The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-06-12
THE COMMENCEMENT SEASON.
Exercises Mt Franklin-Address to the Gradu-
ates by Professar Hall.
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Exercises Mt Franklin-Address to the Gradu-
ates by Professar Hall.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
FRANKLIN, June u.-To-day occurred the
ffty-irst commencement exercises of Franklin
College, under prospects, probably, the most
promising of any the college has ever known.
Only one thing could be thought of to detract
from the interest of the occasion, the temporary
absence of Dr. w. T. Stott, the president, who
is relieved from active duty during the closing
term of the year to take some long needed recre-
alton. But this is largely compensated For by
the rapidly returning health of the president,
and the excellent manner il which Prof. c. H.
Hall, vice president, conducted the work of the
term.
At TO o'clock a large ala appreciatiye audience
assembled in Tracy's Opera-house to listen to
the orations of the graduating class which were
as follows:
'Tba Entity of Idea in Liberal Educa- -
.. ton e acI paan
.onF f Inherit '- o. Keller
'sThe Foreigner in America W. A. Pavy
The orations were well prepared and showed
good results from the training received.
The degree of Master of Arts was conferred on
Jesse Oyerstreet, of Franklin, and ]. B. Thomas
Of Mishawaka.
The closing address to the graduates by Prof.
Hall was on ''The Successful Life the Unset
fish Life and was as follows
young gentlemen you have now completed
your course. Whether you shall have success in
the future depends on yourself. The last thought
desire to leave with you, as we sever our con-
nectlons of the past few years, is this, that the
unselfsh is the successful life The world
may tell you differently and your
friends may advise you to the contrary-yea
even the echo of your own desires and feelings,
in the solitude of your thought, may command
otherwise-but believe me and obey the highest
law of your being Gods law written in your
heart and head, in the very chambers of your
soul, that the unselfsh life is the successful
What are the evidences of successful life9
The first answer to this question is that it is
a right life-oue of tears with those who weep,
and of smiles with those who rejoice. 1t is a
life in harmony with the great laws of our being,
and one that compels us to place our shoulder to
the burden that weighs down and exhausts
our neighbor and friend. 1t is a life that re-
quires that your last thought shall be of self,
and your first thought of the needy, sinful dying
multitude around you. whom God pardons when
they ask it; that requires that your last care
shall be of your own ambition, your first the
hopes and aims of the world: that your last anx-
iety shall be the joy and happiness of your own
heart, and your first the joy and gladness of
others; yea, that your last longing shall be even
Tor your own life, aud your first for others
lives and the eternal righteousness and truth of
God.
1.-THE second evidence of successful life, as
the world views success, is that one must be
happy. No man can be happy in life if the oil
of vtriol of selfshness is consuming the tissue
of brain, and heart, and conscience, and exhaust.
ing the fountains of hope, aspiration and human
sympathy. Experience, philosophy and religion
all unite in the testimony that selfshness blights
and destroys the happiness of life therefore, /
hiatt limo r. hayra f1,ov1 coli ch
is the successful life.
"a third evidence of successful life is that it
ends we'll If, when with pale face we lie upon
the bier amid the flowers and tears, your wife,
or sister, or child or neighbor stands beside you,
and out of the memories of your past and his re.
calls how you have helped, comforted and in
spired him and forgotten self, be assured that
your life has ended well, and that you have
secured real success in life. The command
ment Of the world and the native impulses of
your heart are get but l give you a
higher commandments than these. / bid
you give, give your best give always
and give ever. emphasize the commandment
OF the world and the native impulses of your
heart Get but get in order that you may
give. In giving you receive, and when you give
your largest and best then you receive most |
close as began-commanding you to remember
that the unselfsh is the successful life
After few appropriate remarks to the class
by the president, who had been off duty for the
term, the audience was dismissed and met in a
few minutes at the alumni dinner The dinner
was we'll prepared. and received attention by the
alumni and their friends Some of the after
dinner talks showed that the extempore speeches
which receive the most careful preparation are
the best. This closes the first year of the second
half century of the college, and gives evidence
of great usefulness in the future for the institu
ton