The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1902-05-27
University, in part, as follows.
BACCALAUREATE ADDRESS.

~ ~ Graduating GLASS;
In the name OF Jour teachers and your
felioW-students, in the name of The Board
OF trustees. IN the name of the great
most in North Carolina whose hearts are
with US today, in the name of all sa-
lutte you the first graduating class of the
Baptlst Female University. MANY right
eous souls have waited long to see this
DAY. ney see 1t and are glad. Some
VINO nave abounded in sacrifice and pray
CT for this school have gone up to their
coronation. If it is given them to view
the scenes and events of earth and to
share the feelings of mortals. this will
be a notable day with them in Heaven.
You have been forecasting the future.
and possibly with some anxiety have
asked, What shall l make of myself
| beg to suggest an answer for each ard
all, namely, make a woman. Seek first
Of all and before all to reproduce in your
own true selves Gods last and nobIest
gift to the world-a woman. This is for
you the primal question. how with the
material in hand to produce the best re
suits, something that may worthily be
called 4 woman. | know not what the
future holds for you. Some of you, and
possibly all, may be compelled to look
TO yourselves for food and raiment. So
be it if God wills. But even in that case,
the supreme question is not how to maize
a living, but how to make q life. For
the life is greater far than the living.
even as the body is more than raiment.
Given the right kind of life, and the liv-
ing will come. For by the very constitu-
ton of nature, Which is simply the stead
fast ordinance of God, the best life sur
wives. When the wise king said, Trust
in the Lord and do good; so shalt thou
dwell in the land and verify thou shalt
be fed, he was speaking as a believing
prophet, to be sure; but he spoke also
as a divinely inspired philosopher.
But how to accomplish this supreme
task, how to build this Incompatible
structure. Five things enter into all
model and effort. The foundation has
been already laid, beginning far back
in the days of childhood. The materials
are at hand, around and within you. For
each of you has in her the making OF a
genuine woman. l must take for granted,
too, that you appreciate the need and
value of effort, for this conception has
been a part of your training here. Permit
me to lay upon your minds with somewhat
more of insistence those other two es-
sentials of great building. The one, you
remember, is purpose. l charge you 10
begin at once the making of a purpose.
Resolve strongly and highly. No great
life was ever a purpOSeleSs life. Men and
women come to greatness as a result of
great purpose. and only thus. For all
greatness is the outcome of struggle, and
every lofty struggle is born OF a heroic
resolution. Be not content simply to be.
But resolve to be something that VIII
both count and weigh in the sum of hu-
n anity.
II charge you also to set before your
ca1yac q noble n1an Seek nothing less
than the l~oftiest models, for none rise
above their ideals, and most of us fall
far. below. 1t is mCurnful to mark the
wrecks of misdirected effort, strength,
and genius, all over the field of time. a
successful human life is much more than
the qualification Of appetites, the satls-
faction of ambition, or the repose OF sell
fish ease. That inner monitor which pro-
claims your divine kinship Will keep sig
mailing that not one of these nor all can
fill up the measure of a life. The
worlds noblest livers have been those
who held themselves a part Of all that
was: to whom nothing that concerned
humanity was a matter Of Indifference;
who loved righteousness and hated mi
ouitv and who were therefore ~anolnted
with the oil of gladness above their rel
lows Make models of those lo1ty sous.
Your building will rise slowly, with many
disheartening handicaps and win some
sooniuo disasters. Be not impatient,
.sorty and six years was this temple III
building -
you will see many, many things al
t of tbo.vaars And one thing which faith
fu1 Time will teach is that after all, a
= Genuine life. a life which sets truth above
T1,bies which answers the worlds bitter
cries with sympathetic devotion, that sucn
q life is the highest triumph ever given
; tc the sons and daughters of men. Whoh
time shall bring this lesson, If you nave
ears to hear and hearts to UNDERSTAND
Won will in that moment learn the ~
cret of victory. And so shall you pioN'
vouree,vec worthy to head the long iihe
of alnmnae who shall follow you IN lne
coming years. Thus also snail you u
FIJI the cherished hopes of your I'm
= mo+or She will follow your career WIFI
maternal solicitude. Take WIN you ~
: hor maritime blessing, and set your laces
| - ~ future. Lift up your eyes
n the hills and stay not till you SIAM
49, bo;ch+s the coming worlds TOLL
consecrated queens.
Tho closing number on the program ""'
. vocal trio, Barcarole by ,ahip'
o,utifuuv sung by Misses baiu"i II
Smjth and Ellington.
FIRST ALUMNAF RECEPTION
1oc+ n;eht took place the first Alumha'
reception, rendered the .ns M;
~ tho trustees and faculty OF the III
cri+v There were present the meii'e'
of tho BOARD of Trustees and their "iN.'
No members of the University lao"i''
tond their wives, and all the sl"uen'>
besides the new graduates
Tl,a rocoption began at y o clocf - -
bonnI and a most enjoyable Sociai ''''
VOC had before the entire np :
n,ired TO the dining hall, where ueis"'
FIJI refreshments were served. Nv 80
ing room presented a lovely appe""
with it's festoons of green leaves 60
flowers. There We're conslderaoiS - -.
than 900 persons seated al tAe
-. which wore arranged IN Roma