Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-06-29

DOWN. inc ilugiHH GROVES VI change
And this brings inc to the thought wish might
impress upon every member OF THIS class. II you
would have any part In the medical advances OF the
coming years, be faithful to yourselves as students
by faithfully following the course begun here,
Your studies thus far have been merely elementary
and preparatory. You should take every opportunl-
ty to extend them. The habit of Investigation
ought 10 be strengthened 10y youi professional stud
les and engagements, and the love of your profess
sion ought to grow every year History shows that
most great men have attained ennence in only one
thing but they have allowed themselves a
wide playground. Milton, Rubens, Harvey, were
great IN other respects than poetry and art and
medicine. Absolute eXclusiveness must lead to
narrowness OF mind and TO making men Of one
Idea and such men fail TO give efficiency TO even
that one idea. The true local Of professional life
Is 10 have literary or scientific work always AT
hand, outside the routine OF on.'s profession. The
professional man ought to be steadily invading the
virgin forest of the unknown-to be enlarglug The
bounds of his knowledge. nourishing aud grow
Jug town always shows signs OF incompletcness.
When II stops growing II begins to decay. so 1t is
with men and too many men have stopped grow
ing The physician who does not Keep abreas. Of
the progress of medical science loses ground and
declines III professional power. The tendency is
TO settle down into comfortable routine but Il
nan Is recrcant TO his profession who Is not en-
haLcing his power by daily acquisition. History
rcclles host OF names OF men VINO have surmOunt-
ed difficulties greater than any that you Will have
to encounter. Indeed none viii be 50 great that
industry and determination will not overcome
them. knowledge Is infinite. and there are few
limits to Its requirement; and medical knowledge
Is constantly increasing To be stationary is TO be
al best only the rule for the acquisition Of further
knowledge. All Is lost unless you follow the rule
all your professional life. You must not put the
bondage vi professional limits upon your studies.
The acquisition OF knowledge is luxury, a pure
and ,levatlng mental enjoyment. knowledge IS
The natural and necessary food OF the human mind.
Nothing Is more elevatlng and eniapturing than
the discovery OF truth.
There Is q mean and materallstic philosophy
winch says that ms mind-cuiturc is OF secondary
Importance. and That physical blessings are to be
sought Tor nrst: the question VIII 1t
pay7 The eXponents OF this philosophy seem to
lhinS that man Is al! mouth and stomach, and so
physi ;0l blessings are enough. Should some OF
these men ever see the glores OF which Revelation
speaks the brst question Will be Us to whether 1t
pays ald the second WIZ be as 10 the practical ulll-
ny OF the heavenly splendof. II belongs 10 the
professions to show that these are not tle great
q iostions nor such the great end of lfe TN>kElnd
ui man Is the erandest thing this side the
10 develop that mind Id the granlesi work Of ~.
1t Is the duty Of the educated classes 10 impress THIS
thought On the age.
fessIon; but remember that the attainment OF
knomledge is simply means TO higher end. We
are sent into the world TO be and to act knowledge
ought 10 be regarded As the handmaid of religion.
To study ones profession only Is to leave higher
things neglected. knowing fully your profession
You will he tempted To dignity and exalt 1t over
Nature and TO believe IN 1t alone To the study OF
other books add that OF the Book of books thai
which contains the highest poetry, the highest elo-
qucncc, the highest ethics. Become versed IN the
science 10 which your life is given; but remember
that these sunlt days, these moOnllt nights, will
pass away, passing you Will uctu
and helper. And tnat friendship and that hell
which alone eau then avail you will be found not III
the Truths OF your profession bu' IN the word o
God, IN the teachings OF the Good Physician. Aut
iosc teachings show the only pain TO glory ant
tonor and immortality.
The benediction was then pronounced and
the audience dispersed TO the strains OF Q
| medley by the orchestra. The exercises
passed of very pleasantly and successfully
| from first to last We may add that while
as before stated, degrees were con
fcrred upon sixty-elght candidates, thu
| class numbered something like three hundred
students and the limits of the presen
building being already reached, it has become
| a serious question as TO what shall be don't
| tor the accommodation of the next class ant
succeeding classes. The necessity is urgent
and the friends If the department hardl.
| know what to TO.
| AT the close OF the public ceremonies fac
ulty aud students and invited guests repaired
TO the Van Ness lIouse, whore u handsome
and credilsblc collation. was served. Their
| were no speeches to mar the harmony of tn
occasion, and Il right pleasant time was EN-
joyed. And thus gaily closed the exercise
connected with the commencement Of til
medical department.