Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1882-05-26

Farewell Address.-At a meeting Of
the Enosinian Literary Society of Columba
University, Washington, d. g., held on Fri.
day evening last, the following chaste and
able address to the Senior members who
will graduate this year was delivered by Mr.
Lee Davis Lodge, of this county:
Mr.. PRESIDENT
Gentlemen 1t is with commingled feel
| ings of sadness, joy and pride that we greet
you tonight. Sadness, that the pleasant as
ISOLATION of congenial spirits must be rude
ly broken; joy, in the remembrance of past
experiences, harmonious relations and firm
friendships; pride, that from our University,
from our beloved Enosis, goes forth so gal
liant detachment to do battle on the field
of life for the principles of right. Within
these walls, rendered, had almost said, sa-
cred by SO many years of patient, deter
mined study, you have paid homage at the
shrine of learning, Your textbook has
been the world. BY the aid of the fairy,
Imagination, you have wandered along the
banks of the Nile, and dwelt in the palace of
the Ptolemies. You have heard the great
philosopher in the groves of the Academy,
listened to Demosthenes as he Numbered
against the corruptions of a degenerate peo-
pie, followed Pericles To the giddy pinnacle
of his iame-beheld the rise, the fall of
Greece. With hearts full of sadness at the
fate of the noble little country, you sought
consolation in Rome. Cicero, as a senator
boldly patriotic, as a philosopher profound,
has been your familiar friend. Horace has
charmed you with his melodious lyrics
Quintillian has uttered sage advice. But
with crash that shook the world the "Eter-
nal City" fell, and the bright star of glory
went down in the murky darkness Of an
archy. You have seen its light, however in
the history of succeeding nations, refining
their manners and elevating their charac-
tiers.
But enough of the past. Standing now
on the threshold of college, and withdraw
ing your thoughts from fallen empires and
broken monuments, vain PHILOSOPHERS and
crumbled temples, your heart beats quicker
as you hear the roar Of the mighty conflict.
The spirit, with ardor unchecked by mis-
fortunes cruel blows, longs to join in the
fray. And what is lifep
Life is not an idle dream,
But iron dug from central gloom,
And heated hot in burning fears,
And dipped in baths of Kissing tears,
And battered by the shocks of doom,
10 shape anu use.
If il be mere material existence; if man
be but an earthly flower, beautiful indeed,
yet destined to return 10 the parental dust,
then life, with all its heart-rending disap-
pointments, is not worth the living How
our nature cries ont against this supposi.
ton We can not, we will not, accept it,
No, let us rather say man is lovely exotic
that sometimes buds on earth, but blossoms
s.,t x.cl.
enchanting view of the souls progress is
thus opened TO our gaze. Ages following
one another in the eternal march, the soul
becoming more and more like the God who
made it, But the acknowledgment of this
sublime truth imposes upon us the most sol
emn obligations. To obey the commands
of the Creator, to respond to the calls Of
country, To fulfil the offices of the family,
these all are the duty of an heir of immOr-
tality.
Our best wishes, gentlemen of the Senior
Glass, go with you. We trust that all obi
cations will be nobly met At this time our
country is greatly in need of strong, true
men, who shall frown down every corrupt
measure, and stand firm az marble pillars
for liberty and truth. Columbia signs for
the patriotism OF 76-for patriotism which
subordinates all private ends to the public
welfare. When the young men who are
now growing up return To the pure doctrines
of their fathers, then, and not before, will
they have the government Of their fathers
To bear your part in the good work is the
grand mission which demands your best la
bors.
Now, on behalf of those who are still TO
remain under the colors of Enosis, must
bid you farewell. And as we murmur the
sad words, the recollections of other days
crowd thick and fast upon US. -Four years
ago you entered the college as freshmen
Becoming members of this society, you soon
began TO be active in its service To your
wise course are to be attributed many of the
benefits which we now enjoy. For all of
this we thank you. During our acquaint-
ance with you as fellow members we have
learned to esteem you, one and all, very
highly. Kindness has ever been your policy,
and many Of us will remember, in the years
to come, the helpful words of encourage
ment which you have whispered in our ears.
As we review your career as Enosinians we
find IL record of honor, fidelity to principle,
and patient endeavor. Rejoicing in your
prospects, and sincerely desiring your truest
success in whatever walks you may choose,
we dismiss you TO become members Of a
larger society, to be citizens of the world
Enosis bids you farewell