The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-06-23

mere I do not know 6at NJ
ever wax here. exceptonce to gtys = Ph
Beta Kappa Grafton. but ne writes thue'
"Lounging about the crowd at the A.
.tractedsby nearing Dr. Wayland's nam0
and drew near 20 see HIM His appears
anrA made an impression on me never
can forget He spoke OF the duties 81
educated men and the tendencies OF oul
country for good or eyi, OF the nsed
ence the nation. That speech" says
Andrew White. changed my whole
life" For that he devoted himself to
education and through that impulse has
attained emipence as a diplomatisf, and
a the peace conference at the Hague.
suffer me. honored friends and breths
rem. to detain You yet a few minutes.
while i speak OF the spirit OF the college
both i'm students and alumni I say coll
lege. because that was the original name
given to the College Of Rhode island
and the name Is significant even though
the larger field OF studies and the In
creased number of lecturers have made
il manifest that the institution has. iu
the language of Bacon, taken all
knowledge for its province" But. how.
ever wide the scope Of Instruction. II is
OF vast importance that IL should have
the spirit OF a closely y-entwined COM
munity. The word college originally
meant an assembage or society %
men. possessing certain powers and
rights. and engaged i'm some common
employment or pursuit. This union OF
life and purpose Is OF vast Importance
The idea of the college must not be lost
In the university.
Neither professors nor students must
so look upon their favoffte work as Ia
throw contempt upon any other, nor
must they say to themselves. II am here
for some special and private end. not
AZ n
ncr for the rich and enlarged culture
that belongs to the institution as n
whole. and that admits me as an inte-
grai member i'm the commonwealth or
delightful studies" Whatsoever here
can be learned: whatsoever can con-
tribute TO the sum OF human knowledge
or advancement in any way is dear 10
every student, and should be a source
OF pride, and diligence. and honorable
ambition to each one, so that his hearS
may swell in his bosom as he remem.
bers, II. too. am citizen of this CONS
monwealth OF learning"
1t is not an unimportant matter that
our young men feel their blood stis
within them in manly sports and the
effort lately so successful TO take a hight
stand among their rivals
STRUGGLE FOR HONOR.
1t is OF even greater value that they
struggle to promote the honor or their
Alma Mater. in contests OF debate in
which the whole student body may
have an interest. and compete for a
share. and in the result of which they
may rejoice with the keenest of youth
full exultation Anything Of this sort
which awakens a common pridS ana
personal interest on the part OF every
one has great power for happiness and
for the value OF future life. But this
is only the beginning. for IL is In the
.tf 4lta hos xAfsxx. ~
models OF character among officers and
students. to imbue all the rest with a
sense OF responsibility In maintaining
the honor and dignity of the University
Not I'm vain, are our young men ap-.
pealed to 10 decide for themselves
wherein manliness consists. To foster
this spirit they should be often called
together in classes, or assemblies Of thu
whole.
| 1t Is somewhat OF disadvantage thak
SO many OF the students live In the SUBJ
| urbs or the neighboring stoWns--sc'
| near and yet so far--near enough for
easy access. yet so far az TO lose much
of the sense of college fellowship. and
| OF a society set apart for learning.
SO much the more need. then. that
every effort should be made TO empha.
size the spirit of unity, to bring up.
| whole membership: that all that geuer-
| al culture and lofty principle which are
| TO be gained. az believe, in the college
| course as nowhere else may here, In
| some measure, be impressed upon each
| one. as the heritage OF his student life.
| We cannot bring back the methods of
| former times, but somehow an e00rt
must be made TO preserve and deepen
the spirit of college enthusiasm for all
| that makes the future worthy OF the
| past n
| 1t is true that the voluntary spirit has
| SO largely prevailed as to make Ii diff
| ficult to bring men frequently together
| in one body. but the Importance of II
is no less. and every effort OF wisdom
and persuasion should be expended TO
| awaken a common interest in all things
| good and high. to throw about the
| minds OF young men, from the day they
| enter these halowed enclosures. the
| feeling that there Ia indeed a genius
| loci. a spirit of the place. >summoning
them to all that is useful to all that
| is high-minded and true. a spirit which
| rests like holy flame on the head OF
| every man. manifesiing it's power In
| grand examples of early attainment
| and of delightful promise. while not
one i'm the entire company can possibly
! escape some touch of the hallowed In
| fluence. .rn
THOSE GONE BEFORE.
The passing year. more especially the
| winter and spring, have gathered from
| your ranks notable harvest OF men.
| honored and beloved, from the eminent
| theologian OF more than 30 years. to the
| youthful scholar, fondly expected to
bring his scores OF learning TO your
| service. but whose lamp OF life was
suddenly extinguished in the far east.
| Many others. too. Esve gone whose
loss will be tenderly noticed in your
| class meetings. and we are all giieving
over the sudden and swift departure OF
men whose family gave name to- your
| great university. and who have shown
both living and dying their love 20 the
| general welfare. and their lofty pur-
| poses of future good To this ancient seat
| Of learning. fs
As you return To linger for few
hours. snatched with difficulty from
| the engrossing cares of life, you are
more impressed, i doubt not with
| thoughts OF those who Were here with
| you, and the lofty minds that gave you
strength and courage. than with any oi
| the mere changes of outward scene.
/ The past Is with us. The forms and
features of the great and good rise uu
| before the mind. II is the men who
i l.. IL Ice. ..tutt .| .