The Portland daily press., 1900-06-20

life Is taken at its most plastic period.
"It Is because Hebron academy stands
for Christian education which Is the
making Of true manhood and woman
hood, that we are met here today to dedi-
cate this splendid structure which is to
bear. the name Of Sturtevant Home. II
means much to dedicate such building
to such purpose. Institutions such as
this are permanent and the life built
| into Ithese seats of culture saves itself
from evanescenoe. The influence Of be.
nefcence is as immortal as the soul. The
true way to perpetuate self on this planet
| is to become linked In association with
an institution which touches the higher
interests of the race. To the students
who shall come and go through the gem
erations w hile this academy exists, the
names OF its noble benefactors will be
held in grateful and reverent remem-
brance, and the inufence OF their gen.
erosity will be an illimitable insplra-
tion.
"Sturtevant Home represents an essen
tial idea. This idea is Christian culture
as the creator of a patriotic, pure and
intelligent manhood and womanhood
that shall preserve all that is best in our
present civilization and lead our race
forward in the struggle toward yet
higher plane of thought and action.
Church and school-this is the New Eng
land idea. In the plans Of our forefath-
ers, laid in the fear Of God, the church
and school were always indissolubly
linked, as they must be In any political
system that is to create and foster free
men. Liberty is indispensable TO the de-
velopment of human nature In its finer
and higher forms, and intelligence Is In
dispensable If liberty is to be a fact as
well as a name. Only an educated peo-
Pile can in any true sense be a free peo-
pie. Ultimate manhood comes not by
proclamation, but by education, which
enables one to apprehend the meaning
and appreciate the possibilities and OPP
portunities of political and civil liberty.
Christian education secures that highest
emancipation of the soul, that freedom
wherewith Christ makes free, that soul
| liberty which is the highest heritage
OF the race. Every Christian academy
and college, therefore, has the highest OF
all missions in education-to nourish that
spirit of soul liberty which makes
noblest and truest man, that sovereign
manhood which is the only sovereignty
known or attainable on these shores.
"This manhood sovereignty finds its
noblest expression in self sacrificing
service. The ideas of sacrifice and service
as taught and exemplifed by Jesus are
the revolutionizing and transforming
forces at work in the worlds life. They
are the ideas that underlie the work OF
this academy and that have brought to it
such potent patronage. God grant that
they may continue to be predominant in
the future of the institution and that
from Hebron academy, embosomed IN
these hills Of Maine, there may go forth
sons and daughters possessed Of that
dauntless spirit, that genuine culture,
that Christian character which makes for
the righteousness that exaits nations and
shall yet redeem the world. Then shall
be accomplished the high purpose and
J then shall be fulfilled the hopes and
prayers Of the noble man Of God, the
honored founder of Sturtevant hall, and
of his loving and beloved helpmake
(long may she remain with us) the hon
ored founder of Sturtevant Home"
THE PRESENTATION.
Judge Bonney then introduced Mr..
Eugene n. Foss of Jamaica Plain, Mass,
son-in-law of Mrs. Sturtevant, as her
representative, and Mr.. Foss formally
transferred to Principal Sargent Of the
academy the new building. Mr.. Foss
could not have chosen better words In
which to make the presentation, for he
told simply the story of the life of Ben
| iamin franklin Sturteyant. who 81 years