Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1893-10-11
Praise For Its Founders.


Here in the depths of the primeval forest,
In the days OF the colonial government and in
the midst OF war, a frontier colonel, with
armor on, facing his country's foes and stand
ing in the shadow of death, brave and gen.
erous, filled with lofty, practical Puritan
sentiment aud the loving spirit and forecast
of Harvard and Shepard, anxious that others
should have advantages he lacked, here with
this spirit and purpose he founded this college
OF the wilderness. But two conditions he i'm
posed-we thank him for both-one that his
infant institution should fall within the col
ony of Massachusetts," and the other that 1t
should bear his name. Its location, but not
its influence or work. should be limited TO our
state Like the Farmers Almanack of old
Bailey Thomas, IL is calculated for the meri-
dian of Massachusetts, but will answer for
any of the adjoining states"
So came the second OF our great institutions
which was TO promote and develop that higher
element in our public education, which, in
accord with the dominant and universal SEN
timent of the people, had found recognition
through all our colonial legislation and be-
come permanently embodied in the organic
law OF our state. And now we come TO cele-
brate Its 100 years OF useful life, to rejoice Ia
its prosperity and TO note how faithfully IL
has carried out the purposes of It's creation.
Others will tell its history, of the master
minds that have guided its destiny, and Of the
many men who have gone forth from her, car
rying the influence and teaching of Williams
into every walk OF life. Religion and educa-
ton have felt its quickening touch, literature
science and the professions have advanced by
its work, and public life in state and nation
uplifted by its high ideals. In all of this its
life has gone out into the worlds activities,
following the injunction of our constitution
to diffuse wisdom and knowledge generally
among the body OF the people, and recognizing
the duty of education not only to instruct but
TO influence and lead them.
Mills and his associates, planning under the
historic haystack in yonder meadow 10 carry
religion and civilization, which their mis-
sionary ancestors had brought to Plymouth
Rock, back across continent and ocean to the
Old World for the enlightenment Of heather
people, rose To the truest conception of the
duty resting upon education, IL IL would fulfill
the purposes OF the founders Of our colleges
and the trainers Of our constitution. Many q
son Of Williams since. feeling the impress of
Griffin or of Hopkins and their learned and
pious associates or successors, has gone forth
into other fields of usefulness in the spirit of
the divine command, Freely ye have re-
teived, freely also give"
so in the lives and work OF her children this
missionary college" has made higher educa.
tion not mere preparation for the profess
sional life, but n pioneer and leader in great
movements to benefit mankind, and in the
leading and example of its authorities has
ever followed the high ideals and Inspirations
of it's famous president, who believed the
truest education to be when the spirit OF
literature and the spirit of science shall
minister before the spirit of piety and pour
their oil into the lamp that feeds Its waxing
fame: when study shall be nerved 20 highest
efforts bv Christian benevolence and young
men shall grow up al the same time into the
light of science and the beauty of holiness"