The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-06-12
GROWTH DUE TO
HIGH IDEALS
President Buttefi0Id Delivered
Stirring Address
AT RHODE ISLAND COLLEGE
Advised Members Of Graduating Class 10
Make Hearts Receptive 10 Inspiration.
Large Audience Present Yesterday.
AT RHODE ISLAND COLLEGE


Island College OF Agriculture and Me-
chanic Arts was delivered yesterday by
Kenyon J.. Butterfeld. president. who
took for his topic. The open Window. F"
He said in part;
The romantic story OF Daniel the
Jew. is a perennial inspiration TO ambi-
tious youth. At the moment when life
was opening up 10 him there came the
destruction Of Jerusalem. the exile Of his
race. his own Punishment TO Babylon.
II was TO his countrymen time OF
the darkness OF despair National hopes
were shattered. Even the persistent re-
lgious ideals were enveloped in thick
clouds
THE conaueror had determined to
wipe away every vestige OF opposition
The flower of Jerusalem was transplanted
10 an alien soil. The seed OF the willow
was placed beside the great waters Of
the east. and the people sat down by the
rivers OF Babylon and wept when they
remembered Zion. They hung their harps
on the willows How could they sing
But these very conditions made pos
sble for Daniel that dramatic career.
Chosen by ordep Of the king Of Babylon.
as the first Of a/quartet OF Jewish youth.
Daniel found himself. because OF his
natural graces and his education. in the
line Of promotion 10 royal favor and re-
ward His time of testing soon came,
but his ability 10 interpret the kings
dream, and even TO recall TO the royal
mind what that dream really was. gave
him n place Of highest honor. He was
made chief OF the governors and sat
In the gallery Of the king So for over
half a century he served two kings OF
Babylon. the land Of his exile and cap
tivity. And even with the advent Of the
alien conqueror. Darius. the now aged
Jew occupied a position Of highest honor
and power.
at is not. however. so much the mar
vellous career Of Daniel that has a value
for us. The story itself may be but fable
II Is the strong nature portrayed that
gives TO the story its inspiration for all
time. The great characteristic OF Daniel
was his courageous purpose. At the very
time when he was selected for a place
at court he purposed In his heart that
he would not defle himself with the
kings meat and wine. His method Of
resistance was tact itself. but his cour-
sgeous purpose was supreme. He dared
10 convey to Nebuchadnezzar the proph-
ecy Of his approa ching insanity.
AT the great feast OF Belshazzar Daniel
stood before the assembled wealth and
nobility Of the kingdom and fearessly
fereteld the city's doom. When he found
that the kings decree against prayer had
been signed. he 'kneeled upon his knees
three times a day and prayed. and gave
thanks before his God, as did aforetime.'
Neither preferment. nor occasion. nor de-
cree. nor wild beasts changed his pur-
pose nor abated his resolve.
What was the fountain head OF Dan
iels faith? When Daniel knew that the
writing was signed. he went into his
house; and HIS windows became open In
his chamber toward Jerusalem, he
kneeled upon his knees three times a
day. and prayed and gave thanks before
his God. as he did aforetime.' These open
windows typify Daniels point Of view,
they symbolic HIS habit of mind
II wish. however. 10 speak particularly.
of three or four open windows that are OF
unique Importance and 10 speak Of them
with especial reference 20 college men
and women. The first Of these is ideals.
Ideals are the only source Of real growth.
Ideals are the only realities. because they
embody our possibilities. No artist can
create workt except he have in his mind
q cherished ideal which he strives 10 en-
body I'm actual material form He never
quttr makes his ideal real but he ac-
complishes a result. absolutely impossible
without the guidance of his ideal. No
great engineer builds huge bridges. spans
continents with railways. connects hemi-
spheres with cables, plans and executes
systems OF underground railways, without
ideals"