The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-07-11
The New Officers

The New Officers
and committees elected for the ensuing
year were:
President. Hon. Geo. w. Grouse; vlce-Presi-
dent, Col. Geo. T. Perkins; Secretary, c. r..
DIN; Treasurer, A. B. Tinker.
Executive Comm ttee-Hon. Geo. w. Grouse.
A. B. Tinker, n. d. Tibbals, w. 7. Sawyer, d.
!. Badger.
Committee on Instruction-Col. Geo. T. Per-
kins and A. W. Maynes, Akron, and A. A.
Stearns. Cleveland.
THE COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES.
There we're held in the Grouse Gymna-
stun at 10 o'clock on Wednesday morn
ing. The orchestra stationed in the
gallery furnished the opening number
on the program. Prayer by DR.. Cone
followed:
Miss Katherine Seymour Parsons
then sang Der Wanderer" from Schu-
bert in beautiful manner. This was
followed by the annual address which
was delivered by Rev. E. L. Rexford, D..
D., of Columbus, former president of the
College. An abstract OF his address fol.
lowe. Subject. From Alphonso to
Kepler"
DIR. Rex ford's Address.
Under the old system O. astrc n my
that princely astronomer, Alphonso of
CASTLE seeing the inadequacy of the
Ptolemaic theory, yet knowing no other
startled all Europe with the blasphemy
that if he had been present at the crea-
ton he could have suggested better
order for the heavenly bodies. Under
the new system of Copernicus, Kepler.
filled with religious spirit, exclaimed
II do the thoughts of God" l now
newly remind you that in the address
of Mr.. Greeley at laying the corner
stone of the college did not deal with
the idea of God as it has been defined
and presented again and again by
mere ecclesiastical parties intent upon
strengthening some partial and ambi-
tious scheme under the guise Of purity.
He fingered nearer the thought of God
which Herbert Spencer couched in his
| significant phrase, 1.-THE Infinite and
| Eternal which created and sustains all
things" This energy" or power" must
be encountered in all the paths of the
| higher education. 1T bears not to all
men the same guise; it is not discovered
by uniform methods. there are no pre-
s,,ioed rules for it's finding, but not to
M AXE its discovery at all is to skeleton
| ize the world and to fail at the highest
point. Human nature in all its noblest
attributes will report this finding. II is
not upon record that great aud asti g
work for the higher interests of man.
| kind has been accom- plished without
this high reality. Human nature stirred
| to its depths or quickened to its heights
will have the vision of the gods.
/ Life in its noblest capacity caonot be
| interpreted without the intinity in the
back ground. Even Voltaire said, "If
there we're not God we should be OBJ
liged to invent one uttered | imagine
from a study of those diverging and
speeding lines of human energy pro-
phetic of the infinite.
1t was regarded as great forwarding
step in the inauguration of this College
enterprise that the political philosopher
of the Tribune, who had educated one
generation, should come here and iden-
tify his name with Buchtel, but far
greater and more significant circum-
stance was that he should come from
New York-a city burdened with it's
grooming weight of materialism, fierce
in its battle for gold and the mastery of
the worlds commerce; that he should
come from its crowded money temples
and here on this serene summit talk OF
God that he should have brought with
him out of that angry turmoil the secret
OF God which he had there retained as
the crown jewel, and the voice which no
street clamor could silence, with the
philosophy which the small policies that
have their full circle in a day, confuse.
Such examples everywhere bring
nearer to us the vision of the ancient
Olympus rising above the dusty plains
of Thessaly and with its summit piercing
the low vaulted arch of the too common
heaven to rise with the pure ether, and
so, founding thrones for all the gods
and goddesses whence they might rule
the world.
Last Words of President Cone.
The address ended, President Cone
arose for the last time to confer degrees
on graduating class OF Buchtel Col
lege. His few remarks, while encourag-
ing. were full of pathos. He said he
wished to say last word for Buchtel
College. He then urged the graduating
class to be loyal to their alma mater
and told them that if they appreciated
what had been done for them at this in.
stitution to show that appreciation by
untiring efforts in it's behalf. The great
present need of the College is greater
endowment and the speaker urged the
class to bend their energies to secure
that end.
At the conclusion of the Presidents
address, Mr.. I. w. Rice. 81 in behalf of
the students and friends presented the
doctor with handsome basket of flow
arc Dr Cona was visihlv affected and