The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-06-10
Class Tree Exercises.

The afternoon exercises under the elms
orenod with band concert from $3.50 un-
til 4 o'clock. The grounds were filled
with gaiiy dressed visitors who We'd with
each other In trying TO catch " ira from
the lips of the young orators.
Joseph Taylor. the first speaker at the
GLASS tree delivered an grafton en- titled "A
Plea for the Agnostic. tie said In part |:
1.-The Christian and the agnestic are
OF opposing methods Of thought. Neither
of them Is sufficient In hims self The church
needs the agnostic In order to save lier
from ruts and grooves Too often she Is
content to settle down to creed or con-
fession which at the time OF It's writing
clearly defined her position. But as the
world has grown and new truth has been
gained the articles lf faith. are found to
be too narrow. They no longer contain
the belief of largo nun ber OF her MEN,
hers. Now, the agnostio- ON his positive
side would aweys be probing into the
written statement. He is at ones n libera Il
ana a conservative. Suoh u combination n
Is Ia oil respects desirable, and one for
wbieh every institution OF learning is
working"
Issues OF the Hour.
After musical intermission James
Henry Higgins OF Pawtucket, delivered
an oration upon tissues OF the Hour. I"
He said: with the ADVENT OF that crisis
in his career when the colleeian gees
forth into the real struggle OF life. hs Is
blsssed with feeling or the sternest Sc
riousness. The further he goes into the
world the greater becomes the number OF
problems which ho must face and solve
problems wnicn confront him Ia every
form. political, social, economic and In
various Other aspetts.
"At the present time. it Is clear that the
cfC Cfrffa han n "A ~ m 10
from the strictly political to the social
and economic. Statesmen are being sup
planted by az itstors and scholars. and the
shadow of n Henry George. oncs so dim
and mesningiess. has become a vigorous
and life-lise figure -nn active clthough
ominous forcs I'm shaping the popular
opinion OF the great republic.
"The struggle between ospitsl ana la
Dor appears TO grow In mspnitude and In
teusity. Labor Is organized as never before
capitsl continues to consolidate into ei-
Qantio truste-whils each watches with
esels-like vision the inaDouvers of the
othsr. Capital inolines To individua lism
ana Laiss y Fsire; labor to slciaIsn m and
commission. The adoption by labor's
hosts NJ the socialistio IDEA renders the
prospect one OF tremencsus gravity.
Whatever Obstacles exist &C present,
there is certainly an nbunasnos Of oppor-
tunities for the individual Tn improve
himself With the idea OF education thor
oughly incuicstsd In our people, it will
ho sean that there L. bri sht side TO all
their difficulties. that tbers are elements
OF commendabls strength IN the PRESENT
order, aud that it II the province uf the
Intelligent and patriotic citizen TO do al
IN his power To st'nin these tleu ents.
while nt the ssme tine We gradually apc
luuiCiously substitnt' for tae weaker ror
tiots the wholesome ida n which thought,
elaboration ana care may from time e
tiue suggest"
Address 10 Undergraduates.
In the sddr, - TO Undergraduates, ont
or the most Interesting features OF tn,