Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1903-09-21
ST. JOHNS COLLEGE.
FORMALLY OPENS WITH TWO HUNDRED
STUDENTS TODAY.
DR.. Fell's Address To The Students
At The Opening Of The Two
Hundred And Eighth
Session.

St. Johns College. the Oldest institu-
ton in the State. the original King Will
lam School, and the third Oldest institu-
ton in the country. formally opened to-
day for the 7o8th session under the most
promising conditions.
Two hundred students responded to
rollcall this morning. a much larger
number than last year. On the rostrum
were seated members Of the faculty /:
DIR. Thomas Fell, President; Prof. X. v.
Cissel, Vice-President, Major w. A.
Thompson, United States Army, instruc-
tor OF military tactics; Prois. White, Dan
iels, Won Schredtner. Stryker, RIPPER.
Johnson and Waddell.
After the reading of the Scripture. DIR.
Fell made an address to the students, in
which he said in part
at is with much pleasure greet you
pit the beginning Of this session. You
have, hope. assembled within these
walls, refreshed by the vacation just
ended. and with a well defined intention
to do good work during the period of
your residence here.
unfortunately the good intentions
with which we commence our college
course are not always realized, for the
reason that earnestness of purpose is not
always maintained. Many conflicting
elements surround US, and it is necessary
to guard ourselves from those which may
invalidate our present good resolves In
order to attain an object it is necessary
that we establish it clearly before our
eyes and that we keep it ever present to
our view. Let us formulate the principal
ideals of a college education :
al. We strive to inculcate the love of
letters, the history of philosophy. the
poetry which our race has inherited
from the fathers.
"2. We recognize the power of science
for the advancement and diffusion OF
every sort of knowledge.
"3. We admit the supremacy of that
simple Christian doctrine, which trans
cends denominations and sects.
"a. We are bound to study the func-
tons of the State, and the conditions
of public prosperity.
at has often been said that the success
Of a university or college does not depend
upon mere numbers, whether of build
ings, books, students or football trophies.
but upon men who form the faculty.
From them emanates the influence which
tends to produce useful citizens, and it is
they, themselves, who make or mar the
college. There is silent, but imperative.
demand upon each member of the faculty
| to give OF his best, and to live at the
highest mark of his attainments. What
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one to make them do what they can
"'Never nath soul been known
To reap harvest never sown.
'Not until we feel sure that we have
done our best and used our uttermost
| influence to make those placed under our
charge attain something really good and
great, can we say that we have met their
chief want Rules and regulations we
must have, not for imposing unpleasant
and unnecessary restrictions upon you,
but, in order to check the follies ofyouth,
which are the outcome of a young mans
| ignorance of what is for his advantage,
and to promote the comfort and conven-
fence of other members of this little
commonwealth in which we are placed.
There is still, however, much that a
student should do on his part to promote
this process OF building up character He
must not be passive merely, but must be
plastic and receptive. He must endeavor
to respond, to the utmost of his ability,
to the efforts put forth in his behelf. In
these anxious days, when we hear NUT
terings of anarchy and corruption around
us, there is bright light. tits the energy,
he honesty and the intelligence of the
Young men who are seeking to obtain the
benefits of higher education in this country
With the senior class of last year we lost
from our midst men who have left the
stamp of their forceful character upon
our various organizations. and | feel sure
that in their future career we shall see
re appearing these varied traits of useful
ness for the community which he de-
veloped in old St. Johns.
al have been much pleased with the
number and general appearance of the
new students who have recently Joined
us, and think we may safely indulge in
hopeful anticipations of their proving to
be a very desirable addition to our col
lege. In conclusion, to you all, old stu
dents and new ones, earnestly appeal
that each will, in his individual station,
endeavor to promote his own welfare,
and at the same time remember that he
is but a member of body corporate,
whick pulsates, lives and moves by
the actuating impulse derived from our
concentrated aggregation of forces.