The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-06-11

lege life. The number of studies, the
 extent and the breadth of the curricu-
 lum, are not so essential as the quality
 and the tone of instruction. The stu
 dent must be able to speak with as- surance and thus meet the demands for thoroughness and accuracy"
 Buildings, libraries. apparatus and general equipment are important but the most essential thing Is a strong teaching force The we'll equipped teacher, plus strong and well formed character. will always insure results that will claim the approval and ad- miration of the thoughtful I am sure you will agree with me that when you decided to come to the Southern Uni versity for the advantages of higher education you made no mistake. The task you have performed is by no means an easy onea It requires earn est. persistent and diligent application. but the pleasure that comes from Knowing and the conscious assurance Of ability to render service Is ample compensation for all the effort put forth to say nothing of the rewards. The horizon of your intelligence has been extended and you now have vision of life its responsibilities, it's duties. It's possibltes you never dream ed of before you began your college career.
 The true college life means infinitely more to the student than what he learns from books; there come to him aspiration and Inspiration. noble and cofnmendable ideas in lofty purposes,
 that prepare him for his life mission and enable him to contend successfully
 with the sterner realities of life that
 he may prove a benediction to his fell
 lowmen and the world in general may
 each of you render that service in life
 at home in church and state that your
 excellent advantages and equipment
 warrant us to expect. Unfortunately
 many in this day and time when the
 demand is coming with increased em-
 phasis for well equipped men in all
 of the activities of life are looking for
 short cut to obtain a college educa-
 tion. This is a serious mistake for a
 Toung man to make.
 Whatever a man soweth that he shall also reap. As true in the intel lectual and moral world as in the na- tural. If you would accomplish the greatest good possible. you must care- fully observe the laws of mental growth. When you turn to the intel lectual giants of the past. you will find that they spent from ten to fifteen years In earnest college and university work and continued their intellectual pursuits throughout life. Arminius spent about thirteen years in the unI- versailles of Europe before he began his active life. and though he died at the age of 59. he left behind him work on theology that ranks him with the greatest minds of the past. and exerts an influence today in the Christian world that is more far-reachfng than is the work of any other author. Paul who left this impress upon the world as did few other men, was a student In the celebrated schools of Jerusalem for fifteen years.
 You should not expect to become an intellectual giant in a day, nor should you blame the Lord for any lack of talent until you have devoted as many years to college study as Armin- ius and Calvin, Augustine and Wesley, Luther and Paul. If you would do a great work in the world, fulfill the in- telleetual conditions that will make you outgrow your fellow men. that will give you a distinct personality and an extensive knowledge of men and things enriched by a wider vision than you have ever had, that you may understand the true philosophy of life lnd with your rare Accomplishments. lelp cibers to understand it and thus make your life benediction to the world.
 '"rhe work of your education is not complete. Let me impress this fact upon you with all the earnestness of my soul: You are just ready for gradu-- ate and research work. Continue in a systematic way your intellectual pur- suits with great earnestness. Never cease to study; when you do you cease to grow mentally and will grad ually lose your mental vision. If you prove to be genuine lovers of knowl- edge, as I have reason to believe you will, you will find much pleasure in holding communion with the great and good men of the past, as well as those of the present, and your chief pleasure will be to revel not in the polluted at- of human depravity, but in the clarified and elevated atmosphere of pure thought and philosophy, and will be enabled to solve life's problems and learn with Paul to be content in whatsoever state your lot may be cast: not content to do nothing and to be but content to make the very best of your lot whatever 1t may be, for herein Is the true philosophy of life.
 Beloved students, now graduates of the Southern University we have jour neyed pleasantly together for four years, and with some of you even a longer time but now we must part and go some in one direction and some in another, but there Is much comfort in the realization of the fact that we are pound together with strong bond that nas grown stronger as the years have | passed, and which, we trust, will never | be broken. Remember that whatever betides you, your alma mater will | watch with keenest interest your ca- | reer. and will never cease to feel the | greatest interest in your welfare. May |