The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-10-11
Distinguished Men Pay q Visit 10
Williams College
GOVERNOR RUSSELL SPEAKS.
Andrew Carnegie Think New England
should Ne Called New scotland-Let-
tsrs OF Regret from President cIsve-
land m fx-President Harrison.

alumni banquet at which an unusual num-
Der Of the most distinguished college presi-
dents and professors appeared. Letters Of
regret were read from President Cleveland
and ex- President Harrison expressing re-
greet at their inability to be present.
The first speaker OF the afternoon was Gov
ernor Russell, who made a timely speech.
The family of the founder of the college
was represented by Captain Ephriam
Williams, who spoke with special appro-
baton.
Andrew Carnegie said he had received
three impressions In Williamstown-that
New England should be called New Scot
land, that college professors are touched
by higher aims than those Of wealth, aud,
it was impossible, having seen, to forget
Williams. Prayer was offered, after
which the college fence in front Of Thorn
son laboratory was then formally presented
by Thomson McDonough. Following IL
Governor Russsil's speech.
An honorable. useful life, whether of an in
dividual or institution, is always worth COM
memorating. not alone as q grateful remem-
brance of worthy things accomplished, but as
a duty to make them an influence helpful TO
the present and TO the future. And when
tucn iie IL parL OF inc honorable history OF
the state. with her work and full
filling her ideals, 1t is fitting that she should
give IL her recognition and commentator.
so. today, as a. Williams gathers her chill
dren hither 20 celebrate her anniversary and
70 renew their loyalty TO her. the common
wealth Of Massachusetts, to US a living, loving
personality, gladly comes 10 rejoice In her re-
joicing and to offer her greetings and con-
gratulations.
And yet the presence of the commonwealth
suggests that q word should be said OF the re-
lation OF Williams to the state and of higher
education to the people. l doubt IL In all his
tory there Is an instance where the founders
of a state SO distinctively felt and clearly fore
cast theinluence and necessity of the highest
education for the success OF their grand work
as did our Puritan fathers and those who
followed In their footsteps when they created
and developed our state and national govern
ments. They seemed to comprehend the i'm
p~ortance and result Of their labor, TO know
that they were founding institutions for
generations to come whose happiness and well
fare depended upon the fathers wisdom and
foresight. So they determined to make edu-
cation through public school and college a
permanent, permeating influence TO strength
en- character, promote good citizenship and
the prosperity Of the commonwealth
We all remember the first instance In this
commonwealth of this purpose of the found
ers, in the establishment Of the college at
Cambridge. Out OF their poverty they gave
IT: with struggle and sacrifice sustained il, in
prayer and pious faith watched IL; and brought
the full power of church and state to guide
and govern IT,
In the terss and simple language of it's
founders. In the colonial statute establishing
IL, in many later laws, and In our constitution
repeatedly is found the peoples recognition of
the necessity and place of higher education In
the body polite. AS church and state became
more distinct. and the Inter assumed more
fully the practical work of government, she
did not fail to cherish the higher institutions
of learning as an integral part of our great
system of popular education upon which the
security and prosperity Of our free institutions
must ever rest.
Glorics of the Past.
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, filed 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 inn
posed-we thank him for both-one that his
infant institution should fall within the coll
ony Of Massachusetts, and the other that It
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, II is calculated for the meri-
dian of Massachusetts, but will answer for
any of the adjoining states"
So camethe 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
timcnt of the people, had found recognition
through all our colonial legislation and bo-
-A... 49,. u a. ~
law of our state. And now we come to cele-
brate its 100 years of useful life, TO rejoice in
its prosperity and To note how faithfullyit
has carried ont the purposes Of its creation.
Others viii 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 quickcning 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
Che duty OF education not only to instruct. but
60 influenced and lead them.
Mills and his associates. planning under the
historic haystack in yonder meadow 10 carry
religion and civilization, which their mis-
tlDndTN HLttStOlo "a Nv W u a. fnOuAl
Rock, back across continent and ocean to the
Did 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 n
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-
ceivod, freely also give"
So in the lives and work OF her children this
missionary college" has made higher educa.
ton not q mere preparation for the profess
sional life. but q pioneer and leader In great
movements TO bsoeht mankind, and In the
leading and example Of It's authoeties has
ever followed the high ideals and inspirations
OF its famous president, who believed the
truest education 10 be when = the spirit Of
literature and the spirit OF science shall
minister before the spirit OF piety and pour
their oil into tho lamp that feeds it's waxing
fame; wher study shall be nerved 20 highest
efforts bv Christian benevolence and young
men shall grow up at the came time into the
light Of science and the beauty Of holiness"