22 MICHIGAN STATE AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE 



or statesmanship, or philanthropy, or religion. It may be 

 because they will have more genius than you — but more prob- 

 ably because they will have more industry, more resoluteness, a 

 higher purpose. 



Revolving very often in my mind during my many years of 

 college experience the question of the relative importance of 

 the moral and the intellectual factors in the product which we 

 call success in life — success of a high order I mean — I have 

 come to the deliberate conclusion that they stand in the ratio 

 of at least three to one, that saying nothing about heaven above 

 and the life hereafter, the worth of a man or a woman here and 

 now is one part intellect and three parts affection, conscience, 

 and will. Has one a brilliant mind? With adequate moral 

 force behind it and within it, it becomes a mighty power ; not so 

 consorted and energized it avails little. Are you conscious of 

 having only moderate intellectual gifts? You can triple their 

 momentum by aid from the moral side of your nature if that is 

 true and strong. But some of you may say, "I do not aspire 

 or care to be a leader of men. I am content to slip into an easy 

 place and go through life without ambition or struggle or 

 prominence. ,, It is too late for you to choose that position. 

 It is shut against you. In accepting the great trust of a liberal 

 education, in consenting to receive from society this loan of 

 leisure and seclusion, and the costly appliances of study, you 

 have undertaken a great responsibility which you cannot now 

 throw off. Noblesse oblige. You are hereby called of God to 

 service, to influence, to the labor and dignity of leadership. 

 Your college expects this of you. It will be disappointed if you 

 do not, in some sphere, do some effective, helpful, honorable 

 work. Your Alma Mater will rejoice with the great joy at 

 once of self-congratulation and of sympathy when she hears 

 of such good work done by you. Go with her blessing and 

 prayers and come again to receive her felicitations and to join 

 with her in thanksgivings. 



