Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1892-06-30

much pleasure &, thank Won for the invitation To-
adtre-- tnu here L. 'ias. And this feeling OF
Thanksgiving on rny part towards YOU j. much
increased bN the excellent programme you have
prepared and 30 well Sustained.
The chief features that attract attention T.
occasion 81 this Kind are usually the selection 81
themes. their treatment and the bearing ~ each
aut a.l ID the part assigned them. The ta-k Of
the critic, then J. In part confined Ia the ub-"ry
Of Ihr-t features. while Ia the adv ice 10 b.
given tl4cs often Of much aid. You have been
- Kind a. to ntr4-t {" the office OF cTitir and
adv i-er ! our good viii, am sure, renders the
uilice not diitcult one 70 ill For without
doubt, YOU are well prepared Ia receive whatever
! have to -ssy to VG In a. kindly spirit that
IN which IL offered You iou VIII look, too,
certain for only general term, in the line uf
criticism ana advice But should you expect me
g hc particular, 10 point out VII" Ina best per
formed h- task, who has most -hunc where all
bright, would simply LAY to that one-"Fair-
ct thou where all are fair
To begin. then. Tour selection Of themes i
such "a j. well suited 70 your age and position.
some oi Them were tribe high it might lie said,
hut then We expect you to aim high, you are from
a high school
H. now you should desire me 10 be more par
ticular, fear your Judgments and mine would
not exactly agree for would feel A. II invited
into someone's garden for the first time and ask
t ei t. pas Judgment ON the beauty aud fragrance
Of his fax prite plants. He would be surprised TO
-ce me pas 10y the queen ike rose spreading
4 palms and other choice eXutie-, while from
\ cump OF bushes | would draw forth a delicate
purple cup and say
OF all that sweet commend me
The pcrfumed dream of mOdesty,
The violet, sweet violet.
4 He would not feel battered at my choice; neither
4 each, for himself. choose his fay orite.
With these few words leave the subject Of
criticism and turn to the field OF advice This is
4 field in which have toied for some years with
/ indifferent success; but, at all events, one in
! which 1 ind self unfamiliar ground.
Ny ordinary topics in the way Of advice might
/ be supposed by YOU 10 have no place here. | am
| not sure OF that. But, be that a 1t may.
good general rule for an adviser is TO have due
/ regard for the cirCum stances in which advice Is
demanded.
Now every scholar Is student, hence hunter
/ Of thought. He observes that everything in the
universe is but the expression OF thought He
pur-ues the thought and il leads him to God.
That i the ultimate end of all true scholarship.
| Such Is the ideal, but alas in very many cases
| it i not the real scholarship Of the day have
been induced to make this reflection from read
| Ing editorial in the Boston Herald of the issue
! OF June 18th the present month had proposed
/ 10 read u you an extract from il; but, for the
sake o. breyity, conclude TO mention its sub
! stance he tenor of the article was TO the effect
! that the educated classes are holding aloof from
active hristianity; that Ike tine wise men of old,
| they seem to expect the appearance OF new star
find it irksome and feel 1t a waste of time TO go
20 church, and they organize themselves into
individualities who maintain the negative side of
| religion" etc.
! II 10 have nobler souls If to read God in His
works IL to have Christ in our lives, Is the main
object Of christian education, II the aspiration
!
to Thee. then l. education ever incomplete
'riil the soul seeks and finds its God. None il a
true until he Is good man. Long ago ST
Augustine said Thou hast made Us for Thy self,
oh Lord and uneasy IL the soul TIL it rest In
Thee"
our scholarship is better, is more complete, II
1t makes us better men and women, II II leads US
to God Those who believe thus lind no riddle in
history for to them its lesson Is, there Il a
destiny that shapes our ends, rough hew them a.
we may" To them there Is no mys tery in the
| wonderful development of the sciences. The
| achievements of civilization are the naturai re
| suits of christianity. In all this they see only
| God unfolding TO man His infinite power and
| resources. Considering all this, II is not wonder
| full that the studies of men who reject GOD al
| ways lead TO dangerous schemes Their tendency
Is to lead Us back to paganism, or to worse
| To counteract that it is well to have SOUND
| notions the subject Of education. What 1;
| education: There are many who think that edu
cation consists In storing the mind with learning
That, however, Is but partial and very faulty
| view of the matter. The word Is from the Latin
, educo, educere, and signifies drawing out Edu
cation, properly considered, il drawing out o
, | all the faculties, development of the man
Hence its value consists more in what 1t makes
than in what it gives, the man. Perfect educa
ton develops a man physically. mentally, ant
spiritually Mere learning may develop mai
mentally. but not physically nor spiritually
Now you, my young friends, stand before Us
o-day as living illustrations of the highest form
of the common school education of Ellsworth
Physically and mentally you have made 2oo'
| progress. In this development the WHOLESOME
air of Ellsworth and our schools have been I'm
portant agents In assisting natural qualities wit
oped spiritually? Has the school appealed Il
, any sense to your soul? Has 1t taught you tha
: you have . soul At all? fear not. As the lav
| stands such teaching 10 not deemed necessary o.