Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-09-10
President Delivers Address at
South Dakota State College,
Receiving Degree.
ASSISTS IN DEDICATING
LIBRARY TO LINCOLN
Stop at Brookings Is Brief-Spe-
cial Train Then Resumes
Journey to Washington.
BY j. RUSSELL YOUNG.
STAFF Correspondent of The Star.

BROOKINGS, s. Oak, September 10.
If the life of this Nation is to rise
to higher realm the institutions of
learning must provide adequate spirit.
ual influences well as the means for
education, President Coolidge declared
in an address here today at exercises
marking the dedication of the Lin
coin Memorial Library of the South
Dakota State College.
Amplifying this appeal for spiritual
influences in connection with educa-
ton, the President stated that colleges
will fail in their duty to their students
unless they are able to inspire them
with a broader understanding of the
spiritual meaning of science, Of litera-
ture and of the arts. He expressed
the opinion that institutions of learn
ing are important, not only because of
the economic results which have ac-
crued from them, but even more be.
cause of their spiritual value. and for
that reason, he contends that Ameri-
can institutions must be dedicated to
a high purpose.
Spiritual Reality Index.
"All of our science and all Of our
arts will never be the means for the
true advancement Of our Nation, will
never give us civilization and cul-
ture of any worthy and lasting i'm
portance," Mr.. Coolidge offered as an
additional argument for spiritual in
f1uence in education. unless we are
able to see in them the outward mani
festation of a spiritual reality"
Not only did the President deliver
the dedicatory address on this oc-
casion, but he received from the State
college an honorary degree of doctor
of laws, and before leaving the
grounds, he and Mrs. Coolidge placed
a memorial stone in the foundation
wall for the new Sylvan Theater on
the college campus. which is to be
called hereafter the Coolidge Sylvan
Theater.
There was a great crowd assembled
on the college grounds to acclaim
the President and to look on and
listen during his participation in the
ceremonies. Virtually all of the
State officials and members Of the
State Legislature, as well as others
prominent in the State. were pres
ent. c. w. Pugsley Of this State,
former Assistant Secretary of Agri-
culture, as president of the State COL
lege, presided. In explaining the ap-
library in honor of the memory Of
Abraham Lincoln, Mr.. Pugsley ex-
planned that Lincoln was really the
founder of laDd-grant colleges. He
said also that it was particularly
fitting, that Calvin Coolidge, the first
President to establish a Summer
Capital in the West, should dedicate
the first building at land-grant col.
lege to be named for Lincoln, because
he supported and signed in 1926 the
act of Congress which gave the land
grant colleges additional funds for
research and experimental work in
agriculture.
South Dakota Lauded.
The President opened his address
with a tribute to the tremendous
strides made by South Dakota dur
ing the brief period since it was
admitted to statehood, adding that
these wonderful accomplishments are
only typical OF the growth and prog
ress of the entire West and that the
West is only typical Of the growth
and progress of America. He then
reminded his vast audience that "in
communities such as these" the cause
of education has never failed to hold
a very high place; that the impor-
tance attached to it is signified by the
fact that in the country at large
nearly three-fifths of all local taxes
are expended directly or indirectly
for education"
At this point the President declared
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