The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1911-04-11

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moral standard under the direction OF
the honored. respected. loved and
worthy principal. Joseph L Wiley. who
has so magnifcently manifested the
faith that i in him by his works. and
such kindred institutions. the negroes
of this country must look for leader
ship, counsel and guidance. You have
qualified yourself TO teach, 10 lead 10
be an example. and thereby YOU have
increased your responsibility 10 a civ
ilized world and particularly to the ne
gro race. When you have finished your
course here. your more important task
has just begun. The spirit that mad its
abode in the heart OF that great ben
efactor of the negroes OF Marion coun-
~. and for whose memory especially
are we assembled today 10 pay tribute g
or respect and to erect a monument
testifying to our devotion. love and
esteem. This tender plant that was
set by his love for mankind must be
yigilantly tended by your activity.
nourished by your loving affections.
pruned OF all vicious hinderances by
Christian hands. and YOU must do ii.
Ny friends. / do not come to cast
you bouquets that perish with the day
or with words OF fulsome praise for
your great attainments. but with the
opportunity TO see, observe and know
the condition Of the negro. bring him a
message Of truth a l see it, advise.
counsel with him, rejoice with him on
this happy occasion. give him the hand
OF announcement and sympathy. and
stimulate him to renewed exertion
If the truth, as / see X and utter
to you, should sting, remember IL il
the spirit of Christian love that
prompts it. l come not To please nor
Halter. but 10 testify from experience
for your good. | feel honored more
than | can express To YOU for this op-
portunity TO participate in these eXer-
ciseS. / am deeply Interested in your
welfare. advancement and success. and
share with YOU the great responsibility
that rests upon you. | extend to the
young men and women my deep sym
pathy in the great task that is set be-
fore them. The negro race Is depend-
ing on you. The burden of their vic
iousness. Incidence and crime You
must carry. The unaided spirit OF :
L. Fessenden cannot do ii all. You
must not. you cannot. like the Indian.
become the wards OF this nation As
we gaze upon this magnificent monu-
ment we are filled with satisfying and
comforting hope that the negro will
work out his own destiny. He is pro-
crossing and most satisfactorily in
many ways. The hand that has steadied
YOU as you learn TO walk cannot be on
you through life. Sometime you must
walk alone.
This magnificent monument. this
we'll proportioned Carnegie library with
oil %
proud Douglas hall, your academic
chapel, the completion of your propos-
ed new dormitory, all may become
stumbling blocks in the path of pro-
Sress if not properly applied.
You must work out your own saliva
ton. Remember the truth of the state
ment that every man is the architect
of his own fortune. \ field of oppor-
tunity and usefulness opens up to you.
Cultivate it, keep the weeds down and
fortunate of your race. There are many
dangerous places for your feet to trod.
filled with the quick sands of decep-
ton. Ignorance and superstition. The
intelligent Christian negroes must be
at the helm TO guide the ship. There
are hidden dangers that lurk about
your path and the pilots must be on
the lookout all the time Temptations
are going TO beset you on all hands
You are going to be battered and
tempted to enter fields Of dangerous
experiment that may prove disastrous
to you. As teachers and leaders do not
take up the idea that you are so far
ahead Of your race as to be out OF
sight, for when out of sight you are
out OF touch and when out of touch
YOU are out OF sympathy. We that are
strong must bear the inhrmities of
those that are weak. You who have
been helped must in turn give your as
Sistance 10 your weak brothers. II
you have not gratitude. YOU have not
properly graduated from this inStitu-
tion. To teach does not mean simply
TO get a book and hear a recitation.
WHAT | mean i for you TO teach in
that manner and also by example
Teach like some Of the negroes that
have been raised with in Marion coun-
~ are teaching. Teach a lesson like
Reuben Mitchell has and is teaching.
who started in the printing office Of
our distinguished and worthy veteran
in journalism. the Hon. F r Harris
who honors us with his presence. Like
Frank Gadson has taught: like old I.
r. IupHld~. the Olu carpenter OF my
little boy days. his son. Robert ! think
i his name These are some that have
walked down the road Of life side by
side with me for the past forty wears.
hand in hand and heart in heart. These
and scores Of others are among the ne
eroe> whom / class "a my personal
friends and for whom 7 have a high re-
gard and esteem their friendship. !
only mention a few because they reach
back covering a period OF forty years
Should I undertake TO enumerate the
whole list Of negroes who are entitled
TO the same classification a those
whom I have mentioned. with the
single exception Of time OF my ac-
quaintance. Your patience. tho great.
would not endure nor time OF this Oc-
casion suffice.
To yJu. my young negro students Of
FesSeuder: 10 YOU who have had the
opportunity that this institution at
foris. and especially the benefit OF the
association. influence and example Of
the present principal. whose devotion
% duty. untirin= energy. constant
Christian character. mas won for him
the confidence. the respect and esteem
Of his follow citizens OF all classes.
who has stood az the helm OF this in
M the course during is renderest in
fantile life, and made possible its pres
ent credi-able atta:amenrs. Il was the
response TO his appreciation OF the
work OF Mr.. Fe-senden tha: lis first