The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1879-06-21

ing power, the practical experience the |
knowledge Of men, the fortitude in defeat, !
aud the moderation in prosperity, the nteg
rity thatNinspired confidence, and the mag
netic influence kindling ipextingashable
personal affection and DEVOTION and thus
marking as II true leader in work OF toll,
risk and time.
It is almost impossible to conceive in any
character more beautiful harmony of pro-
portion. Circumstances could have deve
opcd Asa Packer into a Washington. lie
was both gentle and nAeXible, persuasive
and commanding in his sensibiities refined
and delicate as woman, and in his intellect
and resolve clear and strong as a successful
military leader; plant as the limbs OF treo
waving TO the touch ofthe breeze, and sturdy
as the trunk which defies the tempest
The financial disasters Of 1857 applied the
final test to the fortunes Of our founder
Many here vividly remember those times.
They resembled the food Of our own Lchigh
when the dams gave way and the tumultu-
Gus waters carrering over banks, houses,
villages swept our valley in one wild, roar
ing, trightlul path of ruin. Lake the tried
bridge, whose arches resting on their strong
piers, looked coinplaccntly on the turJid and
destroying river below, Judge Packer stood
the strain. lie emerged from the peril in
the secure possession Of his vast fortune as
the Just reward Of long years oflabor, direct
ed BY mastery and triumphant wisdom.
In his business, what then arr the fruits
of his life? Look around you. Behold his
valley lnsevery part you see the impress
of our founder Villages created, towns
stimulated, manufactures erected, ogricul-
ture expanded, all the interests Of society
animated and enlarged, and through its
centre a railway connecting the coal regions
with tire great cities, and joining the East
to the West and the North to the South
the agency in amassing the most colossal
private fortune in the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania. Growing the whole, will
disposng this estate with a grasp and a fore
sight admirable as the wisdom by which it
was accumulated. Here, too, in this ada
rnantine document, we see vein of the
kindlness Of strong nature. Like the
chivalrc impulse of an ancient knight after
a victorious tournament, how beautiful the
affection that prompted him to lay his
crowning millions at the feet of her who
had shared his tolls and won his confidence?
l know no more touching and exquisite tri-
butte to the worth of a woman.
Sturdy as pine,
Which has thousand ALPINE storms defied.
A gentleness his manly soul did twtne,
AS when o'cr mountain rock curls forth in
bloom the vine.
Having considered the business enter
prises of our founder, let me now turn to
HIS EDUCATIONAL SCHEMES.
Character is a growth. 1t develops ac-
cording to laws. In its history seldom oc-
cur convulsions and revolutions, like vol
canc catastrophes. Rather, it resembles
the gradual and regular acCretiOns of the
| tree. Each mountain giant, whose sublime
and luXurant LEAKAGE are conspicuous over
region, once slept in its small seed, and
| lowered by slow and annual increase into
its commanding majesty.
| In similar way developed his educa-
! tional plans in the soul of our founder. He
was not man Of whims and changes. His
apprehension was keen and quick as the
electric flash, but he never began to execute
his plans until they had been deliberately
matured, and then his energy was like the
sweep of one of his own locomotives. En-
barked in an enterprise, he never took down
| his flag. His colors were often long mount
| ing the mast; once at the top, streaming in
the light before the eyes of men, they float.
eG through calm and orm until they were
the visible tokens Of victory.
Our University in its history resembles
the character Of our founder. We have nc
means of tracing its first unfoldings in his
mind. He was silent man, often leaving
others laboriously to decipher his views
But we know that he was naturally humane
and sympathetic. Beneath the ice and rocl
of powerful nature flowed intense energies
and affections. He had always pleasan
word and look for his neighbors, and gen
erous help for his friends. Genial kindness
flowed out from him as beams from the sun
Never, ut any period Of his life, is it possibl,
to conceive in him churlish or niggardl,
spirit. He had the soul of a king, and iron
such nature bloomed into existence tn,
Lehigh University. towering over our VALLEY
like a stately tree, to bless with its fruit anC
shadow.
After the financial storms of 1857, whei
his great fortune was secure, he began to re
vOlve the plans of our institution.
Its style in the charter is ambiguous. an,
does not with certainty express the origina
purpose of the founder. Possibly his earl,
views were not clear even to himself, ant
passed gradually from dawn into sunlight
We know that from the beginning he re
solved to link the University to the church
that il might derive from the ucion, purity
enlargement and permanance. His inten
ton was communicated to the Bishop OF hi
Diocese in 1869, who was made er-ofici
, teman of eminent literary reputation wa
, called to the Presidency. Packer Hall 500
rose on our mountain side in almost un
; rivaled grace and beauty of proportion
} Competent professors and instructors wer
elected, and the institution organized an
commenced in the autumn Of 1867. 1t
chief and controlling mission was technica
2 instruction. But there was also a germ of
= classical department, afterwards enlarged b.
Judge Packer to our present Greek and Lat
2 in Proiessorship. He likewise added Il chai
= of Psychology and Christian Evidences, an
9 by his vote and presence authorized an
sanctioned the Law Lectures of the curren
5 year. Finally, the magnihcence of his te'
/ timentary endowment demonstrates that h
{ contemplated a free university, in all its part
and appointments, as the crown Of his Ion
70 aud noble life. His contributions to our il
stitutiou have now reached the enormOu
: sum OF three and one ne.quarter million
q while his aggregate charities within lOurtee
e years exceed four millions Few men hay
r ever been privileged to give so muniiicentll
J, Westminster Abbey contains the mont
i ments OF the English kings. The proude
monarchs there repose in royal state. BIT
! diminutive, and, perhaps inexpensive, I'll
5 tomb of an Edward or the chantry of
- Henry compared with the cost and dinner
g sions OF edIiiccs which stand so strong an
II so enduring ON the rocks of this mountain
l. llallowed and patriotic sentiments are, il
II deed, nourished before the ashes of king
d and the stained window and the cave
q monuments, and the columned aisles, an
d the lofty arches elevate and ennoble n,
= only the British nation, but diiluse the
y sacred influences over our humanity itsel
Il yet even more benefcent is the power de
/ tined to GO forth from yonder Universit
" Library, also mausoleum Of the affection
ID and from this grand hall, called after its
Ia lustrious Founder. We have, in future yea
l. of our world, visions of youth crowdiug he
le from different regions to be trained
J.: science, literature and religion to the noble
'e usefulness, and who shall shall shine Ill
? lights over the darkness of the nation
l. Imagination can scarcely conceive su
G bllmer monument To perpetuate the memo
+ of good and great man.
y Nor can | omit to mention that consur
IL mate wisdom which linked the Railway
~ the University in one fellowship of Iii
le The one is the foundation and the other
or the superstructure of IA single ediGce. Bo
y! spTang from the same soul. Both were I,
ne tered with the same affection. Both we