The Progressive West Virginian. [volume] (Williamson, W. Va.) 1911-1913, 1912-12-12
NOUS sources Of energy and @lnterleo

nous sources Of energy and inteIle6-
tuality. have contributed to endow you
with their splendid faculties, the pow.
er to do. the power to think, and the
power to utter thought N simple
speech. and, concomltantly, to no PEG.
pie In the Union has descended 80
great a responsibility as has come
down to us
!: More than in any other State Of the
Republic are we ethnically a homo.
genious PEOPLE, 80 per cent Of our pop.
ulation being descended from Reyolu
tionary stock. and less than per cent
| being foreign born. while OF negroes
| the percentage Is even less.
While geographically we have the
divers watersheds Of the Potomac and
the Monongahela, the New River and
Great Kanawha, the Guyandotte and
the Big Sandy, and the great Ohio
their separating mountain ranges and
their divided valleys, against which to
contend for these obstacles OF nature
have long kept wide apart our people
yet, since we are so closely knit to-
gether In race and origin and In the
common inheritance of our lucid
speech. the time has surely come when
the close-knitttng ties OF common ira
ditions and like aspiration shall give
US that unity as people which is so
all-essential, In order to assure us the
greatness to which we feel ourselves
entitled as a State
Therefore 1t is that would like to
see kindled In the breast of every
man and woman. In every young man
and maid, In every boy and girl of
this Commonwealth, a sentiment for
cohesion and solidarity among our peo
pie as West Virginians And would
flank and buttress that sentiment and
feeling with pride and affection In the
splendor Of our traditions, In the price
less worth of the manhood and woman
hood which We have Inherited from
our Colonial and Revolutionary fore
bears; In the nobility OF our lucid
tongue, In the promise Of our glorious
future.
This is my second message: Be as
great In character, in energy Of body
and fearlessness OF spirit as the men
and women from whom you arc
sprung and whose tongue you speak, |
and love your State with proud
heart, for YOU are verify a chosen PEG
pie, with the seal OF a great destiny
lpon your hrows you are West Vir
ginlansl
Appeals TO Wesleyan. Students.
And now 1t is that would speak +
word with you concerning this nobIesl
Institution Of learning West Virginia /
Wesleyan College. We know your his.
tory; your early establishment In the I
days of small things your devotion
to high ideals; quality rather than
quantity having been your aim; your /,
Gosssant struggle against what
seemed at times unConquerable odds;
your present emergence like a new
born star from the dim distances OF
uncertainty and doubt; your present
secure position as a compact and eff.
Client organization under the leader
ship Of the great man at your head
and his staff Of devoted lieutenants,
backed by the growing power. OF the
most militant, self-sacrlficing and po-
tent Christian organization of the
twentieth century the mighty Meth.
odist Church
Belonging to our own chosen peo-
Pile. West Virginian In blood and bone
and spirit, this institution lives In or
uer 70 Interpret ana transmit TO the
young men and young women Of this
State that fine spirit which knits us
here together and makes all West Nir-
CLANS kin; and ! recognize, 1t in my
heart and brain that you VIII ever con-
tinue to live up to the highest ideals
and loftiest. practices and will make
yourselves and make West Virgni
Wesleyan College the exemplar of trI