The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1881-01-07
FAREWELL SERMON.
OF the Rev. E. T.. Hoo ker, delivered mt the
Copgregati email church, January 2, 1881.

OF the Rev. E. +. Hoo I<er, delivered at q
CoDgregati email church, January 2, 1881.
| Ephesions, tx. "Finally my brethren.
strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might
My acquaintance with this commu6i
ty began twenty-nine years ago las
summer, when, as lad of seventeen.
came here to enter college. More tha,
half of the years since | have spen
here. When my home has been else
where, | have retained a general ac
tance with the condition of the commu
nifty. Naturally there is no other plac,
that has for me so many elements O
home. or that commands OIL my par
such an intelligent and hearty interest
In saying some farewell words to
day. dosnot allow for moment tha
am to lose the home feeling b,
going away, or that my interest in tn,
prosperity of the place is to cease.
Vermontis strong state. [ do moi
presume to say that she has not had
stronger towns than this; but | have
not known any such. | desire tha
your strength may be permanent. You
Will pardon me as one who loves thf
community and has devoted more thar
ten years out of the heart of his life 10
its welfare, TO give as broad and far
sighted view of some of its needs as
can.
Mental culture has been one of the
important elements of strength of this
place. Gamaliel Painter, Seth Storrs,
Samuel Miller, Daniel Chapman, Darius
Matthews, Horatio Seymour, Peter Starr
and others, we're far-sighted, broad
men, and laid wisely the foundation of
strength for coming times. Each gen.
Grafton has had men of like wisdom,
who have guarded sacredly the founda-
tions so we'll laid.
The need of the present and the FIJI.
ture is, first of all, to conserve the leg
acy of the past. cahnot forget 10 day,
what Middlebury College has done for
this town, this vicinity, and the world.
1t has called to this community learned
and wise presidents Us influential citi-
zens. 1t has kept here body of schol-
arly christian men as professors. II
has gathered continually young men Of
promise from towns about, from v ri.
GUS parts of the state and of the land.
Their life here as student has given q
scholarly tone to society. The insti-
tuition has gathered about it many of its
sons and other educated men, with
their families, rs residents. What the
College has done as an educating
force for this Champlain valley is
not likely now or ever 10 be overesti-
mated. 1t is like the poor wise man
who saved the city and whom none
remembered. 1t was set up here as
sign of what our Puritan fathers and
early settlers thought about the soul
and civilization and their fundamental
needs. 1t was builded as one of the
mighty constructive forces of this sec.
ton. Its presence has rendered pos
sible higher education for the sons of
those who had not great or even mo-
derate wealth. 1t has stood here, re-
minding each generation of the youth
OF this state Of a goal worthy of their
race. Its open doors have invited the
young men to secure an education. 1t
has held the thought of this county,
and of this valley, to the great interest
it serves. 1t has wrought as constant
stimulus. towards its own high
ends. We see how it is in other inter.
ests. A factory, c. g., will sometimes
determine the industry of large sur
country. 1t is no unusual thing
for fifty thousand people to gather, In
a few years around water power. And
The farmers and merchants for miles
around plant and reap and trade, with
reference to the central industry. So,
lnconsciously in part, this college has
1rawn the thou yht, prayer, life of this
section about itself. In years past, it's
went out into the towns about
Is teachers of winter schools. College
ife was the subject of conversation at
he fireside; the boys caught some in
'piraticn for higher education. MANY
,ame here and returned to their homes
or went elsewhere, to do their life's
work, but equipped for it here, and
gathering about them the reverent af-
ections of friends not only for them
selves, but for the institution that pre-
pared them for prominent place in
life, and noble work. The institution
las been lifting and holding this whole
section to higher plane.
am glad to speak of this to-day. The
college is passing through a critical
,xigency. Some speak slightingly and
1ippantly of it, as though it would be
no special loss if it should die. Some
10 not see any call for their assistance.
But, be assured, II the college dies, th is
place will lose its old pre-eminence.
This section of country. for many miles
will drop to a lower level. The
strong, vigorous life of this county, and
whole valley, will become enfeebled.
It will fall more and more towards the
low, ignorant level of the peasantry
in Canada and Ireland. A larger and
larger proportion will be unable to read
end write, and tho descendants of the
old stock will find homes in other Sec
tions of the country. Take Middlebu-
ry College out from among the forces
Of Western Vermont and You rob this
section of that which is second only to
the christian churches. I'll am to say
to you to-day with any efficacy, "Final-
ly, my Brethren, be strong" must
urge you to value, preserve, strengthen
this mighty force.
Then, the influence of the college is
felt far away. A broad and far-sighted
view of the needs and work of this
mnst have regard to a wide
field. In the Congregational Year Book
for 1880, seven Congregational theo-
logical seminaries are mentioned. One
chair in each of four of these, is oc-
cupied bv a graduate of Middlebury
Andover, Bangor, Oberlin, Chicago.
Four out of seven are feeling the for
native power and very life blood of
this college and community in equip
ing the ministry of our churches for
this and the coming generations. Do you
remember the prominent men in many
callings, law, medicine, legislation, in
struction, judicial affairs, who have been
equipped here. This town has become
known throughout the world for the
good II has done aud is doing through
this college. To let it decline seems to
me suicidal for the community, for the
state, and loss Of one of the strong
forces in a world that needs all righI
strength.
For me, IL live to see the day of her
demolition, l shall mourn for her as a
chief friend, and mother of much that
is good, and with the ancient servants of
whom the prophet wrote, "I shall take
pleasure in her stones and favor the
dust thereof"