Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1901-07-04
ST. xARy's SEMINARY.
coxxEHcExEHr 1901.
[Continued from 4th Page. ]

tnat reilg1ous liberty which now en-
circles this enlightened country and
made Of Maryland In those troubled
times, the land of the sanctuary to all
the oppressed Of every creed and cline.
Go read the beautiful inscription on
yonder monument which raises this de-
claration like truth for ever upward To
the skies, and you will know the civil
and religious principles of liberty which
Calvert stood for, he become the ear
ner stone of Marylan government. OF
this institution founded in 1874 to COM
memorate the landing at st. Mary's our
state may well be proud. Like q noble
river she has gathered strength from the
tributary years of all that is good, all
that Is beautiful, all that is ideal in
womanhood; she has added to her hon
ored traditions, until ut last she comes
down to this generation, richly laden
with every blessing, stream of life on
whose banks the fruits of wisdom and
the flowers of beauty grow for those
who come to pluck them and of whose
pleasant waters all who will, may quench
their thirst. The education which she
furnishes to the daughters of Maryland
is the material which must be woven in.
to the very wool and warp of this great
nations strength. It's fruit is not borne
so much in books as in women, not more
in the field of scholarship than in the
field OF life. The high standard she has
attained, the good she has accomplished
are due in large measure, to the wisdom
Of those good and public spirited men
who have In turn served as the guardians
OF her interests. To the influence and
attention Of those who now constitute
that estimable body we owe the constant
increase of comforts and convenieaces
which We now enjoy, and because we
feel and recognize our obligations to
their disinterested labor which, like vir-
tue has been its own reward, and because
we may never again have the opportuni-
ty, in the name Of our principal, teachers
and schoolmates we desire to publicly
thank our honorable board of trustees
for their uniform kindness to us and
warm interest in our beloved institution.
True to the spirit of the federation act
this as State school is non sectarian.
At her open door the religions stand,
not like the Furies OF olden times war
ring with each other, but like the Graces
with arms lovingly entwined, bidding
to all q welcome and happy stay.
Within this temple of learning for many
a year the Muses. have loved to haunt,
and TO their service as ever come maids
with hearts of gold and robes of snow.
The very place seems conscious with as
ISOLATION. The walks whisper of long
procession Of noble women and girls,
whose feet has gone out into the world
beautiful with glad tidings" These
traditions Of the past make ours incen-
tive to the future. The influences of
both, like the angels Jacob saw, are in
our vision to-day, ascending and de-
scending the ladder of time. The angels
of the past, bright with the glory of
things achieved, the angels of the future
radiant with hope and promise on their
wings. The happy years that we have
spent here have taught US to regard st.
Mary's as another name for home, and
TO her. as have said, we come to say
farewell. To most of you that word
coming from the lips of valedictorian
has perhaps become trite and meaning
less; to rs IL is still fraught with its old
sweet sadness. Teachers and school
mates, believe not the happy years have
flown like angels unrecognized. have
been eager to complete my schooldays
and enter in life's battle, but as the days
OF the past session have glided by, each
one bringing nearer and nearer the de-
sired end, have felt reluctant TO part
with those who have been my compan-
ions so long, and to day from my very
heart it grieves me to leave you.
shall carry with me the memory Of
those days, the sweet-faced kindly teach
ers. my dear companions. the pleasant
walks we took, the songs we sang, the
pranks we played, and at night when
tired with study and play we gathered
like little children ut our mothers knee
for the evening prayer, the lamp light
shone down like benediction on our
young heads.
"Oh, ere be my heart with such memo
ries filed,
Like vase in which roses have been
once distilled,
/ You may break. you may ruin, that
vase ii your will
But the scent of the roses will hang
round il still"
To those of you who will return, be-
seech you to embrace every opportunity
TO achieve the end for which You are
sent here. Adopt work as your motto,
and let the counsel of your teachers be
light TO your feet. The Fall will
and s~~ a. ~~~.. IN