Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1878-06-19
Barre Academy Anniversary Exercises.

the anniversary exercises Of the Associate Alumni,
held at the Congregational church in the after
noon. DIR. j. II. jackson presided, and, after
prayer by Rev. Mr.. Tenpey introduced Charles
T. Stone, Esq Of Iaconia, N. H., as the orator Of
the day. The subject Of the Grafton was THE
Possibilities Of the Mind" which was treated in
a very able and logical manner We give below
a brief abstract.
GRAFTON OF Q. y. STONE, ESQ.
The mind and its faculties are for growth ;
its destiny is upward. There are certain condi-
tons Of growth that must be observed ere It ex-
pand to any great degree. First the force and
character of mental action depend upon the organ
ization and health of the body. with man, ms
with trees, all growth is upward. lie advances
from the lower to the higher; from the material
TO the spiritual. II he would climb very far
towards the stars he must be well rooted to the
earth. The body is to the mind what the roots
and trunk Of the tree are to the foliage, and the
fruit upon its branches The tree is never tall or
its branches wde-spreading, unless it, roots strike
deep into the earth So the mind never expands
into gigantic proportions unless borne up and sus
tanned by well organized and healthy body
Facts upon which the mind feeds and grows are
derived through the senses.
The body Is the medium by which the mind
knows of external objects, and through which it
manifests its own conditions. Hence the import
ance of the body being in perfect health Again,
the character Of mental action is determined by
the condition Of the body Every substance is the
color Of the glass through which 1t is seen. An
imperfect eye is never delighted with the beauty
Of order and arrangement. deaf ear is never
charmed with the combination Of sounds it knows
no harmony. Cold steel and the softest velvet
are alike to the palsied hand. Force and bril-
liancy Of thought depend very much upon the
health Of the body Is it not fact that a clergy
man suffering from indigestion talks and breaches
more Of wrath and vengeance than he does of love
and mercy? The condition of the stomach effects
very certainly the operations Of the brain. 1t is
prerequisite absolutely necessary to the broadcast
mental culture that the body and all its functions
be in a healthy and vigorous condition. Not only
must the body be perfect in organization and
health, but there should bean equilibrium between
1t and the mind. man all brains is as much
out of balance as one all body and no brains.
Neither Of them Of much account.
And, finally, one of the most important condi-
tons OF mental growth is, that the mind in all its
deliberations act with perfect freedom, and seek
impartially and conscentously for the truth.
Liberty of thought and freedom of investigation
are God-given privileges, and conditions of mem
tai growth. The mind in all its researches should
know no other restraint than that which comes
from an enlightened conscience and reason The
struggle OF the ages In science, literature and
theology has been in studying and Analysing the
moral and physical forces Of nature TO ascertain
where and what is truth. 1t is the object and
uhimdtum of all thought and research. Upon it
the mind lives and grows, and will in the far-off
future expand to the full-rounded measure of its
capacity How can we expect to know what is
true, or approximate to it, unless our investiga-
tons are in the pure sunlight of freedom, i'm
partial, and under the guide of conscience and
reason. When one accepts any creed or formu-
lated statement as a finaity, without limit or con-
dition, he buttons around himself an iron jacket
His growth and expansion are limited His big
ness will always be measured by his jacket
Books well used are the best OF things; abused
they are among the worst. Their use is simply
to aid They should inspire, point in the right
direction, and help to make men think Creeds
are formulated, beliefs are good as guides They
may be the highest expression Of known truth at
their inception, but when accept them as final
tiles they become dangerous and runous, for they
hinder thought and stihe honest convictions Is
not the instruction of the present day in our col
eges and seminares too partisan? Is it not more
with view of sustaining old theories and dogmas
than of promoting honest thought and investiga-
ton? Are not the professors more like retained
counsel than like judges on the bench who should
hear patiently all the evidence, for and against,
and then render an impartial decision?
The object of all study and scholastic drill il to
quicken and strengthen the mind for future ac-
ton 1t is not so much to know the past rs to be
prepared for the present and future. We have
never half measured the word liberty" We
are still in bondage. The mind is fettered by and
tied to old notions and superstitions We act
from accepted dogmas, and not from our own
convictions. We accept the opinions and con-
illusions of Others forgetting we can think our
selves. We should not treat lightly or with dis
respect the wisdom and experience of the past.
We should study it and profit by all that is good
and worthy. But let us not forget our eyes are in
the forehead, and not in the back head Memory
holds to and preserves the past, but the eyes
should look straight forward into the boundless
future. The present is better than the past, and
let us hope the future will be in advance of the
present. Progress should be the watchword of
all human thought
The speaker urged very forcibly and eoquently
the need of more thorough education for the
women of the land, and congratulated the patrons
Of the academy upon the fact that its principal
had carried out that idea in his teachings for
many years.
Rev. o. G. Wheeler. OF South Hero, was then
introduced as the poet Of the OCCASION and gave
the audience a fine specimen of his powers Of wit
and literary attainments, which was greatly en-
joyed by all. The poem portrayed the abuses OF
the present age, in fashion, politics, matrmony
and the different professions, under the title of
An Old Mans Dream" contrasting the genera
tons past with the present time As satire upon
politics we extract the following from
REV MIR. wHEELERs POEM
Men used TO sit In council wise
To ind where truth and duty lies;
but now King Caucus rules the hour.
And bold is he who boards his power.
When measure is proposed
The caucus sts-the doors closed,
And they In whom faith reposes,
Clap on the grindstone all their noses
"our partyw II is what serve;
None may from Its fealty swerve.
Go TO the proud old Capitol
And list the solemn call.
Caucus has summoned all Ills clan
To settle on some mighty plan.
By which the Senators great
May curb the wiful magistrate.
'ris plain he never has been bitted
And therefore cannot well be fitted
To wear the harness or the saddle;
Prefers his own canoe TO paddle
Rather than to be party's tool
And play the Presidential fool.
lie thinks the people put him there
lie has the right To do and dare.
To serve his country irst and last;
That flag shall stay upon the mast.
He fought to keep his country WHOLE
That noble purpose fred his soul;
Shall he forget the holy vow
Aud tear that garland from his brow?
Country Hush that moral rant
Let hypocrtes indulge in cant;
Our party Is country let
Him know hs daht hts han viast daht