10 



this College raised to a higher dignity and a wider sphere of useful- 

 ness. If, however, from any cause these should fail, then the duty 

 will devolve upon our people to supply the deficiency either by 

 public aid or private munificence. 



Railroads and other public improvements are of great use and 

 benefit to the country, and the people have manifested their high 

 appreciation of them by freely voting State, county and municipal 

 aid for their construction and maintenance; but how insignificant in 

 importance appears the growth and development of these temporal 

 conveniences of man when compared to the education and elevation 

 of his immortal mind? They are but the creations of the mind, and 

 why should the creature be worshipped while the creator is neg- 

 lected ? Why strew all our votive offerings upon the altar of Baal, 

 who is of the earth, earthy, and crumbles to decay, and minister not 

 to the divinity within us which has immortality for its being and 

 eternity for its portion ? I have an abiding faith that when our 

 people begin to understand the inestimable benefits which they 

 may realize from this College they will rally to its support, and that 

 in time it will become, what of right it ought to be, the great 

 popular educational institution of the industrial classes of Virginia. 

 I shall hope to see the barriers which poverty rears in the pathway 

 of deserving youth broken down and obliterated, and education here 

 made as free as the glorious mountain air which surrounds and per- 

 vades it. Yes! 1 would have 'graven upon its loftiest pinnacle, in 

 characters of living light, " Whomsoever will let him come and par- 

 take of the waters of life freely." 



To you, the learned gentlemen composing the first faculty of this 

 institution, 1 tender words of thankfulness and cheer thankfulness 

 for what you have already accomplished, and cheer at the prospects 

 before you. The future is radiant with promise. You have care- 

 fully watched over and nurtured the infancy of this College; may 

 you be spared to guide its youth and matnrer years. 1 know of no 

 higher or holier calling than yours. The teacher of youth is the 

 moulder of the civilization of his time. He not only instills those 

 great physical and moral principles which underlie the social fabric> 

 but fashions the immortal soul for time and eternity. 



"'Tis education forms the common mind, 

 Just as the twig is bent the tree's inclined." 



But it is presumptuous in me, perhaps, to even suggest the ex- 

 treme delicacy and tremendous import of your duties and respon- 

 sibilities. I do so more to manifest my own appreciation of them 

 than to impress you with any new convictions or loftier purposes. 



