56 On the Campus 



never cease. If we cease our effort, the plant reverts, 

 goes back to the primitive crudeness of its wild state. 



And so in the problems of the soul. Human culture 

 for the individual concerns not youth alone; it goes on 

 through early manhood, and is maintained in latest age, 

 on ever- widening planes; and for the race it covers all 

 the centuries! Even the scholar is but a beginner, as 

 we know ; just one at school ; but he has made a begin- 

 ning, since he has learned to love all knowledge, and 

 every fine and noble thing; under continued favorable 

 environment, he shall come at length to all the fairest 

 display of cultured citizenship that his generation can 

 afford. 



For all these reasons these young people of the class of 

 1915 owe very much to Monmouth College much more, 

 indeed, than they now imagine. You shall meet your 

 obligations only by beginning, at this good beginning, or 

 commencement, hour, that life of cultivated manhood 

 and womanhood which illustrates to the fullest the cul- 

 ture for which your college stands, and by a service to 

 your country which shall be at once devoted, intelligent, 

 and continuous as life itself. 



The republic is in straits from day to day. To para- 

 phrase the words of Mr. Lincoln, we are to determine 

 whether a government founded as is ours, conducted as 

 is ours, conditioned as is ours, confronted by unheard-of 

 problems, social problems, industrial problems, political 

 problems, international problems, "can long endure." 

 The answer to that question is in large measure with the 

 class of 1915, the country over, as with the class of 14 

 and 16 and all the rest. To men and women of culture 



