fragrance and
beauty.
Nearly every spot upon this habit
able globe has been dear to some
human heart; been irradiated with the
lights of Joy, believed with tears, or
hallowed by sacred memories. We
can never forget the homes of our
childhood consecrated by a mothers
love; the scenes of our youth are like
dreams of fairy land; and we all have
we'll remembered places where we
have received rich blessings and where
our hearts have been thrilled with
pure and noble emotions.
He that kindles the sunbeam and
distils the dew drops, has woven the
tender ties of love and memory that
bind us to the places of earth and the
scenes of the past, and those ties like
Holian harp strings breathe forth sweet
melodies that blend into the harmo-
MES of life. They are also electri 9
chords which continually fill our
hearts with the Suoyancy, purity and
innocenceof earlier years, and bright
en- our faith-visious of the eternal
home in the better land.
Thirty three years have passed-the
period of generatiOn-5lnce L left
| these venerable halls to enter the dusty
arena of practical life to contend for
the prizes of fortune and honest
fame. l did not wisely improve many
of the privileges which my Alma
Mater offered and receive all the
treasures of virtue and learning which
she anxiousiy endeavored to hestow;
| but found in after years that the few
precious gifts which l accepted gave
light to my pathway, and strength and
courage in the hours of conflict. As
| Al uffectionate and dutiful son have
this day returned to the classic shrines
of my boyhood to lay an humble of
| fering upon the broken affairs, where
after long years sadness, desolation
and gloom, have again been rekindled
| the fires of truth and knowledge.
l find here new generation occu-
owing the old homestead, out | feel
| That they are my younger brothers who
| will reverence and love our common
+ mother, and receive in rich abundance
the precious blessings of their sacred
heritage. My brothers. l have for you
a few words of counsel that cover the
whole duty of man. To become highly
accomplished scholars-truly refined
! gentlemen and useful members of So
ciety, you must reverence the religion
of your fathers, and study we'll the
| Bible. Make it the man of your coun-
sel,-the magma charta OF your faith,
aud the beacon of your dearest
| nopes. 1t is rich in wisdom beautiful
in thoughts and language, and it is the
oaly sure guide to happiness and
| holiness in time and in eternity.
I rejoice TO find among the Faculty,
one of my loved College friends, and
one of my honored preceptors-rep-
resentatives of the past-illuminipg
the present with their experience,
! learning, wisdom and Christian faltL.
| Many of the noble Christian philoso-
| pliers and sages WHO constituted the
old Faculty, shave left rich moral
and intellectual legacies TO mankind,
and gone to join the white robed
throng beside the EteTnai Throne.
| Pardon me, if / for moment pause
| IL the performance of my present duty,
| to listen to the low sweet aud solemn
melodies, that like spirit voices are
coming from the distant regions of the
''iong ago." and catch a few nasty
glimpses of the many scenes that with
! panoramic viYidness are passing before
the eye of memory. The bright and
| loved faces and kind voices that once
| greeted me are here il fancy seen and
| heard again; and through the lapse OF
tventful years / feel a thrilling inspi-
ration from the warm, generous aud
! noble hearts that once IGNORED me
with their confidence and delighted
me with their friendship. / cannot
find words to express my emotions and
| will not attempt to portray the
scenes which memory has painted in
| tho silent chambers of the soul. | can
only say that all the recollections of
my college days are bright, joyous and
! beautiful and will be enshr1ned in my
| inmOst heart forever.
Honored Faculty and Trustees. l
thank you for the energy, ability
and atfectionate zeal with which
you have labored to resuscitate our
beloved University, and [ congratulate
you upon the progress that you have
made, and l earnestly hope that in a
near future you may obtain eminent
success.
We regret very much that both from
want of space and FROM a want of a
proper report we are unable to give
our readers the benefit of the whole of
speech that received as it deserved
the hearty plaudits of all who had the
good fortune to hear it,