72 BANQUET TO THE 



public education, which could only have been done 

 by the inspiration of such men as Mr. Wilder. He 

 is universally recognized as one of the foremost of 

 the standard-bearers in all this great educational 

 movement ; and one evidence of the vitality of this 

 educational current is the quarter of a million of 

 dollars which has been raised as a memorial fund in 

 honor of the late Professor William B. Rogers, the 

 first President of the Massachusetts Institute of 

 Technology. Mr. Wilder has been from the organ- 

 ization of this institution a constant attendant on 

 the meetings of the Government ; and to this day 

 his venerable presence encourages and animates 

 deliberation. 



My purpose, Mr. President, and Gentlemen, in 

 calling your attention to what seems to me to be 

 wanting as a link in the history of the life of our 

 honored friend. Is simply that you may be led to 

 look further for the foot-prints of Mr. Wilder; and 

 in so doing you will see the wonderful influence 

 which a single man exercises, when he takes hold 

 of the broad-axes of a State like the one in which 

 we live. 



