Year: 1866

L


which has sprung up in connection with
our work, and which has characterized our


schooldom to the present time. The earnest,
/ aggressive spirit Of the enterprise has to a


great extent pervaded the body of our stu
dents-the spirit of work-an apprehension


that there is much to be done in the world


and that they are to help. 3


The prevailing spirit shows itself in the
discipline and order of the school. Our


work in this respect has often been a won


der TO ourselves, notwithstanding our large


numbers, ranging for thirty years from FIVE


hundred TO a thousand in attendance, with


governing force entirely Inadequate to


close personal surveillance and without any


effort to realize so close a supervision, we


have been favored with an unusual degree


of good conduct, of fidelity in duty, and in


terest in study. The instances calling for


disciplinary notice from a teacher have been


very rare \ word from a teacher in the


way of private suggestion has in general


proved to be sufficient. Among the multi


tudes of new comers IN the lower depart


ments it is not SO rare to find one who affords


no promise Of g successful course, and who


before the close of his probation is punished


with permanent leave of absence, but in


the regularly organized classes Of the col


lege and ladies' departments, numbering


from two to four hundred in constant attend


ance, such an event has not occurred on an


average more than once in five years. In


one instance at least period of ten years
or more expired without single exclusion


from these classes II is not because grave
offences against order and propriety have


been overlooked. They have not appeared.
A year has often passed without a single
case calling for disciplinary attention on
the part of the Faculty"


The President proceeded to speak of the
friendly and comparatively unceremonious
feeling existing between students and
teachers; of the absence of monitorial
surveillance, each pupil reporting his own
infractiohs Of rules of the exclusion of
the system of ''honors" and prizes of the
non-existence of secret societies and Of
the friendly feeling existing between the
several classes, in each of which respects
explaining the marked distinction be-
tween Oberlin and most university towns.


THE TYPE OF oBERLIN COLLEGE LIFE.


"In a word, the type of college society
and influence realized among US is like that
of well ordered general society, IN the re-
lations that subsist and in the influences it
generates. Students here are still members
of the community at large, and share in its
interests and responsibilities The irregu-
larities which occur are of the same kind
as those which may occur in any well-or-
dered community, and are not the disorders
peculiar to University town. These facts,
thus briefly stated, seem TO indicate some
unusual arrangement of educational forces,
yielding result in our judgment as desir-
able as it is perhaps unusual. 1t may be
supposed at first thought that these acknowl-
edged advantages of manly spirit and OF
college order have an ofset-that such an
symyathy with the outer world, in
volving a share in the duties of common
life, must be a drawback upon successful
study. 1t is not an unnatural thought that
upon study requires seclusion,
and that ordinary college life, taking the
student out from society, into a distinct
community devoted to the single purpose of
study, affords the conditions Of highest sue
cess. But in effect new society is thus in
stituted making equal if not greater de-
mands upon the thought and attention Of
the student. The excitements of ordinary
college society are not less, probably greater,
than in ordinary life. The matters of in
terest are not of themselves of weighty con-
ceTnJ but -4sSJ S'i-~-th hA-slaaa- nf- -xraiGhtr
matters. community OF students must
have something to expend thoir excitability





II the interests of the country are excluded
college politics will take their place, and
the little community is more deeply stirred
by the election of q president of literary
society than of president of the Republic.
II Is even questionable whether the presence
of graver matters would not consolidate the
character, and dispose to a better use of
time and opportunities. Study will be effec-
tive in proportion to the motives which in
duce it, and he who lives in sympathy with
the movements of the world and feels its
claims is most likely to give himself earn
estly to the performance of his work.


"But if there were an actual expenditure of
force required to maintain an interest in
these grave matters, il is by no means clear
that the expenditure would not be wise.
The College is place for education, not
merely for the acquisition of learning. If
a knowledge of books were the only requi-
site, perhaps a cloister would be better than
a College. But the great object is such a
discipline as qualities for service in the
world. Learning has its place, but it is to
be contemplated as an instrumentality, not
an end. Successful education must give
pswer and must use study for the develop
n ent of power. This power comes from
generous impulses and noble aims, a
knowledge of men and feeling of their
wants. a knowledge of God and sympathy
with His works. A human mind charged
with learning but without any kindling of
soul toward God or toward men, is not
power. The simplest heart that loves God
and pities men is mightier far. No one
over questions that a prevailing religious
influence is essential in any desirable sys-
tenn of education, and he who is educated
apart from any such moulding force, lacks
a prime clement Of power, not to speak of
the great loss to his own heart and charac-
ter. A similar power attaches to the rising
interests ofthe world to impress and ener-
gize the student. Humanity and religion
alike are needed to stimulate and inspire to
generous action. It cannot but be desirable
that these forces should operate upon the
character, during this moulding process of
education. Without this there must be
loss, and there is danger that it will become
That style. of student. life
which shall most naturally keep open the
great channels of sympathy with the great
interests of the world, ct the same time that
it brings the faculties under rigorous dis
cipline, must be the true ideal Thus the
forces which act upon the character in its
formation, are the same that will prevail
through life, the normal forces of society"


The President then took up the question
whether the aggressive spirit which
marked the early days Of 0berlin was
likely to be permanent, and in answer to it
enumerated the arrangements which have
formerly contributed 10 its existence, and
which still continue permanent. Among
them he noted the em6osoming of the col
lege, in a sympathizing christian commu
nifty, which received into its society and
brought under its influence all the students;
the joint education of the sexes the vast
" preparatory department." affording pop
ular education to those whose time and
means prevent them from taking a more
ambitious course; and to the custom of
oberlin scholars to teach during the winter
months, giving experience of labor and
taste of practical life. In this connection,
too, he spoke of the college department and
of 0berlin theolgy. We regret that we
cannot give our readers the benefit of these
por rtions of the address, clear and convine-
ing as they are, but our regret is less be-
cause the people of Northern Ohio are al
ready well informed upon the class of top
les which we have thus summrnized- The
relation of oberlin to the colored people
was thus referred to:


oBzRLIN AND THE ooLoREDIMAS.


"One other feature Of our work has brought
Us into connection with the world without
and has contributed to give direction to our
efforts. l refer TO the attitude of the college
toward the colored people of the land. II
is not necessary to review the history. This
one fact alone Of maintaining equal priv
ileges for the colored race would have saved
US from stagnation during the generation
mast. It has moulded the character of our
school in its general influence and left
lasting impression upon the vast majority
of the thousands that have been gathered