Year: 1877




como the lady students Of Hillsdal,
College to another year Of work. Ono.
again come before you 10 talk little
about this work OF ours. so that from
the very outset we may mutually real
ize more fully what IL demands OF us
for its proper accomplishment, and
what, in return. IL will do for us il We
perform il faithfully and well. Since
We separated for the long vacation. you
have scarcely been ont OF my thoughts,
and the meaning OF my duties here,
and the meaning OF these school days
and months and years TO you and yours
and to the world, their meaning for
time and for eternity has been borne in
upon me with vividness and an in
tensity that / never experienced be-
fore. II seems to me that must make
you see as I see the grand possibilities
that are before each one OF you; IL
seems to me that must make you feel
as feel the beauty. and the glory and
sacredness that should be about your
young lives; so that you may deem no
trouble too great and no care too par
ticular which will guide you most sure
ly to that destiny which is highest and
noblest and best. / see before me very
many who are, this term, students OF
Hillsdale College for the first time. /
do not know their names very well yet;
(though hope at no distant period,
not only to be acquainted with their
names but to be in sympathy with their
hopes and plans). but this do know,
that the day they entered Hillsdale
College was in all probability turning
point in their lives. Their career for
ever will be tinged by the influences
surrounding them here. They will go
away from here at the end OF one term
either better or worse than they came
Their standard will be raised, or il will
be lowered. The circumstances about
us are such that we manufacture char.
acter very rapidly indeed. We stamp
it rapidly. and we stamp il deeply with
inscriptions that eternity will not ef-
face. Now, how shall il be? Shall the
standard be raised; shall all these stu
dents 90 away the better for having
been here, or shall il be otherwise2
The answer 10 this question depends
upon every individual here. You are
responsible, and am responsible for
the influence that shall go out from
Hillsdale College. We are co-workers
in a common cause, and ID is the no.
blest cause in which man or woman can
ever engage; that OF elevating our
selves and others. We have n mutual
interest in everything that will advance
that cause; and that our labor may be
harmonious and united. that there may
be a perfect understanding between US,
l propose 10 speak 10 you from time TO
time upon matters closely connected
with objects that brings us together "a
q school. This work of ours has many
branches. II pertains 10 our intellec.
tual, 10 our moral, and 10 our physical
development. To-day, propose TO
speak particularly Of our duties 10 our
selves and to each other az connected
with our intellectual development, with
our studies, with the proper use and
protection OF our time, our health and
our strength.


First. Every student ought to appre-
ciate and accept these facts. While
she is in school, in order 10 make the
most of herself and OF her opportuni.
ties, her whole time and attention must
he fixed upon her studies and her
school duties. Whatever has a ten
dency TO divert her mind and distract
her attention is a positive obstacle in
the way Of her progress. She should
have nothing to do with general socie-
ty. She cannot afford il. The time
for that will come when her course OF
study is finished.


These are facts which are true for
every student in the school. Not one
can afford to ignore them. Every pa
rent in Hillsdale should know and act
upon them. But while we leave the re-
sponsibility in this matter with the pa
rents who reside here, 6s far as their
own daughters are concerned, we can
not avoid responsibility with respect 70
those daughters who are sent here by
their parents and committed to our
care. IL is, in many instances, at the
cost OF much sacrifice aud self-denial
in the home, that these girls are sent
away to school. Many and anxious
are the thoughts and prayers sent after
them by the dear ones toiling for their
sake; toiling that their loved children
may enjoy advantages and opportuni-
ties denied TO their own youth, per-
haps; and OH how eagerly do they
look and watch for the evidence that
these children are proving themselves
worthy OF all that 10 being done for
them.


have been moved more than can
tell, when some father or mother has
come 10 me and said, with trembling
lip, and moistening eve, I'VE are very
anxious for our child. We want her
10 do well. We want to ask You To
look after her very carefully. She is
very precious to US. IL would break
our hearts il she should not go right.
You will take good care OF herp We
trust her TO you.


You and know that such is the Ian
guage spoken or unspoken OF every pa
rents heart. and I have accepted the
trust reposed IN me, and have en-
deavored as far as has been in my pow
er TO fulfill this trust In the years
past, have sometimes found the most
earnest effort unayaihng, 10 prevent
girls from frittering away their time in
pursuits worse than useless, from be-
littling and lowering instead Of ele-
yating aud refining themselves; but
such cases, trust, have been the excep-
tion and not the rule; and pray that,
in the future, they may be utterly I'M
known. That they may be unknown,
there is something for each one OF us
10 do. We have 10 see TO il that snch
kind OF public opinion shall be form
ed, such a way OF looking at all things
shall exist in our community, ss shall
render il utterly impossible for a girl
to come among Us and not feel inhu-
ences all about her impelling her, fore
ing her 20 rise 20 n higher level in every
respect than she has ever attained be-
fore. / repeat il. Our work is 10
make Hi,lsdale College place TO which
no student can come without feeling
influences all about her, forcing her TO
rise 20 something better than she has
ever reached before. call il "our
work" II il ours; not my work alone:
not alone the work Of the Faculty; not
alone the work of the Faculty and the
students, but the entire community
has an interest and q responsibility In
ID, and I have asked our friends 10
meet with ne here 10 day, that they
nav listen 10 a statement Of just what
we are trying 20 do. so that, under
standing more fully our wants and
needs, they may be able intelligently 20
give Ms their sympathy ana their CO
/ operation. As / said, propose now %
speak particularly Of the necessity OF
/ taking proper measures To- ensure the