The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1886-07-03
Commencement Dinner.


dinner was announced and the students,
alumni and friends began to file into the
large dining room where a sumptuous ban
quet was awaiting them. The dining room
was handsomely decorated and the tables
bore evidence of the good taste and earnest
efforts of Mr.. and Mrs. Bella B. Clark, the
efficient steward and his very estimable wife.
No less than 200 sat down to dinner, which
was well served in courses. Rev. Andrew
Wilson, of Ravenna, invoked the blessing.
1t required an hour and half for the full
ness of man to be attained, upon which Pres
ident o. Gone, as toast master, announced
the sentiment, "The College and the Church;
may they supplement and sustain each 9TH
en-" Rev. @. Ellwood Nash responded. He
said: "We are here as church and college.
The rearing of this college was prompted
wholly or in part by the spirit of Christian
church. l am in the fullest sympathy with the
spirit of the sentiment. The most cordial re-
lations should be maintained between the col
lege and the church. 1t is but a meager view
of the church which imagines that the two are
distinct institutions. If 1 were called upon
to give definition of religion, should say
it was that array of influences which tends to
enlarge the being of man. The church and
college should sustain one another. The
church has sustained the college and will con-
tinue to sustain it. 1t will not do to profess
and not believe. There is no other work for
the Christian church but the enlargement of
human nature. The time is not far distant
when the spirit of the church shall be con-
nected and enriched by the student.
The next sentiment was "Akron and Sum-
NIT County; at the top in name and in fact"
Responded to by Hon. George W. Grouse.
Said Mr.. Grouse: The sentiment would as
we'll fit response from me, as any that
could be mentioned. have never lived any
where else than in Summit county. pre-
sumo that in the beginning, when the world
was created, the hand of Providence dealt as
fairly by us as by any other part of Ohio.
The creation of Summit might be termed an
| accident Fifty years ago Akron was small
village or trading point nestled down under
the bill by the canal. The citizens, desiring
to confer upon her the dignity of a county
seat, carved out from the adjoining counties
a new county and Akron was the county seat.
They, however, incurred the enmity of
neighboring village, which feeling on its part
| exists to some extent to-day. At the time of
the war, Akron had about twenty-five men
who never let an opportunity slip by to benefit
| their city. 1t is now noted as manufactur-
| ing town of more diversified industries than
any other in the State. Ii is headquarters
for great variety of articles. 1t does stand
| Oh fba in 60 NJ IN,
school system is second to none in the State,
and believe that her college is rapidly tax
| ing rank among the first institutions of the
country. If Akron holds her rank it must be
done by her college boys and girls, and we
trust that they will see to it that in the future
no city or county gets ahead of US.
| "To the great Methodist church we offer
greeting; we desire to emulate her indomita-
BILE energy, her zeal in Education, and her
devotion to Liberty and Reform" DR.. Cone
announced that DIR. E. X. Young, D. D., who
was to respond, was not the greatest man
physically, but aside from that he would
leave the audience to judge for themselves.
DR.. Young began with the remark that some
men run to avoirdupois and some don't.
greatest thing in the universe, the great
Methodist church, should follow. 1 am thank
full for the compliment you have extended to
us as a manifestation of the cordially with
which you greet us. Generous rivalry is
never incompatible with sincere friendship.
Am thoroughly welded to my own institu-
tions of learning Am Methodist dyed in
the wool. Christianity and education above
any denomination. No ground for conten-
ton here; we confront the same difficulty,
and by making common cause against
common evil we are doing the best for all.
A college is the common property of the
community. AS citizen of Akron, l am
very proud of Buchtel College and of her sue
cess. Am perfectly willing to send our stu
dents here, but we will be very careful to
stock them with sound theology before we
let them come. 1t is not too much to de-
mand of the college faculty that the mental,
moral and physical powers go hand in hand.
1 have no sympathy with Goddess schools.
Stephen Girard tried it and his school only
succeeded when God was recognized. On
behalf of my church extend to you cordial
sympathy, and unite with you in lifting you
nearer to God.
A song by the male quartette, composed of
Messrs. Pierce, Miller, Coggswell and Gone,
was well received.
"Home rulers, Irish and Others" was re-
sponded to by Judge q. l.. Marvin.
Dr. Samuel Findley, who was to have re-
sponded to the toast "The Press, an educator
of the people and coadjutor of the school and
the college," being unavoidably absent, the
POSTMASTER read a paper from him in re-
Spouse.
Another selection from the quartette was
well given and served to prepare every one for
Judge Greene's response to the college and
its Friends" He said that unlike Mr.. Grouse,
he came to be heard and not to hear.
would not have sat here all this time peacea-
bly, had 1 not had an opportunity to talk
back. The friends of this college, as Pres
ident of the United States has said, must in
clude all the world and many others, except
the Mexicans, of whom it has been said,
they never will amount to anything until they
are born again and of entirely different pa
rents. In referring to its friends we begin
with the church organization which it repre-
sents. Next comes the Board of Trustees,
who simply carry out the wishes and take
care of the gifts and donations of liberal
men of this institution. 1t is hardly proper
to pass the Board without mentioning the
President. When we are short of money, as