Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1890-06-27
.e meeting then adjourned.
ALUMNI CELEBRATION.
Grafton by Prof. Dewey of Ann Arhor
Memorial of Rev. DR.. Dwiueli.

Memorial of Rev. DR.. Dwineli
The celebration Of the Associate Alumni
was held at the College Street church Tues
day afternoon at 3 o clock. Owing undoubt-
eddy to the rain the attendance was some
what smaller than usual but the exercises
were none the less interesting. Judge ii. ii.
Powers of the Supreme Court OF Vermont
and vice president Of the alumni association
presided in the absence of the president,
John II. Converse, ESD, of Philadelphia
who is abroad. Rev r. G.. Clark, ID. D.,
of Boston, Rev. O. i. ianphear OF beverly,
Mass, and Prof John Dewey of Michigan
University also occupied seats upon the
platform. The exercises opened with the
playing of a selection by the Howard Opera
House orchestra, after which prayer was
offered by Rev. Dr. Clark, chaplain of the
association. After more music by the or
chestra Prof. Dewey was introduced by
Judge Powers Prof. Dewey expressed re-
greet that the chosen orator was unable to
be present and stated that the address which
he vas about to deliver had been prepared
for another occasion.
PROF. DEwEY'S ADDRESS.
Pro-. Dewey's grafton dealt with the
methods and aims of poetry, and while not
perhaps what might be called "A popular al
dress, it was profound in its treatment,
suggestive in its details, dispassionate and
philosophic in its conclusions, beautiful in
thought and expression, and we'll worthy
of notable occasion. BY way of intro
duction he referred to the prelude Of mid
dlemarch" in which q aorga Eliot uncovers
one Of the troubled places Of our modern
| life, and with answering finger points out
its nature, and he spoke of the subtle, yet
| broad, comparison which she there
draws between the medieval and
modern social structure in then
relations to life. We struggle and
do not attain; we aspire and sink restlossly
into the ordinary hard routine of life, be
cause of a lack of that social faith which
knows and lays firm hold upon truth The
task Of finding and knowing truth is laid
upon the individual in our days; the social
creed does not suffice or supply. Tn,
problem resolves itself into the right
placing of individuality in modern life
and the attaining of right proper
tions between personal freedom anc
social discipline, the question i
then, where shall we obtain the intellectual
help the instruction needed for the individ-
ual , Making allowance for Carlve's ex.
aGerated vehemence of style in his state
ment, that our relation to the universe anC
to fellow man is but an inquiry and doubt
it must he recognized that he expresses
certain phase of modern thought. Wher
then shall we find guidance
Professor Dewey then referred to the re
spective claims of poetry and philosophy t.
furnish this guidance, and considered tn
statement of Matthew Arnold that in poetr
the race will eventually find solace am
stay, as "A result of the disintegration o
theories and beliefs, and that poetry wi
then do the work of philosophy and religion
The speaker made bold to critcso this pos
ton and insisted that truth alone could d
what had been claimed for poetry. Poetr
even could not retain its hold if it cut loos
from experience and truth Science mean
nothing but knowledge, and philosophy, til