Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1884-01-16
Commencement at Randolph State Nor
NAL SchoOl
BACCALAUREATE SERMON.

Sunday evening, Jan. 6. Rev. James A.
Pierce of West Randolph, addressed the
student on 1.-The element necessary to sue.
cess-alliance with God" Mr.. Pierce
| sketched two scenes to illustrate by the
contrast which they present, the difference
between alliance with man and alliance
with God. The first scene was Jacob
wrestling with God; the second, Moses
and Aaron before Pharaoh.
No person can cast oft his spiritual ma
ture, and alliance with God, alone, can
give moral principle. The power of the
human will whether for good or evil, is
APPALLING. More people are kept from
heaven by possessing stubborn will, than
in any other way. Spiritual ignorance
will wreck any man, and spiritual knowl
edge GENES only from prayer. Thus pray
err is a sure test of PERSONS religious life.
Rev. L. o. Sherburne assisted in the
religious exercises of the evening, and the
Congregational choir furnished appro-
pirate music. Had the weather been
warmer the attendance would undoubtedly
have be en- better.
Hon. Justus Dart, State Superintendent
of Education, and Principal C. II. Dun
ton of Poutney, were present Wedncs~
day and Thursday and examined the
graduating class. All the candidates were
successful. The usual examinations for
promotion were held during the week.
LECTURE BEFORE TIE ALUMNI.
| President S. G. Bartlett of Dartmouth
College, delivered the address before the
alumni, Wednesday evening, January O.,
in the Congregational church.
| A selection entitled Praise We the
Lord" was sung by a double quartette
composed of the following members:
soprano, Misses Katie A. Wood and Min
ME T. French; contralto, Misses Marcia
L. Palmer and Ella IIerrick; tenor, WV.
Sprague and Geo. X. Knight; basso, W.
S. Williams and f. B. E,ton; organist,
F. c. Putnam.
Mr.. Bartlett announced as his subject
"The value of the study of the ancient
classics in higher education" He dis
cussed the topic under the following five
general headings:
|. There is great deal of discipline
to be derived from the study of the an
cient classics, since they are language in
its highest form. They are light and
heavy gymnastics to the mind, providing
it with exercise adapted to its powers.
1t gives one the mastery of his own
tongue by showing its resources and adap-
liability.
II. In the ancient classics the student
sees the literature of the world, for the
Greek copied from every civilized nation,
and have in their turn been copied.
III. In Greek he sees the fountain head
of poetry and history. Indeed, the geome-
try of to-day is nearly identical with that
of the Greeks, and every well informed
person should be acquainted with the al
|lusions of the classic writings which
abound in everyday life.
". Classic tongues give a wide range
of knowledge. If a person knows Latin
and Greek, he can readily learn other
languages, and in the sciences Greek
terms are very much used.
V. A person who has studied the elias
sizes, has wide range of activity before
him; he has learned how to learn, and
can adapt himself 10 the circumstances in
which he is placed.
Mr.. Bartlett is an able speaker and
was listened to with great interest.
COMPETITIVE SPEAKING.
The competitive speaking took place in
the town hall, Thursday evening, Janu
ary TO- The speakers and their selections
we're as follows:
1--WE two," Lizzie A. Butterfold. Rox'
bury; "Keenan's charge" Herbert j.
Bass, Braintree; "Thc little stow-away,'
Minnie L. Cobb, Woodstock; "Biddy Nc
Ginnis on the photograph" Phoebe Chubb
Post Mills; THE courtin'," Bessie +
Macomber, Westford; "Voices of Tho
dead" Willie NJ, Newton, Barnard
.Lockery setting hem" Earl A. Gay
lord, Brookfield; "Brior rose," Ella M
Burditt, Rochester; "Blaine on Garfield
Ethan Allen, Randolph; Toms littl'
| STAR" Daisy j. F. Hoslord. Charlotte
0 "rbe brides of Enderby," Marcia L. Pal
+ mer. Woodstock; "Tho Roman sentinel
-
The board of decision were Rev. l." o