News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1890-07-04


Him and for humanity But this brings meto
speak,
9d-Ofthe wide and rich benefit wrought
here by those whom GOD has heLped ana
blessed in their work
Theirs has been honor and privilege but
their work has been gift in His name unto
many A town which like this, "builds the
church and school-house and raises men, con
fers a blessing upon the world whose breadth
and worth only eternity can disclose. 10
stand by spring upon the SIDE 81 one OF
these stately mountains that grid this place
around with the strength of the hills, ana
watch its tiny stream as it begins It's course,
is to gain little hint OF its worth. Swelled by
the confluence of streams from other springs,
it becomes IL mighty river, turning the wheels
of multiform Industries, bearing on its bosom
the boats of inland traffic, and contributing
its volume to the mighty ocean
deep and wide,
Wherein all waters fall;
That girdleS the broad earth, and draws the tide,
Feeding and bearing ALL"
So the influences which here have their
spring flow out and on to unite in mighty
blessing with all kindred streams that minis
ter to the lasting good of man.
The very difficulties which here faced the
energy and perseverance of the boy or girl
who would gain that choicest estate which
We call manhood or womanhood, tended to
produce character fOrceful resolute, self-rell-
ant and capable The sons and daughters of
this town who have been here trained in home
and school and church for efficient and infu-
entail life may well give thanks that theirs
was not a childhood of luxury and enervat-
ing exemption from the need of sacrifice and
toll But there was an atmosphere of indie
pendence, of original thought, of often quaint
individuality. and of sturdy common-sense
and answering moral principles, which went
far to put its impress of genulneness upon
the men and women so nurtuTed.
This beautiful village, lying embosomed
among the hills like a crystal among the
petals of a flower, is perhaps three times as
large as when my home was here. But no
such multiplying of it's literal size can meas
ure the breadth and length and sweep of the
benefit here wrought for the world by those
who did their humble duty and did it we'll
In my boyhood the numbering stage was the
only public way of exit or ingress. Now the
railway and telegraph puts you into close
communication with the pushing. hurrying
life of the great centers of population But
no visible lines of quick and far-reaching con
nectiOn with the life of the great world, can
begin to compare in meaning with those I'M
seen but real lines of communication by the
thought and life and influential work of the
men and women here trained, whose touch
upon the worlds life has been mighty to help
forward it's best good. What shall we say of
the men who have gone out from this their
native town, to do good work as merchants,
mechanics, farmers, teachers, lawyers physi-
clans, ministers-what of those heroic men
who at their country's call went hravely
forth to do patriots duty? What shall we
not say of those women who have here been
prepared to live worthy lives as teachers,
singers, writer's, missionaries, or in the crown
ing office of womanhood, as wives and
mothers?
Who can portray the blessing to humanity
conferred by those who have come here for
the prosecution of their education? Let one
name illustrate my thought at this point.
Some years ago | sat upon the veranda of
the hotel at Newport by the side of Rev. DR..
C. l.. GOodell of national reputation, and
now of sainted memory. He turned to me
with the cordial expression of his appreca-
ton of the opportunity opened to him by
this academy, and of the influence of my
father upon him in helping turn his mind
toward the Lord. Our word character is
derived from Il Greek term that signifies en-
graved or stamped. Was it a little thing
that heart and brain like that of DR.. Good
ell received here in part its stamp for God
that his character here began to be impressed
with the divine sign-manual of the Lord of
life whom he so royalty served in stations of
widest power and opportunity? Let this
hint what l mean when | speak of the wide
and rich benefit wrought here by those whom
God has helped and honored
A poet sings of an acorn that grew to be
stately oak until at stood a glory in it's
waters
by summers never dried,
Had cooled ten thousand parching tongues,
And saved a life beSlde";
of a thought, which
=" shone upon a genial mind
And 10! its light became
lamp of life, a beacon ray,
A monltory flame;
of a word of hope and love,
"A transitory breath
Il raised a brother from the dust;
1t saved soul from DEATH
Then he excIaims-
go germl 0 fount! 0 word of love!
o thought t, at random cast!
Ae were but little at the first
But mighty at the last
Looking back to-day to the beginnings
here, we may well ask ''Who hath despised
the ay of small things?" And looking out
and taking into thought the broad and vital
reach of influences emanating hence, we may
well add ''Ye were mighty at the last'' "Hith-
erto hath God helped" and by his help and
blessing these wide and rich benefits have
been wrought for the world But this brings
me to say
3d.-The "Hitherto" in which God has
so graciOuSly helped, becomes the prophecy
Of the - Hencef0rth'' toward which NE tUru |
0Ur faces in confident trust and hone.
Every true monument is not merely memo
nal OF the past, it is pledge for the future,
and thereby a double incentive to the present. |
Every real " Eben-ezer" every inspiring |
Stone of Help, is lesson to faith and |
courage, and hope, and noble devotion. The |
wise man says, p" A good man leaveth an in
leritance unto his children's children" In |
lhe realm of best things the effects of good |
life are perpetuated from generation to gen
eration, and the responsibility rests upon the
children of worthy sires that they see to it
hat the heritage they have received is trans
nitted unimpaired, and even enlarged, unto
hose that come after them. The favor and
lelp of the Lord granted unto the fathers, is
promised unto succeeding generations, if they
ire true to the trusts reposed in them.
As greet you here this morning, and look
around upon the evidences of thrift and in
diligence, and public-spirit, observable on
very hand, | think the prophecy for the
Henceforth " is clear and unmistakable
Holmes has said in his inimitable humor:-
Little of all we value here
Wakes on the morn of it's hundredth year
Without both feeling and looking queer.
II fact, there's nothing that keeps it's youth
20 Tar as know, but a tree and TRUTH
But this good town seems to have kept her
igor well: and to promise grandly for anOth-
T century's work! Like a tree. the fruit of
he past tells the quality of the fruit in com
ny seasons. Because so much of immortal
ruth is committed to the charge of these in
they shall keep strong with an I'M
wing youth and vitality. An old lady in our
ounty house, who was nearly n hundred
ears old. when [ said to her. You have lived
indeed to IA good old age" looked up bright
= and replied, eyes, but you think | can live
onger, don't you, if l don't die tirst?'' This
own and it's grand work for God and human
", is hound to live longer yet, and it won't
die first, | am sure.
Upon you to whom is committed the duty
f being true co-workers with God in making
he continual work of education, and infu
nee, and holy inspiration, and wide-reaching
Ministry such as it ought to be, comes the
litigation and thesummons of this prophecy
$ we join the g Hitherto" of Gods help to
ne Henceforth" of opportunity and prom
e. BY the noble record of the past, by the
allowed names of those who here by the
i'll of God have served well their genera
on and by the solemn call of our present
ge, you are hidden so to use Gods proffered
clip that your personal life, and your infiu-
ice in His name may contribute nightly to
ake the coming future such as it ought to
acOme. The Scotch children have a riddle
hich runs,
Banks full and braes full;
ather ye all day you will not gather your hands
FULL
which the answer is MistP' As to-day
III raise here your Stone of Help" between
le " Mlzpeh of beginnings and the "Shen "
truition and rest, does it not incite you
it'll an eloquence which no voice can equal
Ut to seek Supremacy to fill your hands with
lie mist of vanishing possessions but so
live as to secure the real satisfying wealth
a good and benehcent life and its reward
'cording to the word of Him who has prom
I'd unto them that seek for glory, honor
I'd immortality, eternal life" If each of MS
faithful in our day and place of privilege
I'd opportunity, then may every heart saw
with Whittier this morning,