356 College Hill Commencement. [August, 



that created forms. To fortify this position, the golden age of 

 English literature was thoroughly scanned to find out by what process 

 of mental culture these English scholars were enabled to elaborate 

 and give embodiment to thoughts that have constitued the theme 

 texts from that day to this. It was found, with scarcely an excep- 

 tion, that they were thoroughly versed in Grecian and Roman 

 literature. But if the scholar can not go back to their original 

 points, let him become familiar with the genius of the 17th century; 

 with the MiLTONS, Shakspears, Howes and Hookers — ■' the 

 Patriot Saints in literature and religion." But if this can not be 

 done study our own literature — study the Bible — study nature; 

 to do this latter you need not go abroad for inspiration ; we have 

 the material for the chipping out of a literature as original and 

 unique as ever fell to the lot of any other people under Heaven. 

 In whose mind slumbers the Itcaxt ideal of the thing — and who is 

 the artificer of adequate bone and muscle to block it out ? Another 

 leading thought was this — to attain rewards of appreciation the 

 mind must go beyond the outward form of things — the seen — the 

 shadow; and hold communion with the unseen — the substance ; the 

 one "temporal," the other "eternal." 



The address to the Board of Trustees, near the close, was digni- 

 fied and manly, at the same time with marked respect for that remark- 

 able body. The whole was pervaded with the spirit of Christianity. 

 It antedated a Christian age, when religion and the arts shall be 

 joined in bands of holy wedlock, and the products of the union 

 shall be such models of beauty as no age has yet projected. 



This meagre sketch does no justice to the speaker or the address. 

 We have no desire to eulogize either — it is not our aim ; it would 

 be an offence to the good sense of any Christian scholar. It was an 

 admirable feature of the address that the speaker lost himself in 

 his subject — there was no assumption of wisdom — not one word of 

 self-adulation, or what he could do, or would do, as though his 

 predecessors had left anything undone that his superior wisdom was 

 to rectify. The only allusion made to himself was, that he entered 

 upon his duties with profound difiidence in his own abilities and a 

 deep felt necessity of the cordial support of his associates in the 

 Faculty, in the Board and the community, and above all, His sup- 

 port in whose hands are the destinies of all men. 



The reference to the founders of this College, and those who had 

 filled with marked ability the chair he was soon to occupy — some 



