The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-09-21
Saylcs Hall al Brown
Crowded. This Morning.
A VERY TIMELY ADDRESS
Made by The Acting President,
Prof. Benjamin F. Clarke.
SOUND ADVICE FOR STUDENTS.

Acting President Benjamin +. Clarke
formally opened the 13lst college year
OF Brown university this morning.
Nearly every seat in Sayles hall was
filed and the gallery crowded with
visitors and students from the Women's
college. The faculty occupied the seats
on the left and facing the platform.
George A. Goulding played the organ. as
last year, and Howard c. Barber led
the singing.
| In his prayer Mr.. Clarke asked that
a God chosen man might be sent to ad-
minister the affairs OF the university,
and that the man who had so often
led them might be blessed I'm his future
labors.
After singing America Prof. Clarke
made the formal address Of the day.
! He said:
The events that are rapidly occur
ring not only Immediately about us but
! throughout the world. admonish us that
we are living I'm most important age,
| an age that is working marked changes
In the governments and policies of ma
| tons. IL seems eminently fitting at "A
time like this, the commencement of a
year of study, that we, both as college
men and as American citizens. should
ously the circumstances that surround
US, the peculiar times I'm which we live,
our opportunities and our duties. The
cvcntful year just past has wrought its
changes upon everything. IL has left
It's impress upon us as individuals. upon
the university and upon the nation.
I'VE have changed. New experiences
have come to us; we have studied the
thoughts and acts of other men and
made them our own. We feel the in
nuence of those with whom we have
associated; new ideas have come to us
and new thoughts and motives possess
us. A new stratum OF character has
been formed within us, and we are not
altogether the same persons we were
when we separated year ago.
I'm the university this short space Of
time has wrought marked changes.
Some students have left for the more
active duties Of life and others have
come to take their places whom we are
glad to welcome here today. Changes
have also taken place In the board OF
instruction. Some instructors have
gone and others have come. One loved
teacher. better known to you than to
me, has passed on, and you will see his
face no more. IL Is with the deepest
regret we find that the long struggle
that has been going on for years TO
draw away him who has served the
university SO long and so faithfully has
at last succeeded, and President An
drews will be with US as instructor and
leader no more.
Greater than all have been the
changes that have come to us as a ma
tion. War has come and gone and left |
It's impress deep and lasting, and we |
find ourselves today a different nation
from what we were a year ago, with |
new policies. new and different issues, |
past, new political problems are with us |
that never confronted us before. The |
meeting of these great questions, the |
solution OF these complex problems will |
soon devolve upon you. We are citizens |
OF a nation worthy of our highest esti- |
In being proud to be called American |
citizens. We stand I'm higher estima- |
ton among the nations OF the world |
than ever before. These new condi- |
tions, our more conspicuous position,
our increased influence. all bring new |
and greater responsibilities. Ii devolves
upon the great student body I'm our coll |
leges throughout our land to prepare
themselves TO meet these increased re-
sponsibilities and to see to it that the
honor of our nation shall never be in
jured either by external enemies or in
teinaI Acknowledgement.
How we may best accomplish this
which will be made upon us I'm the fu-
ture Is question that calls for our
at this hour, The answer
readily suggests itself--an earnest and
faithful use Of the opportunities that
are before us. thoroughness In al
that we do, a thoroughness that can be
obtained only by a persistent, intel
lectual drill II is this constant and
drill that wish 10 emphasize
this morning II is that which enables
men to do efficient work, as we shall
presently illustrate.
when the call came few months
ago for men TO leave their homes and
their business and go forth TO defend
he country many OF this student body
showed a marked readiness to respond
10 that call and. IL need be sacrifice
themselves upon their country's altar |
A call. more pressing II possible, still
.omcs to this same body of students To
prepare themselves for the sacrifice of
heir country. The new issues that
nave. been born which demand new
the new problems that have
'ome and will always be coming 10 the
ront requiring solution will be calling
or men OF great wisdom. sound judg-
nent and well trained intellects TO deal
With them.
You may or may not be called upon
q legislate I'm the councils OF the nation
'r TO serve In high places I'm the govern
nent, but you Will be called upon 10 do
You must exert an infiu-
nee as citizens. and that influence will
iepend largely upon your trained intel
ieence. sound Judgment and moral
worth. III you are prepared TO do work
n great importance. the chances are
hat YOU Will be called upon To do that
great work. High places 81 influence
ind responsibility are many: the men
'apable OF hllinE them are compare
lively few.
In the great crises Of human life n IN
lot the careless or superficial men that
ire able TO meet the emergencies. hut
hose who IRE well trained. fully de-
eIoped and ready for the demands of
he hour.
''The recent achievement or the
'merican navy has astonished the 1 q
'orId. and foreign journalists have
'ritten long and labored articles 10 nc Z
punt for a. Many English papers laid
TO the energy and pluck Of the Anglo
axon race. but the Spsniards were not n
anting In bravery Another writer q
'mes much nearer the truth when he =