The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1880-07-08
BowDoIN COLLEGE.
Exercises of Commencement
Week.
MEETING OF THE PHI BETA KAPPA
AND THE ALUMNI.

following thirteen members were present:
Hon. W. w. Thomas, Jr. of Portland, Col.
Horace H. Burbank of Saco, Gen. John M.
Brown of Portland, DIR. George Gary of Houl-
ton, l.. G. Downes of Calais, Rev. Charles S.
Perkins of Portland, Amos l.. Allen, clerk OF
the Supreme Court OF York county, Geo. B.
Emery, Esq. of Gorham; Rev. Alphonzo Har-
low of Cape Elizabeth, A. III. Davis, ESQ.,
clerk of the Circuit Court of Portland, Sam
uel M. Came of Alfred, Hon. Granville P.
Halves of New York city, Judge of the
Marine Court, and Hon. Joseph w. Symonds,
Judge of the Supreme Court of Maine. Hon.
w. w. Thomas, Jr, presided at the meeting,
Col. Horace Fl. Burbank acted as temporary
secretary. Jacob 81. Thompson OF the New
York Times was reinstated as secretary,
and Mr.. Burbank elected as assistant secre-
tary and historian. Letters were received and
read from twenty-eight absent members. 1t
was voted to have class supper at the Fall
mouth tomorrow evening at Z o'clock. The
meeting adjourned at II o'clock and the mem
bers in body called upon Prof. Packard. AT
2 o'clock this afternoon the members paid their
respects to President Chamberlain.
PHI BETA KAPPA.
The Phi Beta Kappa Society held meeting
in Adams Hall this morning at o'clock. The
following officers were elected for the ensuing
year:
President osiah Crosby.
Vice President-Joseph w. Symonds.
Secretary and Treasurer-Prof. f. 9. Robin
sen.
Literary COMMUNICATION. w. L. Putnam,
Rev. E. N. Packard, Prof John B. Sewall, D.
c. Linscott, and Rev. Chas l.. Perkins.
The following new members of the class of
80 were admitted to membership: w. H.
Chapman, w. L. Dane, n. R. Giveen, F.
Goulding, F. w. Hail. A. H. Holmes, FL. L..
Maxey, and F. Winter. Meeting adjourned
at 1920.
In the afternoon the First Parish church
was filled by an appreciative audience to listen
to an address before the Phi Beta Kappa Socf
ETY. by Prof George T. Ladd of Bowdoin Col
lege. The following is brief abstract of his
remarks:
There are no more interesting questions for
all thoughtful and lovable souls-as there are
certainly no more lofty and difficult questions
for all souls-than those which concern the
that One whom philosophy designates as the
personal absolute, but whom faith calls God.
All duties of life combined cannot serve to
long keep the human mind from contempla-
ton of the Divine Being. The belief in God
is a matter of pure tradition, as to its origin
and ground. 1t is as true of Christianity as it
is of Buddhism, and as true of them both as it
is of the lowest form of Fetishism, that the
uneducated believe what they are taught to
believe.
away from the traditional belief in God is one
of the most interesting and quickening of
facts, both hopeful and alarming in its tenden-
cies. The idea of that personal absolute whom
faith calls God, is the one idea without which
no rational explanation of the forees, forms
and development of nature is possible; and
justias far as any one explains the forces,
forms and development, he will make use of
the idea of GOD. The so-called purely scien-
tific schemes of the universe are all patched
idea which they intend to reject 1t is the
fashiontnow to sheer at Paley although if his
argument be dead. it is entitled to noble
burial and memorial stone for the service it
once rendered. The argument for design is,
as a matter of logic, every whit as good to-day
upon to notice, that in the very idea and reali-
ty of evolution we find our clearest and most
impressive proofs of the being and predicates
of Gcd.
1t is not the province of the Christian col
lege to teach technical theology or to foster a
sectarian zeal. But if it be not the province of
the higher education in clear, frank, unabashed
instruction. to awaken, render reasonable and
guide the best in human thought and feeling,
pray tell me has it any legitimate province at
all? The hand which holds us is the same
hand which has constructed the world in space
and directed the course of history hitherto.
Into that hand we commit the destinies of the
nation. This destiny will be well worked out
in the coming century if only her educated
classes retain an intelligent and effective faith
in God.
ALUMNI MEETING.
The Alumni held their meeting at the chem
ical lecture room, Adams Hall, at half-past
ten. In the absence Of the President, Vice
President Joseph Crosby presided. The pro-
ceedings of the last meeting were read by the
secretary, Mr.. S. V. Cole. Mr.. Egbert G.
Smyth moved that the building committee, to
wit, Prof. J. B. Sewall. Gen. John M. Brown
and Hon Joseph Titcomb, be authorized to
convey to the college whatever interest this
association has in Memorial Hall.
Hon. Peleg W. Chandler moved that lothian
B. Sewall, Cyrus Woodman, John A. Means,
Stephen j. Young and Prof. Chapman, in con-
nection with Prof. Packard be committee
to make arrangements for the publication of
the history of Bowdoin College, commenced
by the late Nehemiah Cleveland, and finished
by Prof. A. S. Packard up to 1852, and that
sal. committee be directed to bring the history
down to the present date, or to such a time as
they deem expedient. Mr.. Chandler also
moved that the thanks of the Alumni be ten
dered to Prof. Packard for the time and labor
he has devoted to this work, performing ser
vice that no man living could. have done so
well, and manifesting still more the wonderful
devotion of a lifetime to the welfare of our
"Alma Mater" Mr.. Chandler was selected
to deliver the Grafton next year. Meeting ad-
journed at 1880.
THE CoNBERT.
Commencement concert took place this eve
ming at the Congregational church. The fol-
lowing was the programme:
PART 1.
Oyerture-La Gazza Ladra. ............. .Rossini
Cornet Duet-Concert Polka. ............. ParloM
Messrs. Reeves and Church.
Aria from Semele. Handel
Miss May Bryant
Selection-Pirates of Penzance. Sullivan
Fantasia-Auf den Alpea alpine Echoes ,Heyforth
PART II.
Piccolo Solo-Bird of Paradise. ........ Bose net
Mr.. Fred Padley.
Grand Fantasle-A Summers Day in Norway.
Song Wauderlied .Shuman
Miss May Bryant.
Air Yarie-La Fiance D'Appenze Swiss Air),
With Solos for Piccolo. Flute, Clarinet, Bassoon,
Bass Clarinet, Cornet, Horn, Euphonium.
ia. Rustic Dance1Villsge Polka: .Rivere
Strauss
D. W. Reeves. Director.