The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1907-06-20
Fine ADDRESS 10
n, ALUMNI
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GIVEN s7 REV. MACY MCGEE
WATERS LAST NleHT-RE.
cEPrIoR ON CAMPUS.
MoRGANToWN, June 20.-Yester.
day evening was given over 10 the
alumni, They occupied all the time
and attention from 1880 70 the small
hours Of the morning.
The festivities began with a recep.
ton on the quadrangle by the alum.
nj In honor Of the graduating class.
IA pleasant hour was spent in listen.
ing to the fine concert by the cadet
band, under the leadership Of Prof.
A. Mestrezat, and talking over old
days IN their university life.
From the campus adjournment was
taken to Commencement hall, where
| ~
one Of their number, Rev. Macy Nc.
Gee Waters, class Of 1856, delivered
the alumni address. Rev. Waters Is
pastor Of a largetBrooklyn church, and
has a national reputation as a lectur.
er and orator.
Judge Frank Cox presided. A
short musical programme was render.
ed by Prof. A. S. Thompson. Miss
Gussie Lowe and Prof. Anton Haspar.
Miss Lowe sang a very pretty solo,
and the double violin number by
Prof. Kaspar was thoroughly enjoyed.
But the pipe organ, in a fit Of reflex
action. completely baked the efforts
Of Prof. Thompson TO produce a com.
plete solo.
Judge Cox then introduced in a
few words the speaker Of the even.
ing, whose subject was: Daniel
Webster and P%uritanism." The dis.
course that followed was far from a
mere historical account. There was
shown how great a part the early
life Of Webster had in making his
name great. He had a mother OF
Puritanical ideas; all his youth was
passed amidst straitened clrcumstan.
ces. The hard cold In which his life's
impulses we're cast excluded all but
that which was worthy.
"reminiscences along these lines Of
his early life were cited. There were
hut three books in his home, among
which we're the Bible and Pope's Es-
say on Man. When twelve years old
he took a few pennies he had saved
up and purchased at the village
store a red bandanna handkerchief
Respondent with a flag Or one side
and an epitome Of the Constitution
on the other. The latter he thorough.
" memorized. Thus was shown the
early traits that later dominated his
life-the flag for patriotism and the
constitution rs the federal authority
In opposition to States rights.
Throughout the address the speak.
er contrasted the life Of Webster. the
product of New England's schools
(which taught "na~tionalism," Will,
that Of Calhoun, who had been taught
the south's doctrine OF STATES rights
With a great desire for an edu'
cation he finished college at nine
teen. two mortgages being necessary
on the old homestead to pay his way:
be himself teaching school vacations
and copying deeds nighttime 10 help
pay his expenses. At 30 he entered
congress and rose TO be the biggest
figure in Its midst at the age OF IS.
The greatest effort Of his life was his
reply to Calhoun upon the subject
LOT States rights In a speech OF six
hours duration. This, with his cele
brated Grafton at Plymouth. placed
him In the fore as Americas creates,
orator and debater.
He had his offsetting sins. howev'
er, chief Of which were that he drank
and seldom paid bis debts.
He died in 1852. some say OF a
broken heart because Of the then ap,
parent failure Of unionism, but Rev,
Waters In his opinion thinks that |,
was more due TO his moral defeat,
saying mo defeat but moral defeat
and no victory but moral victory
With his last breath he repeated three
times "The union still lives"-showins
now strong in death was the ruling
passion of his life.
Before beginning his lecture Rev,
Waters spoke a few minutes reminis'
Gently Of the time when he was one
t8f the students OF the University.