Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1879-07-13
To Young MEN

llvered By Rev. Thos. w. Humes, D.
D., President of the University of
Tennessee, to the class of '79 loses
none of its value or interest because of
delay in its publication. It's perusal
is recommended to all young men:
Young Gentlemen: l->-
La the succession of the years of the
University, it is your lot to-day, to
step forward from the front rank of
your feIlow.students to receive The
honors of which the Faculty and the
Board of Trustees consider you worthy
aud to go forth into the world for The
fufiillment of your duty Ia life,
The mission before you is confessed
ly an important one, and Ia. the per.
torrance Of it you may justly expect
to meet not only with encourageme
and facilities, but. especially at this
| period Of time, with Difficult, les and
dangers.
Biologists tell us that the earth, in
| reaching it's present state OF fitness as
a habitation for man, was subjected to
violent disruptiobs. 1t pas sed from
chaos through various stages of forma-
ton and many scenes Of-eoIlision aud
disorder to its condition of relative
perfection and peace.
That which has thus been accom-
plished in the material globe upon
which We dwell, has not been
wrought in the jewellers themselves.
Human society in the centuries that
are past, has Indeed had its upheavals
and degradations, lis cataclS SINS, its
successl We form atoms and its hopeful
efforts towards an ultimate condition
of order aud 4repose. Bot whatever
may be thought of the present stsbil-
iLy OF the gione we inhaois-whatever
may be avered or coDjectured concern
lug its future, it ID Ger: ain That human
society is not at res;-shat ats Lransl'
tiuus 10 more matured sta o are not
ended, and that it is rife with intel
lecIual and moral disorders. Ii is
ceFtain that with all the calmness and
peace which the face of The nations
wears. there is profound stir in the
hearts and minds Of the people, fore-
tUkeniug mOmentOus events; that
there are underlying forces &C lively AT
work, which can not easily be sup
pressed, but must vent themselves
IN upheavals, in clash and tempest.
No doubt, brighter sunshine, beauty
aud gladness shall follow after The
dark clouds, the hurrying winds and
the surgiDg seas, and thai when all is
quiet again, music and flowers shall
I'LL the air or deck the fields.
But let US not dream of permanent
security aud ease. There are too many
huge inequalities and smOuldering dis
contents IN the world too many rank
Iujustices, feverish ambitious, avar!-
elous 'struggiings, base or iawless de-
sires, aud baIeiul contentious, for It to
be lastingly quiet. Opinions and COM
blnatIonS threatens in some nations,
not only established governments, but
the very structure of society, and even
in America they have lifted up their
heads. Besides other sources OF evil,
the relations of the two great factors of
human Industry, Capital and labor
are dlscordant, and hot and angry
conflict between them is impending.
lt Is true that the picture, dafkened
by these features, has it's bright side.
fhe light of faith, in supreme, divine
personalities, and in unseen, eternal
things, which does not shine for some
who are learned in SCIENCE or
brilliant in letters, because the win
dows of their minds are heavily cur
tained against it, sheds yet its soft and
rich effulgence in millions of docile
hearts, makes them akin to heaven,
and inspires them by love to good and
worthy deeds. Brave men end gentle
women are laboring in all continents
to save human society from the power
Of it's disastrous elements. Some in
public positions OF influence, but
many more in private stations and
quiet homes, are ever at work, helping
III the cause of education, caring for
the deaf mute, the blind and the
lunatIc, showing mercy to the widow,
and the orphan, and the suffering
poor. Ever and everywhere
are they at work, tilling with
patient industry the productive soil
| beating with strong arms aud ringing
| hammers, the red-h0t iron into shape
spinning and weaving the snowy
! cotton from sunny lands; mining pre-
eions ores from the bowels of ths
earth, and in a hundred various ways
employed in useful industries, whose
! multitudinous voices ascend to th'
Great King In 0 harmony sweeteI
than the tabled music of the spheres
These are they, who, doing their worn
well In contentnent and obedience
have the approving smile OF heaven
and stand forth on earth with silen
resistance that speaks louder thar
thunder against the clamors ani
threatened violence of social fanatic