The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-05-02

of all time. sound at the heart and full of
| life. 1t is the centre of the best hopes of
mankind, and its action depends the
| future history of the race. Against its
| viii, suddenly and without pre-view, ii has
| been led out into a large place where, as
always, great responsibility and great OPP
portunity stand waiting hand in hand.
| Naturally, the conservative and the
timorous shrink back. but the nation has
| heard the trumpet which can never sound
| retreat, and as a nation il must go for
! ward. II could not turn back if it would
but il would not If 1t could 1t remen-
| berS the wonderful way in which 1t has
| been led in the past, the years of the
| right hand of the most high, and sees
4 through the fogs of doubt and the thicl1ets
! of difficulty the clear opening of the path
| Of duty.
| AT this impressive moment you, the
| first graduates of Gallaudet College in the
| twentieth century, step forth from this
| sheltered and scholarly place, so COM
| Portable, so agreeable. into the activities
| OF the outside world. which are now stern
| and again sweet. and always stimulating
| II not satisfying. As thoughtful men and
| women, realizing that having had eNcsp-
| tional preparation you must render ex-
ceptional service, you ask yourselves what
you are TO do in this great hour of our
national life You feel the fine desire of
al the best American youth TO strike
! run and telling blow. You are ambitious
10 make your mark, and. | believe, TO do
| your duty fully and faithfully What
can you do in the great new world labors
1 VI lilt tl4lltu StateSs GU may not be-
come soldier or a sailor. a merchant.
adfenturer. or scientific explorer You
may not be asked to carry the flag of
your country to new triumphs abroad.
Your name may not be destined for the
roll of fame. Neverthei every one of
you may as perfectly serve your country
with high purpose and honorable achieve
ment The private station may be the
post of honor. twill be if that is where
you are called to stand. in common with
the vast majority OF your fellow-citiZens.
linen, as the battle line may DEFEND upon
It's weakest member, so the States sue
cess may turn upon your fidelity in the
humbest place
The nation is simply the men and wo-
men who compose it. 1t will be what
they are and every one of them is re-
sponsiDle for one share in its well-dping
and well-being. Therefore. you. every one
! OF you, must maintain. as though you
We're the President of the United States
the honor, the credit of your country at
home and abroad. To dc this most effec-
tiNeiy You must support the standard of
its high ideals by conforming your own
life to them. They are the Ideals of
christianity. They have been said to be
too high for unaided human nature to
follow. And this is so. But you and l
believe in God the Father, Almighty and
that he is able and willing to aid us to
live up to the ideals he has given us.
we cannot have too high ideals, too
noble purposes. under the new demands
which have come upon our country and in
the midst of the new temptations COM
ing with them Materialisrn now sweeD-
ing over the earth like flood. will drown
an Ideals and purposes which are not
high. And it behooves us as lovers of
our country to make n stand for all that
mas ennobled its past and that has prom
ised glory for its future More is eyacted
now of every American because more is
eXacted of America. We do not need
more Americans. but we need that every
American shall he more Of a man or wo-
man to meet the new conditions Of our
national life at home and abroad
Yet our country. yes, our God. asks
nothing unreasonable of us.
What asks our Father of his children save
Justice and mercy and humility.
reasonable service Of good deeds
Pure living. tenderness to human needs
reverence and trust, and prayer for light to see
The Masters footprints in our daily ways?
No knotted scourge sscTifcial knife
But the calm beauty of an ordered life
Whose every breathing is unworded praise.
Let us not shrink back from this rea-
sonable service which will be the best
that we can render to the Fatherland. as
we render it to the Father. Let everyone
of us say from the heart;
And the path of duty is made plain.
May grace be given that ! walk therein:
Not like the hireling. for his selfish gain
With backward chances and reluctant tread,
Making a merit of his coward dread
But cheerful in the light around me thrown,
Walking one to pleasant service led;
Doing Gods will as if II my own.
Yet trusting not in mine, but in his strength
The speech was translated by Prof Ed
ward A. Fay.
WI Ting-fang the Chinese Minister, was
then introduced anu spoke briefly as fol-
lows:
Il must confess that l am a little bit
nervous talking TO such an audience /
have never before spoken to an audience
of deaf people. besides, | don't like a man
near me making signs. referring to Prof
Gallaudet, who was translating for the
benefit of the deaf mutes. Lots of people
hear, but do not understand. You under
stand. but you do not hear. 1t is a great
ually compensated for by the quickening
of other senses, such as touch and sight
You graduates should be glad that you
are not going to be bothered by the noisy
streets Of American cities. 1t is good to
be deaf sometimes ] am most pleased
the work may be carried out into our
country. which needs it badly enough"
The final benediction was delivered by
the Rev. Thomas Gallaudet, d. D.. vicar
of St Annals Church for deaf mutes in
New York
President GallaHdet. Lewis ]. Davis,
Treasurer; Senator Francis NJ. Cockrell,
the Rev. Byron Sunderland, the Rev. DR.
llamlin. the Rev. NJ Pierce, pastor of All
Souls Church: j. A Kasson. a former
director. Commissioner .Macfarland, Min
lister WI Iing-fang, and the entire faculty
of the college.
An interested spectator in the audience
was Mrs. WI, who watched with a great
deal of interest the sign language as il
was spoken At the close of the exercises
the guests of the college were allowed to
visit the various departments in the build
ing. and investigate the methods used in
teaching the deaf mutes