Daily Republican., 1879-06-16
FEMININE INFLUENCE:
How II can be moulded for Generah
GOOd-A Girls place In the Social
Circle.


Circle.
On Sunday morning large audience
filled Grace Church to listen to the
baccalureate delivered by Professor
Williams of Wesleyan Female College,
to the graduating class. The students
of the institution were all present. Mr..
Williams said:
YOUNG LADIES OF THE CLASS or '79:
1t is my fortune to come before you as
a representative OF our college for the
first time. Naturally have ranged
the field of themes in the search tor
something that should promise the
largest results for yourselves. Like
the amateur in the picture gallery l
have been puzzled to know which most
to admire and still more bewilaefed to
know which to select. As selection
must be made have made it not so
mich because Of all others it is most
appropriate or most learned; but be-
cause, so far as the theme itself is con-
cerned, it has not its superior in prac-
tical worth or asthetic influence. |
come to you, therefore, with personal
influence as my theme, and have Sc
lected as the text Tim. 4: l6: "Take
heed unto thyself and unto the doc
trines; continue in them; tor in doing
this thou shalt both save thysslf, and
them that hear thee
The speaker called the attention OF
his auditors to the latter part
of the text and after impress
ing upon their minds its scrip
tural meaning, drew from its i'm
pressions, practical illustrations and
held them up for the Guidance OF the
Young ladies who were about to enter
the worlds ever changing elements
He spoke of women and the secret
spring of action which is with them the
source of so much influence. "But
! want to tell you," said the Professor,
addressing himself to the graduating
class, "of that particular sphere, of that
fragmentary social life in which you dc
and will find yourselves. The intellect
ual advantages which you have enjoy
ed, fit you for leadership, say fit you
Whether you will WELD the leadership
remains for you to determine Are yor
: Intellectual, You will have friends
coming to you constantly to be directed
t in their reading. You may place books
Y in their hands which will beget
: thirst for knowledge, it is true, bu
r how much depends upon the partlcula
q kind of knowledge; and how much, es-
: pecially if the applicant be young, an'
l mpressible and have implicit confidenc
1 in your Judgment, does the phase ant
4 mould of the after life depend upon you
T.. advice.
1 Are you fashionable' Do you devot
t yourself to the study ofgrace, and dres
G and style. Is part at least OF you
e talent consecrated to the work of max
g ing your home and yourself beautiful
e Do you, in word, study the fine arts
a society !? Exercise here also the sam
IS care. Others are looking at, and striv
ing to initiate you. So influence ther
that the lessons they lear
}. of you shall be profitable. Just her
h YOU will have a delicate and Difficult
h task. On the one eide it is a questio
e of financial ability. On the other
n pride and a love for superficial show.
l. believe that God intended this worl
1t to be beautiful. believe that h
Is smiles at every honest effort to make
d beautiful Believing these live previou
Of thoughts, | must believe it to be ou
t individual duty to make ourselve
le as beautiful in soul, mind and body a
s. is compatible with our abilities. Br
t. since the consideration of the soul an
c. mind is not now passing in review
T. narrow down the statement to tn
l. declaration that it is the duty of ever
~ one to make themselves as beautif
S. as is consistent with their ability
n Since abilities vary their expenditure
J. in this direction must also vary, an
YOUR influence and choice must all
vary. To condemn or frown down e!
penditure on the fine arts of socie'
:, s. where the party has the means, is
40 uniustifable as it would be to conden
'e 's Solomon for expending under divine d
\ rection so much treasure upon the bea
u, tiful temple at Jerusalem. Yet no OF
y, ~ is justified in adorning the body at II
- - expense of the mind, or at the peril
~ - the soul. In your teachings, wheth
- - by precept or example, impress Il
a' 'a duty of attending first to the soul, the
20 . to the mind and lastly to the body
- Not that any are to be neglected, n
- that one is to be abnormally develop
~ and the other abnormally dwarfed; Il
that the lower at least shall be car
for at the expense of the higher. In
On word | would have you emphasize II
70 nobility of soul rather than OF mil
a and body, and the nobility OF mil
so rather than of body.
.s Do not yourselves repine nor tea'
nd others to repine at the grades in soci
do life. Even heaven has its grades of a
"a gelic hosts. If you are peasants it wi
NO be folly to ape the king in every re
nix pect; and if you are king it will
n equally ridiculous to ape the peasan
an Harmony in variety; self respect al
ali dignity in every position; untarnish'
40. character and pure principles i'll eve
social grade; every grade is compromls'
when it becomes the refuge for shodd
ism or rascality; realness, is the touc
,ls stone of respectablity, though 1t mi
At not be of equality. These are some
. the notices which would have "
i. inscribe upon the social banner.
tn Are you religious? All, here ye
to may become power. There are tim
sb w when the laity can preach more telin
Wv n ly than the ministry. Those times W
~ ao,,a IN Won Times WhAn in the SOCi