Daily Kennebec journal., 1925-06-15
Students Hear Sills
(Confinuad from Pana 0nsl

free. Nothing daunted him, not even
death on the Cross: and in all he did
because he did his Fathers will, he
| walked in perfect liberty. Perfection
OF course we cannot attain unto; but
| there 1t is for US to emulate.
Here then is the choice that comes
7 to every one not once but otter in
life-the choice between living in
freedom. reverencing his conscience
as his king. binding himself to some
great loyalties or following the road
that leads inevitably to domination
by prejudice and fear. Mankind,
1t has often been remarked, is divid-
ed int othese two classes; and it is
the men who are free who make for
the happiness and progress Of the
world. If may give homely illus
tration. one Of the poets who was
present at the Institute and who
gives a course in a neighboring COL
lege, told us that he gave his stu
| dents freedom to do their work when
and how they would; but when he
discovered that two of the members
of that class were shirking their
tasks. he said to them-"You have
forfeited your freedom; am going
to treat you as slaves; you will do
this and that and do 1t just as tell
you." He had discovered that in COL
lege as everywhere elsythere are the
two types.
Indeed we need more liberals in
our time-fewer conservatives, fewer
radicals. The tendency in the young
er generation is to go to extremes
to hate the lock step of uniformity
that often leads to a spirit that is
reactionary and repressive. The
staunch conservative is too often
dominated by fear Of change or loss.
The free man always dares.
Members of the Graduating Glass:
The most important lesson Bow
doin college has tried to teach you
is how to use, and not to abuse, your
freedom. You have been taught,
hope. that self expression whether in
art or poetry or in other business of
life. Is perfectly natural and entirely
healthful II 1t be chastened and con-
trolled by moral stamina. Many Of
the lessons learned in class room, la
boratory or lecture will fade quickly
from your memory; and 1t is not i'm
portant that they should stay with
you long. But it may not be vain to
hope that you carry away with you
something of the spirit the College
has tried to pour forth on you. You
have all been engaged in common
ways incompletely and inadequately
Of course in the search for truth. 1t
is long process; and If truth in its
entirety were ever found the quest
would cease. And in that search, II
IN science. you have learned the force
of law. II in history the lessons of
experience, If In literature or art, the
controlling power Of beauty-but in
each and every branch of knowledge
you have had brought home to you
liberty within the law, the perfect
freedom of service. For freedom is
not merely letting yourself go; it is
letting yourself go in great cause
1t is the feeling that you must be
free, you must be independent in or
der to give yourself and all your ef-
forts to some desired end. And that
liberal spirit OF the College. If it
would, would infuse into you all; so
that YOU should go forth as free not
using your liberty as the cloak of
maliciousness but as servants of
God. And may you learn the great
est of all paradexes that Gods SER
vice is here and forever perfect
freedom.
more to prize
Than all the gold in world that Is"