The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-05-29
Moorhead Department
VINCENT PLEASED
A GREAT CROWD
PRESIDENT or MINNESOTA U.
DELIVERED A MAsTERLY ADJ
DRESS BEFORE TWO GRADUATE
ING CLASSES ON THE LARGER
sELFlsHNEss-BIc CROWD.

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There was no deception in thu
warmth of the greeting extended BY
the people OF Moornead and the stu.
dents and faculty Of the Moorheac
Normal school to the distinguished
president Of the University Of Mime
sofa, DR.. George q. Vincent, who made
his first visit TO Moorhead last night
The occasion was to deliver the bac-
calaureate address to the members OF
the class of 1911. Accompanying the
normal class was the Moorhead high
school class which had been Invited
to attend by President Weld.
Every inch of space in the large au-
ditorium assigned to the general pub
lie was occupied-a building twice Or
three times as large would hardly have
been too large.
The music for the exercises was
furnished by the quartette choir of
the Moorhead Congregational church
and the exercises presided over by
President Weld, head of the Moorhead
Normal school Immediately preceding
the address the choir sang, Fear Ye
Not, o Israel, to an arrangement by
Sucker.
Grouped on the large stage were
the members of the normal faculty,
members of the Moorhead board Of
education, teachers of the Moorhead
schools, Judge and Mrs. G.. A. Nye,
Hon. S. @. Comstock, Mayor Davy DR..
Rindlaub Of Fargo, Rev. Fl. A. Herman
Of the Congregational church, Rev.
John Peterson of Trinity Lutheran
church and Rev. G. ID. Bostrom Of
the Bethesda Lutheran church, and
officials and citizens of Moorhead and
Fargo.
President Vincent was escorted to
the stage by President Weld and L. A.
Huntoon, resident director of the nor
NAL school succeeding C. A. Nye on
the latter's to the district court bench.
introducing President Vincent to his
audience, President Weld said Il am
confident that the people view with
satisfaction this early opportunity of
meeting the new president and head of
the state university and the cordial
welcome to him from this school and
community. / am sure that you all
share with me the desire that the ac-
quaintance that we people form here
tonight shall ripen into fruitful and
cordial relationship"
DR.. Vincent arose and at once
plunged into the discussion of the
theme of his address, The Larger Sell
fishness, Of which the following Is an
excerpt: 81 N
TT is human to make phrases and
to worship them. Men devise form
ulas and Technology to describe mys-
teries, and forthwith they look upon
these symbols of ignorance as marvels
Of wisdom. Thus we talk about
heredity and environment as though
these terms had a precise meaning,
when in reality they are only some
what more definite labels for the un-
known. The statement that bodies
gravitate toward each other by gravi-
tation affords an Illustration in point.
But this belittling Of terminology
may easily deceive us. The progress
Of knowledge consists largely In re-
stating more precisely old mysteries
and In the gradually narrowing of the
mystery to be explained. Phrases then
have great value when they are rightly
regarded.
Perhaps no two terms have caused
more confusion than the glibly spoken
words-selflshness and unself1shness,
which 1t is the fashion in certain quar-
ters TO translate into egotism and
altruism. Endless and futile battles
have waged over this pair OF terms.
1t Is easy to show that every human
act is in final analysis selfish. l. O.,
secures greater personal satisfaction
then refraining from 1t could afford.
In this sense the neanest miser and
tht resident In the social settlement are
actuated by selfish motives.
This cheap sophistry. Of course,
juggles with the word self. which is
simple enough conception until we be-
gin to define 1t. There is a philosophy
cal pure ego, and there In the sense Of
self, the concreee self, which each of us
knows. This self may be likened to a
group of concentric circles At the
center is minute contemplate self OF
appetites and narrow personal salts
factory then come expanding areas
which include a deep, intimate concern
AZ AANtCAl dA thAAA&Sy Al AdhAAAys NhC4l lAA
larger groups friendships, churches,
societies; then in the community, in
the nation, and finally In chosen few
that sense of solidarity with mankind,
with humanity conceived Of as trans
hitting the achievements Of the past
and pressing toward the ideals of the
future.
This sense Of self grows by social
contract by consciously widened sym
pathies. by bordering the great deeds
and high purposes OF our fellows, past
and present. Let us speak rather Of
the lesser and the larger seIfshness.
Loyalty and patriotism take on deep
err meaning when we state them In
these terms. Christ's sacrifice in this
view was not self -immolation; 1t was
the realization of the largest sense OF
self the world has ever known-the
ideal of widest and deepest personal
concern in every unit of mankind
President Vincent Saw the Cities.
Presidene vincent or tine state uni
versity did not lose moment, DUR
ing the several hours he was In the
city yesterday. He arrived just In
time for an informal dinner at the
home Of President Weld who had In
vited one or two intimate friends to
meet the university head. After the
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