New-York tribune., 1901-01-13
CORNELL MEN AT DINNER.
NEW-YoRK ALUMNI ADDRESSED BY
PRESIDENT SCHURMAN AND OTHERS.


dinner of Cornell Alumni in New-York and its
vicinity at the waldorf-Astoria last evening. The
dinner was served IN the grand ballroom OF the
hotel and most OF the men sat at twenty rouiu
tables in the room. Clarence j. Shearn, Presloehl
of the Cornell University Club presided at the
feast and other men at the guests table were
President Jacob Gould Schurman OF CorneH Uni
versity Hamilton ". Mabie. Juege Edwafo W.
Hatch Professor H. Morse Stephens. OF Corhe4I:
Henry G. Ward J. c. Montague Barlow. Editor OF
1.-The London Saturday Review; Ex-Governor
Alonzo B. Cornell. the Rev. Frank d. nanemeh'
president of the Methodist University OF Fehihs'
who during the siege last summer devised the oe-
fences: DR.. ". NJ Polk, dean OF CorneH Mealcsi a1,
School: Walter c. Kerr, Nelson Macy. the footoah
player and Joseph Colnon.
The Dinner Committee consisted of Seymour Z.
Thomas chairman; Henry W. Sackeu george w
Bacon, William R. Bronx, Newell Lyon ana N'i8'''
II. Werner. a.;
Nemoers of the Reception Committee at the ulh-
e ner were John De Witt Warner r " ,, AILe-, a.
" p Atkinson Theodore L. Bailey, A j. BALDWIN,
] II Ballantine, H. c. Cushing jr-. F. 3 Fleioet
John Frankenheimer, Eugene Prayer LoHis ~
Fulton NJ H. Goodkind, Francis w massey, "a: -
Haviland H. r. Icklehemer, Roger Lewis "liaii
McKeever. Nelson Macy. Robert T. Morris ira a
shaler ". K. simpson. Calvin IornhihS Hii- @N
z whiting.
PRESIDENT SCHURMAN HEARTILY Gf'f4 i1D
President schurman was late in arriving al the m
dinner and when he appeared he was gTee'eu W."
the Cornell veil. At the beginning OF the speech
making Mr. Shearn referred 10 the CorneH CIhNei
sitv hammer that was carried in the great oou!iu
Money Parade the city last fan aho saiu ~
alumni association of the university sho"iu - 60
pernanent home in this city. He introduced
a., sob,,rran as the first and chief speaker OF the
evening Responding TO the toast Alma Mater
DR.. Schurman said: ,, 900
notice that is the most b lnng been
in process conflict free thought ana 1s l9a
SSna5 S sbs aVeSGy TeGr o fnf free t0f hough is
- history
other time You may recall the age OF Perieles, e
et Anens a vas Victim SSt to inqusitoria orthodoxy
To-day, however you may oeny You NAV accept
what conclusions you like and no one b cr1 naiestV
OF !aw' Lae "te t it0drsw their objects from the
aSt md roost exhaustive scrutiny On the con-
frsry the maxim Of the modern worlo is 10 Prov
for NV own part deem this unlimited right Of free
inquiry and impartial neet 70 ne cviii-
Eaton Ii distinguishes this era from the Midqe M
the controlling presence Of body OF supposed IN
The university is the congenial Of free in
quiry. How much professors 9axe bt ove1 @
though notorious fact that they have aUis aways
not only that at Cornell University but at most most
Die is sacredy cherished and zeaously carried into
practice.
N A GREATER TASK TO SOLVE.
But f have gassr ot heF iF hod s6 o3 @
mems minds what is to AXE their place? In other
trey destructive Let US accept the principle: let
bish; but let us not be guilty Of the folly of con-
sidering its work done. new edihce Is 10 De con-
thought to organize a coherent system Of beliefs
which shall embrace human life and the I world + as
achievements OF free inquiry into the natural
Expiration o} the or5i and spiritual nature Of
man And ye as SFe 6n agI and Ss reTeaon Of fhe
visible and invisible mysteries. - -,
risk of Tesrgns son This is a8 se Of unpar
leled material expansion and organization % %The
or Such @ sn array of Observation-Disclosures for its pro
a nanufaoores ionr lines of railway ana telegraph
dra9g @moh OF onS 6f dollars cities conternlnous
with counties. and empires extending over con
in the saddle ana rule mankinde 1t is age of
Bfgness is not greatness The material basis Of
civilization is the entire structure. II Is not
0 & Ie S g rTad rae tT f' pf now
The aim IS the perfect man. With him Nature IS
in travail. and her method is the slow and gradua
one of evolution. But when he shall
he cats or the car or Yacht by which he travels on
land OF sea. or the mansions in which he vainy
by his converse with art and literature and phi
PTactical AFFAIRS: by his pPTate virtues a and pube
spirit, and by his readiness TO help and serve his
In sge too much giy;n to the pursuit Of mate
TO eEalt this ideal Of intellectual and moral great
Eess Our intellectual conference.-the say moth
lefent observer must admit sadly disproportionac
TO our material progress As an agricultural as
manufacturing. and now. also EXPORTING
nation lead the world; but still look il
vain for Dante Shakespeare, Newton
Darwin.
A PLEA FOR UNIVERSITIES.
And now come to paradox While accunu-
lated capital Is not the end Of civilization, there
CT civilization cannot be cultivated unless those
who cultivate them are supported by the winners
are not and never have been, except in a few rare
instances. self-supportng. The literature a writer
lions that live do themselves furnish liveii-
hood. Churches museums colleges and universi-
ties are and must remain objects OF charitable
latter If you want sound and healthy thought in
the community. If you want free Investigation issu-
ing IN pregnant and vitaliZing ideas If you
the intellectual elements Of civilization from
submerson by the material, you must look to the
think history demonstrates that no benefactons
have been so fruitful Of good results. both imme-
date and Tar reaching, as those bestowed upon
universities. At any rate il is great historian
historian judicial Parkman--who declares
well established and wisely conducted university
confers blessing which radiates through all the
hope Cornell University is wisely conductedr'
know IL Is well established" And l think there
Is profound wisdom in Parkman's suggestion that
phlanthropsts should rather aid existing institi-
tions. when well established than found new
ones; Al any rate know that in its estate. cepi-
does offer to men OF means who desire to educate
the youth OF all generations and elevate the in
foundation for such superstructures their tastes
means and interests may dispose them to rear
upon ii.
Let me remind you very briefly what the present
establishment consists Of omit the medical de-
possession of its splendid new building and whose
nsintenance is already assured. On the campus
students love for life-we have buildings valued at
@ nafar nf