The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-03-16

smoke in as many cities of metropolitan
proportions that at that time had not
even name"
The speaker enumerated some of the
discoveries and inventions of the past
twenty five years, and asked:
What does this mean?
I'VE are living in marvellous times.
envy you in that you are entering upon
the work of life at a time when there
are SO many problems for solution.
shall not attempt here to solve them for
you. l simply enjoin upon you to let
faith and divinity be supreme. Set your
faces toward the morning. Do not hesi-
tate, but move forward as the world adj
vances, and the Great Master viii give
you strength to meet and solve your
problems
After DR.. Winship's address diplomas
were awarded, and degrees conferred upon
the twenty-one graduates by Rev. DR.. M.
MacVicar, superintendent of education,
American Baptist Home Mission Society.
This duty was performed in a most grace
full and appropriate manner by DR.. Mac
Vicar who made a short speech, filled
with wise counsel and good advice to the
young men.
PRESIDENT MESERVE'S ADDRESS.
President Meserve's parting address
was one that will attract much attention
1t was bold, straightforward, an emin-
emily appropriate for the occasion. Such
words of counsel to the young colored
men of the State from such a source, are
calculated to do much good DR.. Me-
serve said:
ic 10 Of tot AF
steamships on leaving New York to take
on board a local pilot who is familiar
with the channel leading out to the open
sea. After Sandy Hook has been safely
passed, and the true course is given by
the pilot to the navigating officer, the
pilot climbs down ladder at the side of
the vessel and is taken back to port. The
navigating officer is then responsible for
the safe conduct of ocean voyage. You
are starting today, young men, on the
voyage of life and understand now as
never before the significance of COM
mencement. The time for receiving in
struction from your Alma Mater has
passed but there is yet a moment to get
the true course and receive a word Of
advice. At the outset it is we'll for you
to know that what you can do will de-
pend largely upon what you are 1t
goes without saying that ability is abso-
lutely necessary, but first of all there
must be on your part the possession of
character and integrity, that there may
be calls for the exercise of your ability
What you want now, is the opportunity
to put into practice the knowledge ac~
CURED. This opportunity can be first OBJ
tanned by making a favorable impression
in your respective fields of professional
activity. A favorable impression can al
ways be made by modest, gentlemanly
conduct and a character of absolute worth
and integrity, and you must be fortified
along these lines even more than white
young men, because your temptations are
harder to withstand and the obstacles in
your way more difficult to overcome. You
will be more and more the object of at
tention and criticism from the very fact
of your race. One of the most prominent
clergymen of North Carolina said to me
recently, "How do the graduates hold out
after they go out into life?" / replied,
GAS a rule, we'll" He at once remarked,
~ hear that so and so drinks" | had
to admit in this case that / had also
heard the same report. He was, however,
very considerable in adding that he was
sorry to say that all white graduates did
not hold out.
Il have great faith and confidence in you
and so have all who know you well. A
great responsibility rests upon you, for
there are comparatively few of your race
that have obtained a professional educa-
tion and the eyes of critics are upon you
and are not yet willing to look upon the
professional education of the negro as
successful, although, time and time again
he has acquired a high order of training
and put it into successful practice.
do not leave your Alma Mater, as some
in the past have done, with the thought
that she is indebted to you. She has fit
ted you for your professional career and
sends you out into life with her duty
complete. She owes you nothing. You
rather owe her your constant devotion,
which must be shown by the best of SER
vice to mankind, by ever cherishing and
speaking the kindest words of her, by
promoting her interests, aiding her finan-
cially and directing to her doors young
men of high order of ability and char
acter Let there be always on your part
the utmost modesty, seeking honor and
glory for others rather than yourselves,
and be satisfied with the approval of
God and an honest conscience, no matter
what others may think. If any marked
degree of success comes to you, let there
be on your part the same modesty that
characterized General Funston, the colo
mel Of the Twentieth Kansas regiment,
when he and his officers a few months ago
were given reception in Western city.
The following extract from a printed ac-
count of this reception and banquet ought
to be read and pondered by all aspiring
youth: ''The general was called to reply
to the address of welcome and With de-
lghtful modesty assured his hearers that
he did not wish to be considered hero.
He said in so many words that ne vas
not hero but simply was an officer who
had been fortunate enough to have off,
GERS and men under his command who
never failed to follow where he ieao."
Such words are refreshing in these days
Of self-seeking and self ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.
If honors ever come to you in life, wear
them in your heart and conscience and in
the confidence of your few intimate
friends, rather than publicly on your
sleeve.
Your predecessors are scattered over
the land from Boston to Los Angeles and
from Chicago to Savannah. We have
watched their career with sympathetic
interest, have grieved over the few fail
,res and reioiced over the many cue