Wichita eagle., 1886-10-10
GARFIELD UNIVERSITY.
The Address Of III. w. Everest. Il. Il. ID
The Chancellor-Elect OF the Monumental I'M
versity Prophesies OF Its Future.

the beginning as the cause of all things eise
How began life on our globe, and what was
the origin of man? These are questions
concerning beginnings and are among the
great problems Of science. The breaking
of ground for trans-continental railway,
or an inter-oceanic canal attracts the atten-
ton of the civilized world. When we think
of the crusades which for two centuries
marshalled the armies of Europe and hurled
them like mighty waves upon the shores OF
the Orient, we would ike to know more
about the beginnings Of this wonderful
movement; more about Peter the Hermit
and the secret Of his power When we
read of the Jesuits, how they met the Prot
estant reformation in the shock of great
social battle. how in the lifetime Of one
man they had planted their missionary sta
tions amid Peruvian mines, amid the marts
of the African slave trade, III
the islands of the Indian ocean
and in the cities Of Japan and China:
how they had secured the most important
chairs in the universities Of Europc had
become the confessors of the most power
full monarchs, teachers in the best schools
Of Christendom and preachers in IFS prlncl-
pal pupits; and how through them the
Catholic church had forty thousand eyes
open upon every cabinet and private fam
lily in Europe and forty thousand arms eX-
tended over the necks Of both soverclgns
and ueople." then we see the significance OF
the seemingly feeble beginning when on
the summit of Montmarte, one starlit
night, Loyola and his five companions took
the triple VOW of poverty, chastity and obe-
dielce to the papal throne. Why do we
study with such deep interest the history OF
the Pilgrim fathers, the voyage OF the May
flower. the civil compact formed in the
cabin Of that storm-beaten ship, and the
landing on Plymouth Rock? 1t is because
these were among the beginnings OF our
nation. because the Mayflower brought the
seeds which struck such deep root in this
western soil, which have had such
wonderful growth, and which now over
shadow and protect fifty millions of peo-
ple. A similar interest belongs to the be
ginning of an institution Of learning, to the
founding of a college or university. Its
foundations are not laid deep, and broad
and strong without many prayers, many
hands and millions of treasure. 1t has its
youth and lis maturity of growth, but not,
of necessity, the decrepitude of age; for it
may perpctually renew its youth and
stand forever among the few immortal
things that were not made to die. No van
dals will again destroy an Alexandrian IL
brary; the most sanguinary wars will sure
ly spare the seats of ancient learning. AS
the centuries shall count their years, as
generations of students shall continue to
come and 90, rs libraries shall enlarge, fac
uities increase in number, and buildings
multiply. what interest Will gather about
these places Of human struggles and trl-
umphs. Such, today, are the venerable
universities of Europe, and such, in the
ages to come, will be the great centers OF
learning in America Then will they en-
uuire about the beginning Of such grand
things. about these times in which we live,
and about the men who had such faith in
God
There is wide difference between the be-
ginnings of ages past and those Of today. If
the former were remarkable for feeb!eness,
doubtful progress, long delay and individ-
ual hcroisln against scofilng multitUdes, the
latter are no less remarkable for the vigor
of their inception, the rapidity Of their
growth and the universal belief which
crowns them with immediate success. The
time spoken Of by the prophet has come
when the cycles Of growth should be
greatly accelerated, when ''the plowman
should oyertakc the reaper and "a nation
should be born in day" The springing
Of Minerva from the head of Jupiter, full
grown aud fully armed, is 10 longer a
myth; il finds Illustration in every enter
prise of modern times.
The causes of this rapid development
are evident. Il results primarily from the
character Of the people, especially the peo-
pie who settle a new. country and by the
foundations of socicty If Europe was
sifted to lind the seed With which to plant
this new world, then the harvest Of that
sowing was sifted again and again for
the planting of the great west.
Those who build states and found the
institutes of civilization are the young and
enterpris;ng. They come from the ad-
vanced schools OF the east, thes come from
churches established ty pilgrim fathers.
They are in the vigor of manhood; grey
head; are few, children are numerous,
cemeteries are small, school buildings are
large while there are more college graduates
10 the square mile than in the older coun-
tries. With such people, Scisnce precedes
art, and they make progress, not by mere
blind. laundering imitation. but with the
foresight. the economy, and the certainty
of science. To any great undertaking OF
the present we bring the experiences of al
the past and the resources Of all the near
and distant. We come into = new country
with Tho Shrek of the engine and tie roar
Of tie train. We come with the singing Of
the mower, The whir of the reaper. tie
ringing of church bells, and the flashing OF
electric lights. The magic wand OF labor