The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1919-06-26
To Aid in Celebration of the
Semi Centennial of Cod
dard Seminary
ANNIVERSARY EVENTS
CARRIED OUT TO-DAY
DR.. John B. Ridlon, '72, Of
Chicago and Pres. Charles
H. Darling Speakers

'sANN
United States, 60 this morning in
the assembly begin their 5oth
anniversary IS literary and speak
ing program 81 informal reception for
a half a. i or so brought together
many assmates who had not seen
each c~A~ for years. The principal ad-
dresses were made by DR.. John b. Ridlon
of Chicago, who belonged to one Of the
first classes, that of ~, and Hon. Charles
H. Darling of Burlington, president of
the board of trustees. The anniversary
poem, which was excellent and brought
great applause, was written and read by
Eva Skinner Blake, 70, of Meredith. n
H. The memories and new outlook
brought by these speakers made it truly
Goddard's golden jubilee.
The program opened with music by
Cleaves' orchestra, followed by prayer
offered by Rev. John B. Reardon of this
city Mayor E. c. Glysson of Barre
welcomed the many out-of town visitors,
thing that they had come to represent,
the 50th anniversary of the school, He
bade them make themselves at home
here and let the people of Barre do what
was in their power to make them com
Portable.
Professor o. K Hollister then an
nounced with regret that the next speak
er, DIR. Milo B. Hillegas of Montpelier,
had not arrived and would not be able
to be with them till the banquet which
followed the exercises.
In announcing Hon Charles H. Darling
of Burlington, president of the board of
trustees, Mr.. Hollister spoke of the close
connection OF Tufts and Goddard and
the Importance Of Mr.. Darling's position
among them, as he was a Tufts man
Mr.. Darling, in speaking on the special
work that Goddard can do and is doing,
began by contrasting its purpose with
that of the public school. 1t was at one
time only one of the chain of seminaries
in Vermont that supplied education to
the young. But as the public school had
grown these seminaries had waned. God
dard was one of the few that remained
Although many people claim to-day that
such institutions are not necessary, it Is
not so. They deal with their own special
class of students.
In democratic government ii is the
class that counts. The individual is
overlooked. Things are operated that
they may bring the greatest good to the
greatest number. In the exercise of de.
mocracy the best are hampered and the
poorer are neglected The public school
is run on democratic lines, lining up the
students in classes according To age.
This makes two minorities, those who
are brighter than the average and those
who have not education soon enough and
are, therefore, not up to their class. To
such as these Goddard is public relief
station, not in the sense that il is an
asylum for those who cannot enter pub
lie schools, but for those who, on account
Of some disadvantage, need individual
attention 1t is founded on the same
principle that Cornell enunciated when
he founded his famous university, "A
school where all men can learn all
things" 1t gives the 10 per cent who
are neglected by democracy chance.
Such school must have vision and its
vision is to keep up the standards of
the school, to work alone independent Of
public schools and independent of legis-
ative appropriations. to give individual
education to those who need it, to offer
boys and girls preparation for college
and for life and to keep it from Ian
gushing by making it a great and grow
ing institution.
DR.. Peirce Unable to Attend.
After him came Miss Bessie Il. Brown,
0s. of BrookIine, Mass, who sang very
beautifully, "Sink, Red Sun del Reigol
and ELF and Fairy" (Densmore and
then responded to an encore Professor
Hollister spoke OF DIR. Arthur w. Peirce
as one of his teachers and teacher OF
many of those present. A telegram two
DAYS ago told them that DR.. Peiree would
not be able to be with them as he was
i'll, and the alumni present voted to send
him telegram expressing their sym
pathy and hope for his speedy recovery.
Anniversary Poem.
The anniversary poem, which related
delightfully."- things that were in Goddard
in the past and the hopes and ideals of
Goddard students that had come to pass
in its growth was read by Eva Skinner
Blake, 70. She said in verse that the
alumni had come back in reunion toe
bring word of praise to Goddard lt
.had grown in wisdom and hope since
their time, but it was their hope that she
still cared for them. Goddard has now
become almost the ideal of their early
dreams. II is bringing together Il per-
feet whole in its out Of doors, its teach
ing of truth and ethics, its brotherhood
its training in home making and bus-
ness methods and its training for life,
What the future may have in store for
it is not to be seen, but students who
attended before the days of telegraphs
and Mary Pickford are prepared for any
thing They are proud Of their part and
rejoice in the future. They toast ~,
10 and all the other classes with firm
conviction that Goddard will go on to
lead and that people will say, "Ah, from
Goddard, and Goddard is good"
DR.. Ridlon's Address.
Another musical number, by CIeayes
orchestra, followed Then DR.. Ridlon OF
the class of ~. introduced by Professor
Hollister as "the youngest of them all in
spirit" told something of the old days
of Goddard and its aims under the title,
ideals, Past and Present" He said
that he came to Goddard in 1870 from
the old Barre academy He managed
three years course in two years and then
left for Tufts, much to the relief of the
powers that were" for he had been very
strenuous in those days, introducing box.