988 
GLASGOW VETERINARY COLLEGE. 
And, gentlemen, I narrate these facts in order that I may, 
from their consideration, draw a moral, and it is this : — However 
dark and disheartening the circumstances may he, provided the 
desire of the heart is earnestly set on the accomplishment of an 
object, and provided it is physically possible, morally right, and 
religiously good, it can, with perseverance and time, become more 
or less an accomplished fact. 
Many, or at all events not a few young men, commence life 
halting between two opinions almost on every point of duty and 
life, and as a consequence, then, attempts at progression are lame 
and impotent. “To be or not to be, that is the question?” and 
should always be followed by a decisive response from the heart 
and the head. Shall I be a veterinarian, a minister, a doctor of 
human medicine, or any other of the many professions we might 
name? It is certain you cannot be all of them. You may be one 
of them, and one profession earnestly pursued is enough for most 
men. You have, then, fixed the choice, we presume, by your 
presence here to-day ; and we hope you have been led to the 
selection after much serious thought and earnest consideration. 
And now that you have voluntarily enrolled yourselves as mem- 
bers of our corps, we trust that you will conduct yourselves as 
good soldiers ; and in order to do so you must scrutinise yoiir 
thoughts and weigh well your actions. Many students seem to 
think that College days are, and were intended to be “ fast”— 
that is, to be spent frivolously, thoughtlessly, or even wickedly. 
Now, my young friends, you have no time to spend thoughtlessly 
on trifles, and why would you waste your strength — the golden 
period of your short life on earth — in the pursuit of wickedness? 
Kemember, “ a well-spent youth makes a happy old age.” and 
that “ those who sow to the flesh shall of the flesh reap corrup- 
tion.” Again, my advice to you is, subject your conduct and 
your action to three tests — the physical, the moral, and the reli- 
gious. To the physical, in order that your time and energies 
may not be misspent, running after a phantom — striving to lay 
hold on that which is beyond your reach ; to moral law, in order 
that your conduct may be respectful, brotherly, affectionate, and 
worthy of imitation in the sight of all men ; to the religious, in 
order that you may have grace given you “ to live the life of the 
righteous and die the death of the godly.” It is not enough that 
a man be a good moralist. A keen sense of the preservation of 
life and health may guide him in such a course, but the unerring 
guide to all actions is love to Grod. 
Trusting that those among my hearers whom I have the honour 
to call students will endorse the sentiments I have expressed ; 
trusting that they have selected their profession after much 
serious thought, and in the spirit and after the standard of test I 
have endeavoured to pourtray, I am now prepared to offer to the 
first year students more especially a word or two of advice. 
In the race of life, gentlemen, there are two motives which 
generally urge young men onwards, and ultimately carry them 
