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SI. JOMS COLl...
ANN.~ POLIS. iv·
or
Your cour
acad mical studi s 1
with t stimonia
nd
no• finieh
of m rit , of wht ch I hop
no subs
part
y
u
t conduct
...
prov you unworthy.
u1re th t I
s to r
pr s nt occ sion; and as
on th
<:£ a partin;?, fri
the advic
r
hould
lat I shall no · e
'18¥ be considered
,
d, I hop it will b
ards to you
rec iv d with kind
reg d
it ie inde d dicta.t • by
att ntion, a
ltar •
Cours
now finish d -
ro
Ditf r nt vi ws '
nd. yo1..-r
d
or
knowl dge of
dif1' r nt pur
particular
n2.!.:. to be laid;
o
rcus
r
industry,
; . ·.;
for
or
s5ion cho
or
a us .f\: 1 lit
n. t.o
to di ch r"'
cquir
ciuti
t.
, o: ht, · nd I trust,
ard to your future pur
11 b
b
hich
its, I hoD
bust
ea.ch
o
ht
a thoro
or it
h
th
your 1-.ud
ill b
it ting
p rhaps than to any ditf n::nc
r atur
pric
or
g nious, m
are indebted
at
haa wi~ ly o dain d th t not.h · n.,
cquir d without labour .
v ry thin ; and t
so f ortUT'-
uit d to th
h.i.s :ir:.d.
ental sup riorit.y .
is to be
for
turn
plan o
•
to apply to th· t,
peculi
lv
bl
~o..
conduct.
our ii.r1
its must no
tt ttion.
to b
a::i
billt1 and hono lT to ywr
ith
_onials not un torthy -
01te busi.r..ess or pro
ich,
abl
t st
for your i\ltur•
sir
h
has appoint d . price to b
of i . rove :-.ant and su
p id
riour knowl ... d
is
�..: 2 -
evere study and serious att ntio •
is not to b
Eminenc
ci nc
1
st r solv
th
or prof
sion
would wi h to
purchas d on low r t r
nt s,
must cheri
in any
~
nd sur ly ev ry
to· xcrt all th
n rous mind
m
powers of his
rd.our a.rxl st dy ers ver nee. Fr t i fi
r solution,
opiat1.: ct
e
n ith r the blandi.Bhments of sloth nor tho S<;ductive blandiehm nts ot
with unaba.ti
pl asur
should
v r draw him as.id •
to their enerv :ti
h
quic kl.y lo
r
idly
s
us ful and orn
I ho
str
r lax
th r fore that your
ental knowled'"'e will b
constant
· b red that studious dill
it
h
wi 1h much toil, and is
at
th th
one
and yi lda
ID rows a bo t against th cur r nt ,
n
r, like th
p
r
For i
nc
t 1 ngth carri d
ertions to acquire
n1 unr n:itt.in •
und r th
dir ction
r
ulti s'
uppli
its d
r
cts
.d exalts it
c
atl.y to
contribut
w s !or
petition
t t
ot
spirit
the principal wi h
It will never r
uld b
of his f vour1t
or
very
t eat.1sfi
t ~ con
your
a tuppy
x rtion
ch of
ntal fr
lich
e.
It
Tully of rer · up his f rv nt
patron
a; and this ou
n rous mind; that pants aft r
siduity.
t to b
c llenc •
To
t of
hat a h
1n
c , this
e t natural abilities, carried Cicero, you al.1
; and such a model const
fail to hav
8.
wi tb
uence of
spirit joined ind ed to
will kn
bodily and
p rpetual industry th
shrin
xc llenci
and moderate xercise;
trength n both th
·and
n to that of th
or is it 1 as friendly to th h alth of the rl.ni
body, Mi n att nd
ot
It t
.mind.
nlarges its
Let
cannot
tly propo
rt ct on yoo.r oo nduct
d for i
tati on could not
nd studies.
a.rd quick n yrur p rs v ranc · rou
It will
yo..1r minds tro
te
th
�.;.. J -
or o:f sloth
1
th a nobl aadour to
!ill th
him.el!
in his pro
Lf'ul
th
ar
or
b st use
trust
rutur
;
con
d
It i
ti
h
uenc
an<1 h
of p"'rvert <1 ctivi
pin
s.
re
s and trilling,
to b
c r fully
of
incapabl
By their b
or it.
ence cru Uy cii
- poirt.ed;
ilst t
a an obj ct or cont
ng
that h ev r pl
sorr<>
ncl
iel
d
prop .. s
th
s dwtiv
art.
bitt m ss of
s
ref r
in
!¥!
ut. altho th
on
s
ho
!utur
sinks into
or be as ur
r fore you ill al ay
,
net 1
b
o
tion to
v
v n your
rat
epur of
will, I am pe rauaa
e
nning th ir latter
ch
to this end.
. invi
the
Tl y
faire t pro
or d t st ti n.
1
kina
vict
mi::s r bl
in th b
our
i:ich ie
ided.
th
proau.ce so
tock or knowk
ha.v
n"Jpt
I hop t
it with care; so
your
nc
ful inf'l
d the fl.atterin
ious is oft n bla-t d
arly
·th which
to stuey-
ri · dly to
b co
ndeavor to
ot of it in yruth, d pen
Idl n
, o ht th retar
ust
t tr a
t
gr
lo
o th pro r
and.
sio ,
its po; rr;
n rous
<1 • alify it for useful
1 as
ulation as
inci1.o you t o
by
co
cquir
let
dictat.
kno l dg
rtio •
o
dut
your
'I
to di sch rg
pro!' ssion; ao
7et still the
v ls
tion
or
at int
l 1sure.
t ti
s
the duti s - or it 111. th
appllc t1on to - favourit
o will st.i ll h v
1t in yrur p
to other parte of ll t. r ture, and
o
°"
bilit.7
honour,
pursuit admits int rr to "&um your attenvari ty in your studi a
�,;_ 4 -
wil 1. b
tound tavotr ble to
cti. on ot the •
vigorous pro
stua. nt will nde vor to enrich his una. r t.arXling b
on all
bjects,
th
s
rro
the narrow tract
del.ieht!ul r gions o! Wliv rs 1
1 isur , I hope you
ith
It would be unnoc
ther by
kno
A
cl
an ac
find
ce
ai nt
to point out th us !'uln ss of e ch
your ttention to it.
that they all tend to ex rcise ma
st>ore it
i l l therefor
d di01ity and lustre to yaur character.
ery, I pre
sci nee in a-der to incit
prore sional .. tudy into
s yru
ci c •
ide
re but adVant.ag
ant inclin ti on to pr serv
11 not
neral science
or
lib ral
coll ctin
d will t.her tore !ind, not only pls
in deviating so eti
Th
the p
tren
th a rich vari ty of id
w
,
You u t b
convinced
ers of t
improve taste or
mind, to
bellish
dge.
sical literatur , thee
light and womer
celabr tell
they are
of th
ot yoor att tion.
shar
d capacity or anci. nt n
to the r aciing
yoor t
or
th
d ad l
gua.
ot true
ple
od ls of just thinldng,
rd.ado
th
it r , which ha.ve b
e writt n in
valuable,
tudy or
de-
, ·111 still, I natt r myself, con-
ot succ ssiv
considerabl
tinue to
loyed in the
been
a con iderahle port.ion of ywr ti.
t st
are highly
,
t bee
and
cievoting
ions.
anly tt
with critical
many oth r ad.vant ges, you will
Th
e
nt
on
pcrtion
or
tion, bEl ides
cquire that !ine classical truJt which
'I
giv ~ grace and luster to diction, b auty
eloqu
ce its
enuin
and cha.st
lrt.
import.
c
d
eat r valu ;
to b
bellls
ref ore
to r
onin
and to
ts.
lectual po ere hi
desire<l; y t
which has t
d t<r c
ly
rov d are
till th re is so
just clai.
to
thing
or
ereat
ls• of
ore a ri~us r gard.
�- 5 -
1
'f'er shining
ay b
only th virtu
r.tt
biliti
h
d
•
latt r
cy; but th
t ru1y
· ty and r
wq
art
h
to pr
ve
1
rr
rY
igion.
study to
; t
t
utation, "
one ho
t.er
to which h
an
n
c ,
ich is th
or r ligious li .t, th
of a.oncut ,
n
olv
r
id , wh
ut.
Lr.
Clara or
so
:rely to inter st
d
r-1 it
comtanc.r .
they ar
h•ir lives
d in a
co ndoo t
or
o hav no
th
ccusto · C1 to obey, can n
th
,
or passion or in t
lv a.
Saili
th ir cour
, t
to
ct
alJf
aan:rerous
ays in d
1
th
on
ai
11 ror
a,
r h
n ae, !ol.l.7
checquered with
according to t
c tric• o! h
th who
thout any !
t
rd
oo.r, th
they have co
g r of being ehipwr eked.
d.
ral
ot ctio
of !ix
For the dJn<1uct
ust
vie , changing and fluctu ti
ula
is for
ccordin
m
gr at advant
l.d
ccount. to
on
I
d
ct of
, that you h
convine
dditi nal im ;ortanc •
internal
o
i , it is n ces
oon b
d.e hi
ners.
rely llit h exter-
ctiv lit to lay do
:s to
und
ct o
you should propo
w.il
h•:r
late ywr conduct by th
tt
r
•
only
el gant & polite
nt
ev r rest s ti tied
n just irinciple
t
r ct r; and tt:
nd.eavour to r
In ord r to dJ
down c rt
r a
tt
whil , 'Y h ir
fo
t ...,...!! good c
rv that oral
r tion.
, it 1
led
ever r
art. tt t
th
lbelll
your con tant
r . or
his k
1 lust
rtr
t will properly adcit the
L t. it th n b
or
iv
hin
a o! t.h
t
, or exte
qu lit i•a
and .
t e obj ct of
rilli
hi.ti
tar to
d
Re olve
, to coIXiuct yoirs lv a by
�- 6-
j
a, yoo. will
prina1.pl·s of b haviour.
t
nuine re
ct.
innumera le
d
like
ln.r , you d 11
ro
u
cur
Let.
influ r.c
l
conduct of l1f •
on th
In t.
o
sc
in
or
h1n1.ng,
hi
d
r sphe
tr •
ot. r n:.att ,
tion to
ri
ot onl
hich
s u
It
rld
o th ir
on th
c
trance into lU' , to
r c.'loie ; 1t i
otiv •
Vi~
cit
'
Od
.
n tu.re
or out ;
ar th qua.lit s,
it.1 s ind
om
nt
ble in the
d not only
•
. t;
ch th
d
lv ,
t 11
8
1-
1
us
But. let it b
t insi<lio s
,
by th ti a of rri dsh1p.
abl qu.al.1ti
lS att
they are ti
d
If th
, th y
Let
it b
lso ad int
ll
SC
coimsct.
that to th
rtain
lectu
worth; t
d
to tr
to pri.ncip
t
ho our.
rit, be
titut
ured that o.ir characters will
ti.on.
ch
rld,
or th
ct r of you
your
G
n ....ru
the c pany ou fre
nst conn ct:ln
arel
principl s,
ch
despis
ll
nt.
1 other , b
.
th tho e
d ridicul
r
~•d
er
s ar pa.Uiat d to co c1wic
cl 1
o pro"' ess ec
:r str · nts,
l1
r
it
ol
or
r17
tical
�-7-
b
quickly ov rturn d; nn
those,
iO f
tt r t
ith r tor usef'uln e
,
anarally
I persu, d
ys l!, that you
not
co
nd
or
t opinion
j
eart , wh
nd r tarxiin
! yo·
oundnes
r
s to
or re
I hope th re!'ore, . Ul t I
their principl s.
ho
r pr judic s,
vul
ey ridicule
t
lives ot
Inde d th
up riority to other ,
ti.nary
1r own ride Of
w
ption fr
b.
s ry nsu .
disorder
· 11 n
th r
one, nor imit t
o t. tr
the
s er
other; but th t di r
will
lwa.y pres rv th
b haviour by th
Let
scorn r, y
sourc
of
11 assured ho
, th t the
ction
pleas
and.
principl
th th
now conclud
hol
u h ot th
arding t
of yrur llv s will b
you will oo n tantly pur u
dietin
ishea ror virtuous · ctivity -
noble
lfi.11 !aithtul.ly and conscientiously di char
good citiz
-
to understand th
OC1
r al in r
int gr1ty -
n s
or
in a
t.o b
11 in life; so
th
r be th
that yoo. vd.ll
and support. the or<1er
that
or
OOC1
ar friends or true lJ.bert.y
nt -
ov
du.tie
th :t you ill hon stlr
th fir:
t o! your ca.mtry and pr
that yo
orc1 -
a a 1i
a.ct yCllr
11 al
t to your parents
deavor
rte
ing to your
a bl
country.
d to th
kind providence o! t
the uni verse and in
yo
-
.o a
t
1
hand w all. are, I
sine r ly hoping and ferv
t
e rn st.ly
t.ly prayin , th t H
Cle you in th ri ht wny thro thl& tran itory life
you to a. hiet. r
d b tt r lit• or
ortality
ln sustains
,
hty
r
c0£ll:lsnC1
· prot. ct and
finnlly
joy---
ce
�- 8 -
go ead
uotoritat , qu inatit
accal.aure :tus
facit Coll
St. J.
t~
an ...,.,.,.,.u,,..
•tto, in cujus r 1 t st..u.u,. .u ... wu h o C"bi
ull l.mu Cooke
Johannee Sh
ob rtu Gol.dsborrufti
Fr
Carl,}'Ble
ciscus Day
• . it.ing
Oct. 21st. 1796
'I
�- 9 -
od
enus h\ltla.num cetera animalia mantis dotibus longe longequ
antecelllt, roinime dubimn est.
Hae v ro dotis doctrina m:ctae excul-
ta que hominem ab homine, hand ird.nus distar faciunt.
Hae de r
nullo
modo dubitar possumus, si bnrbaros, feros, incultos, cum j.is quorum re.ores
ineenurus art s emolliunt, tantum conf'oaamus .
Inter omnes, quae oxcultae ad humanitatum et mitigatae fuerunt, gens
illa, quae doctrinam et literas ad sUlI'mum provexit percelebris semper
habebatur.
minus
Uror..ime enim prof ectus in artibus, qua
d gloriam w::blirationem que acquira.nd
irtam xcolunt, non
conf ront, qu
et praeclara ingenua qune in Graecia &Xtiterunt.,
ree bellicae,
aeqµe illustram apud
posteros reddider , ao ducas ob odia belli facto gloriam clarissimi .
Civitates .Americanae, doctrinae utilitatis perspicaces, aliarumque
gentium de gloria aemulae, sunco cue studio ad literas excolendas incubuerunt, et ad
eti
as promovendas oporara adprima laudand
sun:ma llbertate, quae tot as animi vir s lie et f overe,
minorem ram.am adepturas esse.
profectus eonferret.
plus dignitatis
Sicut
as non
Aer.rulatio quoque multum ad literatur
N , ut quaequo civitas,
ruditiona praeminet,
t ponentiae habituram, necess
est.
stimulo incita.ti, non possurt. non bene mereri ct
honor
contulere.
cm od'Um:lUe suae civitati adferre.
Viri egreeli, hoc
liberalibl.s artibus, et
Ci1rita igitur ilia quae
doctrinae f acit, sibi optima consult.
Re b' omni cura adeo digna.m, ·axylandi;.a hand neglexit.
ni. ad pta securaque reddita, aeminaria publicitus 1nstitut
I..ibertate
sunt, ex
qui.bus, studio eodem ac cum primum fundabantur, semper annitenti multos
ci ves reip.>,lj,ticae utles provenir , sperandum
st.
�•. . - 10 -
Ut industri
sp
landia stimul tur; quid
honoris gradus in sdholis
publicis sunt invent1, qui.bus digni distinguer ntur.
honores academicos mox accepturi sint ad
probaverunt;
venimus .
t
~en
revocati se dignoe com-
riti s pra mils nunc sunt dimitt ndi.
Conventumque tam freqoont
Adolesc nt s, qui
Ad hoc hodie con-
laetus a.apicio et vos ealv re jubeoo
'I
�
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Commencement Programs and Addresses
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Annapolis, MD
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
St. John's College Greenfield Library
Description
An account of the resource
Addresses given at commencement and programs of events related to, and including, the annual commencement ceremonies at St. John's College. Includes both the undergraduate and Graduate Institute commencements. <br /><br />The College Archives holds programs and/or addresses for the following years:<br />
<ul>
<li>1796</li>
<li>1835-1836</li>
<li>1842</li>
<li>1852</li>
<li>1856-1857</li>
<li>1870</li>
<li>1878</li>
<li>1880</li>
<li>1890</li>
<li>1893</li>
<li>1895</li>
<li>1897</li>
<li>1907</li>
<li>1910-1918</li>
<li>1920-1924</li>
<li>1928-1929</li>
<li>1932</li>
<li>1936-1937</li>
<li>1939-1945</li>
<li>1947-present </li>
</ul>
Click on <strong><a title="Commencement Programs and Addresses" href="http://digitalarchives.sjc.edu/items/browse?collection=18&sort_field=Dublin+Core%2CDate&sort_dir=d">Items in the Commencement Programs and Addresses Collection</a></strong> to view and sort all items in the collection.
Identifier
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commencementprograms
Text
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text.
Original Format
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paper
Page numeration
Number of pages in the original item.
10 pages
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Commencement Address, 1796
Description
An account of the resource
Statement conferring degrees and commencement address. Delivered by President McDowell on October 21, 1796 to the Class of which Francis Scott Key was a member.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
McDowell, John
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
St. John's College
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Annapolis, MD
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1796-10-21
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
St. John's College owns the rights to this publication.
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
text
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
pdf
Language
A language of the resource
English
Latin
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Statement Conferring Degrees and Commencement Address by President McDowell (to the graduating class of Francis Scott Key) 1796-10-21
Subject
The topic of the resource
Key, Francis Scott, 1779-1843
McDowell, John
Commencement
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Text
;
A DD
TO T H l.:
ALUl\1NI
AND
GRADU r-
OF
A?\l> TO T H C FR I EN D S OF
EDUCATTO
IN l\'.[ARYLAND.
DV
DECTOR IIUl\IPHREYS, D. D.
l"RES I Dll:NT .AND P ROF.Esso n OF ll10 Il.A l. SCI EN C!t,
DELIVE R E D AFTE R THE
AXNlJAL C O lll lUENCE IUENT
IN
FEBRU.llRY, 1S35.
AXNAPOLIS :
Printe d nt t h e r equ est ot Cho Vhltora n n tl G ovc1
·nor11 oC
t h o CollclifO,
J E REl\HAII H UG HES, Pnu~n:n.
�,~
A D D R E S S, &c.
It is easy, for a few moments of misapplied force,
to overthrow the labours of centuries. No monument
of genius or p1·oductirm of industry, is so permanent
or glo1·ious, thnt a very little effort, in an evil hour,
will not sap its foundations and lay it in the dust. Tacitus says, "ut corpora L
ente augescunt, cito ea:stinguuntur sic inge1iia studiaque, facilius op/1rcsseris
quam revocm•eris." In the violent deaths of the most
illustrious men of the empire, he was painfully con-
trasting th e power to destroy, with the capacity to
produce. They were stricken, like stars from their
spheres of light; nnd no creative power of genius
could ever present the same combination again. No
similar series of devoted years, can replace tlie individual, h ero, or statesman, 01· philanthropist, who is
lost. The time~ and occasions whi~h called him fo1·th,
went with the exalted being, whom they produced;
and they never can return. Instances of this fatality
occur in every age, in one form 01· in another, to make
man mourn over the wrecks of hjs best hopes. Over
tl1e grave of such a man as Hamilton, for example, in
the promise that other sons may arise, our country
fin<ls no solace for the blow that struck from her cmh,race, one of tJ1e noblest forms of humanity.
"Soles -0cci<lere ac red ire possu nt,
Nobis, cum Eemel occidit lux brC>vis,
N ox est .perp()tua una dormiendu."
But it is not my purpose to speak of any in<lividual
however illustrious, who may have fallen by an untimely fate. The event, with which we are concerned, aimed at no single victim, but struck the principle and system of their whole life and being. :Fifty
years have now elapsed since an assembly of illustrious
>nen <lelibe1:ated .and acted upon this spot .with a vjew,
.
�4
11 tht} 1hen1'<.h rutatr, " to lrflin up rmr/ /H'1'/J('/t1alf
a 111mrnrm f/f able ar/(j lwnral mrn, for di1cltflr !(inf{
t/1, t•r1riwr nffiru of lift, /i(Jfh ri1 rmr/ rrlil(iou1,
·il
1r1th utr/11/111 o an4 rr/mfatiim "-nn obj eel ~ hic: h
ha al~a n 110 11 "promotrr/ rmr/ rnrwrc11.(rt/ '11/ the
rriv·tf lll~'/ l1rtl rrg1datrrl Statrrt.'' · 'J'lu·y kucw that
t/11 pov. • I' ,rul )l!'rlllllll l !I CI' ur • Hf' pt1hlic, ilrp<'nd1
·d
mote:"" the mol'!ll and intellectual, than the physical
rne!'Kk•; 1111<l tlwy 11ow that the pO'lition of their
Stat.1. wu favourllhlc for the higheat rank in the M:alc
of political <l'u ti11ction. They were, nlw, aware of
1
tl1c influence w he exerted upon the world. nt large,
liy tl1e ex pcrimcnt of our rcpuhlicnn i Mtil11tio11~.
They l1 1Jomr• glinipw rif tl1 c fc11 rf1 rapidity with
n1l
il
which the tide or population would fill 11 land ot free·
1lom. A111l ordinary prudenc", 1111ggi·stccl the need
o( prll'p<:ctivc nrr11ngcn1
e11l1 for ~lte l!lCIHll l r~1ornl Cl!l·
lure of n p<:o pl1·, wlro shou ld ~pr111g rnlo licmg while
everything wn§ to lw pr<:parcd for their reception.
Tl11:y lost n11 time, in provuling the mOM direct rncnns
l
for it1 M'C'>rn pli~hm c nt. Upwa rd ~ of half ,1 century
lta.11 paa.-.ecl away; we stnnd upon the ground whic h
they tlwn occupied. It isoul'll to nsk, lo whntextent
th<:ir expcct.atiou~ have hcen realized; and it is obvi·
OU8 to reply, th11t every anticipation or advancement
in wcaltfl nud population, hns hc more than fulfilled.
:cn
The growth of the Union hall exceeded alike the
alnrmn or tyrant~, nncl the hope11 of pntrioL'!; hut the
means of cducntiou lrnve NO'I' hecn multiplied in the
113M r1 roportio11, / T/1c ir1crc·nl!ing dcmnud contemC
111ntcd /iy tltcil' provident ;1111'/">11c11, /ms 110/ been rm p·
plied; tlu.: inH
litutiou wl11ch they plllritc<l, !ins 11ot
gtown with tlH· growth of tile Jlcpul1Jic-it hns 110 /
11trengtlu:11ed with ill! ,.lrcngtl1. What thnt growlh
would lravc beer: jf the axe Imel not IJecn laid to ils
rtJ(Jt, we cnrwot <l clcrmirrr. Om: Lhi11g is cc:rlnin:
it can 111;vcr lie rcN
tor·cd- tltc vigor nud perm1111
cucc
of the rnouarcl1 of the fo rest arc d11c to tl1c scri ci. of
ycara iu which he g1 to tlu.: istntion lie wns to oc·cw
cupy on tile cvcrl1t11li11~ hills. Tl111L <libti11clio11 might
.)
have been au.aiocd by ST. loH 1''~ can no more Le
~ueitioncd, than th-tt it 11• lx<:u aUamul hy otiltr
111stit11tioof1 j>lft nt• d 111 tlw l>JU.l ~11· pic 1ou~ pti ind,
hut nol tm1cl1f'd i,, tlu Ul fll{• ~·m rc.l l pov. <1. 1t> d• r.•
tiny 11•(1f 11m11ly folfillt•l iu >l' pt i1111 ti" pn ioJ, tlt.r·
i ng 1A h id1 a.<.uect •iou vf 1 11>t; M l.vlar" \\<.11l fc vm ita
haJlb, \lohu 1111\ C n1Jl L<.<.11"'H"Jl:i.'~d.111 our ('111
111try,
for re1p<.:<'lal1ilit) and u~fulhl u. ·1 111. name· ~fl h<l!I'
who h;n•c 1foti11gui,hc.d thii J>Uto<l CJI its hi,tilr~. n1 cil
not be rcpu1tcd. Thry lta\c n<•l all h1.;rn g.ithc1ul
to their fotheri. Thl\' ltan 111ni H<l to \\1l1111, in
the fate of their almn u;attr, ant>.( ni plificati1J11 of thl
relative facilit\ , with v. lucli uio.:11 huihl nm! 1k11lrO)
the loWCnl of thei r 0\\ II llrcni;th. 'J ht College might
ha\'C hcCllmr, ere Lhi•. nil that it fo1111d•·1. 1h.f.ignc.d,
or th4t thc.ir •uCCl"'iO"' <
·oolil ha\ c 1
.k-i.in:d Th(;
causl'1 of tho fJihJrc nc1 <l 11ol now be -crutiui:z.ell. Jt
i11 or liulc eon~1p1ecr('C; from IAh:lt 11u ~lrttr the UC·
6lro~·1.;r c11mc; \\Ill thcr h1 w:u from \\ ithout, or
\vhethcr he 'praug up fro111 the 'cry hu11..,chohl. Jn
e1tbcr C\ cut, \\ C t-hl)u)d be remimlc<l or the fatal
power '' ith whic It man is i1\Ukil; and it '' r 11 ltl he
1
eq1111Jly our dut), to II> j11i' i1;c to the <lead, v. liile v. e
discharge our obli;ption· L thr )i,·i11g.
il
It woul<l lie gratifyi11g tn <li•co\C I' a dill'• rent rx·
plnnation or so111
eacL. 11oy. k dgc:d facts in H ga rt.l to Ed·
ucalion in Maryland , \\ hich arc not \'CIY nattering lo
the pri<lc of the :Slate. But it i~ not lo IJ1; r.up po:;cd
that n <lepcndc11ce 11 pon the institutions uf other State~,
would have liccn sull'crcd, if a ;_;rnc rd ~eminar~ of tbc
highest rnn k had been m:iturcd \\ ithin her own uountls.
'1 he records of St. Joh11 \ 'how that no rnch <.J i,position existed hc:fnrc ~he fell 1,1.tlcr the hla~t of a<l\"Cr ·
sily. Jn that period ~h e <.d ucalc(l con~idcral>le
numbers from adjoining ::itatcs. But the conscquc1iccs of the fatal crrur,ha\ e 11nfo'.di:d and extended
themselves down tu the present times. lcur a Ferics
of years after that period, no ae('Ount can be rendered of this seminary, other than that which applies to
the schools \\ilh which ~he wnssurrounde<l. They became prodlJcli rc nurscrils for the Colleges of other
�.
6
States; the power of conferring degrees was not indeed
uken away; but it was made of no effect, by the immediate reduc tion of the standard of its scholarship, whi ch
followed the confiscation of its funds The worthlessn ess of this power, unaccompanied by adequate means
for its supp01·t, is almost annually exemplified in the
College c harters, which arc g ranted to nil suc h as nsk
them, provided they p etition for nothing but th e
pnrc hment on whic h the nets are: written. And this
process may go on till every acre of our territory
shall he covered over with them; and it will only be
made so mucb the more certain, that the testimonials
of literary distinction will be sought elsewhere.
Nor have the Colleges of other States been slow to
avail themse\ves or the advantages thus afforded-they
wisely extended their courses of education by collecting all that wns necessary, at whatever cost. When
legislative aid failed, private munificence supplied the
d efi ciency. Every year increased the dis parity bet ween the domesti c and the foreign Institutions; and
that, pnrtly, at our own cost. N ot content with the
privilege of educating the youth of a d estitute state,
i t was made th e ground of a claim for the more direct
aid of money, 11s well as or men. Thousands have
t hus gone out of Maryland, to fill up; as it WQ the
re,
measure of he r bounty. Distan ce has been no barrie11
to h er diffusive liberali ty towards others. It has gone
Leyond th e Alleghnnies, to .iid in making her dependance more permanent and e xtensive. Jn short, it
J1as radiated from her, to g ild the temples of scie nce
in all lands but he r own; and that, when the cry,
"come over a11d help us," hns been mo re loudly :-aised in behalf of her own territory, than for those where
h er bounty has been la vishecJ. Most of th e old
States made ample provision in eal'ly times, and ceased not, to 11dd whntevcr became necessary, by the
advance of tJi e ?OpuJation, anu the extension O scif
ence. In all of th e ne w States the most abundant
J>rovision has been secur ed from th e a mils of the public lands. In the mean tim e, th e cause in Maryland
Jrns been kept alive by hope. Future generations Ill'()
7
t.o r ealize something, ~hen the claims against the
General Oove mmcnt shall ultimately be settled. Thus
has M aryland allowed others to do, in her behalf,
what she could have done muc h better for hn~elf .
J ealous as she is, of every other right, this part of her
sovereignty has lost its value. Though no office of
imperial power is of a higher style, than that which
wreathes the laurels of science around the brows of
the d eserving, she con cede~ it to oth e~. And yet
she retains the form s and the names. How does this
contrast with h er usual sensiuility? Every inc h of
her domain she would guard with a monarc h's power;
the ten·thousandth fraction of her p opulation ~he
would "gra pple, as " ith hooks of steel;" but, content
with knowing that th ey arc h ers, she allows them to
owe what nllc.giance th ey list, in th e more elevated
empire of letters.
It is well worth all our attention to mark by wfiat
means this allegiance has been p erpetuated. The
mnjority of Teachers in Maryland, both private and
public,are graduates of Colleges in other States. They
exercise an imperceptible, and p erhaps inrnluntary
influence in favour of their own institutions. This jg
.a natural anu unavoidable result-and thus a College
is rich, in the attachme nts of her alumni. · In every
clime, their hearts turn to her walls wi th aspirations
for her prosperity; and as opportunities olfer, they de•
light in offices for her good. It is proper it should
b e so. B u t would it not, a t the same time, be p ro-
per tliat Maryland!hould avail herseif of the benefits
of these salutary ties? If the d emand for teache rs
were supplied fro..1m our own ranks, this powerful
moral influence would operate for her good. And
what is of the utmost ~onsequence to t he cause of
education, the p eople at large would be conciliated,
as their private inter P.sts would b e p romoted. If t he
elasses of our own population were made to furnish the
men of this honorable and responsible employment, it
would alone, g-0 far to concentrate the now dispersed
energies of the State. And ifnothin5 shall be d one
for an object so desirable, where is the present sys-
�tem to encl? I it one of tho e cnscs Lhnt will provide
for it elf? That experiment hns been tried, an<l
the re ult hn been whnt it C\' CI' must be, where men
nrc bound to rely upo11 their own resoure:cs; the opulent nn<l powerful reap the ndvantnge. There is but
one mode by which success may be rendered certain.
It i to n.dopt the very mensures, by whic h others
hn,·e profited; to collect from private sources \vhat is
needful to gi\·e effect to the public appropriations.The cn\lowment ma\le by the Government is not suOlcient to support a College; and the deficiency ~rnst be
mndr up by those who feel interest enough, to mduce
their co-opcmtio11. It is impossible to retrace a
~ inglc step tlrnt 1111 been Jo t, l>y any oth~r means than
the opening of nn institution of the _lughcst order.
l\'fcn of ·wealth will neith er pl1tcc t heir _ons nt a College, for education, nor will they cmpluy its gr~ duntc
ns teachers, unless it sustains nn cle.vnted • tandnrd of
scholarship. Our citizens Jo,·c thc1r State muc~1; hut
they lo,·c their sons more; nnd th:y cnnnot_ be expected to take nn education at home, if a su perior one can
be outained nbroa<l.
\Vhen I spcnk of nn allcgian~e pai~ to others, therefore 1 mean nothing but what 1s obnous to every refJcc{iug mfrJ<J. Ancl every assemhlnge of the sons .of
Mnrylnncl, graduates of collc!:?es in other tntes, will
bear me witness on nll occns1ons \\hen_they meet ~t
commencement fc~tirnls to rc,·frc thc_hter~ry n _so~1ntfons of thcil' early days, that exultnt1on, rn tins I ccct for thcirn.1th •c t.1 tc, is not one o~ t/Jc elements
of tli ; en tertainment. Indeed no exercise
the su·er of tlie tnte can b~ mor e suitable 01•
o"
'
Premc pti tfii· which bids he1· ons to Le grateJiul
.
g IOrJOUS Jail
'
• ·
•
l\if
1
• r r the O
fJportuni tics •ofd<l1 trnct1on.
nry0
to 1~e1, 11
f
1 • brnnc1 o_ 1
Janel has not effectuall y excrc1 c . t us
1
1er
"t1 · N or doc she manifest nny present de've
. I.
prer () g..
.
termination to do so, but it is prcci.'-~1y 1or t us re~son
tliu t I place my reliance .upon private _enterpr~zc.
l\faryland did orrcc exercise the power, m the c1 ea·
tion of the oi<l U11ivc1-sity; but the dca_d letters o~,thc
statute Look Jong stood as the "nommes umbra' of
o
r
9
the wisdom of a departed generation. The new Uni·
versity has been as little successful, for the purposes
in view. Indeed the lntter is a pure us urp1tion of
the nnme Qf the former. But the literary sceptre is
still n mere "brutumfulmen," in the royal hand. It
is idle to contend about n name. It is enough that
the system framed l>y our forefath ers is preserved.
The charter of St. John's, has l'ectivcd new Yitality
and vigour from the legiti mate source of power.
Not a sy llabic or letter of the wisdom it contained in
'84 has bel~n lost. The voice of authority· has only
spoken to l>i<l its provisions, again, to take effect; and
she has appointed her own ministers, to see that her
will shall be obeyed. In short, the legislation of the
last tvvo ytars hns conferred upon St. John' s, more of
the character of n Stale Institution, than wns possessed by the old University. The way then is properly opened for theconcentmtion of private munificence.
The College has been re -adopted by the State, on
terms which engnge her high est oflicers to watch over
its interests and extend its influence.
The importance of this measure is evident, from
the superior character of those Colleges in other
States, which nre placed under the inspection and
patronage of their res pective Governments. It so
happens that the f01n· principal Seminaries of the Union are thus organized, Harvard College, e. g. is the
Stnte College of l\1assnchusetts. Its number of alumni is nearly six thousand. Yale stands in the same
relation to Connecticut. The Governor, Lieutenant
Governor nn<.l six of the State Senators,n:re of the Board
of T1 ustecs: an<l nnmml reports are made of its condition to the Legi. lnture. She numbers about five
thousand alumni; a body of men who hnve recently
nllded S 110,000 to her funds. Union College, and
Nassau Hall are in the sa me relation to New York
and 1'i ew Jersey. In point of numbers, these two
Colleges stand next to Yale and Harvard. That the
eminence of those institutions is due to their State
character, alone, \s a position which I do not as ume.
2
�10
Yet lhere nre oLviou~ J'ensons for !>c lieving that
J1as bcl'n owing to th is fen tu re; since oth<'r C mue1i
in the sn me States, wW1 faculties of equo.J nbili~11 eges,
Jenr11ing , do not nttrnct the sa me numbers of stu~e~~u
8
•
I t is n;, t u ra l to su ppose lhut n State College .
.
t a n· on. T h JS not
so Jrn!Jlc as others, to become sec
. . "
ey
r egard ed mo r e as common g 1oun d 1or nil uenom·arc
tions. L oca l Ins titu tjons, w h i..: f1 a1·e u nd er the ~:n
ticular patronage of n sect, cannot be expected to <1~
:ive much sul?port from ot her s~urC'~s. And yet, it
1s a pe~fect r ig ht of any denomrnat1on of christinns
to endow, and place u n_df'r th e ~xc!usive care of pro~
fessors of t h eir own fo1t~, I ns t1tul1o ns for their own
benefit. It is perhaps wise to do so; for such semi.
ncu·ies a rc r.ow sHpporte~ ? Y most denomina tions as
th eir nurserie~ for t l1e mrni try. Still, suc h ins titutions are not nc111 pte<l to th e gene ral wants of the com.
1nunity, un le~s t h e principle be adopted to make them
ns numerous :is t h e 11nm cs of c11ristians; which would
be to nbandon all th e ndvantages of concentrntecl cf.
fort. T he succ~ssfu l operation of sec ta rian institutions in a State.s o far th.en, from s uperceding, l\.'ou ld
mther 1
·eq11ire the establ1shu1ent of at least one S tate
College, not go,•erned by pl"ivate interests. I t is reasonal•le to ex pect, t hnt such a CoJlcge, onl y, can attract general patronage. In t his respect, the organization of St. Joh n's leaves nothi ng to be desired. It
was fou nded by men of th e v:irious c hristia11 crec<ls,
who ~a\'C it n c harter, decidedly chri tian, but Catho.
lie. No individual can sit in her Board of "l rustees
who <lots not ex press his uoqualified belief in the
christi1rn r eligion. A nd the pvinciple is carried to
its proper extent in the government of th e College.
It is e<]ua ll y removed from both extremes. An<l che
presence i n the Hoard of Trustee.i;, of so la rge a por.
tion of pul> licancl poJiticnJmen togcrl1erwith its r esponsibil ity to the Legisla ture, secures the college from
th e influence of sectirianism.
I reiterate, t/Jen, tlJllt the system of our forefotl1ers
is p1
·eserved. A nd a better system could not be d evised
for a college, of tlJe most extensive scnle. It is on!J
11
required then, lo give this system the neccssar.IJ en ·
/argemcnt . If we were to l>egin, de novo, to frnme
the bes t system wh ich the wit of mnu can furnish , w e
should end p r ecisely u p on t his sch eme. It has n e ver
needed nny t h ing but fun ds, additional funds, to g i ve
it s uccessfu l nc tion. Not only h ns n good found ation
been laid, !Jut it hos bee n r ig h tly laid. The failure h ns
r esu lted fro m withh olding the s u p plies 1·cc1uirc d for
t he su p erstruc turc.
7Y1-at these n ecessary su/1/1lies can be ohlainccl f ront
the liberality of our citizens , is t h e n e xt p o int w h i c h
comes und er our considcrntion. And on t h is branch
of t h e su bjec t, I a m h nppy to quote the ~trong lno
gungc of n most 1
·esp ectablc com mittee nppointe<l lnst
year, to vi~it t h e college, on the p art o f t h e L eg isla·
turc. In adver ti ng to this moue of obtaining fun<l io~
the committee r emark, ''I t is an ex/Jcdient resorted
4
to hy many .ftow·ishi11g Seminaries of leaming in
distant States, to which our own ci tiz ens !tave liberal(lf contributcd,whilst t!te unpret ending characte1· of
this Institution ltas sllrun!t from resorting to so fa·
milia,. a11d f(;g itimale a mnt!e of obtaining assistance
-a.and seem~· to !tave laboured u.ru/er the belief, that
the rej;eal or 1·evocation of legislative endowments, at
tlte same time annulled the 1·ig!tt to collect inr/ividuat
subscriptio11s; Th.e autltority anq /Jo/icy of suclt a
measure, m·e urged 011 t!te consideration of th e Visi·
tors anr/ Governors, mu/ earnestly commcndccl to th e
p ublic."*' Un<ler this im pulse, we have oo mmenced
onr appenl. \Ve have belicvc<l that the existing s tate
of education in M aryland cannot be allowed to re mai n
unc h a nged . The peo ple w ill be jus t and true to their
vital inter ests, ns they hnvc been generous nntl libc1
·ul
to those of oth ers. T he nnturnl r esults of leaving powerful and active neighbo urs. to mnk e the most of their
opportunities have been su ffi ciently developed. 'T he
College, therefore, con fide ntly ap peals to the p atrons
of learning, and hopes for so me portion of the bounty
to whic h none can present a l'tr onger claim.
• Report by tho Bon. John B . .Mori is.
�12
Our expccloti o11s thus for lanvc nol !Jccn c.Ji
•
S hould uniform success nttend our ~PP 0 1 11.t.
every pnrt of our Stntc, tl1c end in view
borts, in
nncl /lnnlly nccomplishcd- nruJ l1nvc wo not r·e c fully
grounds to look fo 1· such co opcrntion? It 1 nMr~nblc
·.,.
/•
"" Ulll\'C I'
sn JI y c one~ dccl ~ l IHit sometmn[: must be done. A ·
ou r r e ply 111, either prop ose somcthino- h ltc r
nd
.
. fl
.I
.
J .
n
, or c n11t
rn 1our rn .ucncc w1l t ours.
t is th onghl rcnsonnbJo
thnt the cllort shou ld he mode ltcre, because, so much
hns a lready been done lo our hnnds. Anti it c-11 11 rn1
•
. I
. d
.
sc
no dou bt, 111 ~ 1c !'1in. of n rcfJ ccling, well informed
mnn, ~hnc the rnst1t11t1on has laboured so long, without
ell'cctrng more. It shou ld rntlt cr exc ite nclm irntion
thnt she has clone so muc l1 . The causes t hnt have op.
erntcd .to prc':ent greater success, are not unfrequc ntly mnmfested m human nllnirs; nn d they work wHh uncontroulitble powc,., even w li e re we see m to be the
mas ters of our fate. There is n conditi on of the mind
~n~ er sudden cnlnmity, in whi ch it is os l1opelessly
indisposed to net, as .the ph ysicn l energies nre, under
th.e stroke of p~ rnly~lfl; The d cprci;sio11 of th e public
mrnd, and the 111uc t1v1ty of tl1e puhlic will, in rcgul'd
to cducntion, wns th<: consequence of the overthrow
of the old University. In th e long repose which fol Jowcd,thcrc wns n perfec t consciousness of the in c ubus
wl1ich pressed on the bosom of th e Stnte . And occasional efforts were mncJ c. to throw it off. Inade qua te
efforts however, nlwnys mc r ense, rather th1n nll cvinte
the burden. They i11vn1·iably ncld to t he fears of the
wenk and th e fui11tness of t he timid . Hu t there is
~o th ing. impr~ct i cab lc in the present sc he me.
It i:1
t
mdectl 1mposs1ble no•u to r estore what hns been irre.
trievnl>ly lost. The strong feeling nncl su pport of those
who should have been alumni of St. John's, have been
transferred elsewhere, The blank of the barren years
never can be fill ed. Jt is a moral waste of those nssoeiations th nt cling nrouncl the wnlls of time honoured nod well cherished institutions, which no vain i·e15.r~ts, or pious ~tlices cnn repair. But the impossi·
b1 of r ecovering ~h ese, shou ld stimulate us the more
laly
to ]>rcvent further loss. .E,•c1·y yea r udds imm ensura·
c<I.
wilt
,
f.
13
bly to t he sncrHlce. And it is in our power: prop e r •
ry t111pporte<l l>y the publ io fav our, to bring these snori Occs to n perpclunl c ntl . Su rely th e n every p or·
t ion of M ur yla11cJ w ill le nd its oid in a cJes ig n, wh ic h
so nenrly conect'lls nil, n11d whe re t here is so mu~ h
r cnson to ho po for su cccsq, I t ii; h nlf of the ente rprise
to hnvc made n just ucgi1111ing. B ul we hnvc d one
more. Th ~ clements o f n r csp cc tuhl e College, for n
limi ted number of pupils, nrc now assembled. Th e
most pressing 11cc <l i s t hnl of tli e p r ope r bui ldi ngs to
rceei vo tho n111 c la lurgor 11111n1Jcrs w ho in t h e cvc 11t of
their being o pe ned wou ld resort to he r Hnlls.
It is nssurncd t hnt no College c nn fl ou rish here, or
elsewhere, un less the pupils r esitlc wit h t he o ffi cers
and Pro fessors, w hose duty nn<l i11 tc rcst it is, to M\' C
the m from evil, ns w e ll Ds to open t h e fo un tnins o f
knowleugc. I n m con fid e nt there fo r e, when this matter is understood, tha t the p eo ple of M a r y lnnd will
afford us this indis pensab le r equisite for ou r prosperity
nn d th ci: r own sa fety . I nm unwilling to s uppose Lhnt
such nn nppcnl cari s uffe r n cold r·c pulse. It is impossibl e for me to clouut, thut L wor k o f soli c itation
hc
which I hnve so fur prosecuted, with plensu r e nnd s u ccess, wi ll find n cordinl welGome fro m evu·y inte lligent mind, and every generous hen r t.
The p roposed method of obtaining funds, is no t
only the most certain, but th e mos t cqititablc, o r nl
)east, the most e:r:/.Jcdient. Not thnt inju stic e would
be committed, iii ns has been d one ·in :iorno oth e r
States, the whole n ecessary nmount were to b e n ppro·
printed from th e public T1·ensury . It wou ld ue ns
rensonn.l>le to affirm nn inequa li ty in the d egrees of
rrotect1on cxte11clcc1 l>y l11c U o vcrnmcnt to th e various
classes in socie ty . The influ ence o f educat ion i s
diffusive ns the lig ht. I t may be mo r e c o ncc ntr;tcd
in some places t han in others, but no one is more
dee ply iutcrested, t han nnoth e r, in its univel'sa l ci l'c u Jation. Still, the r e is n belief, that s c: minnri es o f
learni ng do uot operate equally, in fav our o f nil c lass es. And it w? uld ~e. well t o 1·emove eve n t his a pparent gl'oon d o{ hostility lo t he ca use o f Educa tion-
�14
nn<l nothing would do this mare effi t
.
ec ually th- .
tn ·b u.t ums m ade by the wealthy Porti<m ""l4fl eoJ1.
0
munity, ror t he pu r pose of placing a Con~ 1~ ':OT11·
th.e r each of others, as well as their own
ge "''thin
tn butors, t hemselves, would be no IOSc. S~~h con~
J~ opulent, would participate in ad~ ~hale the
which t hey ar e no w excluded . lo Olh tages from
·
er
i ns t 1t u b. on wou Id be opened for t heir ace0 Word ~~ •n
h· h ·
mmodauon
w ic IS ."?w too remote, or too expeosi~c. for tbc1:
means. I hus both would be benefitted. Tb
.
d.
d
e preju1c~ an errors, tnoreo..•er, which prevail on this
subj ect, wou ld h: dispelled. T he people would not
he slow to perceive t he equity of this kind of codov.-m en.ts, ~owe\'er unwil!iog they may now be, to admit
the JU
st1ce of th e p ublic bounty. AJI interests would
then, be comrined. T here would be DO deficiency
o f means to carry out tbe provident designs of ou r ancestors. T hei r noble system would be completed ,
a nd its blessings would extend to thousand! and tens
of thousands of the generations yet to come.
I t is proper I should embrace this occ~$ioo, to do
justice to th e valuable schools, of a high order, which
are s uppor ted by p ublic a ppropriations. T he policy
that establ ished these, was undoubtedly good; yet it
was butpartfri.ll!J good, so long as it stopped short of
endowing, at feast one general institution, of the high est rank, to p er form for them all, the office that has
been so long enjoyed by the Colleges of other States,
and to r ender them among other benefits in return,
an a.Jeq uate supply of teache~, ~en ~rom the m~ri
torious sons of the State. " 1tlnn their appropnate
sphere, these ~chools arc in~truments. of incalculable
good. They gwe a substnnt u1\ education to v~ nomb ers of in valuable men . Yet the fact is unt/upulet/1
sti ll, that theg nre the nururiQ, from tch.irh /he,
Colleges in ot~er States are _li~tra~Ly ~upplie4. ~or
is i t of any avail, to say that d tSttnct.Jon IS ofcen obtained by such as seek no higher opportunities than th ey
can afford. H ow many distinguished indivi<luaJs have
sprung from th e emerg~~cies in which they were
placed; and from the exc1tl;ig causes which in every
0
�16
17
ed to repel h er claims, or thwart her purposes. It is
then, in one r;hort h our of triumph, thnt a favo urite
son r ep ays n thousand fol<l, the costliest nurture that
nerved his nrm for the conflict. And can a State rationally expect the highest <levotion of her sons, if
sh e mnkes not i;uch provision, ns will kindle their
1
1ridc for the land of their birth! If she sends them
to oth er nurses, in the yenrs of their tenderest susceptibility, what cnn s h e expect, oth er than a weakening of theit· native, characteristic enthusiasm.
No people on enrth are more strongly incited to
the hig hest cultivntion of the intelled. As n whole
p eople, tlie union of these States has relations to sustain townr<ls otht:r portions of the world; which t ask
the powers of the mind to the utmost of its exe1
·tion.
And wh:it shall we say of thc.m ns in<li\•idual sovereignti<>s bound, indeed, by n solemn c.:onfederncy, but governed by peculiar interaits; powerful ai: the kingdoms
of the old world. and like them, liable to be summoned to trials of their strength? ] )owe not p ercei \'e that
all of these p owerful Hepublics have everything to
promise themselves, fro'll the encouragement they
may ex te nd to education; and everythini; to fear from
n relative neglect? And are we not aware thnl Mary·
land hns rensons, eminently urgent, to draw from art
and science whatever aids she may for the protection or
her t erritory, or the increase of her power? The emulation which she ought to feel, to open wide, fo r the
:>ccess of her citizens, nil those resources of w ealth,
which her p owerful ri\•als are striving to unlock, cannot, for a moment, Joi;e sight of the advantages w hich
a nation derives from the diffusion of knowledge. It
is her fortune, and it may be h er fate, to embrace in
her territory an extensive "~'l· The largest avenue
to the very h eart of the Union is in h er keeping?
She cannot he insensible to the benefits, or to the
dangers of this charge. Whether this last golden
prize of freedom, OUR UNION is to be preserved, or
to be shivered into the fragments which our e nemies
would delight to see i;cnttered among the wrecks of
past ages, Maryland must n ot ignobly rest: Nor hn~
she thus slumbered, over h er forl unc or her fate!The magnificent public works, now in pro5 rcss, which
nrc alike promotive of the nrts of peace, nnd pre pnra •
"I
.
\
..
~.·
atory for the exigencies of wnr, evince a Cl..lmm'!ndnble degree of that wakeful foresight, to whic h nations, as well as individuals, owe their honour and their
power. She has but to go on in these grand high
ways, which nature has marked as with lines of ligh~
to nnd from her commercial Emporium, as a common
centre; she has but to complete what she has so ju·
diciously begun, and her high d estiny will be fulfilled.
And will she sleep over t he all impor tant machinery of education, to which, Labove all other means,
she must look to bear her onward to t his goal of h er
h.ighest hopes?
On this point, is there nothing
to be desired? Ifshe relics on such practical and scientific skill, as some few of her sons may bring from dis ·
tant States, or from foreign kingdoms, will sh e accomplish all that her destiny evidently invites! Is
she not aware, that education is the life and soul of all
these improvemehts, in the moral and physical conditions of men! Science must d evise th e plans; and sci·
ence must carry them into execution. L ook a t t he
kingdoms, whic h have made themselves powerful by
a proper use of their natural advantages, and the lesson is everywh ere the same. Science is the source
of nll h uman p ower, over the secr et agencies of nature. She ascends into the skies; and sh e penetrates
into the earth. Siu~ makes her p aths throug h the
trackle.~s ocean, as well asover th e rugged con tiner.t.
Whatever can add to the comfort and safety, or expand the intelligence and happiness of men, comes
<lirectly or indirectly, from th at slee pless s pirit, i n
which she is ever cngage<l, "ashing questions of na ture." And, from the clays of D~co11, to the prescn t,
it wou\<l seem that mere magnitutle of dangers, 0 1· of
diOicultics, has only added to her activity. T ake any
single instance of English enterpl'ise, that you may
choose, and the lesson will be uniformly the same,
namely, that a State which aims t\t th e pt·e-eminencc
i n commct·ce, in ngriculLlll·e, 01· in arts, must, first of
3
�I
~IL J'IO'• r her encou~~m.C'nt into the lap of. ~cicnce.
~t C'lf th:i.t d:i..~1cnl country, there 1 n spot,
s
011 the
hich h:id pro,-ffi the- s r:we ol thousnnds of ~nterpri
Ur-3\\ n tC'I her ~hl1rcs by the magic of hct'
ll~ but sn:\tt.'hro aw by unseen dnnge~. more aw:1y
ful th~n the e~·ll:i. and Chnrybdis orthe.' nncit-nt., be·
c~u.~ no • ' in~ li~t was hf'ld out. to \\'":\I'll the un·
C"On.~ious mari~er"of his inevitnblc futc. Evc.-ry effort
to muntain the ntce~'\rY beacon, on this µt'ril\lus
spot. hau . ignally flile<l. • Ptttious li\'es hnd been
~ctificcd in vain, for this humane purpo c.-. The
whole ~ience of Englnnd. n century l\g'Oi wns.brought
into ttqu~ition: aml. it ' ""as. nt last. nccom pli~hcu .
In the midst oi the \\ ild wn. te :ind \\ nr or the wnters,
fsr rrom the rtD.Ch of \nod, ll ti:: ~, O r the fatnl
\'C
pilph~ tlle ~tar of the tempestuous ocean; and it.
light is fed by a human h:ind. " here it would seem
none would p~ume to ,·cnture hut the Fi:i.t of Omnipotence! \'CJ.!"$ :ind years h:1,·e \'O\led :tWn~: sin~e it
was first l..indlffi U\ the torl'h or !'ClCnee: but l( . hme
on, in the tl:trkest -ni~ht of the oce~n whi rl winds. :ind
the heut of the C'\h~ustffi !'3.ilor leaps for joy, as he
catches its flic-kerin g my. an<l blesses bi God th:it
m:in is s\lle<l " ith nc\ t to Cl'('llti,·c F.wer!
I hll\ t' purposd) tnken n ~~, winch seems to have
pl'CSCnted a problem, n century '\.ince, to show. that
life, as well ns property. de1lCnds upon the orthnary
skill of the engineer. 'fhl' mt'l"t' i1mount of properly,
thus s:n eJ bv :i sin~le elfort. " ould more th:u1 sunice
to endow th~ ~·hool, llr A cntirr couutrr. But whn t
n
is this. com1\.1rt·d \\ ith thl' liH~ of men? \\'c might
mention in. tnnecs nf n chnnctrr more purely cie11tific, in " hich the Ji, cs of thou.ands nud tms or thous:tnd~ hl \'C been srl3.~, in tht' COOl(ll !:S or 3. few ye:u-s,
by the encoungemcnl5 hdu out U) thi s:sme intdli~nl eountrv.
' llut take ·the most recent. mere hu.iness enterpri c,
and the conclusion is the S3rne. Take. e. g. the
T unnel, that is now constructing under the Thames.
~n~ mC"n.
19
nun your eye over the mnp of thnt greatest comnier·
cinl emporium of the world, and yuu sec nt n glance
the cau c which require<l the ncloption of:l method so
extraor<linnry. Up to the middle of the 18th: eentu~
ry only the Lon<lon Bridge wns open for the p~ge
or the multitudes, which must daily cross that ital
ri\•cr of the resources of Englnnd. But the first succe ful step wns immr.<linlcly followed by others or
equnl mngnitude; and six of those costly structures
nre now open in the proper limits of London. Ano·
pinion or their imporlnnce mny be fo1·mctl from the
returns of the two principal. Upwnr<ls of 5000 vehicles of ''nrious descriptions, and about 70,000 foot
passenger:-, besides horses, nre sni<l to cross the Lon·
don Bridge in a single dny. At the Blnc.k Frinrs
llridge, there cross daily :1bout 4000 vehicles, n11d
upwards of60,000 foot p:issengcrs. l\lillions and millions of pounds sterling were ex pencletl lo apen tltcsc
avenues, so indispensal>lc to the action of the great
he:irt of the British Empire. But this brings us to tire
problem of the further contcmphlted facility required
by the l>usiness of this untiring people. The harbour of the city, ends at the London Bridge. All the
other Bridges nre al>ore thi!' point; and l>elow it the
surfoce of the Thnmes is eo,·ere<l l>y the commerce of
the world. Yct, here the necessity is the most pressing, fur n !Jron<l nnd open avenue, between the twd
shores. T o know tha.t it wns all impo"ttant to the
busine~ of the people, wns to ~ecidc. that it must be
done. lt is not needful to dc:tn1l how 1 must he <lone;
t
or to n:imt: the able .Engineers who were succcssi,·cly
hnfllctl, and gave it up in dcspnir. It is cnongh thnt
it is virtunll y achieved, :rnd tllltt science has won the
victory over the obstacles of nnture. l nslnncrs like
these ought not to oe lost opon the intclligcnrc of nny
enter.prising ~late; since, in pl'oportion ns f.tciliti~s
arc given to the healthful growth of the commercmt
metropolis or a country, which is, as it were, the very
heart of its being, they ndd vigour and activity to the
remotest members or the whole body, in which, its
lile blood circulates. How impolitic then, for a pow·
�-·
20
t
to forego the nd\•:rnt.ngcs which :\rise frorn
crful 5l~v:'tion of the highci;t l>nmches of knowledge?
the cu
l. I h
l
n oultivntion, wilhoul" nc ,, er own pcop ~ cannot
be brought, n<l.cquntcly _ understnn~. nod um venally
to
to npprcefote the . cunncut propriety of. pursuing
those ,•nsl rnternnl nuprovcmcnts, upon winch the full
<lcvclopmc nt of her resources depends: a. cu\tiVtltion
moreover, without which. it is impossible for nny one
people, t>crfectly to avnil themselves of the scientific
discoveries nnd im~rovements of every other people
under heaven. W c must cultivate science lnrgcly nt
home, to cnnble ourselves to import, nod trnnsplanc,
nnd make vroductivc, the science of other climes.
It requires veltran~ even to follow up, nnd r<'ndcr
avnilable, the very victories which fame h:lS proclnhn·
cd to tlle scientific world. And in this a.11pect of the
&
ubjcct, it is cheering to remember, that Maryland
/1a1 taken mensurcs to bring into her bosom, the discoveries and avails of that science, which, (gratia
T err re Matris) ought to have been earliest, but isactu·
nlly reaching perfection latest ot all, I mean Geology.
It is not needful now, to detail the advantages of this
underbking I mn3 be allowed to remark, however,
in passing, that no similar expenditure promises renown or benefit to Maryland, proportioned to that of
the gcologicnl nod topographic;il survey, in which,
this State hns given the lead to some of her sister
Statef'I, that had nntit'ipated her in the gencrnl cause
of cducntion, but whic h will not, I am confldent, be
slow to imilntc this judicious exercise of her !lower.
Y ct obvious ns these facts and principles nrc, there
nrc men who wnge n relentless wn.r nguinst the only
.N.ation.al Institution, from which the Union hns de·
r ived signal ndvnntngc! lf tbnt fails, the Stntcs must
rely entirt!ly on thems elves. And upon whom should
a sovereign State depend, but upon her own sons,
reared by her own cnre, and devoted to her own scr·
vice?* A strong voice comes down from our fore-
--::J.li. A loxamkr E sq. En~iuccr oflho Stille Survey, u a gro.Juato
ol Sl. J olm'•·
·
21
pect
It tells us .that res be
oriward· . ~ out' wtc rests,
nod urge~ us if r egard or ir the dcsolntio~s
mcroor1 .
CS'
,1 05 to rc11 3
to leave thcu·
for thClr \ should 1tllPclt tells us that tbnt pntriot.-
fl\tllcf'St.
not cnoug ~cncrntionsi foreboding orncn le of tiuertY1
of fortn~~nisbcd~ is _t ':nd that thb~· tc ~~to <lusd
g
t
work u
nefl\tlng,
·s \iruto in
our ncnrCS
isn\ is destlc tor science,'· ns like these,
within 0
as well as '~ considcrauo~te of V1n<H~'"' cstic edMoved ~e vowerfU~ :cd largely forw1~:n we turn
ncighboorpa.st, has prov1 is decisive. d look townrd
few rcn~and }1er succ~ ern bordey a~
nearer than
ucnuon, f oto our sou '
-' insutuuon
·dcrable
ves r
d aenorai
y conSl
r.
our eJ
we iin n0 o
rt from an
State ,nth<: cnstcrtl~\lat dra.WS sup~twten t/ICSC /WOpk t(cnl to
l.'l'ln~etonf, ur citizen~·
~undantl!J C(J11l1 s 'fhe
oruon o o.
1erritor!/1
I ig/1est c as • 1 s
~titut•oris lies aa Colttgc of the ~·ou1cl of thems<;. vctl
the
!l'ese
and
~U~~ch an Instituu;tJo/m's, cannot ~e
the~t"
~! t/lefohu~b~~~~ o{han.by tfiis stat~~c. present p" l'l..
e
·ragly a • i ? d t ~ the wonts
. . 0 01 ust now
s
nrr1e ou.,,
. d Prov1s10
plans bc,e;i l~nvc been s~pphde . and of the rising gel~
od wou
increasing cm
lost
Exnmp
be rondc for the is no time to be E ~ouragcmen~
rations. Theree us to ndvancc.S ~is t11c invnr1cveryw\1ere urg we rocecd.
uc . o we hear or
·11 accumulate as
? Bo~· often d 5UCh Institu·
Wl
rd f terpr1SC•
to
nble rcwn o cots of entire fort~nes
may be, for
oble bequcs
~c their means
then \\ h however amp
·u cxttnsion to meet
tlOftS1 W lC '. CS require a raJll
•
0· vidual• is p OS-'
resent um •
'llK
•
th e p .
r the future! 1nany an in 1 dispos1uon lO'
.
lar
the o~~~~~lth, who has no PA~~u what disposi~o~
1
scssc
.
ftcr his deal'·
. d n.s tltat w\uc1.,
make of it, a l1 occur to ~ nob\~ nun ' it had ceas~::~td~~~~ur: uicrul, ~n l>erbctu~!~n~~~e these the
cd to be so in possc~aon:
~ the Union have been
most flourishing 1;~;nar1:~1 ~biogs fall into the hand~
erpetuatcd. ~n t lUS,
erfora.n the part n\lotte
~i those who st.rive nobl1 t.? ;he emphatic assurance\\\tm b-y l'rov1dencc.
t is
su~~~th~leavc
bVi~d~isdom
{~~c;;~~'
"Bad
�22
thnl fo him 'Oho hath, more shall be 1ri1•e11 , and he shall
nave abtmdancc. And I nm constrnined to say thnt
were n rich c-stnte _in ~arylnnd to be tl~uc; dispostd of,
at the present period, 1t would be quite as liable to
fall to some wealthy institution a broad , ns to minister
to the wants o( n need y one at home. All these ad·
vantages will continue to be dis persed. until some
system of more concentrnted a ctiJn ~ shall be elfcctually adopted. N eithe r the r ich nor the poor, are content with the existin~ state of e<lucation. The inte·
r ests of both, will be promoted by s.nch nn enlargcment
of St. John's, ns sh all make her walls ncce. ble to the
~i
one, and acceptable to the othc.r .
And, is there not some more hcllrt·stirring view of
the subject, in reserve, wh'icla will rouse my hearers,
to ac tion! \Ve h :ive examined t he case of tho e who
leave the A cade mies and resort to foreign College ~,
to complete their cducation. L et me as'k then, in one
word, wh at is the gwernl situation of those, who remain inactive at h ome, after their c our· e in the Aca_.
del!Jics, is terminated? Ge ner ally speaking, it is ap·
preh ended that mere neglect of talent, is not the
worst of the evil. If e mployment be not afforded,
they are liable to sink into dissipation and vice. 'J he
d angers of a youth of talents, are multiplied. His
path is b eset by tempte rs, who mak e him tlieir leader'
in iniquity. He is not compelled to resort to busin ess; he is not inc lined to sh ut himself u p alone, to'
p ursue the pleasures of lear ning. lluin is almost the
anevitable consequence. R ow many n youth, thus
situated, coul<l be saved, if, i nstead of being left at
large, at this period, he we re subjectecl for nn acldi·
tional fo ur yea rs, to the r estraints of Colle~e discipli ne,
an<l engaged in the invigorating exe rcises and plfrsuits of science? The min<l would acquire more
strength and capacity; the habits would become fixed.
The youth would be better pre pared to act on his own
t esponsibility. He would not enter life too soon. The
prevailing inclin1tion for quitting study, nt too early
an age, would no longer be entertained. Indeed, this
"/ery evil, has directly resulted from the want of~
23
general institution of the highest rank, to r eceive
this clns.11 of young men, and to occupy them usefully,
between the ages of 16 and 20 , in consequence of
which, they have eith er ueen left to themselves, or
hn"c, prematurely , swarmed into the so called "learned profess-ions." Ancl , what earthly purpose can be
secured by committing an unfledged sciolist under
the sound of a professional name, to the patronage o f
the public! The most natural r esult will be, to leave
him, ordinarily, an easy victim to mortification, inac tivity and ruin. It is to no p-Urpose to quote e'ltam1
1lcs of professional distinction; in men who have
rniscd themselves without the advantages of a regular
education. Such professional ch ar acters are always
known to lament the limited extent of their opportunitic5; nr.<l, howe ver distinguish ed th ey may h ave become, they arc conscious that a h:tter education would
have enhanced their own satisfaction and su ccess.
In short, they nre proverbial illustrations of the lines
of the Homan Censor:
"Summos \lOSSCl viros el magnn oxempla d11luros,
Vervecum in p:ilrin, cr.issoquc sub 11crc ntlSCi."
It has become fashionable for the young to enter the
professions, while they ought to be entering College;
and it is not surprising that the common sense of the
people, shock ed at the r esults, regards all e ducation
ns futile and p erhaps pernicious.
I will not trespass furth er on t he attention of the
audience. It has been my wish to unfold some of the
more important bearings of the subj e~ t, by a plain
matter or fnct statement, for those vitally intcrest~<l.
I appeal to the judgment of every individual, w h eth er
the statement does not contain the t ruth; I ask, is
tlicre not ample ancl urgent cause for t he aid of every
friend o{ the best interests of the State? The central
position of St. John's, favours the proposed concentration of elfort. That its founders placed the College here, evinces their sense, moreover , of the value
nn<l necessity of the supervision of the Government.
T he amount of iibc1·nli~y solicited from any individu11\, does not exceed what is ordinarily extended by
�24
tJie opulent, almost every year, to mere local charities
Yet, the present is n State object, nnd the good to b ·
drrivctl i~ universnl and in~alculable. I t will be the
snving of immense sums of money to our citizen!. I~
will co~fcr upon thousands; to w~om it must otherwise
be d~nied, th£• ~encfit of a pubhc educntion. It will
rcolrum from m1scmployment and corruption untold
numbers of those whose hands will hold th~ future
destinies of the Republic. It will preserve the clc.
~ated st?nding or. the liberal professions, by prevent.
mg the rntroduction of n multitude of hnlf-cducat((\
men. It will conduce, every way, to the honournnd
Wt!lfare of the Stnte~ by an augmentation of her mo1·11
power and p olitical influence. It will opernte on the
whole mnss o_f the p~ople, by the more nm~le and
more appropriate provlSlon of teachers for their chil·
dren. I t will creat e nn independence of feeling nnd
of action, that cnn spring from nothing short of the
supply of our intellectual wants, from our domestic
r esources The people \\·ill become more enlightened
~n~ united, more enterprising and prosperous; nnd,
1t is not too much to add, the happier and the more
free. I appeal, therefore, to your Judgments, to
your interests, to your patriotism and to every good
and generous ft eling, that may move you to take de·
lig ht in promoting the welfnre of the present and future generations, for such portion of patronage and
support, as may seem required by this ancient and
deserving seminary of the Stnte.
YOUNG GENTLEMEN', GRADUATES OF ST. J OHN'S:
the remarks which I have made, afford an occasion
for a parting word to you. It is your fortune to go
out from our College, at a period of no common inter·
est. All the noble incentives and enthusiastic sen·
timents that enter in to the origin ofa great in3titution,
and disting uish its early history, from all succeeding
p eriods, must now operate on you. We arc engaged
in an cnterprize which is worthy of the best exertions
of every friend of education, and every lover of his
country. Whcu once accomplished, it will be re·
25
rncmbcred nnd celebrated in nftcr times, ns a new era
in the history of the College, propitious to tho
glory of the Hepublic. You nrc more deeply conscious than those who may come after you, of the
difficulties to be surmounted, the necessities to be
supplied, the prejudices to be overcome, the cliscourngements to be endured, nn<l the opposition, of
whatever kin<l, to lie encountered, to con duct tliis
enterprize to a successful te:-mination. You participate in nil the motives nml feelings that urge the friends
of your Alma Mater, to pt•ess on with the good work.
You cnnnot £nil to cherish these feelings and obey
these impulses, when you leave these walls and e nter
those busy scenes, that will 11emintl yott at every stepJ
of the nurture you have receivc<l nt her hands . To
incentives like these, the ea rly Graduates of S t. John's
owed much of th eir distinction. It was their fortune
to feel the original impulse, communicated by the
moral energies that brought the institutior. into being.
\'ou cannot stand, on the sl\me elevation that inspired them, with lofty purposes. But the only difference
between you is, that you occupy a position a little lower
down in the valley of time. You have every motive
that could stimulate them, to stam p on the primitive
days of its history, the undying traits of thei1· own
cl1aracter. It will be your part, and that of the p upils now in tl~e keepi ng of your Alma Mater, to make
this second epoch conspicuous, for the virtues and
talents with woich it niny be emblazoned. Let this
thought arouse every power of your souls, to sleepless1
tireless action. It matte.rs not, in what capacity you
l'nay be called to net, for the benefit of men. In
every honourable! employment, your success will
'Promote her interests. no less than your own. She
hns watched over you with parental solicitude, in the
critical years of her gunrdianship; nnd she will now
follow you with fervent aspirations, for your usefulness, nnd <lislinction. In every great nnd good action
-you may perform, she will feel herself elevated; and
she will exult in the npprobation of your fellow-men.
4
�27
26
Jt is not possible fo r th e paren ts whose pl'ayers have
gone up to Go<l fo r you, \\'hi{c you were absent from
their firesides, to feel for you, a Ji ,·efic r t hri ll o f i n·
terest. You,. clerntion will !Jccorn e h er c hie f j oyrour dcg r:J<.lJ tion (if <lisappoin t ni c nl must come,) wi lj
!Jc her keenest sor row!
'Weigh well, then, t he resp onsibility of y our relations. Whcu some fifty years s hall ha~·e r olled ~may,
it m:iy 11nppen that one of your number, more fated
thnn the rest, s hall look arou nd h im to read the r ecord
of your deeds, in the re mcmb1 ncc of a n impartial
·a
pe~plc. Ruma n foresig ht ca nnot p ene tra te t he ve il
which conceals t he c hanges that must pass o\·e r these
shores before such a Slll' vcy shall oe made. The present s.tates ·~ay be oulitcratc<l, and other kingdoms
com e rnto bcrng, before the last of yeur n urn b cr shaJI
Le foicl in the d ~rst. . B ut, co1uc w hat c hnnges may,
the seats of lc~rrung, i t may be hopc<l, will sta nd u nchanged, but rn the more freque nt aad full affections
of th eir sons, with whic h t hey \\ i 11 have been hallowed! The cause of L ette rs, is the ca use of H umanity
:ind of GocJ.' . I ts consecrated templ es, togethc1 with
·
t hose of r ehg io11, a rc saved, \\ hi:n t he political fabric
of a country is shaken into ruin !
" Tould that we
might feel some pro phetic p romise. that th e in<l id<lual of y~u, \\ho shall thus ,·j~it, fol' the Ja~t time, these
acadcnuc shades, linll frn<l you r names wrillen 011 those
pnges of lier r·e.rords, wher~) ou r Alu1a M ater del ights
to rcn<l the lustory of tlic cmi11cnt indi vidual:. \\ ho
Iia \·c gone before.: J ou i 11 Ll1i.: r.1cc of J1011ou r.
Tllis is not th e time to ul'ge t/1e higher sanctions of
God antl of Eternity . If the occa~1o n allo\Yed, I
w~uld show tlut you a1 ur·gcd, not only by c vc ry·c
t11111g that cnn c1.gt1£:,·e you n/Icctions as sr;ns, as c itizens
and ns p/1ilan tl1ropists, out as probationers for a sta te
of unending ha ppi!1cs.~, to sustain a 1'eminarr.• destined
to ad \'ii nee the :;;pm t11nl as \rel J as the tem poml j 11 ce-
rests ofn~cn. T he faith we p rofess nnd the hopes that
we cl1cr1sl1, come frJm tlrnt same cliYine rnlumc that
inrites and inrokes the lights of Jcnrui ng and pt1lloso·
ph y, no less than the spirit of meekness and submis·
sion, to she<l upon its pages adlli tiona\ proofs that the
w~1y of lwli11css must be sought by the oracles of i ts
wisdom. Here we discover what is needful! to re·
!11ove the fears of supersti tion, to quiet the alarms of
ig norance, and to d isarm the terrors of den th. Whatever is r~qufred to purify the heart, to gui<lc the unclerstanding, to govcl'll the moral feelings, in i;hort to
prepare the s piri t fo l' t he society or angels, is unfolded
rn the sound mol'ality and <\ llk kcning fai th of this re vealed word: and from i t, we <\ c1 ,•e \.he on\y well
•i
g rounded assurance, thnt this world is <l<'stinecl to become the unclistur bccl resid ence of happiness and.
v eace! These arc th e sentiments and principles that
IJlac ed you in our care; nn<l '' i th these yon should rejoin the expecting fricu<ls, whose flcnr ts arc t\\1''11\ing
with the liveliest emo t ions to receive you. Think
then of the parents who m·c cntitlc<l to the wnrmt st
g ratitude of your whole lives fOr the opportunities you
have received. Thi nk of you r country, whose honnour is hand e<l dl)\vn from succession to succession of
her sons. Think of the world and of the poli tic al and
moral r egeneration it must \nulergo before the angels
of p eace, of huma~1ity, an<l of religion, shall enjoy an
unrnterrupted flig ht ove r cart h"s utmost bounds.
Think not that you are too insigni ficant to be take11
into the account on this grand ~cal e of benevolence.
A single seed planted in scnson by a patri.ot or a.
christian hand, may overs pread t he earth. In one
word, think of th e goo<l and g reat men who have gone
before you from these vcncrnblc walls. Catc h t he
voice that comes <lown to you in the strong tones or
.
'
'
l h e . WlSll ~m nod J1h1lanthropy, Sllnl"'YlOI\ them inueed
ll'
to your imaginations, nm\ question lhr.m of the l abours
th.at th e!J have finished in piet y and 11cace~ and they
will chee r you o n by the c harms of virtue and t h e
promises ot Hcligio11. Spiri ts of Smith nnd ]Jan.son, of Claggett, antl Cc
ttroll, if i n P arall il'c you
can yet behold the c hiltl of your early prayers and
p atriot hopes, now st rcng lhr ning into mnnhood may
�28
the thought fire the bosoms of these youth with the
fervour of your tried virtues, in the cnuse ofintelli~nce and freedom: and prepare them too for shrines
m. the hearts of their countrymen, and for stations
with . the spirits of just men made perfect, in the
oARl) OF
V I S IT ORS
n
AND GOVERNOR S
or.
JOHN'S COLLEGE.
sT.
manSions of the blessed!
N oT&. The Rev. Dr. S~nm, mention1>d in the closing
paragraph, was made ~he first President of St. J ohn's, for
the purpose of installing its first officers, on which occasiOll,
he preached an lnaugur.11 se rmon. He nfierwnrds \Vent
through the State, with the first subscription to its. funds.
Dr. CL.AGGET, was one of the first Bishops of the Eptscopnl
C hurch; and Chancellor HANSON, and the v~oenibla CAnll.OLL, wf're among the earliest and most efficient members
of the Boanl of T rustee .
·
l\f .AS, ox-officio PrcsiJont.
Al\1.ES THO
1rs Exccllcnr.y J N BUCllAN.AN;. N
•
Ilon. J Olh
l\l D MAR I I .
" WILLIA
. ARCHER.
" STEVENSONDORSlBY.
.. · ·rHoMAS 8 ·
STEPHEN.
.. JOHN
F CHAMBERS
" EZEKIEL . BL•ND
ORIC
"
.
THEOD
·IAPl\lAN.
" JOHN G. Cl 13LAK ISTON E .
"
., WILLIAM J. T
'EPH KENnoWIE
.
,. JO~ .
" ROBERT W.
MAGRUDER, E sq ,
ALEXAND~~O~T, Esq.
SAMUEL R
RWOOD,ofThos. E sq.
RICHARD HA
JAMES BOYLE, E sq. E
s DREW ER, sq.
N ICIIO~A lAYNADIER,
E sq.
Esq.
HEN~~~~ H. MAHHIOTT,
CARROLL, E~q.
THOMA::· ALEXANDER,Esq
WILL
1
1
6~~~ ~. \V
ATKINS, E sq.
l~RANKLIN, E sq .
AY WATERS,Esq.
RAMDSENN IS CL AUDE, Esq.
DR
'r
. OLl\S DREWER, JI' · E ~q.
' ·
NICll
ES E 'I
JERE.l\IlAII HUGil ~ , s .
;.HOM AS
GIDEON WHITE, Esq.
ALEXANDEgRANDALL, E sq.
JOSEPH H . NICH OLSON , E sq.
J OUN JOH NSON, 1':sq .
Tn :i.: As u n E n,
GEORGE MACKUillN, E sc1.
SE O RETAllY,
GEORGE WELLS,
E~41.
�31
CLASS GRADUATED,
F EBRt'ARY
RC.~IDi:l\"CD.
lfAH E5.
---
21st, 1835.
TPasliington City.
.lltmapolis.
,.\DRAM CLAUDE, A. B.
./lnnapolis.
f,owr .s BonE, A. B.
Caroline County•
IhcRARO SMITH C uLBRETU, A. B.
.flnnopolis.
lhcnAllD CaEAGD MAcrwurN, A. B .
fuolfA S H oLME HAGNER, A. B.
•
SENIOR CLASS.
R ESIDCl\"C r:.
lr.UIES.
TIJOMAS
PRorcsson OP
E . SUDLER
llf4Tll&MATtcs
.
•
.. "'
.....
41\"D CIVU.
WILLIAM
n·
l'D.OFcuon
LE ARV
m:
Esc11n:.1tar«c .
• A. M .
o r cnA.11u1An.
Thomas Granger,
George Grundy,
Richard Hay1vard,
J oshua D. J ohnson,
George F. J ohnson,
George Edward Afuse,
William J . Reeder,
J ohn H. Reeder,
H enry W. Thom:is,
F ranklin Weems,
Nicholas B. Worthington,
Queen .ll1111e's County.
Ballimore City.
Cambridge.
F1edtrick.,
.IJnnapolis.
Cambridge.
Baltimore Cily.
Do
St .•Mary's County.
Elkridge.
llm1 .IJrundel County •
t
•
JUNIOR CLASS.
I
r
t
John M. Brome,
Frederick S. Browo,
John Buchanan Hall,
John W. Martin,
Truman T yler,
St. 3/ary's Oounty.
Charles County.
Washington Couruy.
Can1
bridge.
P rince Georgt:'1 Comlly.
j
�33
s'fuoc~ TS
32
.-----;.:::11-;;:-
NAlU:S.
Dorchutcr C ouu.ly
,/Jnnapolis.
arius Duvall
·
Do.
.!J" 1ie .11.rundd Cbunty.
J ames Iliggin~
T homas Jgleh:rt
Do.
Philip L ansdale '
Harford County
Charles N. Mac,lrnb·
.flnnapolis.
W illiam H • T h ~mpsoo,
m,
•
Do.
NA)IES.
n ESID.C.'\" C &.
.Btmapolis.
J ohn \V . Dut"ail
Do
Caloert Coumy.
S~rsel County.
p .
nnnce George 's Counly
.,nnapoli1.
•
T albot County.
0
.IJNm .!Jnmdel
Annapolis.
'""Y·
R everdy GhisP/~
. in,
•
-i
eremiah L • JJ ug l1es
J
R1eh"'d H ughlett
T hemas R . Kent ,
Absalom Rid le •
'
T~cf'
c
Bnce J . W o rthin , to
J':t Tb 's. B· W onh~ o, ,
1ngtoo
.amu Do
.flrundel
Do
County.·
•
PART IAL STUDENT S.
NA)I.C:S.
G. Boggs,
Samuel Ridout
William R · G~ uian,
.l]mwpoli~ •
Jeremiah
·r.
Chase,
Do
J)o
J ohn eta~ to n,
Do
Do
Du
Hcnt y Duvall,
ftichat<l R. Gaither,
j\\C~anllcr n.
G;-irobri\\,
John T ·
~.
.IJmie JJrimcleL Cou11l1J·
c.
1l)·de,
J )O
Loockerman,
Do
E d\\'atd G . Maynnt<l,
Walter Md~ eir,
George Mc°Neir,
Do
T homas C. Gantt
'
.Benja min Gray '
p ,·;11ce Gcorgo's County.
Lc,,·cllin Bo) I<',
'l'o\\'\i\)
Johr. M . Brr.wer
Philip Culbreth '
~oho
~IJnno.polis·
Robert J3o" ie ,
1Jn11cipol is .
Beujatnin H . H a\\,
Jj11nC .flrLmdcl Cott1ll1/•
Dennis Hart,
.RmtCtpO ti s.
Bet.)aroin Harwood,
George s. n11rnphrc5~,
Do
FRESHMAN CLASS.
C.
sco oo[, .
----~cNcr..
j ohn Dnsil,
George S. Atl..-ioson
W illiam Tell Cla d '
11.f •
u e,
lVHli•m
GR.\M ~H~n.
~------George 13:iri o\t,
W ashi n gton City.
SOPHO MORE CLASS.
1•
-rue
1?'
R£SfD £ NCE.
Baltimore City.
.ll11i
ne ilrun del \,;01.mt y.
rt.
.lltinapolis.
-
Do
.-
Do
colJRSE OF STUDIES, y,xPENSES, &
·c.
-
1.'11.Et>AR-\'l'Olt'i s T UDt.ES, viz:
];ngli ,h G romnm ; Geogra 11hY; 1 rith m• lick; Lalin Gram\
"Esop'J F ables; Erasmus;. C:em'• Com·
mar; Corderius; J
mentaries, or Sallust; Eclogues, and
six books o! the
iEnei1 of Yirgil; Cicero'> Orolions; Mair's lntroUuction , o r
I
Lahn T utor; Greek Gran,ma r , Gred• D e\cctus; and J acob'•
~rst
recei~-
Greek Reader, an<l l)rosod y.
Pupi\3 not intending lo enter College, will also be
ed into the English Depart ment, and "iII pursue sueb bra ncl• es o! E ducnl ion. embraced m the course a• may suit their
particular views.
5
'
�36
JUNIOR CLASS.
FIRST TElUf.
34
COLLEGIATE COURSE.
FRESHMAN CLASS.
FlaST TE&H.
F olsoru's Livy.
Grreca Majorn-(Xenoeho.n, Herodotus, Thucydidu.)
Greek nnd Romao Aot1qu1tics, History, and M)tbology.
SECOND TERM.
H orace, (O<les.) Virgil's Gcorgicks.
Grreca .Majoro, (Lysins, Demosthenes I ~c~tc·s.)
Algebra, with A rllhmetic revised.
'
TIIIRD TElllll.
~l ·ora. ( Minor Poet~.) the Mens uration of IlcigbtJ;
or:cca I .11~1s of 1;rigo?om.etry ;urveying, Levelling , &c.
N 1v 1g at1on, . ,
1)lcallO
APlnd Distances, ' (Abercrombie s.)
11
pbtlosophy.
Motnl
a&ooND TERM·
(History.)
Tacitus.- · s
. '· Secuon ..
t res
comci.
-
SOPHOMORE CLASS.
PJRST TEIUIJ ,
J U'\""Cnal, ( Le\'eretl's )
Ho'Jlel 's Ilia<l, (Robinson's.)
Plane G eomelry, (LcgencJre's.J
SE COND T E RM.
Cicero de Oralore, or Quintilian.
Grrecn Majora (Od) s~cy and Hes iod.)
Solid Geometry, (Lrgt:ndrt:',;·)
TJIIRD T t.: Il)f,
Rh1:lorick and Belles Lellres.-( Whateley.)
Gr::cca l\lajora.- (T ragedi'lns.)
.
L ogarith ms; Pl?n.e and _ Sphcn~al Tr1gonomclr.>'..
.r.xcrc i; cs in ong rnnl ( ompos1t;o11 nn<.l E locu1
1on, during
the .par.
('f ur oer's. J
. try WI
•
)
s and Life of Agrico 1
a.
of the German 1 (Olmsted's)
.1 s-(~faoners 'th Lectures.
the Fine Arts.Tac• ul Pbilo&op~1Y.' w1 with Lectures on
Natura ts of Crit1c1scn,
d . ·og the year.
Etemen
1 ations ur1
(Kames')
't"oos and Dec am
Debates, Compos1 i
,
GhellltS
Horace, (Satires nnd Epistles.)
Grreca Majorn, (Xenophon's .Memorabilia, Plato.)
Algebra comp leted.
.
Traaslntions, Themes, and Declamations during lhe year.
.
' th Lee u
'
1'JJJRD TERM·
SENIOR CLASS.
d' ~
Ohnste >0.,
(.
· hcd with Leclltres.
and a
tural Philosophy, fi.n•s wi'th Lectures on Taste,
FIRST TERM•
...r
!"n
D Arte Poeuca,
; ol Latin.
M' d (Whateley's.)
R~v1s1od Philosophy of the r in •
Logic, an
Horne~,.
s&COXD T ERM•
( Cnmb1 idge.) )
• 11i Lectures.
(Say's
A;.tronomy- w•
vilh Lectures.
' •
(Paley's.J
Political Econom.Y~' . and Natural Theology.
Evidences of Chnsunn1ty
TU!RD T E RM
. .
aa<l Ch·il and Politica-1
.
Consuluhon,
la1vs of NationsU-.t cl States. (Kent.)
H is tory of the
ot e
.
Bu1ler':1 Annlogt·
(
tructioo of l\1achin es, Brtdges,
Civil Engineering- cons
Roads, Canals, &c.)
(She ard's.)
Miocralorry and G~o~ogy.p·
pEx!emporaneous Debates,
'7
f OrJtYtnnl 11?ces,
Declan1at1 o . e. 't' . n during she year.
ons.
and Exercises in 0 rr 1c1s1 '
�37
of lhc Cou1t of Anno Arundel county; whicli mny bd
rccoverct! in nny proper notion before snid Court.
Sec. S. •'911d be i t t11
actcd, Thnt it shnll be tho duty of
tho Attorney 0<.'ncrnl of thill Stntc, or hie Dnputy, on the
('(llllplnint or nny of tho o mcors nforcsnid, to proucculc for
nil v1
olntions of lhis not.
110 11
The stuJ ) I llu~ Motleru L angua ge~. abftll be so arrnngcd,
u not m:ttcri11ll) to intrrfrrt with the College course.
T he offi c e r~ of instruction, \\ ill endtn\'Or to mnkc the
c<1un:e of ~ tu.iy ns t A
orous;h ns possihlr; nntl in 110 onsc will
11 Scholar he nllowcd to p nss, to nn 11clr nnccd stnndmg, till
he shnll hnn • sustained all the ineT1ous C.'<nminntions, to the
Slltisfuction of the Fnculty.
F ull Courses of Lectures are delircrecl to thr chwcs on
Chcmistr, , Mineralogy and Geology; and on Naturnl Phi)osopb,· aud Astronomy.
T he Stntc Cnbmel of l\l incrals, collected b) 1hc Gcolo.
gist of Maryland, is d<"pos1ted in the Collrgc, nnt! DlQ\" be
11sed, together " ith the College Cabinet, l\"hich of itse)f 1
s
qu\te respectnble, in illuslrnting the Lr ctures on Minel'1l]og-y
and Geology.
•
E XP ENSES.
T he College Bills n re pa)able quarterly, in
follows, ·d-1:
E oglish Dcp11rtruent,
4
Preparlltory Clsst-u,
40
F reshmen nnd ~ opbomorc Clnsse-,
40
Senior and J unior ClossC'5 1
50
adnince, os
per
do.
do.
do.
o.nnuni
do.
do.
do.
T he nboYo Dills include nil t ztms.
No Co mmons arr rst11bli~he<l; but bonrtl may be hnd in
p ri\"ate fa mi lie$, fo1 "1 :20 ptr nnnum.
PuC'nts nod Gua rdinns uc rt't'.JUC.'-le1l to plact nll monic3
intended for the n•c C'll the students. 111 thr h11ntl~ ol one of
the P rof1. or:-, " ho "ill t'~c rcisc a p1rent11l J1~crc11on, in
their disbursement; nnJ the following Lai\ of lhe Stnte,
pas..~cd Dt-cen bl.'r H'.'-IOn, 1SS4, is puhlrsbctl for lire inform3tion of all pt r-or " C< 11rerncd.
Section J. b e .zl rnntltd liy tl1c GrnrNtl .1sm nbly oj -~fa
ryland, T hnt no person or pen.on:. :.hull ~"ilrc crt•drt lo nny
S tudenl of St. J ohn':; Collt·i:e, b1•in~ n mrnor, w1tliout tire
consen:, in w1iting, of hi;; Pnrcnt or Guart!inn, or of such
Officer or Office·• ot the Col11'~l\ as mar he nutliori:.rd by
the goY
ernnwnt thereof, to act m sudi cases, lXLept for
l\ ashing fir mt dicnl ~id .
Sec. 2 • .ilild be il rnadeJ, T hat if any person or persons
shall g~Ye credit to nny minor as aforesaid, contrnry to the
prot'isions of this :ict, l.c or they shall forfeit and pa) lo
the T reasurer of the \\'rstrrn 'hore of thiq t'tatc, n ~u m
not less 1han t\\ enty, nor more than three hundred dollars,
:iccordiog to the nature of the offence, and nt the c
l.&cn:-
T he plnn of the subscription mentioned in th? ~cl<lrcBlf,
origrnatcd in tho followi ng resolutions, nnd is s11b10111cd, to ·
gethcMvith n list of the sums nlrt•ndy obtniocd.
,
R#olvccl, by lhc Visitor11 nnd G?''r rnors of St. J ohn 11
College, tlrnt lhc P1 incipnl uc nut hor1~e~l 11 ncl rr·q~1c~t ccl to
collect subscri ptio n ~, pnynhlo to t h ~ V1
sitorq. nml <J o, c1~1o r11,
to bo npplic1l hy them, in the rrc•chon of suit.nl>lo b~111l111gs ,
for thl' occommoll ntion of etudcntil, 1111d for 1mprov111g n11J
xtondiog tho librnry nm! pl1 ilosophi~nl Appnrntus of the
.College, nnd lhnt tho T rcnsurcr be nu~horiscd. to pny lo ~he
Princ ipnl, tho expenses he mny incur, Ill cnrry11lR 111lo cncct
this Tcsolution.
Resolved, by the Visitors nm\ ~o~·crnors . of L~ t. J ohn's
s
C0 ltcrrc l thnl the Governor. of th1c; Stntc, I I 1I.! ••xi:cllo11cy
b
l
1'
.
n
hc
J A 11, Rs TnoatAs , . n<l 1 li on. J ENJ A1111N IJl, '0 1rn F.sT ,
.
f I.
1
tl the H on. 'l' 110 MAS \V 1twn·r Sd. mcm lH' rs .o It 1 s
Gil
•
h ' .
.
Ilonrd, be a committee to ro·Opcrnto with t . c r111?1pa , 111
m nkin~ nll suitable preparntions, to carry rnto cOcct the
resolution of the Bonrd 1 to collect trnl>scriplions for the lie·
nefit of this I 11stit11tio11
S t. J ohn's Colkgc Feb. 15th 1834.
Co1•Y Ol" Tnt: Sunsc n1M'10N.
We tho subscribers, hereby nw C'e to pny to th~ Visito rs
nnd Go\'crnors of S t. J ohn'i1 College, nt . J\nnnpolis, l\l aryJnnil, or order, the sums of money opposite our n n1~1cs, res·
wcti\'ely, in two <'<1unl i11srnl111t•n1s1• to be npplred, in cnrry1
ing into effect 1he fo rrgoing lll'sol11t1o n~; prov1dctl, ho wc ,·cr ,
thl\t this eubscription 11lrnll he void, 11nl1·s-. n~ ll'n ~ t ll•n
thousnn1 dollurs, sh.11! ho R11hqcr1hcd n ~ nforl'Sn u.1 nnd o n
\
;
tho eompl1 1011 ol snill i;ulisciiption, the fi rR 111 R h~l11w nl'
•1
t
ubo1c \llC'ntion1•d, ~ 1t11 ll bl'C't>mc cl ue, nnd the other 111stalmr11t, twelvt' months thcrcn l't1'l,
Sept. 9th 1834.
J nmcs T homn!I,
$500
Willinm l lu1,;hlr tt,
300
Hobert W. Uni' io
250
Wm. IL ~I n rri oll,
250
Alt'~ andc r C. ;\fngrmlcr,
200
HC'nry Mn) nnll in,
200 c
1-1. H. llnrwootl,
200 ..
C:rorgc i\I nckubin,
200 ..
�89
ll<l11M• ClnuM
lh11111\
$'.WO .
Wl\l :,
!lOO •
1WO •
J oh11 J ohnt'ou •
N1uholn" 1110,~r J i.
A h-xn111lrr 1\nntltill
' l'I 1 M1 n~ :S. Al cxnmla1
'
I
200
~00 ••
Oc•Mt;'-' W <'llit
•
lh i 1•1• J • W 01 tl1111gton
U1d1ud ll nrn ouJ ol'' 'l'h
ll ll• 1 nul I. J om•s
os.
' I' Il l'l lllll 'I OlivN
'
ll1dnr ll uil>pl:l'('y&
'
Hober\ W . l{<' nl
\)tin\d
~11\IK('
•
1oc, •
100 .
100
100
100 •.
100 •
J ohn 11. Suthorou,
I
\\1\\i1 nl11M•hi;
•1t
~nmu1·I Mllynnrci·
100 •
100 •
'J' homa'I .... rnnkhu •
r
100 •
R M. Chnsc,
'
'i h mu.u1 S. C ulbreth
~\\:\Ill\
!ZOO•
200 ...
1(10 •
n.
llytlo Hny
J l\lll('I lgl;hnrt
i?OO •
100 .
100.
I
Ollbrid n u,rili
F1dJur C ron ,
\\' I IIl l\lll
Ho witJ
'
\\ 1\ ltt\11\ \lc•t't\('t
1?00 •
lWO .
S?OO •
'
:1111l l gl;b1rt
Ocor-gn I". \\ o rtliinSton
Geo~u G. n rowcr
,
J ohn ll. Morru1 '
!'mlrc•w Mc-Loughlin,
.
j homns n. l)prscy
Cluarks Oo\d,,boro~gh
J ohn C . lf cnry
,
J osl'ph g, l\lu~'0 1
ll cnry l':igc,
0. C. W nshington
Benj. S.Forrest '
J . Nc,·itt Steel~,
Allen Thornftll
ChnTlcs W . D~rscy
R. G. Stockett,
'
R. \\'. Dorsey
Larkiu Dorsey'
J ohn C. W ccm;
Chas. S . W . D~"-"Y
Daoitl Murray,
'
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
JOO
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
100.
100 •
JOO •
100 .
100.
100.
100.
t OO·
100 .
100 I
100 •
100·
ioo·
100·
100 •
J ohn 11 . Aloxontlcr
G wiun Jlnrr\111
'
N. F . Wltllam• ,
1'homM Sopplnglon,
lloborl JJ. Gol<laLorough,
];, S. Win<lor,
Andrew Sl"nncr,
J 118.
t l OO\
JOO ..
100 ·
100>60.
liO •
60 •
(,0 •
60 •
U. S toclc,
nrico J . G oldsborough,
'fhomOS }l oywnrJ,
W ilham W. Ecclo11ton,
ChnB. J. J{ilgoor,
J . ll. Wilkiuion,
'}'hoe. E . Sue.lier,
J . Hughes,
Jl. J. CowLnnn,
J ohn Hnndnll,
Geo. McNcir,
J)nsil Shephard,
uO
t>O
Chnr\cs H. S teele,
The bolonco of the subscription, will be
•
•
,
•
()0
50
50
50
50
}l. J. Crnbb,
'l'homns Ducl<cll,
J ohn U . Wnrin~,
Willio1n Ghiselrn,
J . G. Chopman,
Lconnr<l I glehart,
W in. D. Merrick,
•
60
60
60
c;O
oO
60
60
50
:
60
50
50
published in a
future Edition. to collect nl least tlairty t1i.0u1ancl dollar•,
It is proposed
for the purposes here epceificc.I; nnd it is proper to sta to that
tho builcling11 contemplated, nre
}Ill. A L Ano Y. Cox.LEOJ ATE E o rvrcE.
2<l. /t.. ~pAc1ouR GitAMllfA n Sonoox..
It is designed thnl these buildings !lhnll be of the most
npllrovc<l conslruction. 'l'hc plnn.t fowe been prepared, nnd
wi l bo cnrricd into execution ns soon ns the necessary funds
shnll be obtained. 1.'ho principal building is intended tor
tho aceommodotion of Studonte with board, lodging, ~c.
Jndlvidunls willing to lent.I their aid to the objcctR of this
1ubscrip1 io11, ore r equeete<l to oommunicntc, by letter, with
tho Hev. 11 . IJ u MJ>llllE\'li 1 Annapolis, nuthorising him to
add their nomes to the nboYe list, in either o ( the deuomi .
nations thnt 1hey mny designate; or, in cue ony check or
ordc1 slinll be tror.Fmitll'd, 10 mnk e it poynblc to "tlie
·
---
�40
John'• rollegt, Mnrylarnl.,, All such sub.
Treasurer O>f St .
.
·11 b
I
k
scri tions and contributmos w1
e proper y _ ·nowlcdgc<l
ac
by
Vi siTORS A~D. Gon:n~oRs, and faithfully approriateJ lo t he above ob~ects.
.
p Associations of ind1nduals wbo mas feel the 1mpor lnncc
of the undertaking, and \\ i~h lo co·O_Peralc! by the ~ onntion
:11£
of smnller sum~, :ire requested lo u m le ti.cir respective contributions, nnd forward the m lo lhe same address, for the
Treasurer.
T he hope is also ('nlerlaioe<l, that indi, idunls of great
\nalth may b e williog to imitate the larger donations nod
bequests, which nre n o t unfrequently b estowed up?n similar
Institutions in t1thcr ~ tntes, to found Profc~sorslnps; to en.
dow L ibraries; or to crcd College I!all..~, lo be n:nucu by
the respecth·e donors a!' permanc1.t mcm<>rials ol their mu.
l odin<luals \\ho hz.ve th e ability may thus grali·
11\ficcncc.
fy a laudable desire l? perpctuai,c thc~r names, al t_he same
time that they may CllJO)' the sa11.;fact1 of know mg, lh11t
on
their \!eoelacuons will promolc tlie interests of sc11rnc<' 1 hu .
mnnit'y, and religion, ~o the laiest PoSlerity.
~Copies of this Address will be sent to all the Alumni
of the College, who a re especially reques~ed. to promote
tht? objE:Ct, both by t~cir. individual su~scnpllons, and. by
their efforts 10 obtain aid from the fne.1ds o{ Education,
throughout the Stnle.
En1
u.TA
Pago S, lino 40, for ldters read Wtn ... "
.,
• .,
·11,
"nom.UU1,, ., "no:nuua.
~<?wing to the great hurry of tlie moment nl \Vhich the
foregoing form was printed, lhe nnmcs ol the following
Students in lbe Grammar School were inadverlcn1 ly omitted.
NAMCS.
J ames McNcir,
George Miller,
Edward C. Mills,
Henry M. Murray,
J ames Reany,
Horatio S. Ridout,
Samuel Ridout,
Richard R idgley,
William Ridgely,
Alfred G . R idgely,
JI ESI D ENCE.
Jlnnapolis.
Do
Jlnnc .!lrundel (oun ty.
.!lmiopoFs.
Richard H . S ch wnrar,
Francis H. Stockett,
John T. Taylor,
Deonis C. Thompson,
James c. Wetch,
Edward WilEams,
Levin W1nder,
J ames M. Winde_,
r
Charlea F. Wortl11ogton,
Ballimorc Cily.
.Rnm .Brundtl County.
.llnnupolis.
Do
Do
Do
Do
.llm1e JJrundct County.
.llnnapolis.
no
Do
.flrme .llrundtl County.
Easton.
Do
.0.nne .Arundel County.
�
Dublin Core
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Title
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Commencement Programs and Addresses
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Annapolis, MD
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St. John's College Greenfield Library
Description
An account of the resource
Addresses given at commencement and programs of events related to, and including, the annual commencement ceremonies at St. John's College. Includes both the undergraduate and Graduate Institute commencements. <br /><br />The College Archives holds programs and/or addresses for the following years:<br />
<ul>
<li>1796</li>
<li>1835-1836</li>
<li>1842</li>
<li>1852</li>
<li>1856-1857</li>
<li>1870</li>
<li>1878</li>
<li>1880</li>
<li>1890</li>
<li>1893</li>
<li>1895</li>
<li>1897</li>
<li>1907</li>
<li>1910-1918</li>
<li>1920-1924</li>
<li>1928-1929</li>
<li>1932</li>
<li>1936-1937</li>
<li>1939-1945</li>
<li>1947-present </li>
</ul>
Click on <strong><a title="Commencement Programs and Addresses" href="http://digitalarchives.sjc.edu/items/browse?collection=18&sort_field=Dublin+Core%2CDate&sort_dir=d">Items in the Commencement Programs and Addresses Collection</a></strong> to view and sort all items in the collection.
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commencementprograms
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paper
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41 pages
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Description
An account of the resource
Address to the Alumni and Graduates of St. John's College, and to the Friends of Education in Maryland. By Hector Humphreys, D. D., President and Professor of Moral Science, Delivered After the Annual Commencement in February, 1835. Printed at the request of the Visitors and Governors of the College.
Creator
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Humphreys, Hector, 1797-1857
Publisher
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Jeremiah Hughes, Printer
Coverage
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Annapolis, MD
Date
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1835-02
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St. John's College owns the rights to this publication.
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text
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pdf
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English
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Commencement Address from 1835 by Hector Humphreys {1835-02}
Title
A name given to the resource
Commencement Address, 1835
Commencement
Presidents
-
https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/sjcdigitalarchives/original/e523d61b002a9ce19df2e13f4ba4e1bb.pdf
021f292c1b0e80443a807d3a793cb5a0
PDF Text
Text
J
!
d
/
D)lLIVERED BEFORE THE
ALUllll'H
OF
ST. JOHN'S COLLEGE
At the Annual Commencement
February, IS36,
011
the 22d
RY THE
,v
§
jf~
.
HON. ROBERT H. ~OLDSBOROUGH,
lN THE PRESENCE OF THE VISITORS _AND GOVERNORS OF THE COLLEGE_.
THE GOVERNOR, AND EXECUTIVE COUNCIL OF.THE STA.TE-
THE TWO HOUSES OF THE _GENERAL ASSEMBLYAND A LARGE CONCOURSE OF CITIZENS,
--.
'
JN THE COLLEGE HALL, ANNAPOLIS.
ANNAPOLIS:
.Printed at the request of the Visitors and Governors of the Colkge~
JONAS GREEN, fn!N'l'EI\,
-,s
�February 23d, 1836,
ta meeting of the Alumni of St. John's College, held this day,
following resolution was unanimously' adopted:
,-Resolved, Tbat 'William Pinkney, Johri II. Culbreth, John G.
otid, Jr., Thomas II.'Hagner, and George Grundy, be a Commit.
to present to the Hon. Robert H. Goldsborough the thanks o::
-the Alumni of St. Jo[m's College, for the eloquent, interesting, an&
instructive Address, deliverc,d oefore them at the recent Commence.
nicnt of the College; and to request of him a copy for publication,
we'
ANNAPOLIS, February 24, 1836.
\Ve have the honour to transmit to you the enclosed
Resolution, passed at a meeting of the Alumni, held in this City ov
the 23d instant. In discharging this duty, permit us to express tlw
jiratificat10n it will afford us to receive for publication a copy of tlu,
interesting and appropriate Address delivered by you on the 22d o~
February lust, in favour of the Institution, to which we are so mucb
l,ndebted, and on which we look with g~atitude and affectionate in.
-' 1Vith.scritiments of sincere regard,
Your Obedient Servants,
WILLIAl\1 PINKNEY.
JOHN H. CULBRETH,
JOHN G. PROUD, JR.
c THOS. II. HAGNER,
GEORGE GRUNDY,
l
J
Committee.
\vM. PrnaNEY, J. II. CuLBRETn, J. G. PJtouD, JR., Tuo.uAs H.
'" HAGNER, and GEORGE GRUNDY, Esquires.
«'.h:NTLEMEN: I have had the honour this morning to receive yout·
.polite and courteous communication of the 24th, enveloping a re ..
'solution of the Alumni of St. John's .College, expressing, in moet
,gratifying terms, their approbation of my recent exerti<)ns in obe:dience to their commands-and requesting a copy of my Address
'for ·publication.
I ·yield to the request from a disposition to gratify my Brothers,
he Alumni," in any thing in my power-and as early as I can
_ veniently arrange it for publication, it shall be presented to you.
·1 beg you to present me with feelings of cordial respect and goo''
to "The Alumni," and accept, Gentlemen, my gratitude
ur personal kindness and attention •
.:~':".\.Vith sentiments of fraternal regard, believe me,
,;. ·
'Very faithfully, yours,
~ ,
. .
ROB. H. GOLDSBOROVGlf'..
)V,asm-'GTON, February 2G, 1836.
rm:
�A.DD RES§.
J.l'Iy Brothers, tiie .Alumni, and my most respected Audience:
As long as gratitude shall be regarded as a virtue-as
long as the offices of filial affection shall be esteemed
among men-so long it will be beautiful to behold the
Alumni of this venerated Institution, agsembling within
her portals, to pay the just tribute of their devotion at
J1er Al tars.
.
It is a pious pilgrimage, my Brothers, which illust~ates
. your feelings in the great cause of Science, and will stand
. in all time to come as evidence to prove, thq.t, in your opi. i.nion, Education is one of the grand Pedestals on which
the columns must rest that are to sustain the essential
principles, and r~gulate the practice, of our well constructed, popular Representative Government. The other
. P.edestal (too important to be omitted) is that pure and
substantial morality which flo\vs from Revealed Religion.·
On these two rocks we found our hope and faith-and as
the columns of knowledge and of virtue rise, we fancy that
we already see.the magnificent arch of promise spri11ging
..... from either capital, as the cheering prognosncs of our
· country's future .weal.
·
It is now almost forty years since the class to which I
was attached, w::s sent !orth from <his Institution into the
world, cloth'ed in all its honours-and surelj, since that
time, she has p.assed through a great varid.v of fortune.~
About the year '89, in the p<1st century, her Professors
first began to assemble around her-and in '94, next after,
her first honours were conferred upon her· first Alumni.
But no sooner had she begun to send forth her foster sons,
than a loul and fatal plot was faid for lier destruction. It
was the working of bad ambition upon the untaught credulity of an unsuspecting people. The object was an
ephcrnenl popularity, never worth a groat-the me,.ns
1vcrc to perish the hopes of t!.e newly founded Temple of
�6
Science, whose beams would have cast around too much
light for the machinations of her ruthless destroyers.Thus we witnessed, for years, a contest between the vota.
ries of Science, who' desired to diffuse Learnipg and
Knowledge among mankind-and the political electioneerers of the day, whose ends were self, and whose in.
struments were whatever would bend, and could be made
conducive to their purpose.
.
It was in this state of things that, now. and then, one
or two of her eldest offspring came m to.her assistancehut her family was then too young, its members were too
fe,~ to give her much aid-and Jhey,. who did go, had to
:resist all the allurements and influences that were exerted,
to induce them to commit the atrocious act of matricide.
·Yes, the humble man before you1 when first entrusted with
the high responsi?ility of a popular Delegate in 1804-5,
was called to decide upon the question of the life or death
of his venerated Alma Mate1-and he too '"as ·invited to
receive.the gleaming faulchion from their hand,;, and to
plunge it into that bosom on which he had been nurtured
with so much tenderness and care, and from whence he
. h~d imbibed the elements of every thing that had caused
him to be looked upon in life. But he could not do it-could
.. not, did I say? He dare not do it""'."""he dare not prove false
to his "soul's and mind's integrity"-he could not stand in
the face of Heaven and of man, and perpetrate a~ act,
• t~at would have marke_d him as an ingrate, and pointed
him out as .one who desired to dry up and deny to ?thers
that fountain of pleasant waters, at which he nad himself
been refreshed. No, I desire to thank God that he could
not-but that he stood out with others, undismayed and
successful in her defence. That was her last rescu:-at
. the renewed onset in the following· year, the Temple fell
-he did' not witness that fall.
·
The dreariness of a Gotluc night ensued-but the Vi.
sitors and qovernors of St. John's, alwa~·s faithful and
Unt1~ing in their duty, never lost sight of h~r resuscitation;
and m the progress of years, as better opinions and more
enlightened councils prevailed, St, John's &rose agrrin, re.
Vlved and restored by a sense of justice, stimulated by re ..
;-;.'.-
.
_
. ·mol:se and a sense of duty-and here we are this day to
rejoice in the result, and to witness this gra~d exhibiuon
that has beeu brought abput by the faithful perseverance
of her Visitors, the enlightened liberality of our L·,twgivers, and the assiduity and skill of her accomplished
. Professors.
:
. : '.
.
.
My Brothers, the scenes of this day throw back our re.
collections to times and incidents, too intimately blended
.with cur happiness, to be obliterated from our m.emory.
They were the scenes and incidents of youth, whe~ unpres.
sions are deep and durable-a truth never to be forgotten
bv Parents Guardians, and Preceptors •. Every occur,r~nce of to day is associated with recollections ot our own
·time-nor can the eye light upon any thing around that
. does not revive some pleasing irnpres~ion. In every chamber-in every apartment-:-near every pillar in this ancient
.. Hall we see, or thrnk we see, the companions of our early
life, or the forms" of those venerable men under whose
care we grew up. These reminiscences are' delightfol,
and you must indulge me fo_r a moment. Remembe~· our
favourite, our admired President _.:11cDowell-a man illu.s.
trious for his virtues! Whilst our hearts throb, can he evt:r
cease t~ hold a chief seat there? . Cail to mind his chas.
tened purity of life-his profound :tnd varied learningh1s refined moduty-his simple, unostentatious, but digni.
fied nmnnera--his paternal care---his love of ju8tice
- throucrhout his whole officiai life thctt 'W't8 d1stinguish0d
by diligl·nce, w'sd,,m and firmness-he lived here for _\'l':tl"S
admired, confided in, and beloved by a!/; nor was there
found one
obduratP as not to do him honour.
There was our worthy Profossor Hig.~inbr;tham too, as
generous as he was c,lassical-who, like Minerva spring •
in" from her fath<·r's brain all armed, c:1me from the urnte~ul bosom of Old Trinity, equipt in µ11 the armour o:
classic lore. If he had faults, he had e!lduring and vv ·r.
shadowing virtues also-but in the depac·t men ts of Ethics
and th<' Classics he hc<d no defects. I :do not dis<;:ern in
. all this assemblucre the counfrrnnce 'fa single illt'mbrl"
I
'
.
of the old Profrss"r's favounte class, t.hat lw called his
tent!! kgi1)ll, uud rn which he used to prlue himself. The
so
I:'}
•
0
i
•.
�8
brilliant Legatus* ~vho led the corps has long since been
no more. He was a native of this city,arrd in all the virtues of the heart, and in all the embellishments of miw.J;
he had no superior.
· There ·was also our Professor lHagrath, the Bushy of
his day, whose very frawn, was law, but who.Sf' djligenec
and disr1pline could make a scholar of any thing.
·Nor let me forget our Priestly, for I mµst not run this
reminiscence too fi,r, "ho was. recalled from the then
·western wilderness to this Institution, at the immediate
instance of our endear<'d and venerable Visitor, the ac.
complished scholart of West River. '.ro Priestlv we owed
much for his taste in Greek Liter:iture, and for his skill in
· the graces of fine reading and public speaking. J remcm- ber with delight his clubs and his societies, and we never
can forget his ardour and enthusiasm. . .
.
But where are all thct:<e Ikn:efactors now? They·lrnve
sunk in tl!e years behind us, whilst we are moving down
the stream. of time, like them to sink also ~ere many years
are told.
. In contemplating thc;se· of our own time, if it is a me.
lancholy, it may be a salutary warning, to sec how fe'.V
-tlre left. \Ve, of that day, are not at a time of life to turn
from these awful admonitions to. obliterate them' in a .. H.m
of )easures." I. hcpe we are clothed with more hu~iilitv
11nd r;;signation, and that we are ruther preparing to fall
in the cninmess ?f philosophy, and in the fortitude inspired
bv tho nure Chrisforn hope.
·
·
. ·.Such is the tendency of reflection., my .Brothers ' uoon
..
"'
'
1
meeting you after our long separation. But I must forbear
- I ~ee around me other8 who merit and command my at.
tention--;-for th0se I must leave }'ou to enter, before them,
upon a more exwnded field of remark, more immediately
appli::;,b!e to the great interests of public .Education
thr1)ughuut the ·.State. Standing as 1 do in the most respectful relationship to
the R<~]JrL'::;entdin.:s of the Scvc~·~ignty of i\bn !:.u:.<l, I
I
D1. John Sha-~, of Annc:.po1is.'"
t )Ir. Jo-:1n T~;..8itl~s.
:.t-
•
.
rejoice to meet them here on such a_n _o~casion, _and I coh•
· gratulate you Gent~emen on th~ e~h1b1tion of this mo:m~g,
which cheers us with the convict10n, that we have, m the
. very heart of our State, a Seminary of Learning that has
. to.day imparted, and will hereafter annuall;: _contribute
augmenting power, and· strength, and duralnhty, to the
Republic. No more auspicious scene could engage the
· Executive and Legislative attention-nor can there be one
more. worthy to attract the admiration of a refined audi·
· ence. The strongest evidence of the improved condition
of society is seen in an extended patronage to Learningnot more by the munificence of. endowments, than by
giv,ing encouragements to its exhibitions a?d efforts by
. punctual and courteous attendance. ·Such stimulants operate on all-they animate the exertions of Professorsthey. kindle a noble ambition in the youthful mind, and
··give a taste and character to.the times, that dispose all to
an elevated and liberalized course. ·
In a Government founded upon, and moved by popuiar
opinion, that opinion to be safe must be enlighte~ed-nor
is there any other foundation on which a Representative
Democracy can securely rest, than upon sound Learning
and sound Morals.
An opinion is prevalent, that native talents, with but ..
· little culture, often render men capable of efficient services, and an inference is thence deduced against the necessity of education. That instances ?f this sort have occurred, cannot be denied, but they- are few and very rare,
and cannot serve as any rule for our dependence. They
. are rather exceptions. to rule, and ought to be classed
·among those singular and remarkable events, which arise
without rule, and can lead to no decision. Great men,
without education, are not more frequent than great ·~e
chanics without an apprenticeship-both would have been
·much greater had they been better taught.
·
It is educ<ttion that forms the mind and gives it the
sound direction-it trains, it feeds, it strength'ens the fa.
culties-and whilst it forbids the growth of those weeds,
prejwlicrs, false opinions, and bad ?a?its, that never .f~il to.
•title and distort a better growth, it implants the spmt oi
·o
�ii
:1 c
e:iquiry-and the habit of study. 'l;Iwse, together w{th the-_
elements of science, constitute the ground work of the
. grnduate, and are, altogether, the foundation on which he
is to build up his future usefolness and greatness.
..
From every observation that I have _been able to inake,
and f~om all the sourcesofintelligenceto which I have had
access, I am perfectly satisfied, that the "[nost prevailing
and deep rooted popular sentiment in Maryland is directed
to the promotion of general education. As the General
_Assenibly of the State have, for· some years past, wisely
directed their attention to this important subject, l can in
no better manner discharge my portion of the tribute of the
. general admiration for their design, than by a few practi.
cal remarks in relation to it.
. · ·- · .
. ''
..
This sentiment in behalf,-.. of b:
aencr~l educatio~ ' I.~~
-.
aware, is for the most part particularly direc.ted t_o Primary
Institutions fo~ the instruction of youth universally-but
. that sentiment is but tho germ of a ~tronger grov\th that
is to produce still richer and more 'vholesome fruit. No
occasion could be more fit than the present, to combat an
error that. has grown up, in rf'gard to the relationships
that the different grades of institutions for education bear
to each other-it belongs to the day and to the times arid
may not be unworthy of the attention of that most re~pec.
table bodv of men that I have the honour to address. · ·
This ~rror consi"ts in the opinion, that Acaderni~s a~d
Colleges are exclusively beneficial to the wc:.i.Hhy-ihat
they, who in ordinary life look no further than to a com·
mon English education· to enable their children,_ when
grow•n up, to transact their usualbusiness concerns, have
_no interest in such institutions-and therefore •. that it
· ought to be left to the wealthy alone to support them.
In all this, I think, I see much and fatal error.
· In all public institutions of whatev,ei· kind or na:ure they
··may be, by far the greater portion of their expense must
. be borne by the "·ealthy in all communities. This is ne-cessarily the case, and may be in some degree a set off
against any supposed inequalitv of advantarre. But the
point I desir:e to establish is thi~, that there
nothing s<J
is
. tikel.!J lo give rise to, o; so well calculated' lo promote the e~ist.
ence of Primary Schools, as Colleges and Academies.
.
• The student~ that go out from these latter institutions
into the· world, settle in various parts of a State, and
whilst th~y arc themselves striking examples of the ad.
vantage;i of a high grade of education, they become, in
effect, rnis~ionaries to propagr.te a· sentiment in behalf of·
the nrious systems that are adapted to the different condit10ns of men. Besides, the Primary Schools are of no
avail unless they are filled by teachers who are competent
as· to lertrning, and fit as to character-an incompetent
teacher being little else than an encourager of idleness,
and if he be not a man of good morals, he ·becomes the
corrupter ot the morals of vouth .
\}'hat, let me ask, is our' own ~xperience in reg:u<l. to
the schools ulready established amongst u~, few as they
are m number? Do we not often find mur;h difficulty in
, procuring teachers? And arc not many of our schools badly supplied? And of those teuchers who are co.rnpetent,
arc they not almost all natives of other States, who hr.vc.
been educated in their Colleges and Academics? Or fo.
_reigf!ers, who have come to us from distant climes where
they were educated? This. shows, at once, that it is to
Coll,.;;;es and Academies, at, home and abroc:d, thnt vou
. 1nust look for .competent teachers for our Primai:y Scho,o!F;
and the questwn presents itseit: whether it is better ta rear
. those h~rtchers up for ourseh·cs, in our own instituticr:s,
w.Q.ere their character and· competency can bn bettc 1•
known-or to trust to procuring them, where we mav, and
~ncur the risk that we must be liable to from strange~s and
u:npostors? Colleges and Academies are the only r;ursencs for such tcnchers as n·e wtrnt, and must have, for o;1r
Primnry Schools, to render ~hem fit for the purposes tot
which they w~r~ designed-and the mutual relationships
between the d1frcrent grades ot Semim.ries of learr:ing i~
_ found, by the experience of well taught Primary Schoob
fitting boys for AcademicJ, :;pd Academies fitting them. for
Collew;-and this relationship being reversed, by Colleges
prcpanng young me,n for teachers in Acadernit s. and hot'i
Acadcffi--.:s and CollegPs uniting m preparing a· grcC<tc¥
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.lumber ~f' te~chers to fin the. greater demand of tl~e ~Pri •.
mary Schools. Such is the natural and inevitable progress- of the :,.ystem, and ~he o~dei: it becomes the .more
the mutual and sustaining action of the system will be
~eveloped.
·
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· 'What an increased number of our· youths m every
branch of life, with a good system of Primary Schoolr;
directed by cornpetent teachers, would'glow with ardent
desire, and become fitted to move on a~other step! And
· as kMwledge begets the desire for mo_re knowl~dge, many
of that number would still pant on to take a higher step.
Thus by such
organization of Primacy Schools, talent
becomes unfolded, and an opportunity js giv.en to rescue
from obscurity the. sons of many a man in the land, '!ho
would otherwise be· doomed to live ·unseen and _die un.
known, and enable them to enter into competition on the ·
great theatre of life, for all th~ prizes of fa~e~of_fortune,
· and of station. This is not rriere theory, it ~s history~
and every man who will take the time anct trouble to fook
into .the subject, in other parts of our country, or abroad,
where Umveniities, and Colleges1 and Academies are amply provided, will see, that the first step t3:ke.n by a ~arge
portion ot the numer~~s Graduates upon Ieav~!lg tlreu re,
spective institutions, rs, to become tea.chers m the s).1b~l
._ tern or Primary Sch0ols, where they have an opportumty
of revising and improving their course of learning, and of
gaining a little outfit in life from their salaries. The pro- gres1:1 of these. keeps up the regular d~mand for successors,
· wlulst the higher institutions, by their graduates, furmsh
the supply. If this is not the experience in our own·
State, it is because the system has not been adopted long
enough to produce the effect~for there is no other sqm·ce
from which teachers can be procured that are fit to take
· ~are of the Primary Schools.
·
, The course of instruction proper to be adopted in these
schools will also show the necessity for such _teachers~ ,
An ordinary English education, as generally und~rstood,
consists in reac!ing, writing, and cyphering. This to be
sure is a !!Cant system, but it is good as far ns it goes; and
p: Illa! be all, wit~ our _f resent deficiency of rnstructors!
an
f8
•
. that can 'be effected at this time-but it !~very insufliCiell.F
in itself for the iinporfant purposes of priinary educatiOn,
·and if'destined to ,be limited to this alone, it would scarcelf
·he worthy ~f the patron. ge of the General Assembly of
the State. Fur I can conceive of no adequate course of
instruction in Primary Schools, that omits Geography, the
, clements of Astronomy, and the lower ·branches of the
, J'vfathematic1:1-and these are easily taught, nor will it add
much, ifat all, fif the necessary expense of adequate teachers, nor w1ll 1t cqnsume a particle more of the time ofthe
scholar than ought to be given up by every· Parent. We
may say of Astronomy, \vithout the slightest .profanity of
thought, that, like ·the Gospel, it is a Beaven descended
guide in our pathways upon Earth. Whilst th<-> 'lower
liranches of the ·Mathematics, so intimately/M:IVolved as
, they are in all hi.unan pursuits, become indidpensably useful in all the trades and vocations. in lif,,,'and at the same
'time train the mii4a to thmk and to ...fuson. .
.
It will iiot-it cann~l . be rati,.;(a]Iy urged in opposition
, -to this, that the children uf,..hle ·poor c~nnot avail ther:n11elves of these advantage~/. Tha~ man_ must be.pou~ in
ne;irt indeed, who, wJi,.,l a school is provided for bun wnhjn his reach by t~f"inunificence of t~e S_tate and the c_on.
tribut10ns of th, more wealthy around him, does not make
use of it ·for 'the support and advantage· of his child.Should ..u6h an instance be found; it. would . be no argumepJ- 'against the system. but a melancholy example of
· -j"bdurate folly and unfeeling indifference. ·
,
· ;/ ·There are others of the slime active and laborious das.
'ses of men, wh() are dilige~t and, industrious to hoard up
-u ea Ith to distribute airiong · their' children-Yes, "man
·peaps up riches but cannot tell who will enjoy them."
.A general system ·or sound education }vould so'On ·direct
. that wealth into a wiser and more parental course, by enl'iehmg their minds with knowleage and ~heir hearts witk
moral sentiment-Better to enter into life without '.riches
·than w1th 0 ut· education-1\. gre.ater C!).lamity cannot betal
a youth, tlian to start him intp life, abour:ding in worlrily
possessions but poor in counsel-his riches are :rure to' be.
~me a poison to his health~ and ~he SJ'Oiler of his good
.
~.
I
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Jlame and happiness-and, in his own irregularities, 'rw;.
lives but as the source' of contagion to others.
That father acts wisest and most affectionatdy, who studies to fill
his son's heart with good principles, and to store his mind
with rhe elements of sound learning; even if he has not a
doilar to give him-his hopes for riches will still be best-:his chances for worldly fame and Heavenly treasure will·
be surest.
Let me then be understood to sav-That whilst Prima,.
~y Schools are i~di pensably neces~ary to the welfare of
the great body of the people, the higher. Semim•ries are as
essential t~ support them, by supplyrng them with the pro.
;pee kino of teachern. For, I repeat it, without such teaeh.
-ers }re11r Primary Schools become useless-nay, worthies~
~for ah 'lChools are useful only in proportion to the sou!ldness of thei~ B) stem and the fitness. of their teachers--,-.
and how tan y<>,_have fit teachns unless they are fitly
taught-and how b>n they bt> t<;ught, . withqut the higher
.Seminanes suited for '"'eir instruclion?
' . ·
Can we picture to ourse-"'es more lamentable, ce1tainly
not a more preposterous scentc, than the future hopes of a
little community collected. togt."'1er at a little Country
,sehool, and placed under the superint"ldance of a misernble
pedagogue, wholly incapable ofteachin?, because ignoI«rnt
of what ,ought to be taught-wastmg his o»., and his little
disciples precious time in sluggish ·indolence ''l,d actual
idlrness, perhaps often indulging in degrading immer..,Jities
-frustrating the public design, and the parent's fond il..ti.
cipations, and blasting the prospects of a rising genPratioa7 This scene is tuken from hfe, and what aggravates
it the more, is that it is too frequently to be found in eve.
part of our ow:n GOUntry.
And can it be otherwise, if
scho<,ls are. multiplied in proportion to the popul«r demand
for them" without hav:ing Serninaries to supply them with
proper ttl,achers7
It admits of no doubt, in my mind, thut the gradation of
~chools is a mutually dependent, auxiliary, and concatenated "ystem, which is ,es~entially necessary to the whol· bo.
dy oft he People of th ·State, and to rh'" preservrtiun of ch< ir
- ].epublican Institutions-and ihat a good systeni.ol Pri.,.
a
n
:mary Schools, ac·cording' to the munificent desi"'ns anti
judicious intention of the General Assembly, can"'no more
be sus ained without the aid of Colleges and Academies
· to turnish them with teachers, than that Mills can be made
to operate rn the different parts of the country, to supply
the wants of the people, without workshops and compett;nt m·chanics to construct the machrne1y and to apportion and apply the adequate propelling power. The whole
cSystem must be kept up as containing within itself its 01vn
. ~onservati ve principles, and we· Il},.\lSt persevere with pa:
.hence and fortitude until the plan gets fully rnto operation,
when it will preserve itself oy its own powers.
It.will
then become a self moving J\lachinc, which, by the beauti.
·folly b:1.lanced combination of its elasticities and gravities
will be rendered happily unaffected Dy all external pres.
sure.
·
·
When. that event sl~all be brought about-(and it is aa
much within ordinary human reach as any other prosppc.
tive event)-we shall see the Temples of Liberty and of
Learning founded upon rocks where they will neither tot •
..ter nor fall-and we shall enjoy· the consoling reflectio11,
that we shall havP. adopted the true means to render our·
"successors more enlightened and more capable of discharcr.
ing all those duties of a free Peopl~, when they shall d~
volve on them, that are now discharged by ourselves. An
era will there be evolved when the true Sovereign Power
will maintain its rightful ascendency by the possession of
its nghtfol strength and vigor-and it ;will be enabled by its
· own mtelligence to withstand the seduct10ns of corrup- ·
ti on, by d1scrimmating bet\reen the artifices of professions
and the genuineness of real patriotism.
The designs of
political affiliation will be frowned down by the improve<_[ sagacity of the Sovereign Power, and merit, and worth,
and probity, will command and receive that confidence that
will a ward to them the meed of high places throughout the
}apd,
. · But if in the inscrutable events of the future, the Sis.
ter F<tte shall ciip the thread of life 'ere this h ppier destiny to our counfry shall arrive-you will, at least, have
had the del1ghtml anticipatior. in view, and you will have
�,., •.,.,.mw'&W¥W"'' 0 "¥'"'
,•,'%%'•'~,~·mr'>'ze-·"-arr·~··p
z,
"""'"'~·-·'·•·~~·v·•~,
'
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•
eDJoyed the heartfelt satisfaction, that, as yom Fathei.;8
achievod the lndt:pendence of your Country, and. built ymi
up a Government that the admiration and experience of
the world have pronounced, •·the best hope of mankind," _
you, on your part, have gratefully and faithtully laid the
foundation of that system, which if zealously cherished and
sedulot1:;ly promoted, is capable, under Providence, of giving.
jt durability in all time to come.
;i;
. Before I, enter upon my allotted duty to the Graduates
-Of the day, I must-ask to be mdulged with a short' expos.
tulatory address to the Younger Students of the Institu.
tion.
Y~m arc now, my young Fnends, however unconscious
you may be of it, at the most interesting and critical periOd
of your lives. Buoyant in spirits and reckless of the foture,
your desires are bounded by an humble discharge of your. collegiate duties, and the enjoyment of your athletic exer.
-cises and sports. This is a very proper disposition of your
time, provided you take care that a full portion of it be
given to your studies. · But it is not enough that you
.merely acquit yourselves well at your recitations, ycu
must !ltudy each subject deeply, and impress tf1e who!\; mat.
~er 011 Y9\lf mind fo1· aHei· use-and as your memories no,w
way be made as reten!lve ot what you learn, as the pil.
lars of marble are of the letters cut into rhem, you must
devote yourselves to the charms of the classics, and to u
thorough element< ry knowledge of the varibus sciences
taught at this Institution; as tht ornaments and ground,work of your future proficiency
.
As the impressions made here will last you through life,
and be among the most vivid in old uge, it becomes ycu
to imbibe none but what are good, and to separnte your:selves from every thmg that·is unbecoming and immoral.
\Vhere youth is adorned ;;;ith decorum, old age will be
crowned with honour-and the delight of looking buck
upon "a well sp.ent lite"*. is next to look_ing forward with
hope to future bliss. R<,•mr'mbcr, and often rdl ct upon
the counsel of tl10s(;; friends to whom you r~e most dear;i>
._,>...
..,..,.., '....,-.,_,,,_ _m-.---·~---,,,.--·~---~
W h _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _j _ _
~
~
~~~
t1
whose every wish for you is most anxious, ancl who clesire
nothincr but your welfare. If you do not profit by yom'
time spent h~re, it will be an ungrateful return for their
affectionnte km<lne.ss-and uto be ungrateful"* is to be ca~
pable of every crime.
. To your Professors you should be mindful to shew an
unhes(tatincr and willing respect, as nothing marks the
- ~haracter of a student more strongly than the sentiment
-0f re~pcct he cherishes for those who have the c_ar~ of his
instruction. To entertain fear towards a tutor is ignoble,
and creates a suspicion of defect of character in the stu.
dent. N<Jr is there any need of it. An ingenuous youth
is above all the servility of fear. Faithtul in all his du.
ties-correct in all his deportment-punctual-obedient
td all the laws, he stands superior to reproach and even
beyond 8uspicion. He endears himself to hi::l Professorsand if he happens to err, it is either forgotten or lost sight
of m the midst of his numerous merits--or if chided, it
·will be done w1th that p~,rental tenderness, that makes him
more and more confide in .the Professor as his friend •
Do not regard the hours spent in, College as restraints
upon y.rnr time and pleasures, but as an arrangement and
11_:~tem which wise and good men have found mo"t conducive to make wise and good men of youths. The ,ob.
j'cct is to make you devoted to learning, and to fire your
young minds with the noble ambition to e::rc~I. The College course i8, m some degree, life in .'l'.Ulllature; where
you constitute a little community, am! all the finer pas.
sions and sentiments and competitions are brought mto
act10n. R"nk, 'Honour, and Far.1e are all before you, and
are the noble prizes to be cop!en?ed fo;. These are worthy of your diligence ·and exertion, and none can be ob.
tained without study and labour.
You have everv iP"entive that Youth ought to have, to
rouse you to the ;,.,,st energetic exert10n; and I unite with
.your friends in encouraging you to action, and in wishing
that you ma,> avail yourselves of the many and great ad-~
vantages ;iround you.
"Vita bene act&.'t. ,, "4Ui me ingratum, omnia dixit.''
'2*
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f9
Young. Gentlemen; GraduatesThe gralitymg duiy IS assigned to me Jo hid you wel.
come upon your arrival at the great portal
Iit~,, an<l althouglr -persomilly a stranger to most of you, yet regard.
ing you as our younger brothers, descended in the same
maternal lrne; I no congratulate you most sincerely upon
the manner in. which you have. passed through your colJe.
giate course; which hits been meritedly crowned with the
honours of this day. This is your first public reward in
liie-and a noble reward it- 1s: Conferred by a body of
men who ho:d the pr<)udest distinct10ns iri society:__pro.
sented by the hand of your learned President, \vhose enviable lifo has been successfully spent in Holy Offices, in
Science, and in the instruction of Youth; and witnessed
by the constituted authorities of the State and a brill:ant
assemblage of lettered and refined citiz.;ns-you are to.
consider, that the recept10n of such . honours, under such
circumstances, implies a pledge on yom . pnrt, that your
future lives shall correspond with the gJories of this day.
Nor must you forget this day so memorable in the Ame.
rican calendar: The coincidence is imspicious, that the
· day un which you ar0 honourably ushered into lite, shoi1ld
be the A'lniversary of the Nativity
the great Founder
of the Re1•1blic-a man on whom all eulogy has exhaust~
ed i'tself with.mt ~caching its object-whose fame is as
durable as the trranite rocks of our country_:_as lofty as
· the summit of he, mountains, and us extended as the
earth and the seas.
Emancipated from Ccillegiate -rul~ and released from
your att_endance ".here, I re~on1mend it to you, Young Gen.
tlemen, not to throw yourschws into the vortex of fashion.
abfe p!easun·s that rn·ay intoxic<-te and beguile you from
your course, but return to the adent embraces of your
impatient friends, who are mpre anxi->us than ever to re.
c•·ive you, cgvered as you arc wifh ht.11ours, to add the
tribute of their tl"nderest caresses and smik;i to your· other
·rewards. Nor l iter too long in these cncha.tlng scenes
of filial and parental d:il!iance, b_ut entei »t LlJCe upon
your allotted courst:, whilst the h«bit of study a'ld the
force of discipline are unimpaired. There cannot he a
of
of
greater error th:rn to invite a young Graduate to relax
and t~ refrpsn h_imself with an indulgenct: in the pleast1NS
of h1gt1 i1fo, J.fter what are called his long and labonvu~
du,1es at CoUege. It is rn truth aorhing eise, than. to in. v.1te him to di vest h!:mmlf of good lrnb1ts for th" chance
of "cqmriug bCJ.d ones. To such alluring requests turn a
de.,f ear: your good lnb1ts have belm the meami of gain.
ing for you the hunm1r6 of to day, and if pres ·rved .and
p"ra vered in, they will gian you m:rny more. Lose not
an .hour, Young Gc>ntlumer,-let the goal you have arnved
at to day, be die starting point. ot_ to.ruorrow on tire course
· of lifo, d.ud W,;Sfo not tire; precious moments of preparation in inglorious ease. To a 1mnd familiarized wit!i clasSI? Iiteniture rinl1 scl!mLific research, hvw insipid .must be
. the houri! of indolen<"e or the indulg<·nce in frivolous plea.
sures!. Th_c dtffarPnce b.-tween mteHecrual joys and pas- '
sionato i-ndu!genc1es is marked, in th<! extreme; and he who
places his h,tppiness upon t:ie first, bec.omes elevated above
tho strifos, the mortifications, and most ot the vicii'sit1.;des
in tras world-he achieves tht· triumph of Phihsophy over
the gros~'er p cssions, and entrenches himself in a fortress
that n'sists the caprices of fortune and ot mt·n.
Wh t!< ver may be your litture expectatipns in life, it is
all importrnt, and I earnestly recommend it t0 you to en.
gage in some Professwn. It will employ your earlier
years most usefully, and will give you rank and conse.
qu,,nce in thu world. rr·you are already wealthy, how
. cnn you employ time better th'rn in· gaimng distrnctwn in
this w,1y? It not, it is all important to y.ou as the mPans
ofg ·ining fame and nch1:s. Adopt a profession-as occupatwn for your arlier years, wh,.ther you need it or not
in a pecunnry point ot view, and by thr1Jwing yoursdvcs
upon your own rPsources and self.rrliance, you wril gain .
indepenl.enc(' ·A !I professions ar·e honourable, if honour.
ably pur~u<•d, but any trade or profass10., is prefornb.'e to
droi'prng. iogl<.nuus1y into th<: political C(IUfse, ht-fore you
are prepared for it, and th<'re playmg s~. cophants to pow. ~
er, or cuurteou~ men di can ts for the dolings of patronage.
In a popular Government. the induc<'ments held ou· to
talented and well educated Young Men, prematurely to
.
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I
onter into political life, are almost irresistililc-Yet srtc1i
a course is by no means to be desired for them-Many ha:e
fallen.victims to this false step-'-more have suffc1ed by It.
To sustain political life with eclat, as much preparalion
and la.bour is necessary, as in any of the learned profes.
s.ions-and the course of study for it is as profound, as extenced, and more varied, than for any other pursuit; It is
to a riper period in life that political employment shGUid
be deferred-Jn the meantime, prepare yourselves to SUS•
tain the hiuh character of an American Statesman, by de.
votinrr you;selves to History, Ancient and Modern-to th<)
elem:~ts of Law in all its various branches-to the profound productions of profound men.
Cultivate and pursue all Sciences whose ground work you have laid hereand study well the History and Nature of the Constitution
-and Government ol your own Country-weigh well the
vi<ews of the able men of all partiei;, and reg«rding men as
fru.il and changeable, addict y"uunielves to principles that
arP unchangeable and imperishable.
If in your future and more advanced life, you shall be
ca1l~d into the political field, and must there divide atuong
the clifferent opinions of the day-tak(: care tu (1iYide. on
the ground of principle alone, and to it giv~ in yr:ur ~ohe.
sion.
Upon such ground you can· exult with your Coun·
trv in success, and stand undism;;yed in defeat.
"rt is to be lamented that already, in our country, the
pursuit of political office a~d emolument has become profrssional-but, as a profess10n, lt must always be of an ab.
jcct chrtrncter. The ~acnfict·s of honour and of pri~,ci~
ple, too often ma~e to it, are .degr~dmg--~nd the tenure_~'
olnce and of statwn, so acquired, is as frail as it is prosutmed. Public st<~tion is certarnly an objt ct\\ 01th} of the
hcurnurable ambition of any man-but it must be gain"~ by
merit, not sued for '~ith sclfvility-office should be fi;lrd
with a vie\V exclusively to the public intt-restand we!tare,
not to g;nn proselytes or to reward frivouriks. ·
As publ_ic oiscu.-<sion<i are
Te 1~· qu'.'nt and more ne.
CPss .. rv under popukr m,;titut10ns, it will become you to
a.:olv ;.(lursl'lv<s particularly to Ornt'J;.Y· to pedi·ct yourtR~' ~s; as for a" pmisible, in that >:>ublimti an. 'l'o do tins,
m:
, "sou nilisf give yourselves up intensely to the pursuif--Sru.::.
«tly the ancient modelo that are examples of all excellence
':and miprove your Classical learning and
taste-The~
,. with. ample. stores of varied scrnnce, you will be prepar«d
.to wield this all-conquering power. But taKe care to oisti.nguish well between true Oratory and its cuunte1foit, the
. flippant fluency and flimsy declamation which pass for it. _guar~ against that diluted substitute, introduced by tile
· Sophists in the decline of Grecian grandeur, and which is
.so prevalent in our own times. We hear of natural Ora.
:· .t~rs-there are such-we find them both in sav«ge anu in
etvihzo>d lifo-f?ut the admiration they extort is rather ;i.
, tribute of foeling to a prodigy. How would Logan com.
·pare with Tully-or even our Patrick Henry with the Orn; tor ~f Athens? It would be as well to compare the soft mur.
:ri:urmg.of the gentle rivulet with the wild roarings of the
.mountam cataract-The one glides forth frum a sino-le
:. fountain, whil:st the latter i:s the unite>d and iiripntuous gt~s\l
fro~ a thousand fountains.
The sentiment should be deep.
:~_unpressed and widely extended, that real Oratory can
,exist no where but rn umon with gener J literature audits
~ttendant refinements.
It charms with the music of its
tones and the graces and exprGSsiveness of its action. The
.stores of learning feed it-taste modulates and embe].
:}ishes i_t___:and the study of mankind marks out the points
,-~f assail~nce,, and directs its power-it i.i indeed that happy combmatwn of letters anG of taste-of action and of
passion-(lf logic and illustration', that forces the mind to
,,;bow down with the subrmssion ot conviction, and makes
Cg.ptive all the feelings.
· It is to the c<tliiinn~ent of this noblest of arts that I now
_inv~te your umw:diate and ardem attention, as being in it.
,,!lelf the greatest and mo"t usdul accomplishment, tlicci 0.-..n
...he pos&ess'·d in a popul~r /.\'>V•crnmcnt.
;,:·But there: is a tUrth<:r "ubjec!, Y uung Gentlemen, of a
·g..rilver ca~t, tlrnt l have nc,t ye;. prC's•·ntcd to your vie\>-,
,the on1:~~ston uf "" hicb, on such :.n cicc _,sion, n1i~h1 bv ~·Ju ...
dered unparGon"blc by tho e <•Wtl:l<i us.
So far we hav.e look,·d -tt thos,· sct·m·s in Ji,,' <'llone,.
~jlere the prt;vaihng ll10\to i:> "cov<::t0u;; of fiv1;,,,,;,; bu~
c
�'C
-·= f
:·fame."'ll:._It is important .however that you should eie~atc
yuur thoughts from the contemplation of the world th<1t we
arc· in, to the consi-ieration of that to which we are destined
to gu-We all te.el that there is within us a "spark of e]e.
mental fire," that is unquenchable, whose rnysterits are un.
folded by the Book of Knowledge anri of Life. To thltt
Book I commend vou-let it be your con:;tant companion
-"turn it with a; evemng and with a ri10rning lrnnd''t--,
In it you will find that which will temper all excl--~s1•s in
prosperity, and soothe you with its cons0Litiom1 "when the
sighs are many and tlw heart faint,"-It contain~ too the
";,- 1tmd direction," of faith that dispels all the gloums of
the Sepulchre, and op, ns upon- us the radiance of an Eter..
nal Day. Dwell on th-is Sacred Volume with all the in~
terest of devotion, and make yourselves intimate with_ the
doctrines of "Eternal Trtith. "--They lead to all ha ppin.:ss
in life, and whilst they diffuse a lustre over the characte\'
'that nothing can tarmsh-they implant a delightfol hope!
a sustaining fortitude, a biissfol peace, that the world can.
not_reach. Piety in man is that_. which gives him all his
·resemblancce to the Great Prototype, t-he glorious "Herald
of Glad Tidings," upon e&rth-It is the gift from Divinity
that diffuses his charities and benevolence far· and wide,
and bmds him to the "Throne eternal in the Heavens"~
ln Youth it is an ornament-in Age a comfort-in both a
treasure-and in that awful and eternal Dav, when all Naiurc shall become a wreck, am! human grandeur is no more~
it will be the only title to the ."Promised AH," thrqugh
"\Vh1ch alone we can be led into the real!ns of "nerer fad.
is
ing joy."
I bid you an affectionate farewell,-Young Gentlemen-~
I met you with gladness in the morning--1 part with yon
at noon with all the foelings of an eldu· for his younger
Brothers. "Remember the pkdges you have given to.duy,
and in whatever ::;1tuation you may be hereafter ph:ced,
nm·er-qever forget your Duty to your -God, or to your
C.mmry.
)WARD OF_ VISITORS AND GOVERNO.ijS
OF-
ST._ ~OIIN'S COLLEGE.
. '~is Excellency THO\iAS W. VEAZY
ffi- .
. _
, ex.o c10 Pres1cfe"nl·
lion. JOHN BUCHANAN.
,. ,
" JOHN STEPHEN.
" STEVENSON ARCHER.
"" THOMAS B DORSEY.
" EZEKIEL F. CHAl\IBERS.
·r. ASA SPENCE.
.
'' THEODOR!CK BLAND.
" JOHN G. CHAPJ1AN.
" - BENjA1\HN L. GANTT.
-i_, JOSEPH KENT.
_
" ROBERT w. BOWIE.
ALEX_ANDER C. MAGRUDER, E;·.
SA,WUEL RIDOUT. Esq.
W
JA:\1.ES BOYLE. Esq.
NICHOLAS BREWER . E sq.
HENRY MAYNADIER Esq
WILLIAM H. MARRIOTT - E. sq,THOMAS II. CARROLL. Esq.
_
THOMAS S. ALEXANDER E '
Jo·dN N. WATlffN8 Eeq, , -sg .
.
._
THOMAS FRANKLIN ' E,sq,
•
RA,\1,L<\ Y \VA TER;:;, Esq. .
D~. JJENN[;,; CLAUDE.
NlCiJOLA8 BRE\VER, J It E
,
•sq.
JEl{ENfL-\H HUGHE;:;, E q.
ALE;CANVERRANDALL. Esq.
JCJ'>Et'1i IL NICHOLSON E ..
JOH.'i JOHN;:;o_N- Esq. . , sq.,
DAVID HOFFMAN, Esq.
* "Prretcr laudem
nullius avaris"
~t "Nocturna versccte manu, versate diuma."
TREASURER,
UEORGB iVlACKUBIN , E s~ _
.
Sk:CHETAHY,
QEOiWE W.ELL'" E·- .
w,
~,.9-~.
"
�·C;i.TALOGU.E.
CLASS GRADUATED,
FACULTY.
GEORGE GRUNDY,
Rev. HECTOR HU11PHREYS, D. D.
A. B.
A. B.
R. HAYWARD; A. B.
D. JonNsoN, A. B.
GEORGE JOHNSON, A. B.
'VILLIAM
NT AND prOFESSOR OF MORAL' SCIENC)"..
~__:rnEBIDE.1.
JosuuA
GEORGE EDWARD MusE,
JULIUS T. DUCATEL, M. D.
• l'ROFESBOR OF, CHE:ifISTRY, MI,NERALOGY,.AND GEOLOG,_¥.
.
'
'
EDWARD.SPARKS, M. D.
0.
A. B.
A. B .
JOHN H. REEDER, A. B.
HENRY \VILLIAM THOMAS, A. B.
FRANKLIN WEEMS, A. B.
WILLIAM
22<l, 183G.
RESIDENCE •
NAMES.
.TuoMAS GRANGER,
~
FEs1uanir
REEDER,
Nicnor..As B1t1qE \VoRTiiDiGTON,.
A. B.
-·Queen-Anne's County.
·Baltimore City.
Cambridge.
Frederick.
Annapolis.
Cambridge.
Baltimore City ..·
Do.
St. Mary's County.
Elkridge.
Anne-Arundel County•
.__ l;'ROFES~.OR. OF AN,CIENT LANGUAGES·
SENIOR CLASS.
THO:YIAS E: SUDLER, A. M.
J:fOFESSOR O>'. :ifATHE:ifATJCS AND CIVIL ENGINEER!Ni
. RESIDENCE.
John lVI. Brome',
Frederick S. Brown,
John W. Martin,
.Joseph Trapnell,
Trueman Tyler,
·.WILLIAM B. LEARY, A. M,
l'ROFESSOR. OF GRAMMAR..
St. "~fary's County.
Charles County.
Cambridg;.
Frederick.
Prince.George's County.
OHARLES T. FLUSSER, Esq.1'JtoFESSOR
OF
MODER.N
I,ANGUAGES:
JUNIOR CLASS.
HENRY ELWELL, A. M.
NAMES.
. '1J>.OFESSO!!. OF !>NGL!Sl{ LITERATURJ?.
William Tell Claude,
Marius Duvall,
;JJenry H.Goldsborough,
3
"
RES!DEXCE,
· Annapolis;
Do.
·Easton.
�....
i
- Thomas Iglehart,
Charles N. Mackubin,
"William H. Thompson,
Edward W orthin gt on,
Anne.Arundel County,,
Annapolis.
Do.
Baltimore County.
27
...
PARTIAL STUDENTS.
....
NA.'d'.ES.
RESIDENCE.
SOPHOMORE CLASS.
NAMES.
RES~DENCE,
John M. Brewer,
Philip Culbreth,
Caleb Dorsey,
William H. G. Dorsey,
John Thomas B. Dorsey,
Thomas C. Gantt,
Benjamin Gray,
Reverdy Ghiselin,
Jeremiah L. Hughes,
Richard Hughlett,
'George Reeder,
'William C. Tuck, .
Brice J. "\Vortlungton,
B. Thomas B. Worthington.
Annapolis.
Do.
Elkridge ..
. Do.
Do.
Calvert County.
Somerset County.
Prince.George's County,·
Annapolis.
Easton.
Baltimore City.
Annapolis.
_Anne.Arundel County,
·Do.
FRESHMAN CL4ss,
NAMES,
Robert Bowie,
John G. Gamble,
William Giddings,
'Pinkney Hammond,
Benjamin, Harwood,
George S. Humphreys,
Townly Loockerman,
Edward Maynard,
Francis H. Stockett,
James E. Welch,
llESI,DENCE,
Prince.George's County.
Weelaunee, Flori,,da. Annapolis.
Anne-Arundel County.
. Annapolis.
Do.
Do.
Anne.Arundel County.
Annapolis. ·
.
John W. Duvall, ·
William R. Goodman,
Thomas R. Kent,
William Reany, .
Samuel Ridout,
Norman B. Scott,
Henry Webster, ·
William "\Vebster,
Edward Williams,
Annapolis.
Do.
~nne.Arundel County.
Balt11nore City.
Anne-Arundel County.
Frederick County.
Baltimore 'County.
Do.
Annapolis.
STUDENTS IN THE GRAM.ll-IAR SCHOOL.
NAMES,
RESIDENCE.
George Barrett,
John Basil,
Richard Bowie,
Robert Bowie, 2d.
Lewellin Boy!e,
'William .Brohawn,
~icholas Brewer, 3d.
Jeremiah T. Chase,
John Clayton,
Henry Duvall,
James S. Franklin,
Richard R. Gaither,
· Alexander H. Gambrill,
. George E. Gambrill,
'William Goodwin,
James Gray;
Benjamin H. Hall,
" ~John ,T. H:dl,
Dennis D. Hart,
Charles Holland,
Joseph Hutton,
John T. E. Hyde,
Washington City.
Annapolis.
Prince.George's County.
Do.·
Do.
Dorchester County.
Annapolit;.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
. Do.
Do.
Do.
Somerset County.
Anne.Arundel CauJitlj.
Annapolis.
~·Do.
Do.
Do.
.Do.
�Wwtf
·~·..·.·
'.'
~,-_,
29
Annapoli3
George W. Hyde,
Alfred J orn•s,
.,.
Matthias Linthicum,
"\Valtor ··J\'IcNeir,
·George.i\IcNeir,
James McNefr,
George Miller,
·Edward C. Mills,
Thomas 'l\foPurlin,
•Jlenry'l\larray,
Samue.l 'Ridout,
Hor.itio'S. ·Ridout,
Theodore Revell,
Alfred G. Ridgely,
Richard H. Schwrar,
John A. Smith,
. iohn. S. Stockett,
John T; Taylor,
.. Montgomery Th';:'llas,
James Thomas,
~.. -Joh11 'Thomas,
Dennis C ..Thompson,
Levin 'Winder;_
·JJ.amcs· l\L"Windcr,
CharJes F .. ·worthington,
Do.
"Do.
•' FRESH1llAN YEAR.
Do.
Do.:
FIRST TERM,
J?o.
Folsom•s Livy. '
·;;.Do.
Anne-'Arwulel Counl!J'·
Annapolis.
Do.
Grreca .>Ljora. (Xenophon, Herodotus, and Thucidydes.)
Arithmetic revised, and Algebra begun.
·
. ·
Greek and Roman Antiquities,.History, and Mythology.
SECOND TERl\I.
Do.
A-;ne-A1·undel County'.
·Annapolis.
bo.
Do.
Baltimore.
,Anne-Arundel County..
, .'.Annapalts.
-A~ne-Arnntlel County .
Do.
·-IJo ..
Annapo11~·
'Horace, (Odes and Epodes,)
Grreca Majora,. (Lysias, Demosthenes, Isocrates, and Xenophon's
Memorabilia.)
Algebra fimshed.
Writing of Latin Verse.s.
THIRD TERM.
.
\
Horace, (Satires and Epistles.)
Grreca Majora, (Plato, Aristotle, Lortgi~us, &c.)
Plane Geometry begun. (Legendre.)
Translations, Themes, and Selected Declamations dui-ing the year.
Easton.
Do.
~1nne-Arundd Cv11nty.
.c
SOPH01lWRE YEAR .
;xitST TERM.
.
'
·COURSE OF STUDIES.-
Juvenal. (Leverett'a.)
Homer's Iliarl. (Robinson's.)
Plane Geometry finished.
SECOND TERl\I.
·PREPAR1tTORY YEARS.
~.nglish Gr~mmar; Ancient and l\Iodern_Ge~gr2pliy; A1:itlm:ie~c;
Book-Keeping; Outlmcs of History; Latm Grammar; Corder'.us;
JEsop's Fables; Ilistoriao Su.cr::n; Viri Romre; Cresar's Commentanes;
Sallust; Ovid; Virgil; Cicero's Oro.tions; Muir's Introdnction, or the
Latin Tutor; Gre~k Grammar; Greek _Delectus; Jacob's Greek
Reader, and Latin Prosody.
Exercises in RJading, Writing and Spelling,
bo kept up
throughout this course.
to
Cicero de Oratore, or Quintilian.
Gne'ca Ilfajora. (Odyssey, Hesiod, and Apollonius Rhodius.)
· Solid Geometry.
Porter's Analysis of Rhetorical Delivery.
. THIRD TERM,.
/<
,........--
Grreca l\fajora, (Tragedians.)
.
Loguithms, and Plane and Spherical TrigooJmetry.
: Gambrnr's Moral Evidence, anci Paley's -~fora! Phi'Iosophy.
.Exercise~ in Original Composition ~11d Elocution aurm~ the year.
-
3*
'
/
�'
(
~
-· .
"'~-f.
:
'::;_'~
/,
~
30
31
JUNIOR YE,AR.
FntST TERM.
•"
· ••.
.,;~r
'L
Grreca i\Iajora. (Bucolic and Lyric Poets.)
Apphcatfons of Trigonometry to the Mensuration of Heighh :mtl
.Dist<tnces, and Navigation.
I1ci(.:Abercrombio's Intellectual Powers. .
. · >;_~},_
Do.
Philosophy ~f the Moral Feelings.
· SECOND TERM.
Tacitus. (History.)
Surveymg· and Conic Sections.
Logic and Rhetoric. (Whateley's.)
chemistry, with Lectures. (Turner's.)
' :
-
. TIIJRD TERM·.
-
\.;>-·
.-~~-~-,,,~-
-
·-
-
Tacitus. (Manners of the Germans; and Life of Agricola.)
N:.tural Plulosophy, with Lectures. (Olmsted's.)
''-"' :
Elements of Criticism. (Karnes'.)
:~
Debates, Compositions, and Selected Declamations, during the year.
,--SENIOR. YEAR.
..
..
Butler's Analogy.
Civil Engin~uring-(constructlon of IVfachines, Bridges, Roads,
Can"ls, &c.) and Dr.J.1ving.
,v
_
•
Mi113r:i.lo,;y und (laology.
·· · ·
D,,<J!a>nt.Ions of Originill Compositions, Extemporaneous Debate'!',
. and Ex.,rcises~i~ Criticism during the ye.tr .
The l.\fo,lern Langaages are pursued tlnoughout the course as an
addition.ii R<3citation, and are required to be so arranged, as not toiuterfore materi,Jly with the regu!..r Studi~s.
·
Full courses of Lectures are deliverad to the classes on Chemis.
try-, Mrnuralogy ;md Geohigy; on N ..tural i'hilosoplly· and. Astrono~
my, .md on Pays1ology.
,;The State Cabmet or' Minerals, collected by the Geologist of ]\fa.
ry!d.nd, is d2posited in the Coll~ge, in the same Hall witll the Col.
lege Ccbiuet, o.nd nuy be used in illustrating the Lecturps on Minor<.tiogy ,md G,;ology.
·"
The Officer~ of Instruction will endeavour to make the course of
study as th~r_ough .is possiiib; and ii, no ca•e will a Scholar be al·- lowed to pass to .ui adv,anced .standing, till
shall have sustained
all the _previous exanlin~tions to the S'<tisfact10n of the Filculty,
· Students not candidates for a Degree, may be admitted to pursue
suciI studies emhr;,.ccd ·in tha course. as m<1.y suit ihcir p~rticti1.1r
views, .J.nd ,.,u; l'"-Y the iiamo Ta.tes of tuition as the classes to whi<;h
they m.:.y be att,;ched.
. ·~
·
ne'
FIRST TERM,
Natural Philosophy finished, \vith Lectures. (Olmsted's.).
Horace, De Arte Poetica, with Lectures on Taste-Revision of
Greek and Lc,tin, with Lectures 0!1 Greek and _Roman Literature.
Paley's N;it_ural Theology, or
. Roget's :Animal and Vegetable Physiology.
EXPEi."i§_ES, &c.
- The Bills for .~uition are pityable ql).arterly, in advance, as
vii.
"~W?,
rot,
IN THE GRAJlfl'IIAR SCHOOL.
SECOND TERM.
Astron~my,_ ~ith Lectures.
Political Eci>h<imy, with Lectures. (Say's.)
Evidences of Chrktianity. (Chalmers')
·
.
s.,lections from the S~tu.i.guint and""the Greek Testament.
-~,
.
~l~D
TERM.
·Laws of N~tions-Constitutio11....::L>:riJ a11d Political ~istory.of tT=e
United States. (Ke11t.)
··
English Department, •
Classical· Depn,rtment,
I
$24 per annum.
32 de. ·do.
•
IN COLLEGE.
Freshman ·and Sophomore Classe~,
$40 per annum.
Junior and Senior Classes, .
50 '10.
do .
N'l extra charges are nude for the privilege of the Library, fo~
.: ~ctureli, for Room ~ent, or Fuel for the Public Roe~; all wh.ich
..
�t'
', ., I
~--·
..
.
.
'\
,
,
82
.. '
·expenses are borne by the Trustees, and are considered as included
in the. above bills.
Boarding may l/e had in private families, or in Commons, at $120
per annum. The Commons are kept by Professor ELWELL, in a.
building provided expressly for this. purpose; andfrom his high cha.
racter and long expei·ience in managing establishments of this sort,
Parents and Guardians niay 'be well assured that every attention
will be paid to the pupils who __ may be confided to his .care. They
Will not be allowed to· leave the College 'premises without permission first' obtained of the Professor; and they will be required to re.
main in their rooms in the College, ·at study, after tile appointed·
hours in the evening.
.·
.-·--- _
·-Parents and Guardians are requested "t'o place all monies intended .
for the use of the ·students, in the hands of one of ·the· Professors,. . _
who wi_ll exercise a parental. discretion in their disbursement; and .
the following La~ of the State, passed December ~ession 1834, is
published for the information of all persons concerned.
Section L Be it enacted by the General Assembly of l1laryland,
That no person or ·persons shall give credit to any Student of St.
John's College~ being a minor, without the consent, in writing, of
.his Parent or Guardian. or of sucli Officer or Officers of the Col.
·lege, as may be authodsed by the government thereof, to act in such
cases, except for was~ing or medical aid.
_. Sec. 2. And be it _enacted, That. if auy person or persons shall
_give credit to any nnnor as .ateresaid, contl"ary to the provisions of
this act, he or they shall forfeit .and pay to the Treasurer of tho
'Vestern Shore of this State, a sum not less ~han twenty, nor more
than three hundred dollars, according to the- nature of the offence,
and at the.discretion of the Court of Anne.Arundef county; which_
may he_rccovered in any proper action before said Court.
Sec. 3. And be it enacted, That it shall be the duty of the Attor.
ney.General 'of this State, or his Deputy, on the com,plaint· of any
of the Officers afor-esaid, to prosecute for all violations of this act.
V A:CATIONS~
The regular _Vacations are as foliows: 1st. From the last "Wednesday in July to the first Mondoy in September. 2d. From the 23d
of December to the ht of January; and'3d .. From Good Frid•J to
the Monday week following.
_-\~:,:,_
88
ti'
~
-·-:.(~:-:'
..:.
·.
T
SUBSCRIPTIONS MADE TO THE FUNDS.
•. ( • r_;·
"rn 1821, at~ meeting of the Alumni,~"and ·Friends of th~ ~ol
lone in· the Senate Chamber, at Annapolis, a plan o~ subscr1pt10n
w~s 'drawn up, a condition being inserted that .th~ whole shou~d _be
void, =less the .sum of ten thousand dolfors should· be obtamed.
·Seyeral names were subscribed upon the spot; but"no·agent w~s ~P
pointed; the requisite sum was not .:ibtalned, :and the su~scr'.pt10n
paper has been Io.St. The only r~cord of
th~t remams, 1s the
paymenb:if the following sum, which was discharg_ed: by the douo~,
·though.not required to do so by the terms:
:· ~ .•.· · · . '-:Isaac l\foKim,
. · - :·
'.c · Y~$200 ,
,
' ·_.The fotlowing resolutions exhibit a plan for the s~me obJe~t, im,
·, alertaken·in 1834,_ and now in the course'-0f prosecution. .
Resolved, by the Visitors. and ·Governors of"St. "Jolm's'Oolleg_e,
·· . · That the~Principal be authorised and requested tO' coU~ct !llbscnptions, payable to the_ Visitors and Governors, to: be·.a_pph~d by them .
in tho erection of suit,,ble buildings for the aceommodat10n_ of St~
dents, and for i.mproving anc) exten,ding the Library ·a~d Pluloso~hi.
_ c~I App;iratus of the College, arid that tho Ti:easur~r.' be au~hor:sed.
.to pay to the Principal, the expenses he may mcut"m· e:i_rrymg mto
11ffect 'his resolution. ·
· ·' · -· ,
-- :
~Resolved, by the Visitors and Governors 9f:st. !oh n's· Ool:ege,
· · That His Excellency JAMES THOMAS, and the Hon. BENJAMIN S..
··FORREST, and the Hon. THoniAs iVRIGHT, 3d. ~embers of this Boar.d,
~- 'be a committ~e to co.operate with the Principal, in making all amt.
able preparations to carry into effect the res_olution of the Board, to
.collect subscriptions for the benefit of ,this institution..
.
·
St. Jal.n's College, Feb. 15th, 183,i.
· · . · ·.
!t ·
·copy OF THE SUBSCRIPTION.
the subscribers, hereby agree to, pay to the Visitors and Go.
-verno;s of St. John'~ College, at Annapolis, "J\Iaryland, or order,
the sums of money opposite our names, resppctiv~ly, in t\\·o equal
instalment;, to be applied in carrying into effect the foregoin~ resolutions: provided, however, that this subscription shalL be v01d, u_nless at least ten thousand dollars slfall be subscribed, as aforesaid;
and on the completion of said subscription, the "first instalme11t
h.bove·mentioned, shall become due, and the other instalme_i:t twelve
months thereafter.
.
'
:,.-c; ,
Sept. 9, 1831:
" '6
_,
�!)
35
34
"-·'~-,
James Thomas,
William Hughlett,
Robert W. Bowie,
~'William H . .Marriott,
. Alexander C. l\:Cugruder,
Henry Ma,Ynadier,
H. H. Harwood,
George Mackubin,
Dennis .Claude,
Ramsay Waters,
John Johnson,
Nicholas Brnwer, Jr.
Alexander Randal!,
·Thomas S. Alexander,
George 'Wells,
Brice J. \Vorthington,
Richard Harwood, of Thos.
Richard I. Jones,
Thomas Oliver,
J. I. Cohen, Jr.
\Valter Farnandis,
Hector Humphreys,
Robert \V. Kont;
Daniel Clarire,
Gabriel Duva]J,
. Fielder Cross,
William D. Bowi9,
John H. Sothoron,
\Villiam Reeder,
Robert Ghiselin,
Samuel.Maynard,
Thomas Franklin,
R. M. Chase,
Thomas Culbreth,
Hyde Ray,
James Iglehart,
Sw~nn & Iglehart,
George F. Worthington,
George G. Brnwer,
John B. Morrfs,
Andrew McLaughlin,
Thomas B. Dorsey,
$500
fo\-~"
300
1'50
.250 •
200
200
200
200
T
. 200
!JOO
200
200
200
200
200
200
~'200
.. ·200
200
. 200
<
150
100
100
ioo
100
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.100
. 10.0
100
100
100
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100
100
100
100
100
100
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181)
::-::
<
·William G. Tilghman,
Charles Goldsborough,
John C. Henry,
Joseph E. Muse,
Henry Page,
G C. Washington,
Benjamin S. Forrest,
·r. Novitt Steele,
Alien Thomas,
Charles \V. Dorsey,
R. G. Stockett,
" R. W. Dorsey, •
Larkin Dorsey,
John C, Weems,
Chas. S. W. Dorsey,
Daniel Murray,
· John If:. Alexander,
Gwinn Harris,
'N. F. Williams,
· Tho111as .Sappington,
Thomas Snowden,
George Brown,
F. S. Key,
· Virgil .M~xcy,
Joseph Todhunter,
· Thos. H. Carroll,
' Jonathan E1l1cott & Sons,
Francis Thomas,
John S. Sellman,
Charles Carroll,
Franklin Anderson,
D.ivid Hoffman,
John P. Paca:,
Robert H. Goldsborough,
E. S. Wmder,
Andrew Skinner,
Jas. B. Steele,
·Brice J. Goldsborough,
Thomas Hayward,
William W. Eccleston,
Chua. J. Kilgour,.
J; H. \Vilkinsoo,
' Thomae E. Sudler,
$100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
?'
lOO
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
IOQ
100
100
100
100
loo
100
50
50
50
50
50
50
50
50
50
56
..
�36
-J. Hughes,
R. J. Cowmrm,
John Rand;tl],
George McNeir,
Basil Shephard,
R. J. Crabb,
Thomas Duckett,
John H. >Varing,
·wmiam Ghiselin,
J;' G. Clrnpman,
:Deonan! Iglehart,
·wm. D. Merrick,
Charles H. Steele,
'\Vp.1. T. Goldsborough;II. '\V. Evans,
-Nithan R. Smith,
-Daniel Randall,
Jiimes '\V1lson,
David Barnum, ·
James Carroll,
'\Vm. Denny,
R. Potts,
John Tyler, <
Henry K. Randall,
Thomas J, Dorsett,
John Igl~hart,
"
~
Ann Iglehart,
Richard M~rriott,
Julius T. Ducatel,
George Gordon Belt,
Samuel Jones, Jr,
Jacob Albert,
Benj:1min C. Howard,
John Tilghman,
Richard Earle,
·tu:r The sum of Ten
-$50
50
50
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50
'50
50
5050-
5050
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50
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50
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,-·/
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Thousanif, Dollars, according to the
conditions aforesaid, was subscribed, and the fact was an.
nounced to Subscribers by the Newspapers, on the.18th of
April, 1835, u:lzen the first Instalment became due. - TJze Se.
cond Instalment, accordingly, became due on the 18th of .April,
..v 1836. .
- .
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I
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Dublin Core
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Title
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Commencement Programs and Addresses
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Annapolis, MD
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St. John's College Greenfield Library
Description
An account of the resource
Addresses given at commencement and programs of events related to, and including, the annual commencement ceremonies at St. John's College. Includes both the undergraduate and Graduate Institute commencements. <br /><br />The College Archives holds programs and/or addresses for the following years:<br />
<ul>
<li>1796</li>
<li>1835-1836</li>
<li>1842</li>
<li>1852</li>
<li>1856-1857</li>
<li>1870</li>
<li>1878</li>
<li>1880</li>
<li>1890</li>
<li>1893</li>
<li>1895</li>
<li>1897</li>
<li>1907</li>
<li>1910-1918</li>
<li>1920-1924</li>
<li>1928-1929</li>
<li>1932</li>
<li>1936-1937</li>
<li>1939-1945</li>
<li>1947-present </li>
</ul>
Click on <strong><a title="Commencement Programs and Addresses" href="http://digitalarchives.sjc.edu/items/browse?collection=18&sort_field=Dublin+Core%2CDate&sort_dir=d">Items in the Commencement Programs and Addresses Collection</a></strong> to view and sort all items in the collection.
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commencementprograms
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36 pages
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Commencement Address, 1836
Description
An account of the resource
Address delivered before the alumni of St. John's College. At the annual commencement on the 22nd February, 1836, by the Hon. Robert H. Goldsborough, in the presence of the Visitors and Governors of the College--the Governor, and the Executive Council of the State--the two Houses of the General Assembly--and a large concourse of citizens, in the College Hall, Annapolis. Printed at the request of the Visitors and Governors of the College.
Creator
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Goldsborough, Robert Henry
Publisher
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Jonas Green, Printer
Coverage
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Annapolis, MD
Date
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1836-02-23
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St. John's College owns the rights to this publication.
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text
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pdf
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English
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Commencement Address-Commencement Address-Hon. Robert H. Goldborough-1836
Commencement
-
https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/sjcdigitalarchives/original/31d6d3400ad38ca0ae8bc2c91d6baa56.pdf
903c3da5ed40050a587bc11e5a641d54
PDF Text
Text
AN
ADDRESS
TO THE
ALUMNI
AND
STUDENTS
OF
ST. JOHN'S COLLEGE, ANNAPOLIS.
Delivered February U, 180.
BY JOHN TAYLOE
OF
LOMAX,
VIRGINIA.
BALTIMORE:
WOODS
l
AND
CRANE,
PRINTERS.
1842.
!II'~~~~~~~~--~~!il
�AN
ADDRESS
TO THE
ALUMNI
AND
STUDENTS
OF
ST. JOHN 'S COLLEGE, ANNAPOIJS.
Delivered February U , 180.
BY JOHN TAYLOE
OF
LOMAX,
VIRGINIA.
BALTIMORE:
WOODS
AND
CRANE,
1842.
I
f.
PRINTER S.
�ADDRESS .
GENTLEMEN ALUMNI-
Emboldened by your kindness I shall make the effort,
I fear an unsuccessful one, to discharge the duty to which
your partiality has invited me. I advance to it with the overwhelming distrust of any talent of mine, suitably to express
my own feelings, or to strike the responsive sympathies of
your bosoms, in this our revived intercourse. Whatever
humble pretensions to imagery of thought, or to the graces of
elocution, the exercises of this seminary may at one time
have tended to awaken in me, they have all been dispelled
by the labours of professional occupation, and the ·advancing
sobrieties of age. If the flattering honour, with which your
kindness has graced me, upon this occasion, was won by the
intensity of my affections for these halls and all its beloved
associations, every fibre of my heart is testifying that your
favor has not been unmerited. All beyond that must be ascribed to a generosity and partiality for which I am most
profoundly grateful.
A few more months will complete the cycle of half a century, since I e~tered these halls as a student ; and rather more
than forty-four years since I quitted them. The glittering
prospects which the world held up to the hopes and aspirations
of the precocious graduate, were then deemed more than a
compensation for the pangs of separation from the scenes of
early instruction, and the beloved associations of my boyhood .
These prospects have eluded the ardor which pursued them .
I return after this long separation, to this pl ace and to the
surviving companions, who here shared with me the toils and
delights of our early studies, to make the acknowledgment that
here and with them, wa s spent the happiest period of my life.
I
f
�5
4
To that happy period, amidst all the ~icissitudes which have
intervened, remembrance has been fondly gravitating. The
· panorama of the scenes of our youth has been deeply engraved in all their brightness and distinctness and vivacity upon
the faithful tablets of the memory, and its contemplation has
afforded fond and frequent enjoyment.
In looking back to a date fifty years, from the pinnacle of the present times, what wonderful changes in the face
of society fill up the period of this retrospection. It has been
one, eventful beyond any other of the like duration, recorded in the history of the world. These changes have
involved mind and matters, deeply affecting individuals and
nations in all their social and political relations. In contempla;inO' their results, the philanthropists may exult in the
confident0hope that they have laid the foundations of a s~lid
and progressive amelioration of the condition of our species.
New sciences have been developed, out "f scattered phenomena, which fifty years ago, had hardly awakened inquiry,
as to the laws and relations by which they were governed:
whilst those which had already been grasped by the human
intellect, have with greater accuracy and profoundness been
explored and enlarged. The sciences and the art~, derivi~g
a mutual aid from each other, have both been qmckened m
their improvements, and genius has been stimulate~ int? more
active inventiveness. New powers, or new combmatwns of
powers, applied to new purposes, have to an inc~lcula~le extent, supplied and superseded the labours and mampulati?ns of
man. To a corresponding extent they may be considered
as having multiplied a labouring population, acc.elerated. ~n<l
augmented productiveness and the wealth of ?at.w.ns, facilitated, cheapened, and more widely dispensed to 111d1v1~uals, most
of the comforts and enjoyments of life. The operations of the
press have been progessi vely diffusing the benefits of knowledge in regions, from which they had been heretofore .excluded amongst classes of society who seemed to be doomed to
mental darkness. Instruction is afforded in every form of
appliance, to all the degrees and pec~li.arities. of intellectual
capacity, and suited to all the opportunities enJoyed for mental improvement. Education has gone abroad among the
P?or as well as the rich, and christian piety has brough t to its
aid the Sabbath ~chools, where the young and the poor redeemed from the idleness with which the day of holy res( was
won~ to .be profaned, have restored it to -its consecration, by
holdmg· rntercourse with God ' through the st ud y o f h' W or d •
Th
·
.
1s
e m.1ss10nanes ~f the christian church are bearing with
apo.stohc zeal and mtrepidi ty, the gospel to all the benighted
reg10ns. ~f th~ earth; awakening the savage from the death of
supersht10n. m which he was inhumed · inspiri·nO' a ne w cre. .
.
,
"
a~10n mto his ~ea~·t, and elevating him by the power of religwn, t~ t!ie d1gm ty of civilized man and to communion with
th~ chnshan's God. Man ascending higher in the scale of his
enjoyments, has become better acquainted with his social relations ~nd with his political rights. The governments of
Europe, m the decaying foundations of feudal tyranny, have
been compelled, of. necessity, to seek their own strength in
the resources, and m the prosperity and comforts of the people. The day . has passed by, when the monarch, in the
~aughtmess of his power, could say "I am the state." The
irrepressible sp.irit of inquiry and discussion upon the subject
of human relat10ns, has laid bare the foundations of political
power, a~d has taught the people to know, and their rulers to
feel, the important truth, that governments were made for the
benefit of the governed. The force of this truth, even where
the ~eople have not been admitted to a share in the administrat10n of government, has bowed down the ears of their rulers to listen to the wants and the interests and the opinons of
the people.
Am~ngst all the changes which have taken place in the
world m mode~·n. times, there have been none more strik ing
a~d ~ore gratifymg to the philanthropist, than the abatement
w1t.hm less than thi~ty years past, of that spirit of hostility
which formerly embittered the relations of nations to each
other, and to which extending to the members of different
communities, excited in the people of one nation, all the malignancy of personal hatred against those belonging to every
other.
The proof of this change is presented . in the fact, of that
general peace which has now prevailed throughout Europe
I
f,
�7
6
for more than a quarter of a century. The principle seems
· to be entering into the foreign policy of all · the nations of
christendom, to facilitate and quicken the means of commerce
and international communication, to control nations by moral
influences, rather than by the power of the sword, to strengthen the bonds of peace, and to embrace all the world in the connexions of amity. Public opinion, reciprocated and collected,
from all quarters of the globe, is assuming the justice seat, as
the mighty arbiter, to sit in judgment upon the conduct of individuals and governments in every nation. Its jurisdiction is
becoming commensurate with the world. Its impartial sentence admits of no appeal, and the record of that sentence,
upon the pages of history, will be forever irreversible. The
P""' i• i1' g<and inque", who•e finding• a<e ,,nt forth with
the velocity of winds and of steam, to be promptly tried at
the bar of this augu;;t tribunal. In this chancery the stoutest
despot may tremble at the fearless disclosure of his tyrannies.
Before it even a Tiberius or a Nero might shrink ashamed
and dismayed; and might feel their cruelty subdued into the
simulation and practice of virtue. The oppressed even in
those countries where the hand of an iron despotism lies
heaviest, feel some protection ·in the sympathies of this ar.biter,
and in the terrors which it suspends over the heads of their
oppressors.during my association here with my cotemporary
It was
alumni, that the French revolution assumed that baleful aspect of crime and horror, which will forever make it the most
frightful and amazing event in the history of the world. The
feelings with which we, in common with the world, were
agitated in the progress of that revolution, have subsided. We
can now look back to the scenes, which it exhibited to our
youthful contemplation, in the calm sobriety of age, and extract from its history, the great novel and political truths with
which it abounds. It was a spectacle worthy of all the enthusiasm of sympathy and hope which it excited, when twentyfive millions of men, redeeming themselves from the most corrupt and despotic of governments, asserted their right to be free.
But there is a wide difference between reforming the oppressions and the abuses of government, and its utter subversion.
It a rema I·I' worthy
thais " the subversion of of one of the profoundest of pol1't' . ·
b t
a govern
1c1ans
e considered but as a t
ment, to deserve praise
;
bette.·, eith" ,: ;:
to the focma;io:u;f
~omething
pc~parntocy
Itnh_the persons who administe; i~c oiei-~eo the government, or
bf
1s sche me o f emancipatin• a' . m oth •'' The acto" in
i
h
orm, uprooted from th . ~ mig ty nation, instead of
d
e1r 1ound f
rea.n the whole edifice of the
a wns all their institutions
ne~ of a visionary philosoph go~~:nrnent. . Indulging the theotheir ancient establ' ·h
y substituted
l'b
" men", y, •cheme f . in the pI ace of
a
I erty and of impracticable
r
o wild and unbridled
The government f F
ity.
,
. ·1
o
v1g1 ance over the press ranee ' m the exercise of its despoti
..
auspiciously for its own pfinor to the revolution, had most i c
sa ety and the
l"
nsuppressed all animadversio
h
we iare of the nation
abuses of th e government wh'lw atsoever upon tie practical
n t.
1
'
.
of mqu·
.
I
iry, an d d1seussion,' as to s it granted u nboun ded license
the
.
equ~
and philosophy
l~f humanto rights. Hostility to thbmetaphysicsthe clergy was
icensed
be waged ' md.
. !fectly e abuses of
h
..
e very foundations of chrisf ~ y wntmgs, which assailed
of .s?cial order, and moralit ia:7r~ an~ the great principles
"'.ntmgs, which tended to d: r
poisoned by applauded
cite to the lewdest sensuality ~n:v~h~he sentimen~s, and to inness. The subtle m fl uence . the
.
most profligate selfis h.
of
..
mto the whole mass of societ se wnt1~gs had infused itself
elements of France the f . d Y· In this state of the moral
1
'
nen s of r
1 .
wor' of wresting despotism from evo u~10n advanced to the
proudest monarchy in E
the gnpe of the oldest and
ro
urope-of red .
h
gance of a feudal aristocra
ucmg t e in veterate arancestral chivalry-of s bd
emblazoned in the
of
~ate power and privile e~ o:mg and secularizing the inorditmg from vil!anage an~ oppre: .corrupt clergy, and of elevaN~ attempt•, howevec cautioo';~· th~ pmantcy and people
_ocm of a body politic •o c
'."a e, at the mo.t grnduai
p1bous circumstances
Id honst1tuted, under the most pr
strugg les of the most' violent ave .failed to have roused the
cou
o.
the fires of the fiercest d' op~os1tlon, and to have kindled
combining and adj~stin in;~sens~~ns. The arduous work of
fiedfi interest!'! wh' h would have
g
pohtwal harmony ' these d'
.
"'
IC
d
1vers1pro oundest and most ex .
excee ed the capacity of th
penenced statesmen was h
· e
.
'I
'
un app1ly
t
~y,
'~
~enown
�9
8
for France-unhappily for the world-in the hands of men,
who, previously thereto, had been utterly denied all participation in the administration of public affairs; and whose initiation into the powers of legislation, was the work of remodeling a mighty kingdom. But even among the schemes of these
vast and prodigious changes, there were blazing the fires of
furious discord and strife, of dissension as to the means, and
as to the objects and extent of the revolution, which they were
conducting. The only concurrence of the parties, into which
they were divided, was as to the formation of some new po·
litical system, upon new and original foundations; and whence
were the lights to be sought which should guide the architects
in erecting this system? not from the sources o.f their own
practical knowledge-not from the experience and history of
other nations. The volumes were before them, filled with the
abstractions of political philosophy, which had been the familiar manuals of their studies; whence the architects drew the
plan, in all its shadowy and metaphysical proportions, for the
mighty edifice under which shelter and protection would be
found for the liberties of this illustrious nation. For the broad
foundation on which this system was to rest, all orders and
conditions of life were to be crushed into universal equality.
It was not sufficient to build up a system, without regard to
the habits, the feelings, the condition of the society, for which
it was framed; but man was to be reconstructed upon the
models of fanciful speculation, to suit him to the system. This
crude scheme of a republic which was pretended to be fashioned for France, was as it has been aptly described, "a
wild attempt to methodize anarchy ; to perpetuate and fix disorder." Party triumphed over party in sanguinary succe.ssion,
each party alike selfish and ferocious-all assuming the garb
of purest patriotism, professing devotion to the people, whom
they were butchering, and howling forth incantations to liberty
and equality, which they were trampling under foot. Faction
usurped the place of government, anarchy tore asunder all
the bonds of social order, depravity loosened all the ties of
domestic love. The impudence of vice, and a shameless
emulation in the most dissolute licentiousness were professed
and erected into habits of republican morality, with the pur-
pose of dethronina all earth! y I.
r
o
ongs, was blasph
I
iessed the determination t d h
emous y proverse.
o et rone the Sovereign of the uni-
In the halls of that Convention which I . .
representative wisdom a cl .
c aimed to be the
.
n virtue of the most e I' I t
d
hon of Europe' were the be1· f and worshi fGn d l ene na.
rg
ie
and there was adoratio n pa1.cl to the goddess of renounced;
P0 o
sonified in beauty without mode
. .
reason, perHoly of Holies. Oh I 't
~ty, usm p.mg the place of the
. i was a iearful thmg wh f
h
halls, it was announced th t
.
'
en rom t ese
would no longer have' Go~ t: na~10n of 25,000,000 of men
foolishness of man was
rdeign over them ; when the
·
pronounce to be ·
h
vidence of heaven-wh
..
wiser t an the proof the word of G cl
edn a dark philosophy assumed the place
cl
0 -an a cold and che ·I
philanthropy, was to be planted in
metaphym the place of th.e charities and consolations
of men,
graces and sanct10ns of christianity A f I
hopes and
when God seemed at th . .
. . . . w u was the scene,
'
e rmp10us b1ddmg of
.
hold the effusions of h' g1.ace from that
1s
tman, .to w1thf
.
and crime which lay b fi
.
was e o mfidehty
e ore 11 rm- when he seem cl t
d er his temples and his It
.
a ars to sacrilege whe e II o surrenr .
sanc tions being renounced h I
n a re 1g10usexcept by human sanct'
' de eft the heart unrestrained
.
wns an moral sense t0 . d I
.
its furious and mar()"
.
'
m Ll ge m all
fh
ionant propensity for crime. But th '
o eaven are ever gracious, and there is mere eve e
wrath. It is a scene W h.IC h hea ven has
ky d · n m hrs
for the instruction of the world mar
m terrifi_c
cal illustration of the th . ,
11· •
• It rs the practieones, w 1ch mfidelit
·
place of the truths wh' h h
Y proposes m the
of mankind. It is th~c amea:~en re~e~ls ~or the government
own agency, of the eternal t;:~h vmd~cat10n, through man's
that other foundation ca
..
'1 which has been revealed,
the Hol W
n no man ay than that which is laid in
y
ord. On what theatre of the I b
able for the success of h
.
go e, more fa vourbe) could infidel pl ·1 t ehexpd~nment (if successful it could
'
11 osop y
!splay th
ffi
morality, and the power f
I
e e cacy of human
roved t . . l
o mora sense, enlightened and imP
' o impe and control and cl' t h
path of virtue 'I
.!fee uman actions in the
2
. There was no nation more blessed in soil and
~ical
;~ee~o:n
an~ms
,"a~s
cha~acters,
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climate ~nd in every natural advantage. Her population, as
'
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d humoured and con- if by nature were brave, c eer u ' goo
tented. Sh~ was illumined by every science, adorned by the
tro hies o.f every art, and decked in wreaths .of every muse,
p
l" hed in all the refinements which can elevate
and accomp is
.
the
·b·l't·es or throw the restramts of decency upon
the sens1 1 1 I '
f
.
If philosophy could have redeemed man rom
pass10ns.
·
f
.
d could have renewed him in the image o a pure
cnme, an
d
·
. n that was the place, and those were the ays, m
mo1a t y,
.
. . f
l . generawhich it would have poured out its spmt o mora ie .
tion upon its disciples. But its spiri.t w~s. p~ured out .m the
.
cord eprava t10n of the human heart-111 civil anarchy-111i:1
. . -.
.
11 the charities of social and domestic hfe-m u astruptrng a
· h d
ing all the objects of human reverence and love-m t e estruction of all that is worthy of man to live for! an~ w.hat to
. c
perd ie 101• 1 sleep 1 Oh eternal sleep! and 8hall man m his h
•
.
. h
·11
t1 be bl1"nd to the awful instructions wh1c t . ese
verseness, s
him-and will he still seek for the delus10ns
scenes presen t to
.
of a false philosophy, instead of seeking "Him who is the way
and the truth and the life 'I''
.
.
The rage for military gl?ry and foreign. ~onquest. l~rndled 111
this revolutionary anarchy the wildest spmt of political fa~a
ticism. The dogmas of philosophical lib~rty and equality'
which had deluged France in blood, were, 111 the pretence of
universal benevolence for man, propagated as the only
foundations of legitimate government throughout the world.
Incendiary excitements to rebellion and anarchy were every
where scattered through the surrounding states. All ~ystems
of social polity, inconsistent with the th~ory of the rights of
man were denounced as tyrannical and rnsufferable; and the
ema~cipation of the subjects of (oreign nation~'. from the t~
ranny of their governments roused all. the chanties of repubh'fhe established polity of states was to be
can crusa ders ·
.
upset, that the social condition of ~heir sub!ects rrnght b.e
remodelled, at the dictation of foreign fanatics~ upo~ their
theories of human rights, and according to their notions of
liberty and equality. The loss of national independenc~, the
desolation and horrors of civil war, was the cheap pnce of
this foreign interference, and of the proffered blessings of
protection and fraternity and emancipation.
11
The distractions of party, which long continued to agitate
republican France, were at last terminated, in that catastrophe, which anacchy never fa ils to prod uce, a military despotism, under the sceptre of that wonderful genius, by whom that
despotism was usurped. France enlarged by foreign conquest,
rose into the most stupendous po wer that the world has beheld, since the downfall of the Roman Empire. Monarchs
were compelled to throw down their crowns at the feet of this
imperial despot, or to abdicate their thrones to be filled by his
appointment, or to hold them in vassalage to his power. The
subjugation of three-fourths of Europe to his dominion was
not enough to satisfy his inordinate ambition, which seemed
to grasp the empire of the world. At length overwhelmed
in the tempests of a Russian winter, the refluent tide of victory
scattered his glory ,and power into fragments; and haughty
France was compelled by the combined forces ~ Europe to
behold the abdicated throne of imperial greatness filled by the
restored dynasty of her beheaded king. But short was the
reign of their folly and imbecility. Another revolution hurled
them from the throne, which they proved unworthy or incompetent to fill : and the crown has been placed on the head of
another dynasty, in the novel elevation of a citizen king.
From these revolutionary horrors, engendered by philosophical speculations on the abuses and oppressions of despotic
power, and raging in all the madness of crime, and impiety
the mind seeks relief, in turning to contemplate the efficacy
of those great principles of Anglo-Saxon liberty, which sustained the land of our fathers, during that momentous period
of convulsion which agitated and afflicted continental Europe.
It has ever been the policy of that race to regard their liberties,
as the reliques of ancestral wisdom and bravery, secured by
magna charta, and the principles of their jurisprudence, reaching back beyond human memory into a remote antiquity.
Their origin is not to be sought in the visions of abstract
philosophy; but they are _to be traced back, through the experience of practical wisdom, to those institutions which in
the dissolution of the Roman Empire, were established throughout tht: nations of Europe, as best adapted to the condition
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12
in which they were then placed. If in the feudal system of
government, there are to be found the features of a harsh and_
oppressive aristocracy, it was not without securities for popular rights. These securities were from various causes, gradually weakened or obliterated in the political institutions of
the continental states : but they were valiantly maintained in
Great Britain by our Anglo-Saxon ancestors. They never
permitted any element of popular rights, which existed in the
system, that had descended to them, to be extinguished by
the usurpations of the crown or the arrogance of the nobles.
For these they struggled against the power of their Norman
conquerors, and successfully restored and maintained them,
in the charters which were extorted from their decendants.
These elements of popular freedom continued to be cherished
and progressively to be ameliorated, and to be adapted to the
changing c.ndition of society, until they expanded into democratic representation in parliament, and the power of taxation,
and juries, and independent judges, and freedom of the press,
and maxims and laws for the security of the subject as fixed
as the vital principles of the constitution itself-which cannot
be taken away without the cons,ent of all the powers of the
state, and which dare not be invaded by any of them without
upsetting the whole edifice of the government. If there is to
be found in the British history any thing like revolution (with
the exception of the temporary excesses of religious fanaticism)
it has been for conservation of rights, attempted to be disturbed or destroyed; for the restoration of rights which have
been suspended or temporarily lost. The spirit of change in
the British institutions has, in the language of Lord Bacon,
"followed the example of time itself, which indeed innovates
greatly, but quietly and by degrees scarcely to be perceived;
avoiding experiments _ the state, except the necessity be urin
gent, or the utility evident-and taking care that it is a reformation that draws on the change, and not the desire of
change that pretends . the reformation; and when novelties
be not rejected, yet they shall be held for a suspect.'' The
system of Anglo-Saxon government and of jurisprudence has
advanced in analogy to nature in just correspondence and
13
symmetry with the order o~ society, and a pliancy and fitness
to its changes. It has never aimed at the reconstruction of
the moral relations upon any speculative models. It takes
them as it finds them, and protects and ameliorates them and
'
'
accompanies and adapts itself to them, in their progress to the
hightest degree of improvement. I mean not, in the abstract,
to express approbation of hereditary monarchy or aristocracy,
or of religious establishments, and other institutions engrafted
upon the political system of Great Britain. These were found
engrafted in the very elements of the system, and it may have
been most wise to tolerate them in the state of society which
has grown up under them. But I do applaud the wisdom
with which restraints upon them have been incorporated in
the system, in those great principles of liberty, under the shelter
and protection of which the people never can be slaves, even
under a monarchy; and without which the people would be
slaves even under a republic. Nor do I mean to say that the
action of the English government may not sometimes, at periods of peril or excitement, or under the influence of the
s?irit of party, have been greatly disturbed, and may not in particular cases have had a strong tendency to oppression. But
I do believe that in the Anglo-Saxon institutions, whether as
they have existed in this country or in Great Britain, there is
a greater amount of rational liberty, better regulated, and better protected and secured, than can be found in the institutions
of any race of men that has ever existed upon the face of the
globe. It was the spirit of these institutions which sustained
Great Britain amidst all the revolutions and convulsions which
for more than twenty years agitated continental Europe to the
centre. Her opposition to the revolutionary fana ticism and
~ilitary. power of France was steady and unceasing, sometimes with the co-operation of other powers, sometimes alone
she only, maintained her government unshaken, her spirit un~
broken, her soil unviolated, her power unsubdued, her resources expanded with the pressure which encumbered them.
The loyalty of her people clung to her government and rallied
to ~er standar~, in all the perils and vicissitudes of that trying
pe~10d, unternfied by the tempests which were shaking into
rums the powers around her : undismayed by disaster, she
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maintained her lofty attitude of unblenching defiance and gallant hostility to France, in all the growth of her colossal
power. It becomes not the citizens of these states, unconnected as we are with the political relations of other countries, to
display extravagant sympathies in the good or ill fortune of
any of the nations of Europe ; but in the displays of the indomitable vigor and solidity of Anglo-Saxon institutions, and
of the spirit which they inspire, it is not unbecoming that we
should rejoice. These instituti'ons our forefathers aided to
establish in England, and are the same which in their elements,
they transplanted and renovated in the soil of America.
That spirit transmitted in the blood of common ancestors, is
the same which under these institutions still fire~ the bosoms
of their American offspring.
During this period of political change, Great Britain, however, has not been stationary. Her political institutions have
underg01rn reformations. The struggles to ob1ain them have
been agitating; but their success has been bloodless. It is in
her legislative halls, not in her fields ensanguined by civil strife,
that the persevering champions of popular rights have at last
triumphed, in the success of parliamentary reform and Catholic emancipation.
Our own continent also, in what were once portions of the
kingdoms of Portugal and Spain, has been the theatre of vast
political changes. They too have burst the chains which
bound them to the domination of the mother countries-and
now, from the limits of Maine to the extremity of Cape Horn,
no European power holds dominion in America, and from the
people of all this vast. region the united declaration has gone
forth to the world, that it stands forever redeemed and emancipated from the colonization of foreign powers. In their redemption from foreign tyranny, these nations have made large
advances to the accomplishment of the liberties and prosperity
of their people. But the Portuguese kingdom in America still
continues to hug the chains of tyranny within, which were
severed from without ; and whilst it has, in the great commonwealth of nations, taken its rank as a free and independent state, the freedom and independence of her people are
still oppressed by a thraldom, as despotic as ever. The
15
Spanish kingdoms have assumed the form of republican states,
and have1 for the most part, adopted institutions, of which
ours in Northern America, have served for models. With
what success such institutions may diffuse all the blessiwrs of
0
free government among a people so differently constituted in
habits, feelings, religion, orders, castes and intelligence from
our own population, is a subject of deep and painful anxiety,
which a.n inscru:able future can alone remove. Amongst all
the subjects which the pages of modern history present for
philosophic speculation, none is more interesting than a comparison between the causes, incidents and consequences of
these revolutions in Southern America, under the dominion of
Portugal and Spain, and that of the colonies in Northern
America, under the dominion of Great Britain. The former
were constituent portions, far separated in distance, from the
parent kingdoms, whose stern and universal despotism, embraced in its gripe, all that were subject to their dominion.
That despotism was greatly aggravated by the seve~ity of
monopolies and restrictions, which directed all the resources
and all the productiveness of these distant portions of their
realms into currents, to swell the cupidity and ·avarice of sordid
task-masters, in the mother countries. In the bosoms of their
American subjects, . every pulse of freedom was suppressed,
from their minds every ray of political truth was intercepted,
a black cloud of ignorance enveloped all the orders and
castes of their heterogeneous and unequal society, and tyranny. had subdued into slavish humility the spirit of thei~ populat10n. To British America the great principles of liberty
had been translated, as an inherent birthright, of which no
power c01.1ld disinherit the colonists. The right of legislation
and taxat10n through their own representative, of administering justice, of jury trial, of the freedom of speech and of the
press, were among their inalienable privileges. The facilities
of education gave them access to all the illuminations of
science and improvements in the arts, and to the refinements
of taste and literature. No prerogatives of the crown were
c~lled ~nto exercise in these distant regions-there had been no
migrat10ns of nobles to plant in America the seeds of hereditary aristocracy-no hierarchy to cast the shade of bigotry
'1
�16
17
over the freedom of religious opinion or religious faith. Under
this system of polity these colonial appendag~s of the ki~1gdom
of Great Britain, had struck deep into the soil of Amenca, the
germinations of vast republics, invigorated by the spirit and
protection of Anglo-Saxon jurisprudenc~ . When at length ~he
mother country, disregarding the theories of her own constitution, invaded the rights which _ colonists claimed _with her,
the
as a common inheritance, she found that the colomsts were
freemen, that the race from which they were descended could
not breed slaves-that they had caught from her own altars,
along with the spirit of freedom, an intre~id and i~domitable
courage to defend it from every aggress10n. It_ '.s, my
spected auditors, by comparing the happy cond1t10n, which
peculiarly distinguishes the people, governed and prot:cted by
Anglo-Saxon institutions, from all other races of mankmd, that
we are taught the inestimable blessings of the system of government under which we live, that our hearts are elevated
into an ennobling love of our country, and are penetrated
with gratitude to heaven for having made us wh~t we are.
There was indeed a fearful period in our history, when
there hung over the destinies of these infant stat~s a portentous cloud, from which were thundering the warnings of that
fate, which ~ so often in the history of the world,_ h~d blasted
the prospects of nations who had achieved theJr liberty by
their heroism, which they had not the ability to preserve ~y
·
·
t he1r w1s dom. That period immediately succeeded the brilliant events of the Revolution. At the commencement of the
Revolution, a system of confederation of the states had_ been
adopted to supply the place of that discarded power m the
British government, which had regulated ~nd repr:sented the
colonies, in common with the 1~est of the k1~gdom, ~n the concerns of peace and war, and in their exterior relations. !he
powers of this confederation were exercised by representatives
of sovereign states assembled in congress, and by m:ans of
· 10ns upon . the states • without any legal sanct10ns to
reqms1·t·
enforce them. This system was found feeble even when a
spirit of hostility against a common enemy, and a com~on
sense of danger, rallied all hearts to the standard of the umon.
When peace was achieved, the languid powers of the confe-
:e-
deration scarcely he_ together the dissolving ties of the states,
ld
among whom many causes of dissension were beginning to
fester. Deplorable was the condition of these states, as it was
disclosed in the cotemporary representations. According to
them, we had experienced every thing which could wound the
pride degrade the character of an independent people. Our
engagements violated-public debts undischarged and unprovided for-territories and ports retained by Great Britain, in·
violation of the treaty of peace-the navigation of the Mississippi denied us by Spain, in violation of right and of compact;
no troops, nor treasury, nor efficient government to resent these
aggressions--no public credit-commerce at the lowest ebb,
the imbecility of government such as to deter foreign nations
from treating with us-our ambassadors abroad regarded as
the pageants of a mimic sovereignty-the value of lands
decreasing private credit distrusted-and the catalogue of the
public misfortunes of a community, blessed with every natural
advantage, was filled _up with all the indications of national
disorder, poverty, and insignificance.
To repair this <liU!pidated condition of the tottering union
was the arduous undertaking of the framers of our present
constitution. Of the full extent of the difficulties which they
encountered in this undertaking, the whole hns not· until recently been known. Fortunately for us and for future generations, some met'Dorial of them has been preserved in the
posthumous works of that most illustrious character and best
of men, who survived a!! his co-labourers in this mighty work,
which stands a perpetual monument of their wisdom and
magnanimity and patriotism. It was in the construction of
this renovated system of federal government, and not until
then, that our Revolution was perfected and it s benefits secured.
Who can look down, without horror, into that dark abyss,
opening to engulf all the glories and achievements of our revolutionary struggles, and contemplate the wild uproar of national
animosity, and civil discord and anarchy, which lay in its
dark profound. That frightful gulf has been closed, I fondly
hope forever closed, by building up from its depth, a mighty
edifice of political freedom and social order-the security of
or
3
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the states and of the people-the admiration of the world. Jn
all its parts it displays the skill of mighty architects-in all its
arrancrements arc found the traces of exalted patriotism and
I:>
magnanimous compromise. As soon as this constitution went
into operation, with Washington for the president, our renovated union roused from its debility, like a yodthfol giant from
his slumbers. The nalion was raised as an instant from the dust
of its humiliation-its credit was redeemed and resuscitated-its
engagements fulfilled-its foreign and domestic debt provided
for-its treasury supplied-the obligations of foreign powers
complied with-and commerce unfurling its sails and the
constellated flag of the union in every sea-treaties of amity
and commerce sought with us by foreign natio_ns-our ambassadors respected by foreign courts, and reflecting by their
talents, a lustre upon the character of the nation-private
credit revived--:the arm of industry nerved with renewed
vigour-and our lands increasing in value and teeming with
productiveness.
A grateful country beholds, in the administration of her first
president, a wisdom in council, exceeding · even his glory in
arms. In our foreign relations, his sagacity early discovered
that the true policy of his country was, "never to quit the ad vantages of our own peculiar, detached and distant situation, to
stand on foreign ground; nor by interweaving our destiny with
that of any part of Europe, to entangle our peace and prosperity in the toils of European ambition, rivalship, interest,
humour or caprice.'' This principle stands embodied as a
maxim in our foreign policy, which none would be now disposed to controvert, or to discard. , The energy of mind and
intrepidity of soul, which were ta$ked in our first president to
fix and establish it, can only be known and appreciated by the
cotemporaries who witnessed the agitations of popular excitement within, and the aggressions of the European belligerents
to disturb it from without. In our internal concerns, our new
constitution developed during Washington's administration, alt
its varied capacities for conferring and perpetuating liberty
and prosperity upon our people. On this consecrated day•
may we not, in the retrospect of the history of our government
from its commencement to the present period, claim from the
the justice of our countrymen, the acknowledgment, that at no
period has it been more wisely administered than by Washington; that at no period has its tendency, as affecting the
morals of the people, the internal and external commerce of
the nation, and the prosperity of the states, been more salutary
and steady, than its tendency as impelled by his wisdom, and
under the . institutions as organized with his concurrence 1
May not the practical experience of our institutions as unfolded
by him, be safely consulted and relied upon in all times by the
descendants of those ancestors, whose whole ~history has been
characterized for sober wisdom, "avoiding experiments in the
staJe, except the necessity be urgent, or the utility evident>
and taking care, that it is a reformation that draws on the
change, and not the desire of change which pretends the reformation."
Our march was still onward ,' onward to prosperity. There
has not been wanting in the display of our national improvements, a single test, which indicates, with unerring certainty,
the blessings of a good government and a prosperous people.
A success, beyond the most sanguine calculations and any
parallel in the history of society, has signally marked the annals of our institutions. There may, .in particular measu res,
have been errors, to disturb their course in the full tide of successful experiment. The tempests of party may at times have
greatly agitated the political fabric, and seemed to have exposed it to perils imminent and alarming; our institutions with
their recuperative energies have braved the storm, and still
preserved their onward co~irse to peace and prosperity. Practical blunders, or party extravagances, have never accumulated into fixed or habitual oppression. Every year has the interminable wilderness of the west surrendered wider and
wider clearings for the advances of civilization and agriculture. Regions which fifty years ag o had been hardly explored, have been redeemed by the arm of a st~rdy industry,
and are now teeming with plenty, and are covered with a
refined and active population, and are glittering with villages
and cities. Population cannot outrun the protection of the
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government, or territories expand beyond the embrace, whic h
reaches forth to encircle them within the union.
Shall these institutions continue to flourish and to spread
their benignant energies, till all the regions from the Atlantic
to the Pacific shall be peopled wi.th the decendants of one
common origin, glowing with a common love of liberty under
republican forms of government, and offering up the adorations. of a christian faith to the throne of heaven ? I do hope
so ! However inauspicious the signs of the times, I will fondly believe so ! I will not forego the hope, I will not abandon
the belief, -that there exists in every portion of this nation, a
catholic patriotism, uncorrupted by party, which will continue
to rally around tlie constitution and the union, and will defend
them against the fanaticism and the local jealousies that are
assailing them. The blessings which they have diffused
throughout the whole length and breadth of this nation, indi vidually and politically, are as inappreciable, as the calamities, springing from the loss of them, are incalculable. We
have seen and known and felt the blessings, to a degree of
happiness and prosperity of which no example can be found
in the history of any nation in th~ world-of the calamities,
a ll that we know is the dreadful truth of their certainty whene" er that loss may come, as to the intensity and magnitude
v
and extent of these calamities, should they ever come, the
mind grows dizzy with horrors in its _
dark conjectures.
In every free state, the regulation of the civil condition of
those, who constitute its community, must be the exclusive
matter of its own peculiar polity. The moment that is surrendered to external influence, whether it be the influence of
force or of fanaticism, that state ceases to be free. This
axiom in politics was felt in all its force, and was a rallying
point of nations during the French revolution. It must ever
be so. It is engrafted deeply in our own federal constitution,
and there it has acquired the force of love and the faith of
compact. Shall patriotism be wanting in any portion of this
union, to rise in defence of this fundamental maxim of national
and political law, and of this stipulation of plighted faith to
suppress the attacks upon the polity of any of the states, by a
deluded and wicked fanaticism. An enlarged and liberal con struction of the constitution, as regards the interests of the
various states, co-extensive with its provisions and with the
spirit of compromise in which it was made, would seem to be
the most effectual antidote against sectional dissensions, and
the only means of maintaining and perpetuating our institutions.
Whether these interests be local or general, whether they
have been expressly guaranteed by the terms of the compact,
or have been included in the general powers conferred on the
federal government by the compromises of state protection,
all would seem to be alike comprehended within the beneficence
of federal power. The claims for the interposition of that power, to arrest the disturbances of such interests, would seem to
be alike sustainable, whether they are unwarrantably assailed
from within or from without, whether the protection required
is to be afforded by law or by commercial regulation, or in
any other mode, without adequate protection to our own labour and capital, they will be regulated by the selfish spirit of
foreign monopoly; our revolution is yet incomplete in not
having extricated our trade from foreign control.
It is not, my respected auditors, in the spirit of party that
I advert to these painful and agitating subjects. I should be
abusing the privileges which the kindness of the alumni of St.
John's have conferred upon me, and I should be unjust to my
own feelings, and doubtless equally so to yours, if upon this
occasion, and in this place, and upon this day, the spirit of
party could find a place in my bosom or utterance from my
lips. This day is consecrated to the memory of a hero and
sage and patriot, who did more than any one man, to establish our institutions and our union, and to bind them indissolubly together. In them his memory is identified, as the monuments of his virtues and his greatness. The grateful reverence for his name, which this day awakens, blends with it the
love of what it was the struggle of his life, in the field and in
the councils, to obtain and secure for us. What more appropriate service to his memory can I render, than to awaken
my countrymen to the dangers of the dissensions, arising
out of "geographical discriminations," which are now agita-
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· ting the country, and against which the presages of the Fathei'
of his Country have so earnestly warned us, when he poured
forth his concentrated wisdom and patriotism in his farewell
address to the people of the United States.
The beneficence of our system penetrates into all concerns
of life, elevating enjoyments that are in some degree selfish,
and expanding them in all the del ights of personal intercourse.
The consciousness of freedom is ennobled by the pride of state,
and the still loftier name of an American. The citizen expands his views· and his sensations through the wide orb of
American happiness and glory, and he identifies them as a part
of himself and of his own personal enjoyment: and he feels
this enjoyment heightened an9 enlivened by the consciousness
that the same emotions are swelling in the bosoms of all around
him. With this are blended all the recollections of frendship
and kindred in their wide dispersions throughout the union.
"The cit izens of each state shall be entitled to all privileges
and immunities of citizens in the several states,'' is the passport which is written not only in the charter, but in the heart
of every American. With them he is conscious are blended
the still more endearing privileges and immunities of kindness
and love. In whatever remote region of our country his nativity may have been cast, he goes forth in the catholicism of
his American name ; on the threshhold of each sovereicrnty
•
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which he enters, he seems to behold the words of the constitution written upon its portal, and in them he feels the assurances of protection and the invitations of kindness. This is
his passport, and the surveillance which attends him is the
reciproc-ations of brotherly love. In these walls in the days
of my boyhood, were these my "privileges and immunities,''
endeared to me by all that the ardour of boyhood could love;
and now in the days of declining life, these endearments are still
clustering around me with overwhelming kindness.
We, my cotemporary alumni, have nearly enjoyed our
full measure of that beneficence which our country, in the full
vigor of her institutions, could confer or secure to us. From
this enjoyment, it is not very long before we may expect to
be separated-we have nearly completed the gathering of
our harvest. Little remains for us but to scatter from our
garners the seeds of our experience and influence, to fructify
into the future harvest which is to be gathered by the young
who are to succeed us. The defence of these institutions,
under which we have prospered, must devolve upon the vigorous heads and hearts an<l arms of the rising generation
which is to take our place
And may not that d_
efence be safely entrusted to you, my
youthful friends? (addressed to the students.) Oh, it w ill be a
defence for which you will be vastly responsible. It will be
a defence of the dearest object that can animate the hearts or
invigorate the actions of men. The destinies not only of your
country, but the destinies of freedom, throughout the world,
may be deeply involved. To prepare for it your minds must
be disciplined with the highest intellectual culture, and your
hearts, with the sublimest lessons of morality. Self must be
lost in the immensity of the general good which is to be contemplated. Education is unfolding to you all the lights of improving science. It will need all the lights which the most
ardent assiduity can concentrate in your minds, to irradiate
the path of usefulness which you will have to tread. In this
seminary there are advantages enjoyed by you beyond most
students in the United States. In its contiguity to the halls of
legislation and the supreme court of the state, you have access
to practical instruction in the great concerns of jurisprudence,
in your earliest initiation into science. In contemplating the
scenes, by which I am now surrounded,how irresistably are my
recollections carried back to the period of my youthful studies
at this place 1 I am living over again the days, when the
exercise of the school being finished, we hurried away from
the neglected pastime to contemplate in that vene1:ated statehouse, the most illustrious d isplays of justice and wisdom and
learning and eloquence in the courts, and in the chambers of
the legislature. What ardent aspirations filled our youthful
bosoms, as we listened to the eloquence of him who was justly
considered as the greatest orator of his day,* and of another,t
inferior only to him: and with the recency of the classic e_
xercise still upon the mind, could almost fancy we were enchant•Pinkney.
'1
t Phil. B. Key .
�( !
24
25
ed by the eloquence of Cicero and Hortensius in the capitol
of Rome?
If an officious interest in your future destinies can excuse
the recommendation of any study, in addition to your usual
collegiate course, I would earnestly direct you to the study of
the history of your Anglo-Saxon race of ancestors, and of
those institutions, which were established by their wisdom and
prudence, for the preservation of their liberty. Let that study
be pursued through the annals of our own country. In studying these annals, let me particularly urge upon your attention
and profound consideration the study of the causes, which
led to the formation of the present constitution, and of the difficulties that had to be surmounted by a magnanimous spirit
of compromise among the states, to adjust it in its present
form. These studies will teach you practical wisdom as applied to politics; and will guard you against the disastrous
reforms and revolutions, springing out of mere philosophical
theories, with which it is contrasted. There is also another
study that requires more the docility of the heart, than of the
head, I mean the study of the- Holy Scriptures. That study
will invigorate your intellect by expanding it in its efforts to
grasp the stupendous and immense truths which it brings to
its contemplation. The Scriptures as a book of philosophy
are the only source, from which man can derive a true know~
ledge of what he is, and of the Deity, whom he serves with
the sublime and holy attributes which are appropria te to him.
As a book of history, they unfold the records of creation; and,
far beyond the glimmerings of pagan story, they show the rise
and progress and downfall of mighty nations, which issued
from the first pair that inhabited the earth. Other histories
exhibit the destinies of nations as they seem to be governed
and directed by human agency. The Scriptures are the only
history of nations, as they are shown in their immediate dependence and connection with the agency of Divine Providence.
As a book of literature, it contains the sublimest poetry, the
most beautiful and pathetic narratives, and the most splendid
imagery, in a style of purest simplicity, far superior to the .
best models of classic literature. Its claims to inspiration are
signally attested by a variety of proofs
.
.
is particularly striking-the concurren~ Tfhere is one which
e 0 all the penmen by
whom it was written, though separated f·
1 om each other by
·
time and space too remote for concert in th
.
.
'
e sameness with
which the character of God and of man is d
.
.
escnbed by all
and the sameness of the doctrmes w hich they in 1
'
.
.
..
cu cate. Compare this feature of their wntmgs with the discr
.
. .
epancy to be
found m all the works of umnspired philosophers, the sys.
.
tem of each bemg for the most part peculiar to himself. Oh
my young friends, let not a reckless infidelity exclude fro~
your eyes the truths which illumine the Bible; or tear from
your bosoms the sacred morality which it teaches, or the
hopes and the consolations which it inspires. If you would
live for the benefit of mankind, or your country, you must be
virtuous, as well as intellectual. From no source, so pure,
can you derive the springs of your philanthropy or patriotism, as from the great fountain of the inspired writings. The
fruit which was plucked from the tree of knowledge against
God's command, was the primal sin of man; the fruit, to be
salutary, must still be sought for with his blessing; and under
his instructions man is assuming a very different relation to
his fellow men from that which subsisted one or two centuries ago. The improvements of recent times, and the facilities of commerce, are spreading wider and wider the social
relations, and bringing all the inhabitants of the earth into
closer connexion with each other. Our wants multiply with
the objects for their gratification and the facilities of obtaining
them. Our wants are therefore binding the whole human species
more widely and more closely in bonds of mutual dependence.
The remotest regions of the earth are tasked, the skill of the
savage in the least frequented lands is put in requisition to
supply our most common wants. The polar seas are vexed
to procure the students nightly lamps-the savage of Kamschatska is pursuing the game whose furs supply the ordinary
covering for the head. If you would estimate the dependence
of man upon his fellow beings, even in his most common enjoyments, contemplate for a moment the infinite combination of
human manipulations and of human agencies, which dailf
4
I
f.
�26
contribute to supply the elements of our simplest repast, or
the simplest article of our raiment. When we survey these
social ties in all their infinite reticulations, how strong are the
inducements of social man to the fulfilment of his duty-of
striving with all his faculties and all his means to preserve
these ramified ligaments in harmonious vibrations? Most just
are the penalties which heaven has denounced against that
selfish wickedness which would entangle or disturb them.
Most gracious are the rewards which it has promised to that
virtue, which would preserve them in concord-most wise,
that commandment of charity, which it has spread over these
social relations; which from its culmination in love to God,
descends like a bow of celestial radiance, to encompass with
brotherly love the whole family of mankind. In the aspirations of the youthful heart, therefore, for a future usefulness commensurate with its social duties, its feelings and its
sympathies should be circumscribed by no limits more confined than the whq~e circle of humanity.
But, still, it is our country, for which the heart reserves its
most intense affections-it is to her service that the faculties
are most vehemently dedicated-it is her safety, her glory,
her prnsperity, that kindle to the highest ardor the hopes and
wishes and longings of the bosom. Country is bound up in
the dearest domestic ties-it contains our homes and our
sepulchres. Throughout the whole extent of its boundaries,
the ties of kindred and friendship, and the social relations, are
involved in the civil and political connections, w hich make
all the members of the community mutually and directly dependent on the feelings and interests and opinions of the .other.
Each citizen, in his own appropriate sphere of duty to his
country, becomes bound by principles infinitely more obligatory, and by motives infinitely more · intense, than that diffusive charity which comprehends the world. In a christian's
bosom, patriotism glows, not merely in the purity of a moral
virtue, but it is consecrated in his religious faith, and in the
holiness of divine example. When the Saviour of mankind
descended upon the earth, upon his errand of universal love,
which was to reach through time and eternity, it was not over
the regions of Syria, or of Greece, or of Italy, that he went
27
abroad displaying his beneficence; nor was it over Damascus,
or ~thens, or Corinth, or Rome, that he wept in the contemplat10n of their sins and their future desolations. It was in
his own native Judea, that on wearied feet, amidst railings and
scoffs, he went about doing good ; and it was over his beloved
Jeru~alem that he wept, as he bewailed her approaching de~olat10ns; though he already heard the foreknown cries, echot~g through her streets and from her judgment hall, of "crucify
him, crucify him." This elevated virtue rejects the indulgence
?f voluptuousness and sensuality, and of selfish ambition and
rnter~st._ It d~mands the entire sacrifice of every enjoyment,
that Is mconsrstent with public good. Heaven has blessed
~an with _his peculiar attribute of reason, to be employed by
lum for his own temporal and eternal happiness, and for the
~enefit of his country and of mankind. Freedom of opinion
Is one of the noblest privileges of man ; and the proper exercise of it imposes upon him the heaviest of responsibilities,
reaching through time to eternity. Let me-conjure you then,
never to surrender this illustrious privilege, this weighty responsibility, to the domination and keeping of party. The
tendency of party spirit is to expel all the charities and all the
virtues from the human heart, and in their place to bring in
all the reptile brood of corruption and malevolence. The
soul shrinks, under its influence, from the graspings of a comprehensive charity and of love of country, into the narrow
dimensions of self, and of a low and grovelling ambition. It will
assail you in every form of delusion; and will be most apt to
cheat you, under the assumed garb of patriotism. When this
demon spirit is once admitted to his usurped control, he will
be found to sway with a power the most despotic, and his
subjects sink into a slavery the basest and most abject. The
contagious sympathies, which he excites amongst his slaves
spread from bosom to bosom, an infection fevers every
wholesome passion of the heart, and maddens them all (as in
the history of the French Revolution,) into every species of
crime.
I need not remind you of the brilliant examples of patriotic
devotion which shine upon the pages of ancient history ; or
�28
set before you the examples to be found in the histories of
more modern times. We need only to look to the lives of
the men by whom our independence was achieved, and to the
men, by whom our institutions, springing out of that independence, were established. These will awaken your admiration
of the most illustrious displays of patriotism-and will stam p
with veneration and reverence, the inheritance which they
have transmitted to their descendants. This anniversary
presents to your contemplation and imitation, the character
of one pre-eminently adorned with that virtue. In him it
was displayed (as genuine patriotism always should be) in
connexion with christian piety and every other grace which
can adorn the human character. His country's safety, his
country's happiness, his country's glory were the unceasing
labours of his life, and to attain which no sacrifice was too
painful to be encountered by him. The continued commemoration of this anniversary, more than forty years after his
death, is a peculiarity which distinguishes his name from that
of any other human benefactor who has ever lived. This
tribute magnifies the virtues of him, to whom it is paid, and
exalts the nation who still cherishes the grateful admi~·ation
to offer it. Long, long may it continue to be offered ; and
should some of you, my youthful friends, some fifty years
hence, be graced by the invitation of the a lumni of St. John's
with the honor, which I feel that I am so feebly discharging,
oh! may the aged orator still continue to dwell upon the
grateful theme of Washington's greatness, consecrated then in
the hearts and upon the lips of sixty millions of American
freemen-and up0n the dome, beneath which the victorious
champion of his country's liberty, resigned his commission to
the authority that -gave it, may that flag, still continue to
wave, with all its stars and all its stripes; and may the
motto, E Pluribus Unum, still be seen glittering upon its folds!
�I!
�
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
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Commencement Programs and Addresses
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Annapolis, MD
Contributor
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St. John's College Greenfield Library
Description
An account of the resource
Addresses given at commencement and programs of events related to, and including, the annual commencement ceremonies at St. John's College. Includes both the undergraduate and Graduate Institute commencements. <br /><br />The College Archives holds programs and/or addresses for the following years:<br />
<ul>
<li>1796</li>
<li>1835-1836</li>
<li>1842</li>
<li>1852</li>
<li>1856-1857</li>
<li>1870</li>
<li>1878</li>
<li>1880</li>
<li>1890</li>
<li>1893</li>
<li>1895</li>
<li>1897</li>
<li>1907</li>
<li>1910-1918</li>
<li>1920-1924</li>
<li>1928-1929</li>
<li>1932</li>
<li>1936-1937</li>
<li>1939-1945</li>
<li>1947-present </li>
</ul>
Click on <strong><a title="Commencement Programs and Addresses" href="http://digitalarchives.sjc.edu/items/browse?collection=18&sort_field=Dublin+Core%2CDate&sort_dir=d">Items in the Commencement Programs and Addresses Collection</a></strong> to view and sort all items in the collection.
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commencementprograms
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paper
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28 pages
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Title
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Commencement Address, 1842
Description
An account of the resource
An address to the alumni and students of St. John's College, Annapolis. Delivered February 22, 1842. By John Tayloe Lomax, of Virginia.
Creator
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Lomax, John Tayloe, 1781-1862
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Woods and Crane, Printers
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Baltimore, MD
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1842-02-22
Rights
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St. John's College owns the rights to this publication.
Type
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text
Format
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pdf
Language
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English
Identifier
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Address to the Alumni and Students of St. John's-Lomax, John Tayloe-1842-02-22
Relation
A related resource
<a title="Commencement Program" href="http://digitalarchives.sjc.edu/items/show/3624">Commencement Program</a>
Commencement
-
https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/sjcdigitalarchives/original/6a75d573cec101311e38ba90989994c5.pdf
7ee031fab1b0d0a9509c6ea106c25bef
PDF Text
Text
"
A N N U A L C 0 M l\'I E N C E M E N(.. f •
ST. JOHN'S COLLEGE,
FEBRUARY 22, 1842.
ORDER OF EXERCISES .
PRAYER.
I. OnATION-The Influence ef tlte Biography of Great 1
lien,
with the Salutatory Addresses in Latin-oy SAMUEL
RrnouT, of Annapolis.
II. 0RATION-JJfilitary Fame-IJy JoNATHAN PINKNEY I-IA111. llIOND, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
III. ORATION-The Influence
ef Melody-by
GEORGE \V ASH·
INGTON BETTON, of Tallahassee, Florida.
IV. ORATION-Enlightened Public Opinion, the True Safeguard of Liberty, with the Valedictory Addresses, by
JoHN BASIL, Jr. of Annapolis. •
DEGREES CONFERRED.
ADDRESS by the Hon. JOHN TAYLOE LOMAX, L L.D.,
of Virginia.
BENEDICTION.
..
..
'1
�•·
' I
..
�
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Commencement Programs and Addresses
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Annapolis, MD
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
St. John's College Greenfield Library
Description
An account of the resource
Addresses given at commencement and programs of events related to, and including, the annual commencement ceremonies at St. John's College. Includes both the undergraduate and Graduate Institute commencements. <br /><br />The College Archives holds programs and/or addresses for the following years:<br />
<ul>
<li>1796</li>
<li>1835-1836</li>
<li>1842</li>
<li>1852</li>
<li>1856-1857</li>
<li>1870</li>
<li>1878</li>
<li>1880</li>
<li>1890</li>
<li>1893</li>
<li>1895</li>
<li>1897</li>
<li>1907</li>
<li>1910-1918</li>
<li>1920-1924</li>
<li>1928-1929</li>
<li>1932</li>
<li>1936-1937</li>
<li>1939-1945</li>
<li>1947-present </li>
</ul>
Click on <strong><a title="Commencement Programs and Addresses" href="http://digitalarchives.sjc.edu/items/browse?collection=18&sort_field=Dublin+Core%2CDate&sort_dir=d">Items in the Commencement Programs and Addresses Collection</a></strong> to view and sort all items in the collection.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
commencementprograms
Text
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text.
Original Format
The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data
paper
Page numeration
Number of pages in the original item.
2 pages
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Commencement Program, 1842
Description
An account of the resource
Annual Commencement. St. John's College, February 22, 1842. Order of Exercises. (Includes handwritten note)
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
St. John's College
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
St. John's College
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Annapolis, MD
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1842-02-22
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
St. John's College owns the rights to this publication.
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
text
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
pdf
Relation
A related resource
<a title="Commencement Address" href="http://digitalarchives.sjc.edu/items/show/3623">Commencement Address</a>
Language
A language of the resource
English
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Commencement Program-1842-02-22
Commencement
-
https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/sjcdigitalarchives/original/f89220b5b6214f7b38ab4479b0994ef9.pdf
00b9921b3d1a42e9ee641e6d4978c36a
PDF Text
Text
(
( ?- -r
~
I
r
I
/•.' (VC<> 1-1 LI t,,
AN ADDRESS
DELIVERED BEFORE THE
ALUMNI AND STUDENTS
OF
ST. J 0 H NS.
BY
THE
REV . WILLIAM
PINI~ NEY.
ANNAPOLIS:
ROBERT F . BONSALL, PRINTER .-
1852.
If
�CORRESPONDENCE.
A~NAPOLis,
23rd February, 1852.
R ev. and Dear Sir_,
IT is our pleasant duty, in behalf ,of the ALUMNI OF ST. J onNS , to
thank .you for the br:illiant Discourse delivered this day at the Annual Commencement. In requesting a copy for pul;Jlication, we but express the gene,ral wish of those who .enjoy;t;d its delivery-also to see it in print.
Yf!ry Faithfqlly
You,r Friends,
WILL. H. TucK,
A. RANDALL,
·Tnos. J. WILSON.
:R,ev. Williant Pinkney.
ANN ~l' o L 1 s, Fe.(n-uary 24th , 1852 .
.Gentlemen,
I ACKNOWLEDGE the receipt of your letter of the 23rd, with feelings of
sincere pleasure ; and although I am confident, that both you and our breth_ren of the Alumni, for whom you act, have, in the kindliness of your
feelings, attached to my Address a value to which it has no inherent claim, I
must in this , as in th,e first acceptance of the honor, submit to your united
will. Thanking you for the most gratifying manner in which yoiJ have discharged your duty,
I ~m, Most Faithfully,
Your Friend,
W, PINKNEY.
Hon. Judge 'J1uc1c, Roi). Jl. Randall, Thos. J. Wilson, Esq.
It.
�I
I
ADDRESS ·
GEN'.rLEMEN OF THE ALUMNI
AND STUDENTS OF ST . JOHNS :-
The sight of these dear familiar walls- the reenacting, now
and here, of this sublime and affecting scene-the transition of
these young gentlemen from the tender and delightful associations and important duties of college life to the noble and exciting deeds of manhood, when they must begin the rugged,
up-hill toil of actual existence and take their places among
men-these all serve to recall to mind , not less thei r responsibilities, than ours, who like them were once nurturer! in this
venerable seat of learning.
We are assembled together for mutual congratulations and
for mutual improvement. A time-honored cust~rn is the bond
that binds us. At the call of our Alma Mater, we hav e met
together to mingle our heartfelt rejoicings amid the stirring
reminiscencies of the past, and the glowing picturings of the
future , when hope, with her pencil, is touching the canvass
with its most beautiful and delicate h ues.
The occasion is full of eloquence. ' Tis replete with grandeur. No mortal tongne can do it justice. Its most powerful
and impressive advocate is the silence of the past and the future ;
the one, not less eloquent in its losses than its gains, the other
in the hopes, which are doomed to be disappointed or else destined to be realised in the fruits of more than a golden harvest.
To you, young gentlemen, just crowned with the h onors of
your Alma JYiater and introduced into 1be society of your
brethren, the Alumni, this occasion is one of both interest and
sublimity. Your imagination kindles and glows w ith 1he first
I
f
�ALUMNI AND STUDENTS OF ST. JOHNS.
6
AN ADDRESS, DELl vERED BEFORE THE
noble pulsations of the heart;s throbbings, as you feel that the
step is taken which is to remove you from the pupilage of
others ~o your own guardianship. In us, it awakens those sad
but soul-arousing thoughts, which hopes that had their birth
here, on this consecrated soil, foll as bright as those you now
fondly ~herish, only half realized or else tot1tlly blighted .• cannot fail ~o engender. To you the occasion is a thrilling brilliant pros.pective, while to us it is a fearful ar:i~ in some respects
a mel<:J.noholy retrospect.
Education is the theme we have chosen. ;N'ot, however, its
,claims upon the foste,ring care Qf the State, which h,<1-s been
discussed* with an ability and research that :h ave left nothing
for us to gl,ean, not even -the fe'y straggling sheaves, which an
ordinary generosity i::; .accustome.d to leave for the reward find
enco,urag~ment of the unfortunate gleaner. No, nor its influence up9.11 the respor;i.sibility of the American citizen in the
preser;it stupendous juncture of human atfair1;1, which this time
two ye,1trs wa§ pressed with sp much sound practical wisdom
and patriotic ardor by the ge1;ttleman,t whqm yqur judgment
happily select.ed as the or~tor qn that occasion. It is in neither
of these imp9rtant aspectf,l th~t we propose to consider it. We
wquld :;tddress to your uqderstandings and your fe.elings a few
thoughts upon educatior;i coqtemplated frorn anot.Q.er point of
view, viz., as the beginqing of the life-work of man-the
lea~en, whi.c h ii;; to diffuse itself through the whole of the afterexistence- tre very warp and woof that are to be 'foven into
the whole moral and intelle. tual fabric of ~he future man-the
c
commencer~ent of a work, .which running through the whole
circle of coming years, ever approxjmates its destined goal; but
still, by the very law of our being, must ever continue this side
of it, wherein npthing is completed, nothipg finished. Education has its beginning here. 'rlrn key that opens the door
of the most richly furnished <;hambers of the temple of learning,
is here entrusted to our care and keeping. Lessons of wisdom
are .here impartep, which we must work out in solid and substantial fruit. The college is the image of the wide world we
enter. Here the ~vork begins. But education is not what,
alas ! too maqy of the young men of our day are prone to re-
1'
; •.
,;
7
gard it, a sort of scaffolding, which is used in the consfruetion
of an edifice, but useless the very moment that edifice, which
after all is but the work of mere childish hands and patiially
developed moral and intellectual facullies, is erected. i't is
rather the golden stair-way, by which we are to ascend, flight
after flight, until our eye shall have rested upon every object
of attraction, and our footstep have threaded· all the ,\iinding
labyrinths of the stupendous temple as yet above arid beyond us.
We would talk to you of the responsibilities ' vhich have just
begun, which meet you in every direction, now that you are
about to choose what position you will occupy in the society
you have entered-responsibilities which are the result of the
careful education you have already received, the j ust consequences of the toil and expense, already lavished upon your
intellectual and moral training- responsibilities, V:1 hich our
own better experience teaches us; are so little weighed and
appreciated by the young men· of this age and country.
You have received the rudiments of leurning~you have
pored with delight over the pages of the Greek and Latin
classics; and felt, as the prospect opened and expanded before
you, some slight kindlings of the more than magic influence
and power of those thoughts and deeds of grande ur. You
have been taught the beauty and propriety of a close, calm
and patient analysis of the philology of the languages, wherein
are stored up those rich choice gems of thought and feeling, of
more than the diamond sparkle and ruby solidity. You have
caught frvm the genius of your accomplished and consummate
Professor of Languages,* (whose n.{lme is identified with our
brightest recollections of this seat of learning, the only surviving
link that connects the past with the present,) the happy secret
of solving the many difficulties which meet' the aspiring student, every step he takes in the study of tlie ancients-and
you are now qualified to use with both skill and success those
invaluable instruments of learning.· You can read Demosthenes and Zenophon, Thucydides and Longinus, C icero and
Livy, in the languages they have immortalized, with some
nice appreciation of the bean ties that are lost to all,. but the
, Dr. Edward Sparks.
*Judge Tuck.
t Hon. A. Randall.
I
I
�8
ALUMNI AND STUDENTS OF ST. JOHNS.
AN ADDRESS, DELIVERED BEFORE THE
students of th~ 01~iginals. And to what end? Why, I · ask,
have you been thus carefully trained? Is it, can it be, that.
with nine-tenths of the educated young men of Columbia, you
may lay aside your grammars and the clasl'ics, the clavis to
which is nearly all that the most diligent and accomplished
graduate has obtained, and consign them to long years of neglect? Is it, can it be, that you may turn away from them as
1hough they were mere childish toys, designed to be the pastime
of boyhood? The academic groves, with their buds and blossoms, their refreshing shade and towering branches! suppose
you they were rneant to be trodden qnly by tottering footsteps
and viewed by half-closed eyelids, when you remember that
the spirits of Plato and Socrates are heard to whisper in every
breeze that wakes their undying melody! To so act and argue
is to forfeit the highest end of all sound education, and stultify
the yery guardians of your youth.
Our past education! what is it, but the beginning of a work,
which we are to carFy forward, and that too, in part, by the
use of the very instruments that were here employed. Not
simply pursuing, as we will have to do, the perplexing labyrinths of profes3ional life, or the not less difficult passes of mercantile and mechanic life, and expanding our powers of thought,
here but partially developed, by the acquisition of fresh practical
knowledge;-we must take along with us, as helps and assistancies, the very elements of our education, and out of them,
and with them, construct an edifice of general literature, which
\vill abide with us as long as we live, and open up for enjoyment and usefulness, fountains that can never run dry. The
use of their study at all, it seems to me, must of necessity imply
the wisdom and propriety of the prosec-ution of it to the close
life bt6od 6{the present onward march of human mind. They
are riow what they ever have been, the most powerful quickeners of thought, the most copious fountains of all that is grand
and august in eloquence anJ profound in mental phil~sophy.
The idea that the imaginative faculty is improved, while but
little.if any thipg is imparied to the vigor of the reasoning powers by this pleasing and fascinating study-that it is · rather a
beatitiful a!'1d elegant accomplishment, than a great practical
blessing to pi·actkal men, is libel upon the flncients. :Properly
studied, where the professci1•; is equal to the task and can lead
the ,inquisitive scholar into all the depths and heights of an
author's meaning, and thro~ the light of history and geography
upon the giound traversed, as you know is the preeminent
distinction·or' sL Johns, d~4re is no study which is more rich
in its infl.uenc~ upon all the powers of the human1 mind, the
reasoning, as the imaginative, than this. Like the.noble study
of the mathe1iia'.tics,·-it strengthens the understant'!:'ing, and developes the powers of concentration anc1 amplit~1de; while;at
the same time, it elevates and enlarges the imagination, and calls
into exercise those keen and delicate perceptions of the beauty
and force of sentiihent, and the copiousnesif and expressiveness
of language, which, like music tones, are th'e fosult of combined
skill and prac1ice: The mind learns in every faculty, ih this
noble department of the learning of tl:i~ schools. To find out
the meaning of ah author, what must be dorie by the earnest
and ambitious scholar? He must expose to a careful and rigid
analysis the words and thoughts, and in cases of difficulty he
must, by patient philological research and' deep reflection, catch
the scope of the argument and the analogy of the parts, each
to the other. Sometimes the itsus loquendi-'and the grammati·
cal construction will not of themselves suffice to determine the
sense ;~ and then the only mode left to elucidate the passage is
to dive deeper still into the au thor~s mind, and so study what
may be called his idiosyncracy of iritellect,·as from himself to
catch· the true image of his meaning. · Of course we are speaking now of the student, who studies to rnasler his a uthor, who
seeks·so to imbibe his spirit as to think with· his thoughts. And
when· from the books of the school, you' turn to the more difficult and philosophic writers, you ·will find· the intellectual exercise proportionably increased:
2
a
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of life.
And here it may not be unimportant to my argument, to
glance for a moment at the true uses of the classics, as a fundamental part of all sound education. Time was, when such
a discussion would have been deemed a work of supererogation . But the times are changed, and uot a few there are, '
who now boldly denounce the system, which assigns so important a position to the study of what are called the dead languages. Dead languages indeed!- Dead they are not, for
they live in all the literature ofthe world. They are the very
r
9
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�AN ADDRESS, DELIVERED BEFORE THE
ALUMNI AND STUDENTS OF ST. JOHNS.
And all this while, the student is imperceptibly acquiring
a more copious and exact knowledg·e of the beauty, flexibility
and singular copiousness of his own vernacular, and becoming
a more perfect niaster of the lucidus ordo and coherency, which
are the surest passports to immortality, as writers and as orators.
Thus taught the imagination becomes, what it ever should be,
the handmaid of reason; a burning mirror, that pictures the
argument on· the brain and leaves it thus, not a cold abstraction; but in living beauty, magnificence and power, the bright
reality it i~.
If this be a ' true and impartial estimate of this one branch of
human learning, (and I-select it from its sister branches because
it suits my purpose best,) does it not become us to bestow upon
it constant attention, such atter:ition as will qualify us to hold
easy nml profitable converse with the biost furnished minds of
antiquity? The work in the college building is not half accomplished. It i3 in reality, barely thoroughly begun. The
knowledge of the skilful use of the tools to work with, is nearly
all the knowledge we can acquire within the walls of our Alma
111.ater. The acquaintance which you, young brethren of the
Alumni, have formed with Dernosthenes and Cicero, Livy and
Xenophon, Virgil and Horner, and which has justly won for
you the degree this day conferred, will not satisfy the more
inquisitive curiosity and p1'ofound study of the future man.
Every fresh perusal will yield •you a harvest of beauties altogether new·. In history, philosophy, eloquence and poetry,
you will discover a field of boundie~s dimensions, travelled
over by your footsteps in youth, but without a discovery of the
luscious fruit that g1·ew upon-it, or the flowers that were bathed
in its tw licrht aews-and then the field will expand-and new
i 0
authors, of fragrant memory, altogether too abstruse for the
schools, but still eminently suggestive of lhe beautiful and the
useful, will invite the perusal of your more experienced and
ripened judgment. For the studies we prosecute here, in the
classics alone, open up before us a mngnificent vista extending
through long ages of thought, when giants were on the earth,
and years were devoted to the latest finish of their immortal
works; when the "labor lirnce et mora" of the poet, were practised, and men chose "materiam viribus .cequam." And I
would i111plore you, young genflemen, by the rich promise you
have this day given of your future career, to cultivate the iron
nerve and manly will, which will enable you to prove, that
you are worthy of the education you have received , and wide
awake to its deathless grandeur and glory, by weaving it into
your future, moral and intellectual being among men .
'I'he Greek an<l Latin languages are ours. Y ears of hard
study have ripened our knowledge of them, until they nre so
far .mastered by us, ae to make any further acquisition in th em,
a thing of comparative ease, provided we go on to acquire this
increasing familiai ity from the present moment. Begin now,
while tbe dew is upon your path, and the path ·will be rn10other
and lhe way pleasant. The motives to exertion are many and
powerful. Lift up your eyes and look upon the field that lies
spread out before you, in all the freshness and splendor of the
morning landscape. We confess, the sight of it brings pain
to us. vVe nre conscious, that through just such neglect as
we would, with g reat diffidence, caution you against, much of
it is to us as sterile as the sands of Arabia, though ind eed, in
and of itself, it is a very Goshen of delights. And it is in the
deep and burning shame of this consciousness of n eglect, and
the overwhelming sense of the loss sustained, that we would
now counsel you. The works of antiquity are the works we
would have you study, not once, but again and again-works
which h ave lived in the wreck of all other human things,
which were the fruit of the most painful toil aud wrought with
the indefatigable zeal and assiduous care of architects, who felt
that they were working for posterity; and who, in the greatness
of their souls resolved, that their work should n ever perish, but
endure as intellectual pyramids, in which their memories should
be embalmed, and on which their names shoutd be inscribed
in living letters, that no succeeding wave of time could possibly
wash out-works which it took a lifetime to complete, and
tasked the mightiest efforts of genius, enriched by centuries of
learning, to put into appropriate shape and form. There is
Homer, who first conceived, and then gave to the world, the
brilliant execution of the Epic Poem; the prince of poets,
who, though centuries removed from us, is still at th e very
apex of the column of fame by universal consent , followed by
the stupendous geniuses who have emulated his glory, and more
nearly approached by Milton , of the English tongue, than any
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AN ADDRESS, DELIVERED BEFORE
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otherof his rivals; and by him approached, because h«;: had
learn~d to drink of the Mreonidean fount . In the striking characters "introduced, each, like the picturings o.f Ra,phrel on the
glowing canvass, standing out in the bold contours ,of distinct
personality; in the almost infinite richness and variety of the
illustrations borrowed from nature, and like nature herself
beautiful or grand as the ,occasion required; in the rushing and
impetuous eloquence of ~he narrative, his poems will ever prove
a study w,orthy of the fu,ll powers of the fully <levdope,d man .
And then there is Herodotus the historian, whose imagination
is constant.ly pouring fo;~;h digressions in the g,:aceful flow of
1
his narrati~'e, of such singular beauty, that they are welcomed
(to use the. ,l anguage of ~ distinguis,hed scholar of Oxford) as
half-way ho~ses, where the wearied attention may be relieved,
a~d the fan.cy regaled. And then t.here is Thucydides, the
co~nterpart of Herodotus, the philosophic histpri<~m, of such
ra;·e impartiality, patience ~f' research and superiority over prejudice, that he could be trusted to ~rite of the things he saw;
whose work .proves him to be, notwithstanding the occasional
obscurity ~f his style, the theme of Cicero's ~i·iticism, not less
an orator, th~n an intellige~t narrator of facts, ~nd whose deep,
philosophic, dis,criminating .l'.ast of mind, is reflected in almost
every page of his imperishabl,e work. These all join to invite
our future study, and promise to repay it with the richest reward
that mi~d ~~n irnpm;t to mind. , I will not pause to . speak of
Demosthenes and Cicero, Virgil and Horace, Livy and Sallust,
Plato, and Socrates, who lives but in Plato, and the reminiscences of Xenophon. They are all before us. They all
claim to be our companions through life, to go forth with us
when we leave these halls, and .enrich us with the stores of their
accumulated learning. One hour of daily critical converse
with some one or other of them, we undertake to say, will
make us not less easy than delighted in their company.
It may be said, that we can have access to those noble productions of the scholars, who have rreceded us, and that
through their translations, we may, without toil and long fa_
tiguing labor, extract from them all the gold they contain.
The argument is preeminently weak in all its parts. "'l'rue it
is," (to use the language of one of the brightest lights of this
Western continent,) "these may be all now read in our ver-
ALUMNI AND STUDENTS OF ST. JOI-INS.
13
nacular tongue. But only as one rememl:iers the face of a
dead friend, by gathering up the ;broken fragments of his image-as one listens lo the tale of .a dream twice told-as one
catches the roar of the ocean in t:h.e ripple of .the rivulet-- as
one sees the blaze of noon in the first glimmer of twilight."
There is a fulness, freshneEs, idiomatic force and expressiveness in the original, which you well know n,o translator can
catch, no matter how deeply imbued he ,may be with the master spirit of the original. We are free to admit, that translations
are of singular advantage to .o.ur more advanc,ed study of the
ancients. ·They are accomplished criticisms; roost valuable
helps to in(ei:pretalion, and where not slavishly followed or received with ,blind credulity, they may, . ith .profit, be studied
w
and examined wi~h the originals, by those who hp.ve, for themselves, alre;ady mastered the philology and philosophy of the
languages. We ,are free to ad,mit that they a1;e .of inestimable
value to those, who, unfortunately, are ignorant .of the originals.
But oh! :who that is just beginning life, at the close of the
collegia\e ,career, with the balmy atrnosph,er.e and clustering
fruit of the academic groves all around him; i,n the midst of
the daz_,zling visions of the future, and the kind~ing enthusiasm
of the scliolaF-spirit within hi~n, would listen to such weak
counselling of ease and self indulgence; or s.uffer himself to be
misled and duped by an argurn,e nt so full of sophistry? Who,
in the freshness of life's early dawn, when hope is beating high,
and the first bu,ds of ancient lit.erature, a ros,e from P.arnassus,
or a myrtle from Mount Cy Ilene, are just bursting on , is sight,
h
could rest .contente,d with the rnere report of another, while it
was his own high privilege to go into those luxuriant gardens,
and pluck the flow.ers and the frujt that were ri10.st congenial
to the taste, and tempting to t. e sight? Moreover, the use of
h
translations alone would neµtruli~,e the whole benefit of the
intellectual training, which t)1,e study of the originals cannot
fail to bestow.
,
This critical study of the classics, ,continued from day to day,
all through life, is a thing of toil. It is work, work, every inch
of it; a mighty work, the constant struggle of mind with mind.
It is not, what some might be pleased to term it, "studium
otii." Not at all. It is work. But it is work which wilI
soon accommodate itself to the sinew and muscle, that are·
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AN ADDRESS , DELIVERED BEF'ORE THE
trained to constant exercise. It is work which will each day
become easier, until at last the very idea of labor will be swallowed up in that of rich enjoyment.
The notion that literature in its widest signification is of no
avail' or ralher, prejudicial to proficiency ia professional life, is
preposterous; and yet it is not without its advocates. Let the
profession be named, which can dispense, without l-0ss, with
sound ancient literature, and we yield the point without debate.
Passing by the profession of medicine and theology, let us take
for illustration the profession of the law. We honor it, because
it is noble . nd elevating. The recollection of its mighty masa
ter s.pirits is among the most vivid of our life's young being.
Its end is the triumph of juslice; its means, enlightened reason,
enriched with learning and radiant with eloquence; and its circumference of usefulness, wide as the bomidaries of civilization.
It makes every thing in the circle of nature, and of science, tributary to itself. It lays its hand upon every region in the
territory of thought, and appropriates its treasures to the defence
of innocence, and the maintenance of ·right. We speak of the
law as it should be; and we ask, what more befitting companions for the young men, who are preparing for the forum and
the courts of judicature, and aspiring to become the expounders
of the constitution and the laws, than Demosthenes and Cicero,
Herodotus and Thucydides, Plato and Aristotle? Does brilliancy diminish the solidity of the diamond? does the sparkle
on the ocean 'vave take from the depth of ocean? 1'he deepest
and profoundest study of the driest principles of the common
law may be carried on, aye, has been carried on, in the midst
of the critical study of the classics of Greece and Rome, not
only without detriment to proficiency, but with signal advantage to the depth and practical power of the advocate. Judge
Story, "dulce nmnen observatur ad aures," one of the most
accomplished jurists that ever presided over an American tribunal-the contemporary and equal of Marshall and Kent,
that proud triumvirate of American jurisprude.n ce-a name
never to be mentioned by the scholar without reverence-a
model of intellectual culture, that any young man might be
proud to imitate-whose learning was drawn from the most
erudite sources, and adorned with an eloquence that few may
hope to equal-Judge Story, speaking of the late distinguished
ALUMNI AND STUDENTS OF' ST. JOHNS.
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15
attorney general Legare of South Carolina, says: "That it is a
most singular circumstance, that eminence in general literature
should, in the public mind, detract trom a man's repiltatioll as
a lawyer. It is an unworthy prejudice, for certainly the science of juri3prudence may borrow, as well as receire ornament,
from the cultivation of all the other branches of human learning." And if there were wanting a practical illustration of
this most admirable criticism, 1here could not be desired ' 6h·e
more brilliant and conCl'usive than the patriot orator and elo"
quent jurist. For the depth of theil'legal knowledge was only
equalled by the richness and variety of their literary attainments;
I know that difficulties· throng the pathway I would recotnmend. Much easier is it to counsel than to execute. It is a
herculean task to blend a life of business with a life of study.
But surely he, who speaks in the presence of those who have
just won the high honors of their Alma Mater, and are panting
for still higher distinction, ;would be alike wantin<T to himself
b
and them, if he were to counsel self-indulgence or a criminal
sloth: Business, study, enterprise, the laudable ambi'tiou to
make the utmost of the powers we have, are the atmosphere of
this quiet retreat. Would yon have us, now. that the arena is
widening around you, and we have come back after long years
of separation, to lay our humble tribute of gratitude owthis
venerable shrine, and offer our congratulations to you ,' our
y;ounger brethren-I repeat, would you have us acknowledge
or recognize the existence of any other principle, than ·that of a
wholesome, continuous exertion? Wete we so unmindful· of
our dnty to ourselves and you, we should be put to the blush
by every sight and sound that meets the eye and ear. This is
an age· 0f eminent activity, onward is its truest definition: The
laggard 'is· without a type in the buzz of panting enterprise and
bolt! adventure-and he who would act his part, or fulfil his
mission, must be up and doing. Earnestness must be the very
element of the life he leads.
Beauties of nature cluster all · around u~. The mild, yet
majestic Severn, almost unrivalled in the clearness and liquid
beauty of its fl.ow, and the broad, bold Chesapeake, combine to
lend their enchantment to the scene that daily meet& your admiring view. There is something in a spot like this, of quiet
I
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AN Aii>DRESS, DELIVERED BEFORE THE
gra'n'deur and retired beautj, to indicate it an academic retreat.
Asfociations of power are all around us! Mighty men have
stootl, where we now stahi:I'! Still mightier deeds have been
enacted within sight of this venerable Institution. Strains of
eloquence, which might well rival the eloql.tence of Greece
and Rome, because fed · from their own exhaustless fountains,
and·kept by diligent culture in a copious and healthful flow, and
which have moved and swayed, as by irresistible impulse, the
hearts and minds of multitudes, found here the arena for their
first wondrous development. Great names overshadow us!
1'he spirits of the ]'fast seem to hover over this beautiful hall,
so long consecrated' to learning, and still radiant With its brightest beams ! They stJeak to us from the drooping bi.1t giant limbs
of yon majestic poplar, whic~ stands now, where" it stood a
century ago, in all' its pride; beneath whose fosteHng shade,
their souls were attuned to deeds and thoughts "of greatness.
1'he voice of one a:nd all combine to lend their sole"inn eloquence to this occasion, and point, with pec'uliar emphasis, to
that much neglected path we w'ould have you tread:
There is power in"the place, and power'in· the meh· to mbve
our every soul to action! If Cicero could· counsel Marcus, his
son, in those thrilling words, "Te abundare oportetpraxeptis
ALUMNI AND STUDENTS OF ST. JOHNS.
~
'
_, I
institutisque philosopliice propter summam' doctoris auctoritatem et urbis; quorum alter te scientia'augere potest, altera
exemplis," may we' not, in view of our Alma· Mater and· this
venerable city, once known by the name of the Modern Athens,
assert., that it behooves us to abound in all that can add dignity
to the intellect and· purity to the character, propter sumrnam
doctoris auctoritatem et urbis; quorum alter nos augere potest
altera exemplis. The shades of the illustrious dead are here
to enforce my feeble advocacy of this cause! Key, the poet
and the orator, who with that singular fortune which few others
posse~sed, save the Father of his country, actually inscribed his
name upon the floating stars·and stripes, so that it now floats triumphantly in every sea that is freighted with our commerce!Key, whose genius was not more conspicuous on Parnassus than
in the forum of debate !-the man, whose commanding talents
were all consecrated to virtue and to virtue's deeds, was accustomed· to spend, in the study of the classics, moments which
are 01'<.iinarily squandered by the young in vapid pleasures and
I\
17
senseless reveries. The fire of Homer and the grandeur of
Demosthenes were familiarized to his mind. He loved to linger, in the pride of his manly beauty, as when his sun went
down while it was yet day, on .classic ground . And never
shall I forget the music tones of his voice, as, a short time before
his death, lie repeated one of the Latin Psalms of Buchanan,
and in a strain of rich criticism, dwelling upon its beauties,
pronounced it, in the softness of its fl.ow and the purity of its
diction, to be not unworthy the latinily of the Ciceronian age.
MuJray, Key's bosom companion, not less lovely in his life
and death, who might have transmitted his own chivalrous
and heroic spirit to our gallant Navy, and identified himself
with its rising glory-that Navy which has given to this beautiful city another institution of learning, which , under its preser).t admirable disciplii1e and distinguished corps of Professors,
is sending forth officers worthy of our national character; who
will be.a r the olive branch of peace for their country's glory,
and if need require, wake again those mighty thunders which
have made the names of P erry and Hull, D ecatur and Bainbridge, the terror of the seas. I repeat, Murray, who might
have identified himself with the rising glory of the Navy, had
he not chosen rather the life of the private christian gentleman,
was a ripe scholar, perfectly at home on Roman and Grecian
ground. Shaw too was a scholar; but alas ! he died too young
to give more than the opening bud of that scholarship to the
country; and that bud yet lives in freshness and in beauty here
in the garden of his youthful training.
Time would fail me to name all the sons (some of whom
were lumina eloquentice) of whom Maryland m ay be justly
proud, whose eloquence, thoug h now a by-gone tradition, has
left an echo behind, that still makes vocal your halls of legislation and courts of judicature-who have won a world-wide
fame, and the most illustrious of whom were earnest students
in the path we have pointed out- your exemplars and mine,
brethren of the Alumni, in all that can give dignity to human
attainments, and might and majesty to human eloquence .
These were not mere dependents on genius, however brilliant.
They were hard-working, laborious, earnest-minded men, who
well knew that those who would be principes inter pares, a,nd
3
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f
�18
AN ADDRESS, DELIVERED BEFORE THE
leave their impress upon the age, must do it by u steady application of mind to the pursuits of learning.
It is said that Boston is eloquent in incident anu association;
and he must be dead to the beauty and power of all that is rich
in incident and thrilling in circumstance, who does not concede
the justice of the high euloguim. But Euston is not a whit
more eloquent in those mighty springs of human action, than
Annapolis. If the tea exploit of the one wakes the patriot bosom of her youth to high enthusiasm; the other boasts of u like
illustrious exploit. If Washington blew the first bugle blast of
freedom 011 Boston heights, and unsheathed beneath the old
American Elm the sword that was to win his country's freedom-it was in Annapolis he returned it to 'its scabbard without
one dishonoring stain upon it, when that country's freedom
was achievecl. Oh then, do you not see, that he who would
address you on an occasion like the present, rn ust sink his own
personal insignificance in the glory and grandeur that every
where surround him! "The past is secure."-It can never
perish.-It is written on the page of history.
When that page is closed and men cease to read it ·with delight, then, indeed, will national exaltation be a dream and
freedom live but in name.
Young gentlemen, when you step from this platform and
turn to receive the warm greetings of your friends, who have
witnessed with not less pride than pleasure the triumphs of
your toil and skill-you will have passed the gulf that separates
boyhood from manhood. Henceforth you will have to be the
architects of your own future renown. Obstacles, which it is
no part of wisdom to diminish or conceal, will confront you
from the start. You must grapple with them like men. The
, pathway of eminence is literally strewed with difficulties, and
as you traverse it you will find it illuminated with a halo of
glory-and while your in experienced zeal may well quake
and tremble at their magnitude and seeming invincibility, there
will come up from the abysses of the past many voices to stimulate and encourage you, by recalling· to mind those mighty
triumphs, the achievement of which the pen of history has
already immortalized. · Those difficulties have all been vanquished, and you may henceforth regard them only as so many
trophies of a battle fought and won . Temptations to in<lolence
�
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
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Commencement Programs and Addresses
Coverage
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Annapolis, MD
Contributor
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St. John's College Greenfield Library
Description
An account of the resource
Addresses given at commencement and programs of events related to, and including, the annual commencement ceremonies at St. John's College. Includes both the undergraduate and Graduate Institute commencements. <br /><br />The College Archives holds programs and/or addresses for the following years:<br />
<ul>
<li>1796</li>
<li>1835-1836</li>
<li>1842</li>
<li>1852</li>
<li>1856-1857</li>
<li>1870</li>
<li>1878</li>
<li>1880</li>
<li>1890</li>
<li>1893</li>
<li>1895</li>
<li>1897</li>
<li>1907</li>
<li>1910-1918</li>
<li>1920-1924</li>
<li>1928-1929</li>
<li>1932</li>
<li>1936-1937</li>
<li>1939-1945</li>
<li>1947-present </li>
</ul>
Click on <strong><a title="Commencement Programs and Addresses" href="http://digitalarchives.sjc.edu/items/browse?collection=18&sort_field=Dublin+Core%2CDate&sort_dir=d">Items in the Commencement Programs and Addresses Collection</a></strong> to view and sort all items in the collection.
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commencementprograms
Text
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paper
Page numeration
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18 pages (Incomplete)
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Commencement Address, 1852 (Incomplete)
Description
An account of the resource
An address delivered before the alumni and students of St. Johns. On the 23rd February, 1852. By the Rev. William Pinkney. (Incomplete)
Creator
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Pinkney, William, 1810-1883
Publisher
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Robert F. Bonsall, Printer
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Annapolis, MD
Date
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1852-02-23
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text
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pdf
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English
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Commencement Address by Rev. William Pinkney (Incomplete) 1852-02-23
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<a title="Commencement Program" href="http://digitalarchives.sjc.edu/items/show/3622">Commencement Program</a>
Commencement
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(
ACCOUNT
OF
THE COMMENCEMENT
OF
ST. JOHN'S COLLEGE,
ANNAPOLIS,
AND THE ATTENDAN'l' EXERCISES ,
February 23d, 1852,
W ITH A LIST OF THE GRADUATES .
BALTIMORE:
P RI N T E D RY S A N DS & M I LLS,
No. 1 Jarvis Building.
1852.
'I
�•
SOME ACCOUNT
OF
THE COMMENCEMENT
OJ'
ST. JOHN'S COLLEGE,
ANNAPOLIS ,
AND THE ATTENDANT EXE R CISES ,
February 23d, 1852,
WITH A LIST OF THE GR A DUATES.
BALTIMORE :
PRI N TED BY SANDS & M ILLS,
No. I Jarvis Building.
1852.
�COMM~ENCEMENT.
THE Commencement of ST. JoHN ' s CoLLEGE for the
year 1852, was held on Monday, the 23rd of February, in
the Hall of the College. The following account of it, and of
the attendant exercises, has been prepared, and a limited
number of copies printed, at the instance of a few of the
Alumni, for more convenient preservation. A list of the Graduates is also appended. The object of the publication is to
revive among the Alumni a stronger interest in behalf of their
Alma Mater; by promoting a better acquaintance, and strengthening the bond of brotherhood, among her sons; by inducing
a larger attendance at her Annual Commencements; and inciting to a more zealous co-operation and more efficient measures to advance her welfare.
On Sunday, the 22nd, the Baccalaureate sermon was
preached by the Rev. Dr. Humphreys, the President of the
College, from the text, Eccles. V., 10-" He that loveth silver, shall not be satisfied with silver." This discourse was
an exceedingly able and impressive one; its earnest and forcible admonitions, especially those directed against some of the
more -prominent evils of the day, are calculated to exert a
timely and salutary influence ; and we trust that its learned
author will yield to the special request of the Alumni, and the
very general desire for its publication.
At Commencement, after the usual opening Prayer by the
·President, the following was the order of exercises, enlivened
by music between the parts, from an excellent Band:
I. 0RATION--,-Chivalry-with the Salutatory Address in Latin, by WILLIAM SPRIGG HALL.
II . ORATION-The Issue of the Nineteenth Century, by
JAMES IGLEHART, Jr.
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5
III. OR~TION-The .Pleasures and Enjoyments connected
with the Pursmt of Science, by WILLIAM SAUNDERS
GREEN.
IV. ORATION-Dramatic Literature, by J. PINKNEY SPARKS.*
V. ORATION-Fancy versus Fact, by THOMAS J. WILSON,
Esq., a candidate for the Degree of Master of Arts.
VI. ORATION-Genius, its Responsibilities and Rewardswith the Valedictory Address, by CHARLES BREWER.
'rhe degree of A. B. was then conferred upon the above
named graduates ; and that of Master of Arts upon Thomas
J. Wilson, James Mackubin, Wm. Q. Claytor, John Ridout,
Harwood Iglehart, Thomas B. Chase, E. L. Foote, Wm. T.
Claude, Wm. H. McParlin, J. H. Franklin, and J. Revell;
graduates of previous classes. The honorary degree of A. M.
on Dr. Wm. Sands, Dr. Wm. B. Duvall, and Dr. Marius
Duvall, U. S. N. The orations were well written, and delivered with propriety and spirit. The address before the
Alumni, an eloquent and appropriate production, was delivered by the Rev. Wm. Pinkney, A. M., and will be printed.
A large meeting of the Alumni, with some of the Trustees
and Faculty, was held in the evening, in the College Library,
at which his Excellency, Gov. Lowe, presided- when various
measures for promoting the interests of the institution, were
proposed and discussed with earnestness and zeal. These
were referred to different committees to carry into effect the
views of the meeting. After adjournment the meeting, with
other invited guests, proceeded to the large room above the library, where an elegant and substantial supper awaited them,
upon tables encircling three sides of the room, and reflecting
great credit upon the Committee of Arrangements, Joseph H.
Nicholson, Thomas Karney and Frank H. Stockett, Esqs.
In discussing the substantialities of the table, "the feast of
reason,''. was not wholly forgotten, and many good things
were said, as well as swallowed. The first toast, "THE MEMORY OF WASHINGTON," was proposed by Gov. Lowe, preceded by brief but eloquent and impressive remarks, in which
he urged the duty of American citizens especially on that day,
_o recall the man, his example and his teachings, and to do
t
fitting honor to his character and virtues.
The health of the President of the United States, was
drank with respect and cordiality.
Gov. Lowe was again called out by a complimentary toast
from Col. Nicholson, and was exceedingly happy in acknowledgment. He referred to the peculiarity of his position, as
the first Governor under the new constitution of the State, and
the difficulties inseparable from the administration of the government under such circumstances. He declared, however,
that he derived confidence and satisfaction from the assurance
that the agents chosen to aid him in their respective departments, were so well qualified and able; especially in the Judiciary, which was so well represented that night by a gentleman, who, standing at that moment under the proud eye of
his Alma Mater, might look up with conscious pride and confidence for her approval, as he came to her Annual Festival,
to lay upon her altar the successive honors that he had won
since he went forth from her halls.
Judge Wm. H. Tuck, of the Court of Appeals, thus happily alluded to, responded in modest but becoming terms,
disclaiming the appropriation to himself of the flattering language of the Governor ,- and concluding some reference to
the earlier days of the College, with the sentiment, "The
early Alumni of St. John's- while we reverence their memories, let us emulate their virtues." Dr. Abram Claude, with
some remarks complimentary to a portion of the invited guests,
proposed the toast, "The Naval Academy and the Officers of
the Navy- we rtjoice at the presence of the.first at Annapolis,
and of its representatives at our Festival." Professor Wm.
Chauvenet, of the Naval Academy, responded, in behalf of
his associates, in an exceedingly sensible and appropriate
speech, in which he alluded very happily to the relations of
sympathy between the school that he represented and St.
John's College. They were kindred institutions- the one
for the cultivation of those capacities which fitted men to fulfil
"Excused from speaking.
(.
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7
.their mission by performing well all the duties of life, as involved in the relations of home and country, the fireside and
the social circle;-the other, by developing those sterner qualities of energy, courage, hardihood and endurance, to prepare
those subjected to its discipline to become the efficient guardians and protectors of the rest. After expanding this thought
in a strain of forcible illustration, he concluded with the toast,
"Education, Academic and Military-kindred in aim and
object- the one to fit men to become good citizens at home,
the other to defend the interests and honor of their countiy
abroad."
John G. Proud, Jr., Esq., of Baltimore, being called
upon to represent the later graduates of the College, spoke as
follows:
I beg leave, Brothers of the Alumni, to occupy your attention for a few moments, with a theme which I am sure will
find a responsive chord in the breast of eve1y son of St.
John's.
Reverence for the past is a wise, a salutaiy sentiment; one
which it becomes us well to cherish, especially in this our
country, and this our time, when the tendencies are unhappily too much to forget the admonitions of age, and even the
teachings of experience. Still we may carry the feeling too
far, and I have thought that we of St. John's, were rather
prone to dwell upon, and to rest upon, the reputation of former days, and perhaps to exaggerate it, forgetful alike of the
obligations of the present and the demands of the future. In
the history of our Alma Mater, let us continue to cherish the
memory of her earlier sons-not so much to be-praise them
with studied eulogy as to emulate their virtues.
But I would invoke the sentiment of reverence for what is
ancient and time honored, in behalf of an old familiar friend
-which, although neither human nor animal, is yet so identified with the recollections and regards of eve1y son of St.
John's, as to have almost obtained in his mind a real and
sentient personality. I mean the Old Poplar of the College
Green, the tutelar Tree of our Alma Mater. And there is
nothi'ng incongruous, nothing repugnant to our nature in this
regard. For in every age of the world, there seems to have
existed an instinctive reverence for trees-from the sacred
groves of Athens and Sparta, to the Druidical oaks of ancient
Britain. I shall not, however- I need not multiply examples. But in our own land, what thronging associations cluster, like evergreen vines, around the memory of old historic
trees! Who has not heard of the Charter Oak of Hartford, or
the Treaty Elm of William Penn? How often has the young
American pilgrim,' standing in the shade of some one of these
venerated relics of the past, caught something of the spirit of
the place, and felt his breast glow with new and purer patriotism! But more than these-more than all beside,-the
stately forest trees that adorn the lawns of Mount Vernon,
many of which were planted by his hand, whose name is in
every heart that hears me, and needs no tongue to give it utterance; and beneath ·whose shade that majestic form so often
reposed.
Who that has visited that spot, which the mem01y of his
heroic life and virtuous fame has consecrated as one of the
sacred shrines of earth- who that has stood beneath the dense
shadow of those solemn trees, but has felt some strange, mysterious intluence shed down upon him from their dark foliage,
i( fusing around him a purer atmosphere-filling his soul
with loftier aspirations, and quickening every pulse of his nature into a livelier sympathy with the good, the noble, and
the true? It would seem as though the spirit that once moved
there in bodily form, still lingered, though unseen, around
those sacred trees, and breathed a holier influence on all who
approached the spot.
But to return from these objects of national and historic
interest, to one having a more direct and personal relation to
ourselves, I beg leave to continue what I have to say about
our own familiar tree in a form, hardly deserving the dignity,
of Ode or Poem, to the impelfections of which I must ask
your kind indulgence. Its design is simply to touch a chord
of sympathy in your hearts, my brothers of the Alumni; a. d
n
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from you, at least, the subject and the occasion will secure an
indulgent 'criticism.
THE
OLD. POPLAR TREE.
" Wise with the lore of centuries,
What tales, if there be tongues in trees,
Those giant oaks could tell ! "-Halleck.
Come, Brothers Alumni, and listen to me ;I'll tell you a tale of the Old Poplar Trne.
The Old Poplar Tree was the green forest 's prideHis roots he struck deep, and his arms he spread wide,
And frosts and the tempest for ages defied.
For ages roll'd on, and the past became dim,
But Time laid his rough hand but lightly on him,
And spared the Old Monarch, so gnarled and grim.
And lo ! as he waves his majestic, tall head,
Dim shades, from the past, of the long buried dead,
Rise, thronging to life, with slow stately tread !
Hark ! he would speak ! 'tis a voice from the past,
Borne, like a sigh, on the breast of the blast,Fainter and fainter, it grows to the last.
" I am one of a race of brave forest trees,
That battled for ages, the storm and the breeze ·!
Year after year, 'neath the touch of decay,
They fell, one by one; and, passing away,
Left me still lingering, alone, and the last,
With memories full of the shadowy past.
In days of my youth, with my friends by my side,
The swift-footed Elk, with his antlers of pride,
And Buffalo, strong in the might of his mane,
Rov'd, tameless and free, over hill-side and plain.
9
Then was the Red man the lord of the soil,
Harden'd to suffer, but scorning base toil ; Eager to start on the war-path or chase,
With scalps of his foes his wigwam to grace.
How oft, in seclusion of my friendly shade,
The bold Indian lover has woo'd his brown maid!
How oft, when the war-dance has call'd to the fight,
The Council fire gleam'd midst the gloom of the night!
Or, buried the hatchet, all drippi~g and wet,
The blue smoke has curl 'd from the peace calumet !
But across the great waters the White man came,
W ith an arm of might, and a sword of flame ;And the Red men shrank to a shadowy band,
And faded away from their Father-land.
The race of the Saxon fast peopled the plain,
And the sails of their commerce whitened the main ;
And the murderous axe, with pitiless blow,
Laid, one by one, all my stout coimades low,
And let in the sun,1 at the early morn,
On the cultur'd field, and the waving corn;
Where the toils of peace, and the arts of taste,
Gladden'd the wild, and blossom'd the waste.
But the Halcyon folded his peace-laden wing,
And the winds, o'er the waves, the storm shadows bring;
For the tribute ship from the oppressor 's shore,
The odious freight in defiance bore.
But the lurid flames of the burning bark *
Shot through the land an electric spark:And a gallant band, 'neath my spreading shade,
Rais'd a star-gem 'd flag, and drew the bright blade
Which they swore not to sh eathe, when the strife was begun,
Till Liberty's battle was gloriously won!
Loud rang the stern alarmLong and deadly was the fight:"Note a.
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10
But oh! it was a goodly sight,
"When Freedom, from his mountain height,"
Buckling his youthful armor on,
Grappled with old Oppression's arm,
"And battled for the right!"
The conflict was over-and Peace smil'd again,
And with Freedom, triumphant, divided the reign;
And pour'd o'er the land a beneficent train
Of blessings unnumber'd, sent down from above,
To gladden all hearts with contentment and love.
'Twas then at my feet , that the fair Temple rose,
Whose foundations were laid by the pride of our foes; t
A Temple, of science and virtue the shrine,
Where the laurel and myrtle so gracefully twine.
Where the long, honor'cl line, St. John's, of thy sons,
From a fountain perennial unceasingly runs:
Whence thy children, sent forth on the world's strugglingwave,
Return back, in honors, the honors you gave.
Oh! well may I claim in your triumphs to share;
Since each of the sons of your fostering care,
Or seeking relief from the noon's sultry sun,
Or at soft eventide when the clay's task was clone,
Has in tum, hail'd the shade of the Old Poplar Tree,
And raised his young eyes with affection to me!
And late, when the flames raged fierce at my heart,!
And the life-sap, fast dried, seem'd about to depart,
Kind friends gather'd round me and labor'd to save
The Old Poplar Tree from a premature grave.
Nor affection, nor toil the ruin had stay'd,
When Science, invoked, came swift to my aidJust breath'd on the flames, curling wildly on high,
Then left them, o'er mastered and shrinking, to die.
And now, that decay is remov'd from the core,
Fresh streams of new sap through my aged trunk pour,
And renew, in my limbs, the vigor of youth,
As springs) from its ashes, the Phamix of Truth.
But time will yet come when I too must decayMust pass, from the green earth, forever away!
Then remember me kindly for what I have beenFor the long, buried ages, and changes I've seenThe Old Poplar Tree, of the old College Green!
The following Impromptu lines by another Graduate of
the College were suggested by reading the preceding Poem :
SONNET:
BY
AN
OLD
ALUMNUS.
Well hast thou sung, 0 friend, in kindling strain,
Of thoughts that gird our brave old Poplar-tree ;
Thronging like bees that Spring sends not in vain;
Its corols of their honied clew to free :
Wearing all forms, (some that distinctest be~
Some, dim in airy distance of long years;)
Of all who ever 'neath its shadow dreamed
In opening life-of all their hopes and fears!
There cluster nvy dreams, too; yet ever seemed
Amid the groups its ample sward scarce bears,
To my eyes ·erst, one, first, pre-eminent;
Where, over earnest faces strongly gleamed
The fire-light of a foreign herb whose scent,
As patriot-incense, Heavenward from the old ttee went!
tNoteb. tNotec.
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To complete the record of mementos connected with this
interesting object, we also append the lines of DR. JoHN
SHAw one of the earliest and most distinguished of the
'
Alumni of St. John's,-which are to be found in a volume
of his Poems published in the year 1810. The sonhet was
probably written some years before.
SONNET.
BY
DR.
SHAW.
Thee, ancient Tree, autumnal storms assail,
Thy shatter'd branches spread the sound afar;
Thy tall head bows before the rising gale,
Thy pale leaf flits along the troubled air.
No more thou boastest of thy vernal bloom,
Thy wither'd foliage glads the eye no more;
Yet ~till thy presence and thy lonely gloom
A secret pleasure to my soul restore.
For round thy trunk my careless childhood stray'd
When fancy led me cheerful o'er the green,
And· many a frolic feat beneath thy shade
Far distant days and other suns have seen.
Fond recollection kindles at the view,
And acts each long departed scene anew.
NOTES.
(a) The patriotism of the Whigs of Annapolis surpassed even that of their
brethren of Boston. Not content with destroying "the detestable weed,"
as they indignantly called the tea, they caused the ship that brought it to be
burnt-and that deliberately, in open day, and undisguised;- making the
offending consignees the unwilling instruments of their own punishment.
(McMahon: page 408, &c.) A friend with a taste for antiquarian pursuits, affirms the tradition that the tea was unshipped, and piled 'up and
burnt at the foot of the Old Tree. Ali accounts agree that the owners or
consignees were compelled to apply the torch with their own hands.
(b) The old hall of the College was begun on its present foundation by
Robert Eden, last Colonial Governor, for his own residence. It remained
unfinished during the Revolution, and obtained the expressive name of "the
Governor's Folly. "
( c) The allusion will be readily understood by every inhabitant of Annapolis. The origin of the fire was accidental, but very singular. Some
boys were firing a little cannon on the north side of the Tree, where there
was then no apparent opening- when they were suddenly startled by the
bursting forth of the flames, supposed to have been caused by a spark from
their miniature artillery, falling through some unnoticed aperture, among
the dry leaves within. The fire soon caught the dead wood that lined its
ample hollow, raging violently inside, and from the difficulty of reaching
it, defying for a long time the efforts to extinguish it of a large part of the
male population of Annapolis, whom solicitude for its safety haC! drawn to
the spot. lt was at last subdued by the fumes of Sulphur, applied by Dr.
Humphreys, the President of the College. So far from having injured the
tree, the fire seems to have only burnt away its decay, and renovated its
vigor-presenting now a chari·ed surface on the interior.
It is gratifying to learn, in connexion with this object of strong, and more
than local interest, that Dr. Humphreys designs to apply fresh earth to itfi
roots, in hopes of prolonging its life.
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Reverdy Johnson,
George Mackubin,
John Mercer,
Henry Maynadier Murray,
Lewis Neth,
William E. Pinkney,
Francis Reid,
Samuel C. Thomas.
1810.
i John Johnson,
Thomas Randall,
• John Ridout.
1811.
John Gwynne,
John Marbury,
Addison Ridout.
1821.
John Carville Howard,
+ Alexander Randall.
1827.
1 John Henry Alexander,
Thomas Archer,
.., William Harwood,
Ezekiel Hughes,
William Pinkney,
William H. Tuck.
1829.
John Archer,
Hyde Ray Bowie,
James Boyle,
+ Daniel Clarke,
... Robert Emmett Culbreth,
1 John Hardcastle Culbreth,
Thomas John Franklin,
John Randall Hagner
Ellis Hughes,
'
Thomas Karney,
Edward Pannell,
N~nian Pinkney,
Nicholas John Watkins.
1832.
James Sands Holland,
James William Thompson.
1834.
Orlando Hutton,
John Greene Proud, Jr.
1
LIST OF THE GRADUATES
OF
ST. JOHN'S COLLEGE.
... John Claude,
CLASS OF 1790.
;- William Donaldson,
-+ William Davidson,
, Alexander Hammett,
-l- Thomas Drysdale.
.. William Horsey,
1792.
... William Potts,
--+- William Long.
... John Hanson Thomas,
1793.
.. Janies West.
-1 Charles Alexander,
1799.
+ John Addison Carr,
John Frederick Colson,
+ Christopher Harrison.
--+ Thomas Beale Dorsey,
1794.
1- Walter Farnanclis,
+ Thomas Chase,
Christian H. Grammer,
' John Duckett,
James S. Grant,
+ Richard Harwood,
Thomas Rogers,
+ John Holliday,
Robert C. Stone,
+John Contee Herbert,
David Hqffman.
+Alexander C. Magruder,
1800.
+Jacob Tschudy.
James Boyle,
1796.
Richard Brown,
- --+ William Cooke,
David R. Geddes,
..i. Robert Henry Goldsborough,
John Saunders.
+ Francis Scott Key,
1802.
Samuel Maynard,
Richard Loockerman,
Daniel Murray,
A. F. A. Marye,
Charles Retallick,
- - , James Murray,
William Pinkney,
Jesse Hyde Ray.
John Shaw,
1804.
Abraliani Usher,
1 Nicholas Carroll,
Cariysle F. Whiting.
Upton Scott Reid,
1797.
Polydore O'Reilly,
John Leeds Kerr,
George Wilmot,
John Tayloe Lomax,
John L. Wilson,
"" Robert Y. Goldsborough,
Christopher Hughes .
~ James Lowry Donaldson,
1806.
• John Rumsey,
\ Thomas John Brice,
• Leslie Stewart.
-1 John Guyer,
1798.
James Harwood,
'" William Campbell,
+ Lucien Bonaparte Wright.
1835.
Edwin Boyle,
Abraham Claude,
Richard Culbreth,
T~1omas Holme Hagner,
Richard C. Mackubin.
1836.
George Grundy,
Thomas Granger
William R. Ha~ard,
George Johnson,
Joshua Dorsey Johnson,
Edward Muse,
George H. Reeder,
William 0. Reeder,
William Henry Thomas
Franklin Weems,
'
Nicholas Brice Worthington.
1837.
John M. Brome,
Frederick S. Brown,
John W. Martin,
Joseph Trapnell,
Trueman Tyler.
1838.
William Tell Claude,
Savington W. Crampton,
Henry H. Goldsborough,
Charles N. Mackubin
William Henry Thodipson
William Henry_ Trapnell, '
Edward W orthmgton.
1839.
Samuel Chamberlaine,
Philip Culbreth,
Wm. Henry Gough Dorsey,
John Thos. Beale Dorsey
Worthington Ross,
'
Frederick Stone,
Brice T. B. Worthington,
Brice John Worthington.
1840.
John M. Brewer,
Benjamin F. Bohrer,
-+ Jeremiah L. Hughes,
�16
Thomas W. Winchester.
1841.
Luther Giddings,
William Giddings,
Daniel M. Henry,
George Stephen Humphreys,
Francis Henry Stockett.
1842.
John Basil,
George Betton,
Jonathan Pinkney Hammond,
Samuel Ridout.
1844.
Llewellyn Boyle,
Alexander H. Gambrill,
John 'Thomas Hall,
James Kemp Harwood,
Thomas A. McParlin,
Basil S. Murdoch,
Henry Maynadier Murray,
John Shaaff Stockett,
William, H. Young.
1846.
Nicholas Brewer, Jr.
Marbury Brewer,
Richard H. Cowman,
John Decker, Jr.
Daniel Murray Thomas,
1847.
Robert Chandler,
Elizur Lancel Foote,
John R. P. Forbes,
James Shaw Franklin,
William H. McParlin,
John Mullan.
1849.
Thomas B. Chase,
William Q. Claytor,
Harwood Iglehart,
James Mackubin,
James Revell,
John Ridout,
Thos. Jones Wilson.
1850.
Dennis Claude, 3d
John McMahon Holland,
Thomas Richard Stockett.
1852.
Charles Brewer,
William Saunders Green,
William Sprigg Hall,
James Iglehart, Jr.
Jonathan Pinkney Sparks.
Those in Italics Eng. Dip.
HONORARY DEGREES.
1827.
Theodorick Bland, Chancellor of Maryland, LL.D.
Sylvanus Thayer, U. S. A.,
LL.D.
1834.
Nathan C. Brooks, A. M.
1836.
Rev'd. Henry Elwell, A. M.
Rev'd. David F. Schaeffer,
D.D.
1839.
Rev'd. Joseph Wolff, D. D.
1840.
Rev'd George F. Worthington, A. M.
Edward Hazen, A. M.
1841.
Rt. Rev'd. George Washington Doane, Bishop of New
Jersey, LL.D.
1844.
John Tayloe Lomax, Judge
of Court, Va., LL.D.
1850.
Rev'd. Gordon Winslow, D.
D.
Rev'd. Edward J. Stearns,
A.M.
1852.
Dr. William Sands, A. M.
Dr. Wm. W. Duvall, A. M.
Dr. Marius Duvall; A. M.
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Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Commencement Programs and Addresses
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Annapolis, MD
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
St. John's College Greenfield Library
Description
An account of the resource
Addresses given at commencement and programs of events related to, and including, the annual commencement ceremonies at St. John's College. Includes both the undergraduate and Graduate Institute commencements. <br /><br />The College Archives holds programs and/or addresses for the following years:<br />
<ul>
<li>1796</li>
<li>1835-1836</li>
<li>1842</li>
<li>1852</li>
<li>1856-1857</li>
<li>1870</li>
<li>1878</li>
<li>1880</li>
<li>1890</li>
<li>1893</li>
<li>1895</li>
<li>1897</li>
<li>1907</li>
<li>1910-1918</li>
<li>1920-1924</li>
<li>1928-1929</li>
<li>1932</li>
<li>1936-1937</li>
<li>1939-1945</li>
<li>1947-present </li>
</ul>
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commencementprograms
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Commencement Program, 1852
Description
An account of the resource
Some account of the commencement of St. John's College, Annapolis, and the attendant exercises, February 23rd, 1852, with a list of the graduates. Also includes a handwritten poem "by a non-graduate".
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St. John's College
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Sands & Mills
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Baltimore, MD
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1852-02-23
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St. John's College owns the rights to this publication.
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text
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pdf
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<a title="Commencement Address" href="http://digitalarchives.sjc.edu/items/show/3621">Commencement Address</a>
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English
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Some Account of the Commencement (with handwritten poem) 1852-02-23
Commencement
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https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/sjcdigitalarchives/original/d3101a4674e64b39796429af20a511dd.pdf
f573fd9d249f66383778a61790c648f0
PDF Text
Text
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\.
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m~ -----
~~~~
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AN ADDRESS
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DEMVERED BEFORE THE
1l£Jetoriation of tgi i1umni
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OF
ST. JOHN'S COLLEGE,
ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND,
AT THE ANNUAL COMMENCEMENT, AUGUST 6TH., 1856.
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ANNAPOLIS:
ROBERT F. BONSALL, PRINTER,
!".,$
!)~
~~'!
1856.
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�AN ADDRESS .
DELIVERED BEFORE THE
§tssatiatinn nf tut §llnmni
OF
JOH~ i S
ST.
COLLEGE,
ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND.
ANNAPOLIS:
ROBERT F . BONSALL, PRINTER ,
1856.
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f.
�CORRESPONDENCE.
ANNAPOLIS, Jlugust 9th, 1856.
For REv. DR. TREVETT, Professor, &c., &c.
Rev. and dear Sir:
It affords the Committee, of which I am the organ, much gratification to execute the "Resoltition" of the A lumni of St. John's College, by presenting you with their thanks, for your able and learned ADDRESS, delivered, at the late CoMMENCEMEN r , in the College Hall;- and by requesting of
you, in their behalf, a copy thereof for publication .
The Committee sincerely hope this gratification of theirs will be enhanced
by your compliance with th is request ; and thus extend to their absent brethren, and to the p ublic generally, the pleasure and instruction its perusal
w ill impart.
With great respect, I am,
Your obd't sen't,
A. RANDALL, FOil
N. BREWER, JR.,
J. G. CHAPMAN,
and himself.
NoRTH SALEM, Westchester Co., N . Y.,
Jlugust 13th, 1856.
Dear Sir:
I received your letter forwarded to this place. I am much obliged
to my brethren of the ALUMNI for their favorable opinion of my Jlddressand to you , and the other members of the Committee, for your expression
of the same- and w ill not set up my judgment against theirs, in regard to
publication . I have given directions that the copy used at COMMENCEMENT
should be placed in your hands ; ·and must conclude, by subscribing myself,
Yours, with great respect ,
RUSSELL TREVETT•
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�ADDRESS .
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN :
It is my privilege to address you this day in connection with
the first commencement of this venerable College under its
reorganized institution. I have had but little difficulty in
selecting a theme suited to the occasion, for duty and inclina ·
tion unite in the choice of one, to which I would respectfully
ask the attention of this . audience for a few moments. I
appear before you as the incumbent of the chair of instruction
in the ancient classical languages of Greece and Rome . For
ages these have formed a very prominent part in every course
of education professing to be liberal. The title, Professor of
Humanity, or of the Humanities, indicates the high place of
old assigned to this department; yet now it is frequently and
emphatically denied that Latin and Greek should be made
indispensable to the attainment of collegiate degrees. The
utility of the study, it is often asserted, is by no means equal
to the time, and labor, and expense required. 'fhere is an
increasing disposition to make the classics an optional branch;
and even where this is not done, they are crowded into so
narrow a compass, to make room for other more popular
·studies, that it may be doubted whether the full benefits of
classical training can be acquired. Other branches of learning
and science are not refused their due claims, and the reason
is very plain:-their advantages every one can, in some degree, appreciate. All understand how it may be a valuable
acquisition to be able to speak or to read the French , or the
German, or the Spanish. All interested in agriculture, or the
arts or manufactures, can recognize in some _
measure, however small, the bearing of chemistry and natural philosophy
upon their advancement. Mathematical science, as the basis
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of those great niechanical laws which have given birth to the
railroad , the steamboat, the electric telegraph, and many more
of the numberless conveniences and improvements of modern
civilization, vindicates its own claims. The philosophy of
mind , and the principles of political economy and · kindred
sciences, are generally, perhaps universally, acknowledged to
be proper subj ects for youthful study. But why spend so
much time upon the lal)guages of nations long since dead and
passed away? Why perplex the young student with th"e difficulties and niceties of authors who lived, the latest of them,
well nigh two thousand years ago? Could not the many
years devoted to the ancient classics be more profitably spent
in pursuits of a more immediate and direct utility? Now we
assert that the usefulness of the study of the Greek and Latin
is to the full as great as that of any other whatsoever; and we
know that in this assertion we will be borne out by the judgment of all competent to decide upon the question; and by
competent we mean, not simply those who have in their own
case found the benefits of the study, (though these are of
course the most competent,) but all who will avail themselves
of the only mode of arriving at the truth in questions of this
kind-the process of induction from a sufficient array of facts,
gathered from no one age or country, but from all ages and
all countries. The utility, then, of classical ~tudy is as great,
we repeat, as that of any other, but it is not so direct and
tangible. It cannot be made so clear to the senses. The
classical student can neither run a base line upon the ground,
nor navigate a ship, nor be a more practical farmer or merchant, in consequence of his Greek and Latin. This is most
freely admitted, and if it be an objection, it is one that we
confess must stand. I mean no disrespect to any branch of
science or learning, I allow the full claims of each, I appreciate the importance of each. But as no one is attacked, so
no one needs defence, save the one I have the honor, most
unworthily, to represent. And let me say, too, that in appearance I am vindicating the proper claims of one branch, but in
reality I am asserting those of all . For in defending the
classics, I am at the same time standing up for literary as
contra-distinguished from scientific culture.
The modern languages may be learnt without any knowledge of the ancient. This is very true. But tl).e modern
languages will never be so well and so thoroughly understood
as in connection with those from which they sprung. The
philosophy of mind or morals can never b~ pursued to any
extent without adverting to 1he great Grecian masters. To
interpret and enter into the spirit of Plato and Aristotle, is still
the aim of Sir William Hamilton and Benjamin Cousin, who
stand confessedly at the head of the intellectual philosophers
of ~ur day, and this is manifestly impossible without a lmowledge of Greek. The ancient classics then represent the whole
literary side of liberal education. But, strange as it may seem,
in showing the utility of these studies, I am doing a favor to
the cause of science, both natural and mathematical. For,
account for it as we may, it is absolutely ce1tain that such
science never has flourished, and, therefore, we have good
reason for saying it never will flourish, divorced from literary
cultivation. The impulse given to the Grecian mind, in the
first place, by letters, originated the earliest efforts in a scientific
direction, and with the decay of Hellenic literature, Hellenic
science degenerated also in an equal degree.
Again, Roman literature preceded Roman scientific investigation, and with the decline of taste in art and poetry, the
human mind lost its interest in scientific pursuits.
The revival ofletters, three centuries since, stimulated activity
in every department of thought-science soon felt the impulse,
and investigations were entered upon, in a mode which the
splendid results of our day prove to be the correct one. The
secrets of nature have been unlocked and brought out with a
rapidity beyond all precedent, and those who have penetrated
the farthest into science, of whatever kind, have been those
most deeply imbued with the literary spirit, and have turned
with the most delight to classical pursuits. Lord Bacon,
whose clear and lofty mind laid down the tru e principles on
which alone science can be successfully cultivated, with a
precision and a force unknown before, was deeply imbued
with ancient erudition, and uses it with remarkable effect.
Sir Isaac Newton turned from his deep searchings into the
mysteries of nature, to investigate learned and recondite questions of chronology and history.
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His great rival, Leibnitz, and Sir John Herschell the chief
of living English astronomers, exercise their mi~ds in the
composition of Latin verse. Now the rationale of these and like
~acts is obvious. It is the trained mind only that takes pleasure
m research, and the thoroughly trained mind is disciplined on
~oth ~ides, the literary and the scientific. Men inquire and
mv:st1g.ate because they love to do so; because, by habit,
~heir rnmds have come to take the most· exquisite pleasure in
it; because such occupation has become a second nature~ a:
~ecessi(y of their being. Truth and beauty have for them ~n
m:xpressible charm. If made by their past habits fond of
science, they are likewise made fond of literature by the same
process. Let not then science forget her debt to literature,
lest, peradventure, strong as she now seems, she may suffer
loss. Her very nomenclature, in every department is almost
exclusively Greek, reminding her how much she o~ved in the
past and how much she still needs the help of the noblest
tongue ever spoken by mortals.
There is a mutual necessity between them: literature cannot
~o anything without science; science can do nothing without
literature ; and in education both are necessmy to the full
development of the mental powers. That will be a one-sided
educati?n whicl~ is, exclusively, either scientific or literary .
What IS educat10n? Is it the passive reception of facts in
nature or in history? Is it the loading of the memory with
the occurrences of the past, or with isolated and unclassified
phenomena of nature? Is it merely the learning of what
others have done, or is it, as the very word education itself
imports, a leading out of the mind-an evolution of what is
contained therein-a strengthening of the intellectual faculties?
If it be the latter, as we presume all will allow then mere
difficult! is no argument against the usefulness o~ a study in
developmg and ~trengthening the mind, provided the difficulty
be of a. s~rt which the youthful intellect can grapple with.
Now. this rs the case most eminently with the study of the
classical tongues. They present difficulties to be overcome
precisely such as the young can master by applicatfon and
eff~rt. The general structure of modem languages is alike in
their most marked characteristics. In acquiring a new one
/
the memory is taxed to retain unfamiliar words or idioms, bui
this iR all. There is hardly a call for the exercise of any other
faculty; no new principles of languag·e are presented. There
is no very- essential difference in the mode of expressing
thought among modern nations, for they are all very nearly
upon the same level in point of civilization and religion. But
in Greek and Latin the whole phenomena of language vary
extremely from what the youth has been accvstomed to.
The simple fact that they express modifications of an idea by
terminations, and not as we do, by the position of words or by.
auxiliary particles, teaches many important lessons as to lan·
guage and as to thought itself.
The object of education is to invigorate the mind, by training
it to habits of attention and discrimination. The one thing in
which Sir Isaac Newton said that h e excelled all other men
was, the power of patient attention-the faculty of concentrating his mental energy upon the one thing before him, to
the exclusion of extraneous matter. Now every Greek or
Latin sentence is a lesson in this habit of attention. The
words do not flow in that logical order to which the vernacular
accustoms a student. He must carefully pick out and group
those which belong together. He must accurately observe
the terminations, or other signs, which fix the precise meaning.
He thus learns to apply himself and to distinguish things
which differ. In poring over the text of a classical author,
he is acquiring power which he may afterwards apply in any
direction he pleases; and though h e may never be able to
peruse a classical author with ease and pleasure; nay, though
he may forget the words as if he had never learnt them, and
the page of Virgil or of Homer become to him as a sealed
book, still the power of attention and discriminat10n which he
has attained is not lost, and he has gained much to his own
consciousness, and still more of which he is not conscious ·
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and the sentiments impressed upon the mind , through the
medium of the ancient tongue, will, from the very difficulty
with which they were spelled out and deciphered, be far
more lasting than they can be where the pages are devoured
with the rail-way speed with which we peruse productions in
our own English; and this is no small advantage , where the
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. facili~ies
of the modern press are temptations to every reader
to skim over volumes without thinking upon a page. Even
the careless and unstudious pmst carry off more ideas conveyed
through the slow process of reading Latin and Greek than in
any other way.
·
All the modern languages, even including the difficult German, could be learned in a less space of time than the classic
. tongues, and to a much better end, for we learn to use the
former for practical purposes in actual conversation, whereas,
the mo~t that is expected in the latter is, that they should be
read without extraordinary difficulty. So says the objector;
b~t the argument banishes into thin air if the training of the
nnnd be sought, and not the mere filling of the memory with
words and phrases. Difficulty, as we have seen is no valid
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reason agamst the study, nor will length of time be one either;
fo~· that must necessarily be a slow process which enables the
rnmd t~ thi~1k for itself, to look directly and solely at thf! object
before it, without being harassed or distracted. Education is a
slow process, and if it be otherwise, the mind will have a hoth~use growth, and not a true and healthy development. To
stmrnl~te the operations of nature is a dangerous thing. That
tre~ will last the longest, and be most strong and vigorous,
wh_1c~1 h~s been allowed its full time of mature development;
so 1s it with the human mind. There is no royal road to true
~mowledge; there is no short-cut or bye-path, by which the
mtellect of a child can suddenly pass into the intellect of a
ma~'. there is nothing ultimately gained by attempting to
anticipate what can only be the results of riper years. If too
many stndies are crowded into the few years of youth, the
consequence mu~t be_ that none of them will be properly
learned. Educat10n is no longer a discipline in attention.
The mul_tipli~ity of subjects tends to confusion, and the power
of attent10n, mstead of being invigorated, is weakened, and
the whole end and aim of all training are entirely lost. The
student who would be really well disciplined, must be bold
enoug~ to remain in ignorance of a great many branches of
l~nowledge; some of them very popular withal. The expenence of ages teaches the truth of the proverb "multum non
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· 'f!lU l ta, " much, not many thmgs.
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The classification of knowledge is into two kinds, one of
things permanent, and the second of things flowing or progressive. 'l'he grand principles of mathematical or logical science,
for instance, are fixed; they admit neither of increase nor of
diminution. The sole improvement of which they are susceptible, is the mode and order in which they shall be presented to the mind. This mode may become clearer and
clearer, and therefore better and better adapted to the purposes
())f education, but the principles themselves are the same in all
time. Legendre may improve upon Euclid in the method
of his geometry, but Euclid had the same geometrical tnuhs,
two thousand years ago, as the French author of our own
generation. The second class of sciences, that of things
:flowing, is constantly undergoing change and modification.
Geology, chemistry and mineralogy, for instance, rest upon
experiment. They are all in their infancy, and are altered
and changed, and modified constantly, as new phenomena
add to the facts from which their principles are to be deduced.
'fhey do not remain the same for ten years together, but
change in their theory and their nomenclature as fast as the
geography of our new States. Now both these sorts of knowledge are parts of education, but those subjects which are fixed
and permanent are meant chiefly to educe and invigorate the
powers of the mind, while those changing from day to day
are intended principally to add to our stock of facts. We say
chiefly, for the fixed branches of knowledge do add to the
number of facts, and the changing ones do invigorate the
mental faculties; but the main encl of each is as we have
stated before. Now the classics belong to the first divisionto those which are fixed. Time can do nothino- more than
0
improve the mode in which the advantages of classical culture
can be attained. No discovery of ancient manuscripts can very
much modify our knowledge of antiquity. How it shall be
most aptly interwoven with our modern life, is the constant
aim. How we shall comprehend it the better, is the sole end
of the scholar's desires. Modern tongues, on the contrary,
are in a course of continual flux and change. The Prench
of this present time is very different from the cla~sic French
of the age of Louis XIV, as even a foreigner can perceive.
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Our own English changes from day to day, as the most
superficial observer can scarcely fail to notice; but the ancient
tongues have ceased to be used, and can receive no addition;
hence they can be handled, and examined, and commented
upon, in a way quite out of the question in a modern language;
for it would be hard in the latter to distinguish between the
present living use, and the past practice of its writers. The
finished scholar, it is true, could do so, but the young student
could not. If there be then any special value for intellectual
discipline in the learning of a language, that ad vantage will
be found in the highest degree in the study of the ancient
classic tongues. By universal acknowledgment Greek is the
most perfect of utterances ever used by man, so nearly faultless
as to be the model of language; shades of thought, jg no
other expressed, are brought out in it, with the utmost force
and clearness. Its power of compounding new words to meet
every new emergency is so great, that every science still derives
from it most, if not all, of its technical terms; and so wonderful
is its pliancy, that the same language which expressed the
feelings and thoughts of the earliest of all poets, three thousand
years ago, is essentially the same in which the subje\:ts of
King Otho, at this very moment, are expressing themselves on
every subject of interest, whether it be in philosophy, or in
commerce, or in the arts. It has been said, and said with
truth, that in no other language could mental science have
been formed save in the Greek, for in no other could the
phenomena of mind have been presented so as to be at once
proposed and explained in the very statement. A Plato, or an
Aristotle, is inconceivable, without that precision of expression
which is to be found only in the wonderful speech of their
country.
Language is a creation-a clothing of a new world of thought
with its own proper covering. Like every creation, it is a
mystery. We must assume its existence, because with our
mental constitution we cannot conceive of a state of things
without it. We cannot go behind it and try to imagine ourselves deprived of its life-giving presence, any more than we
can go behind any other creation or mystery. It is so because
it is so_:__because its divine Author so willed. Men could not
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have originated it for themselves, but must have received it as
a gift direct from the Father of Lights.. It is a world of itself,
and needs no other world to give it life, and beauty, and form.
Like all divine gifts, it is purest the more nearly we reach its
source. It is heaven -descended, and speaks most strongly in
its primitive form of its origin. Of this the Greek bears a
more lively impress than any later tongue. There is no lan,,.ua<Te it has been said, in which the atheist or the confounder
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of moral right and wrong can speak five minutes without being
betrayed into a contradiction. So strongly has God impressed
upon the organ of ·speech the eternal truths and principles on
which rest all the hopes of man, all the order of society, all
which elevates our life above that of brutes that perish and
are gone forever. Now these noble characteristics are found in
the rudest and most uncouth dialects spoken by barbarians,
such as our North American Indians. How much more are
they in the Greek, the noblest and most perfect of all languages?
Its very diction gave its writers an advantage which no modern
skill or genius, from the comparative imperfection of its instruments, can entirely counterbalance. There is no thinking
apart from language, at least we cannot conceive of such.
The study of language is the study of the human mind; but
to study language it is manifestly best to take the most peifect, ,
and this, we repeat, is the Greek. All words are·full of poetry
and history, and to the investigator present charms of a peculiar character. Dr. Johnson, in one of his fits of gloomy melancholy, defined a lexicographer to be a harmless drudge; but
Passow could speak of his labor in com piling a Greek dictionary
as a revelling in an ocean of pleasure, and look down, as from
an elevation, upon all other pursuits as less ennobling and less
hippy. Now Passow is nearer the truth than Johnson, for in
tracing the origin of word,,, and the logical order of their signification, there is a vast deal of instruction which repays, in
abundant measure, the excessive labor of compilation. The
facts and phenomena of natural science, or of astronomy, are
very astonishing, and calculated to make the most salutary
impressions upon the contemplative mind; but the facts of
language are as wonderful, if attention were only directed to
them . The history of a word, says Coleridge, is the history of
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a campaign. To take ouly one ,example, and that not the
most striking, but the most convenient· Sir ·walter Scott in
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his Ivanhoe, shews how those homely words beef and ox,
mutton and sheep, veal and calf, pork and hog, contain the
very pith and essence of all English history-the subjugation
Qf one race of men by another, and the terrible oppressions
which followed. Whilst in the field, animals are known by
the terms of the Anglo Saxon vocab ulary of the serf; when
transferred to the table, they are translated into the higher
and more refined dialect of the master. Here, in a familiar
example, may be seen how much instrnction can be found in
the history of words. But the origin of very many that we
use is to be traced, either directly or indirectly, to the languages of Greece and Rome; and this origin we can thoroughly understa11d only from a knowledge of those tong ues
themselves. An etymological vocabulary can not at all answer
the purpose, though such a paradox we have seen more than
once asserted.
Our holy religion rests not upon words. The humble
christian, who ' can barely spell out the words of his translated Bible, has all that is needful for his salvation in the next
world or his happiness in this, and yet the educated man will
feel impelled to more than this. What a proof of the power
of christianity, that it could take such a word as humility,
with its degraded meaning, and elevate it to the dignity of
a heaven-born grace, or could transfer such a word as talents
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from its common physical sense, to its present moral use and
signification. The i,psissima verba of inspiration have a power
which no translation can approach, not even that matchless
one which is our birthright. The Bible, and the Bible alone
of all books that were ever written, is susceptible of translatioh
without essential injury to its spirit. Thus it proves its heavenbom origin, and shows that it is meant for every tribe, and
tong ue, and nation, of the whole earth. But the theologian
who contents himself with the use of any mere version, is
unworthy his high calling and can never be other than a
superficial sciolist. Nothing save this knowledge can keep
him above a blind and servile dependence upon commentators
and give him the power of using their interpret~tions judi~
ciously and with profit. All looking forward to the ministry
should recognize the advantage, if not the indispensable necessity, of an acquaintance with the Greek, in which the New
'l'estament was written, and the Latin, which is still preeminently the language of theology. And in its degree this is
true of medicine and of law. Hippocrates is the father of
medical science, and we are told by those who un derstand
that subject best, that his descriptions of tJ;ie progress and cure
of disease are most graphic and most true, and that the accumulated discoveries of many generations have not destroyed
his scientific value; and it is Galen, a Latin writer, who stands
second, and only second, to the great father of the healing art.
The body of law, too, rests upon a Roman and a Greek foun- ?
elation. In the common law of England and the United
States, it has deflected in a different direction from the continental or civil law of modem Europe; yet both alike, the
civil and the common law, find their origin in th e institutions,
usages and laws of Rome, republican or unpenal. I t was the
study of this code which gave the wide and capacious grasp
of principles which so eminently distinguishes the decisions
of Lord Mansfield. The same study made the writings of
our own Kent and Story to be of authority in W estrninster
Hall, as well as in the Capitol. The Emperor Justinian
compiled the civil code in Greek, and the bulk of civil law is
in a Latin dress.
But, let it be most freely granted that no science and no
profession is absolutely dependen t upon the L atin or the
Greek. Let it be confessed that the modem tongues contain
an abundance of writings in theology, in medicine, and in
law, more perspicuous, more full, and more thorough, than
the ancient. A man can do his duty in a parish, can be successful in the treatment of disease, can be a fair practising
lawyer, without the ability to read any save his mother tongue.
It is equally true that he can know nothing of the history of
either profession without classical aid. It is said that many
curious secrets are locked up in the works of the ancients
which the moderns have not rediscovered. These secrets can
only be brought to light by those who unite a competent
knowledge of science to a knowledge of the ancient tongues.
The progress of the human mind has always been built on
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what has gone before. We cannot be independent of the
tongue, or of the history, of the Cresars and the Scipios, or of
Pericles and Alexander. The Latin, in particular, still exercises an imperial power. It is the fashion to call it a dead
language, and so far as the United States is concerned it is so,
but in Europe it is even now the living organ of communication between the learned of different countries, and, in a
very good degree, between the professor and the pupil in the
lecture room.
The Greek language is, in itself, incomparably the more
valuable of the two, but the Latin tongue bridges over the
intercourse between the ancient and the modern world .
..L.,~ :, ;, 1\.w Its own literature is borrowed almost entirely from the
vt.l.,, l.i,"" , Greek, and is the means through which the Greek has
been carried on to modern times. It was the only tongue
in which, for more than a tho"1sand years, any work of learning
or of thought was written in western Europe. Greek words
have entered our own vernacular English, as they were altered
and modified in their Roman channel. Modern literature
sprang up in imitation of Horace, and Virgil, and Cicero,
·rather than of Homer, and JEschylus, and Plato. Hence the
Latin is more practically valuable, and is properly studied, to
some extent, by those who have no time for its great halfparent and rival. But Greek represents a wider, a h1gher '
and more original vein of thought.
From Homer to the taking of Constantinople, only four
hundred years ago, Greek was written in such comparative
purity, that it is easier to read both extremes than for us now
to read Chaucer and Gower. That is, it flourished for twentyfive hundred years, or twice the period of the Latin, even
including the barbarous jargon of the middle ages, and four
times the duration of the Italian, the oldest of morlem tongues.
From the Euphrates to the western extremity of Austria it
was the current language spoken, and understood more generally than French is now on the European continent. In
Italy, nay even in Rome and Marseilles, it was the language
of fashion and refinement, so much so, that the Roman ladies,
according to the satirist, could no mo1·e converse in their own
tongue, than the denizens of the northern courts, in the last
:
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generation, could use the vulgar dialects o_f those around them.
Time has destroyed much more than it has_ spared, but a
range of thought and feeling, unequalled anywhere else, opens
upon us in the' Greek authors yet left. History, philosophy;
oratory and poetiy have each their writers, many of whom have
never been - equalled- most of them never surpassed. We
will be most unlike our fathers if we tie our thoughts to the
eighty years of our national existence, though they be equal
to any five hundred on the page of history. Nor could we, if
we would, confine ourself even to the boundless continent on
which Providence has cast our lot. There is no divorce of
the past from the present without exceeding injury. The
French Revolution, in mad folly, tried to cut loose from all
preceding ages, and look at the result in its never ending, still
beginning, turmoil and anarchy, and confusion, which post~
pone, from generation to generation, the faint hopes of a
rational and well established freedom.
Our own Revolution was in nothing more pointedly distinguished from the abortive attempts of other n ations, than in
the tenacity with which it held on to the past, innovating only
slightly, and where the most imperious necessity required.
The whole body of the common law and of the English
institutions of our forefathers, was retained, except that which
gave a prerogative to king and parliament. And, especially;
our inherited system of education was retained. Our colleges
continued to be modelled on the time honored universities and
public schools of the mother countly.
The course of training which the experience of centuries had
proved to be the best adapted to the development of the Anglo
Saxon, was still that by which American youth were to be
fitted to their high function of citizen sovereigns. The great
men of our heroic era had none of that silly pride, which
finds neither wisdom nor honesty in the past. Classic antiquity still continued t~ be the store-house, wherein are laid up
treasures of inestimable value, such as the youthful student can
find no where else. So far from those noble remains being
diminished in their importance, they are really worth more in
a republic than under a monarchy.
The history of Greece and Rome, is the history of republics
3
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·free and independent. Those examples of high-toned virtue
and undaunted, tireless energy, which are the common places
of the world, were most of them examples of republican virtue.
,They were the deeds of men who owned no master upon the
earth save their country. The narrative of the rise of Grecian
freedom, of its defence against the countless hosts of barbarian
aggressi011, of its palmy day in that wonderful fifth century
before Christ, when one long lifetime could hav_ seen the
e
first great models of every form of literature, of science, and of
art; the story of its corruption, through empire and long continued prosperity, till liberty became a prey to dernagoguism
and unhallowed ambition;-all this is especially and most preeminently a lesson fraught with instruction to us Americans
of these United States, by the grace of God, free and independent. And so of Roman history. Its teaching· is for us more
truly than for any trans-atlantic people. If we understand well
the causes which led to the fall of those ancient institutions,
which so long and so successfully guarded freedom in her
early day, if we know why they degenerated into military
tyrannies, we are armed, as by nothing else we can be, against
the dangers which may threaten our <;hoicest gifts. And we
will have the more power to assist in handing down to posterity
our present blessings.
But to know this history so as to apply its lessons aright, is
to be imbued with its spirit. It is not simply to read it in
modern compilations and abridgments, for at best these can
only give the skeleton, devoid of life and beauty. The spirit
is to be sought, and found, and appreciated, in the classic
writers themselves.
The study of a few of the original narratives gives more
penetrating and more real insight into the truth, than the
perusal of a hundred volumes of modern compendiums. So
much circles around single words and phrases, that what some
ignorantly and disparagingly call the mere study of words,
proves to be the study of deep and abiding principles. It is not
simply the amount of facts directly conveyed upon the page
of Cresar, or of Xenophon, that constitutes the chief value of
their study. The most ordina1y terms have an importance
irrespective of the author in whom they are found . They
19
'th
bring us into contact w1 a peop le of anotlrnr race, another
time another religion , and another language.
1/ the mind is enlarged by travel, if narrow prejudices are
worn off by intercourse with intelligent and enlightened foreigners, how much more will they be exchanged for enlarged
and lib~·al views by contact with powerful minds of ages
long gone by , who stood at the head and beginn_i1 of that
ig
stream which has safely brought to us all our blessmgs. The
human mind is the same under every variety of circu mstance
and situ.ation. So closely interlinked is ancient and modern
life that in studying the one we arc truly studying the oth er.
The greatest master of modern warfare, no less a person
than the Emperor Napoleon, asserted, that the campaigns of
Alexander the Great, of H annibal and of CCEsar, were the most
worthy of the attention of a student of military science, thougl{
all three flourished before the invention of gun-powder, and
in point of political experience, we, of this nineteenth centmy ,
are no more than upon a level with the Statesmen of the age of
Alexander. It is a common, but- for all that a very great
mistake, to suppose, that mere lapse of time must necessarily
confer political knowledge.
Four thousand years have taught th e Asiatic absolutely nothing. Precisely the same oppressive and unjust systems now
control the inhabitants of that fair continent, as in the earliest
dawn of history. No defects have been removed, or in any
perceptible degree ameliorated. E ven now, in Europe and
America united, it would be h ard to collect as m uch as we are
sure was contained in that lost treatise of Aristotle, wh erein
one hundred and fifty-three of the most diverse republics of
antiquity were compared. In them, no doubt, every variety of
race, of national position, and of government, was presented.
Mere extent of surface does not constitute ~listory . Russia and
China occupy a large physical spuce, but intellectually and
morally they are of little account; while within the limits of
Greece, hardly equal to this good State of Maryland, deeds
were done in every sphere of h uman exertion , which bear
most closely upon the improvement of mankind in every age.
We Americans, to day, h ave a deeper interest in Marathon
and Salamis than in any events since, save in those of which
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20
our own rontinent was the theatre. Could it be conceived
possible, that if the Persian invasion under Xerxes had proved
successful, there would have been no history for us. A :flood
of barbarism would have swept over the world. The Whole
destiny of man would have been essentially different, had those
events not taken place. The Athenian warrior fought not
only for himself, and for his city and for Greece, but for all the
world. An Alfred or a Washington could not have been ,
had not a Miltiades and a Themistocles preceded. That
history is most falsely styled ancient; it is m?dern in its interest, undying and ever fresh in its effects. And it is told
with a charm to be found in no other. Herodotus has never
been equalled in the power of telling a story with simplicity
and effect. Fox said it was harder to be an historian than to
be an orator or a poet. And the multitudinous events of later
times, can never be pictured with that unity of interest which
characterizes the ancient writers.
But translations it is said will answer all ends.
Translation is a hard matter, even from a modern tongue, as
the fact, that of great authors, we find almost invariably more
than one version, each of them acknowledged to be imperfect. Even the French classics, nearly as that ' tongue is
allied to our own in spirit and in form, cannot be rendered so .
that the reader of the orig·inal will not miss many beauties.
It is an axiom that translation is an attempt to represent in a
second tongue what already exists in the first. If literal, it becomes stiff and awkward and without spirit; if free, ideas will
be foisted in; not conceived of by the original author. It starts
with the assumption that much will inevitably be lost. Poetry
depends especially on the beauty of form, and cannot be conveyed in any garb save its own. Dante and Goethe have been
repeatedly translated, yet not so as to convey any idea of their
characteiistic excellencies. What is true of modern poets is
superabundantly true of the ancient. Homer has been rendered a thousand times, and yet is without a translator, and will
be so to the end of time; nameless beauties on every page elude
all who do not read the original. Pope's translation, as it is
by courtesy styled, is an exquisite poem; but it is not, in any
sense of the word, Homer. It is an English production of the
eighteenth century, but is no representative of the Greek bard
who sang three thousand years ago. Poetry, in no tongue, can
be transferred to another, and least of all from the most peifect
and most ancient, into our modern dialects. A single word or
epithet paints a picture, which no skill can transfer from the
original canvass. Even the careless student often sees and feels
this, though it be hard to give the reason to another. But have
we not enough, and more than enough, in our own language?
Why go to foreign ones? No one can surpass me in the heartfelt appreciation of our noble English literature. I have
enjoyed those magnificent conceptions of Milton, which, in his
own expressive words, are a "seven-fold chorus of hannonies."
I have lingered upon the glorious page of Hooker, and admired the wonde1fol depth and vigorous sense of Bacon. I
have felt the enchantment of Addison and Irving. And I
know that no other literature, ancient or modern, can boast of
its myriad-minded Shakspeare. But he can appreciate these
excellencies best, who has compared them with the great
masters from whom all literature has sprung. No one stands so
near to Shakspeare and Milton as Homer, and Homer has
qualities peculiarly his own, to which even these do not
approach.
I know it will be said, that some of the most accomplished
masters of our native speech have known no Latin. Shakspeare and Burns will be cited among the highest names of
literature, and Dr. Franklin and Gen. Washington will occur
to us Americans as wielding a most clear, and vigorous, and
idiomatic English, with little or no classical learning. Now,
not to insist on what however is most true, that genius is the
exception and not the rule, or, as it is sometim es expressed, that
genius is bound by no rules, not to say that we are upholding
that mode of education which experience shows is the best
for the mass of every day minds, we deny, as to Shakspeare,
that he was as destitute of classical culture as has been carelessly stated. "The small Latin and less Greek," of which his
friend Ben Jonson speaks, may have been no Greek at all,
though it is not probable; but it contained, at least, enough Latin
to consult out-of-the-way sources of information for the material of his plays. Burns, the poet, had no Latin himself, but
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22
he had what was next door to it. He studied and imitated
those English writers who had formed themselves on classic
models, and that with a care which not one student in a
million could practise, unless from classic , training. The
same may be said of Dr. Franklin, and with the addition that,
quite late in life, he acquired the Latin, (of which his translation of Cicero's De Senectute is an evirlence,) and in founding
the University of P ennsylvania recommended ancient studies
in the most emphatic terms. And the presumption is, that
Washington moulded his wonderfully idiomatic style by the
careful imitation of the best English writers, themselves formed
on ancient models.
At any rate, Washington and Franklin aJ'e almost excep·
tions among the heroes of our Revolution. The earl of
Chatham was so struck by the political papers set fo rth by the
authority of our first Continental Congress, that he pronounced
it the equal of any body of whom he had ever heard or read .
Now the largest portion of them were classically educated, and
at a time when that much abused term meant something more
than at present. Some of the most conspicuous,were eminent
for their attainments in ancient literature, as, for example,
President Jefferson. And is there no loss in our present lack of
such training among our public men?' The acerbity of political
controversy, has often been softened on the floor of the B ritish
Parliament by a happy classical allusion. P resent differen ces
are forgotten, and the minds of all are carried back to schoolboy days, to Eton or Harrow, or Rugby or Winchester. It
is well that there should be some common ground, amid the
diversity of pursuits and wide difference of opinion. The
love of the classics is this common ground on which all can
meet and be united. F ox, and Burke and Canning, besides
the more recent instances of Sir R obert P eel and Gladstone,
recurred to the classics as their chief solace and relaxation from
the harrassing labor of public life . The late Marquis of W ellesby closed a long career, filled up with responsible toil, in the
writing of Latin verse, and chose E ton, the home of his
youth, as his burying place . Pitt came from the university
at the early age of twenty -three, with no other than a classical
training , so much decried among us, and became the prime
minister of England and
h
one of th
.· d
'
up eld the helm of state through
W
e pe~10 s of greatest agitation to his countr/
e can pomt to no such pro :f: f l
.
education amonO' ourselv
1 ~ s o trn value of this sott of
dom or never so°'far purst::d' so et y bakecause _the classics are selW
.
as o m e thell' stud
1
e teach our students
t.
Ya P easure.
books, but give them ' _m~s impeifect~y' to read particular
the languages thern lsca1ce y a superficial acquaintance with
se ves · our young .
t
•
rapidly that th 1 ' .
men are tmrned on so
' ·
ey mow next to tl ·
country they are
..· d no 1mg of the beauties of the
came over Nothing (I
,
painful experience ) nothin . b
' . can speak from
just as students ar~ on the ge~:n e n10~·e _di~hearte~ing, than
to have them taken off a d th . of! apprecrntmg theJr studies,
' n
ell' t 10ughts turn d · t
ch annel · the fruits f 1 b
e m o another
'
o a or on the part of b0 th
·1
teacher are thus lost H . .t .
.
pup1 and
thoroughness and eIBci eie J
where reform is needed, in the
or seventy years ago tehncy o_ our means of education. Fifty
'
e um versal curric 1
f
tory and und . . d
u um o a preparaand this was e~-~~-i~~a~f c;urs~~as from ei~ht to nine years,
did not reach it were throw~n:a I e p~parat10n. 'l'hose who
the branches of studies w
r. an delayed' and then too
course is seven and in ere on y some two or three' now the
B
' .
many cases five, or even fo .
.
ut so much wiser is th .· .
.
m yeaJS.
time, more than doubl the nsmg generat10n, that in half the
mastered It
e . e number of studies is expected to be
.
seems as if the object of
. .
to give a surface training
d h
om piesent system was
,. an
ence of cou .
h
other than mere smface me .
'
rne, we ave no
plined to think at all b n, - men_that_have not been disci' ecause then mmds ha
b
d'
tracted by a parrot-lik
..
·ve een isThoroughness is the on~ repet1t10n of t~ere outside formulre.
ness should be the end y dwa! to create mterest, and thoroughan ann of all eng d · h
education.
age m t e work of
/8
t
I have most imperfectly presented a few I . t
and extensive subiect
cl 't
1
<
• 1111 s on a wide
J
' an
I
on y remams for me to thank
you for your kind and patient attention.
I
I
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Commencement Programs and Addresses
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Annapolis, MD
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St. John's College Greenfield Library
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An account of the resource
Addresses given at commencement and programs of events related to, and including, the annual commencement ceremonies at St. John's College. Includes both the undergraduate and Graduate Institute commencements. <br /><br />The College Archives holds programs and/or addresses for the following years:<br />
<ul>
<li>1796</li>
<li>1835-1836</li>
<li>1842</li>
<li>1852</li>
<li>1856-1857</li>
<li>1870</li>
<li>1878</li>
<li>1880</li>
<li>1890</li>
<li>1893</li>
<li>1895</li>
<li>1897</li>
<li>1907</li>
<li>1910-1918</li>
<li>1920-1924</li>
<li>1928-1929</li>
<li>1932</li>
<li>1936-1937</li>
<li>1939-1945</li>
<li>1947-present </li>
</ul>
Click on <strong><a title="Commencement Programs and Addresses" href="http://digitalarchives.sjc.edu/items/browse?collection=18&sort_field=Dublin+Core%2CDate&sort_dir=d">Items in the Commencement Programs and Addresses Collection</a></strong> to view and sort all items in the collection.
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13 pages
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Commencement Address, 1856
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An address delivered before the Association of the Alumni of St. John's College, Annapolis, Maryland, at the annual commencement, August 6th., 1856. By the Rev. Russell Trevett, D.D.
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Trevett, D.D., Rev. Russell
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Robert F. Bonsall, Printer
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Annapolis, MD
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1856-08-06
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Commencement Address-Rev. Russell Trevitt, A.A. 1856-08-06
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<a title="Memoirs of Deceased Alumni" href="http://digitalarchives.sjc.edu/items/show/3620">Memoirs of Deceased Alumni</a>
Commencement
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https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/sjcdigitalarchives/original/3fcdcd4d51bf24fb4b98e2e3ac7e7d4f.pdf
741a7d5205c8d4cca9e7675e05d4ad3e
PDF Text
Text
�·1
MEMOIRS
OF
DElCEl.A.SElD .A.LUl\ILN"::C
OF
READ, BY APPOINTMENT OF 'l'HE ASSOCIATION, AUGUST 6r11, 1856,
BY
JOHN G. PROUD, JR., A. M .
ANNAPOLIS:
ROBERT F. BONSALL, PRlNTER,
1856.
I
I
�MEMOIRS OF DECEASED ALUMNI.
NECROLOGY.
TOBIAS WATKINS, M. D.
THOMAS BEALE DORSEY,
SAMUEL RIDOUT, M. D.
OuR earlier Alumni are fast passing away. Year by year
they depart., and soon the place that once knew them shall
know them no more forever. Nor are 'our younger brethren
exempt from the universal law. Their ranks also, from time
to time, are being relatively thinned by the same impartial
summons. The record of the past year furnishes an illustration of this equal lot. Of the former class, death hath
stricken from our catalogue two names, in those of DR.
ToBIAS WATKINS and JuDGE THOMAS BEALE DoRSEY; and
of the latter, · one, in that of DR. SAMUEL RmouT. I ask
your attention to brief notices of each of them in turn:
DR. TOBIAS
wATKINS.$
DR. ToBIAS WATKINS died at his residence in the city of
Washington, on the 14th day of November, 1855. His life
was an eventful one, and presents many points of peculiar
interest. DR. WATKINS came of an old and respectable Maryland family: whose branches extend throughout the State.
He was born in Anne Arundel county, December 12th, 1780;
the only child of Thomas Watkins, and was yet a boy when
his father died.
Entered at an early age at St. John's college, he completed
his education within its walls, 1).nd graduatecl with the class of
" '.Phe present memoir is an expansion of a briefer one, prepared by the
writer, and published during the past winter in the National Intelligencer
and other papers .
I (
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�MEMOIRS OF DECEASED ALUMNI
4
1798. His professional studies were pursued under the direction of Dr. Daniel, of Maryland, and he took his diploma
from the Medical College at Philadelphia in the spring of
1802. In the month of May of the same year he married
the eldest daughter of George Simpson, Esq., of Philadelphia,
cashier of the Bank of the United States; and shortly after
commenced practice at Havre de Grace, Maryland. In a few
years, however, he removed to Baltimore, and received t~e
appointment of physician to the Marine Hospital. He was m
active service during the war with England, having been, in
May 1813, appointed surgeon in the 38th regiment of infantry,
commanded by Col. Peter Little. His connexion with the
army continued after its reduction in 1815, and, in April 1818,
he was promoted to the post of Assistant Surgeon General,
which he held until June 1821, when, on a further reduction
of the army, he was disbanded.
He was not present at the attack on Baltimore, having
been sometime before ordered to Norfolk, to devise measures
for arresting a malignant disease, which was raging with terrible violence among the troops at that post. In a short time
after taking charge of the hospitals there, he had the satisfaction to find, that the means which he adopted were effectual,
materially to lessen, if they did not wholly arrest, the mortality.
While there he became a special favorite with the Officer
in Command, General Moses Porter, whom a distinguished
naval commander of the enemy characterized as "every inch
a soldier " and who admitted him to the most confidential
)
relations. The extent of this confidence was evinced in a
mission of peculiar delica~y which was entrusted to him. A
party of militia, through ignorance or mistake, fired upon
what proved to be a flag of truce, and the circumstance was
reported to the comrn111-nder as a gallant repulse of -the enemy.
Suspecting, but not certain as to its real charar.ter, and annoyed as everv soldier must be at such an occurrence, he
. '
immediately detennined to send a flag to the enemy to ascertain whether his suspicions were correct, and if so, to make
a suitable apology for the blunder. DR. WATKINS was
selected for this difficult office, with full discretion to act, and
embarked in a tender of the Frigate Constellfltion, then lying
'
.
OF ST. JOHN 'S COLLEGE.
5
in the harbor, for that purpose. His reception left him in little
doubt as to the true state of the case) being in his turn fired
upon as soon as he came within range of the enemy's guns.
He immediately let go his anchor, and lay to all night under
the guns of the huge 74. By the bold confidence thus
evinced, and by his adroit management in the mornino- he at
b)
length succeeded in getting on board of the British commander's ship,-where, after a satisfactory explanation of the affair,
he was treated with special courtesy and hospitality.
In 1821, upon his separation from the armv ' he was
.
appointed by President Munroe, Secretary to the Board of
Commissioners under the Florida Treaty, and removed to the
city of Washington to enter upon its duties, for the performance of which he was eminently qualifiecl. That he faithfully
and satisfactorily discharged them was evinced by his receiving,
upon their termination, in the year 1824, from the same chief
magistrate, a still more sig'nal mark of his confidence in his
appointment to the important post of Fourth Auditor of the
Treasury-an office which he held, in the enjoyment of the
most confidential relations with the Pre8ident, during the entire
administration of Mr. Adams, and from which he was removed,
with the change of administration, in March 1829.
Of the circumstances attending that event, it is not within
the design of the present notice to speak. It was the happy
fortune •of DR. WATKINS to outlive the political animosities of
that day, and the aspersions to which they had give• birth.
His life, previous and subsequent to that period, has fully
viBdicated that high and instinctive sense of honor which
was one of th e leading traits of his character.
He subsequently opened a school in Georgetown, which he
taught for a short time, and then commenced the apothecaiy
business in 'Washington, which be continued, in connection
with the practice of his profession, till 1842. About the year
1845, when the Public School system was established in that
city, he was elected the Principal of one oft he District Schools,
which situation he held till 1850, when he received a place in
the Census office,-which he retained till the force in that
office was reduyed, soon after the beginning of the present
administration. Since then; up to the period of his last illness,
�OF ST. JOHN'S COLLEGE,
6
MEMOIRS OF DECEASED ALUMNI
he was constantly employed in literary labor upon various
works of taste or public utility.
Of his literary labors we come now to speak. These were
commenced at an early age, and continued through life, either
as a stated occupation or as a relaxation from other and more
arduous duties. Few men of his day encountered more severe
or prolonged mental toil; few held a more prolific pen, or one
employed upon a greater variety of subjects. As early as
1809 he edited a professional journal, called " The Baltimore
Medical o/ Physical Recorder," to which he contributed
largely. In the year 1816, in conjunction with his brotherin-law, the late Stephen Simpson, of Philadelphia, he commenced the publication at Baltimore of a monthly journal, in
octavo form, under the title of " The Portico, a Repository of
Science o/ Literature,"-which was cond~cted with such
ability as to procure for it a reputation equal to that of any
similar periodical of the day.
About the same time he assisted in forming a literary society
called " The Delphian Club," of which he became the President; the late Dr. John Didier Readel, whose life -he has
sketched in an elegant memoir, being the Secretary. "Its
number was limited to nine, to correspond with that of the
Muses, and the character of its members was no less various,embracing law, physic and divinity; music, poetry and painting; history, philosophy, and criticism." Most of its original
memb~rs have since acquired fame in some department of
literature or science."' At its weekly meetings stated essays
or other voluntary contributions in prose or poetry were read,
many of which were afterwards published in " The Portico;''
and the flow of wit and genial humor, it is said, would have
done no discredit to the coteries of Curran or Garrick. It was
"Among those members, were, GEN'L WM. H. WrnDER, DR. McCcLLOH .
I
'
PAUL ALLEN, the editor of the Jlforni11g Chronicle, WM. GwYNN, the well
known editor of the Baltimore Gazette,-a man ,of great benevolence and
i,,nfinite humour,-at whose house in Bank L ane, known as " The Tripod,"
the club were wont to meet-the REV'n JoHN PIERPOINT, author of Jlirs
of Palestine, and other poems- and Jo1rn NEALE, the Editor, Orator, Poet,
and Novelist, the man of versatile 1genius and voluminous authorship.
Of these, only the last two survive, one resident in Maine and the other
in Massachusetts.
in congenial association like this, that our friend fostered and
cultivated. that ta~te for literature which distinguished him
through life, and imparted such peculiar grace and charm to
his conversation.
In the year 1821, he deiivered at the Baltimore College a
course of l~ctures on modern literature, illustrating in the
comp~ehensive range of its subjects, including belles-lettres,
rhetonc and eloquence, the varied extent of his reading. His
melodious elocution. and grace of manner made his delivery
uncommonly attractive, and he was noted as one of the most
elegant and accomplished readers of his day. Of the addresses
which upo~1 various occasions he was called upon to make, I
have a .pnnted .copy of an Anniversary discourse before the
.Columbian Institiite of Washington, in January 1826; which
i~ .charac~erized by his accustomed elegance of style and fertility of illustration. This society, of which he was one of
the founders, wa.s upon the plan, and may be considered as
the parent, of the present National Institute, of which he was
also a member.
While con~ected with the public schools at Washington,
he read a senes of lectures on Education, which were well
attend~d, and -highly appreciated. At a later period, while
Supermtendent of a Sunday School, he delivered a similar
course, before teachers, on Sunday School instruction. Both
~f these c.o~tained valuable practical suggestions for giving
0 reater .efficienc~ to the important work of the teacl~er, in
developmg and nnproving the mental and moral faculties of
the !oun~; a s~bject in which he always manifested a deep
an~ mtell1gent mterest.
In the latter capacity he also read a
senes of essays, in the form of a Commentary upon the Lord's
P:ayer, which evinced, not only an intimate acquaintance
wit~ the sa.cred writings, but an extent and variety of theological readmg not common in a layman.
,
At one time, and for several years he edited a political
.
' Decided in his own
pa~e.r m Washington with signal ability.
opm1ons, he was yet tolerant to those of others, and his editorial course was marked by uniform courtesy and moderation.
. In sh?rt, _his pen was n ever idle, being constantly employed
m contnbut10ns to the public press: or the literary pe1;odicals
' 1
�OF S'l". JOHN l>S COLLEGE.
8
g
MEMOIRS OF DECEASED 'ALUMNI
of the day, in articles as varied as his acquirements, especially
in the department of criticism, for which his refined and discriminating taste and comprehensive powers of generalization
and analysis peculiarly fitted him. All these, with his characteristic modesty, he published anonymously. Had they
been printed under his own name, they would have made it
conspicuously and favorably known among the writers of the
day. ·Besides all these he left behind him, in manuscript,
valuable papers on various subjects which never appeared in
print. A collection from his writings would form an attractive
volume, and is due to his literary reputation. It is to be
hoped that some competent hand may undertake the task.
At the time of his death he was engaged in prep~ring for
the press a history of the British invasion of the District and
capture of the city of Washington, with a narrative of the
events which preceded and followed that disastrous occurrence,
in connexion with an officer of the army of that period, and
from notes taken and collected by him. This work will be
an interesting and valuable addition to our national history,
and will throw new light upon the causes of the failure of the
American arms upon that memorable occasion, and show
where the responsibility of the disaster should properly rest.
But it was not the capacity which our departed friend
evinced in the discharge of the various public trusts which he
held, nor yet his ability and elegance as a writer, that his
friends delight to dwell upon, so much as those admirable
personal qualities which excited at once their confidence and
admiration, and made him the charm and ornament of the
social circle. In his domestic relations these secured for him
the most constant and devoted affection; and also inspired in
the hearts of many friends an ardent personal esteem, which
no vicissitudes of fortune could ever shake, and which will
keep his memory "green in their souls" with many tender
recollections.
There is yet another element to be mentioned, without
which no character can be considered complete, and which
formed the crowning beauty of his. The various trials that
he was called to endure were sanctified to him in the formation
of a deep,' earnest and consistent piety. With him the vital
truths of Christianity were a prnc t.ica l rea1. receiving the
.
. .
ity,
hom~ge of his v1_gorous intellect, embraced in his. inmost heart
and illustrated m all the latter days of l11s i·c
. 11e. F or many
'
.
years .m the communion ~f the Protestant Episcopal Church
he yielded to . her doctrmes and tenets an intelligent and
unwave1:ing faith. Nor was it merely the assent of his un
derstandmg. Besides other offi cial cl ut1es appertamnw to a
.,
.
. .
l
ayman, f 1was actively engaaed ' success1'vely ' m t wo congrehe
.
"
·
°
gat10ns o t1 church ' in the u sefu l an d h onorable position of
le
S
.
upenntenc en_t of the Sunday Schools ;-the duties of which
h
e was not .satisfied to 111 alrn a mere customary routine.
In
d the' faithful observance of tlle ora·mances of the church
. .
an the conscient10us discharge of every religious duty
f~u~~] a compen.sative solace amidst the trials and vicissit~des
o . is mortal life, and that peace and serenity in its close
which only they can bestow · A n d th us at 1
ast, at the ripe
f
age o seventy-five years ' ,vas our lamented friend "gathered
·
h"
to
.
t ( is fathers," as we firmly trust and bel1"eve , "lmvmg· t h e
f
ses imony o a good conscience," and "the cor:n"'o I·t of .a J.eabl
l" .
1'
ona e' re igwus and holy h ope, m f,avor with God and ·
.
.
' perfect charity with the world."
'
m
h;
JUDGE THOMAS BEALE DORSEY.
We ~ome no': to speak of JuDGE THOMAS BEALE DoRSEY
who graduated m the succeeding class of 1799.
'
h There ~re no names better known i11 Maryland than two of
t o~e wh1~h comp?se his own, BEALE and DoRSEY, both of
whl1ch _were prommently and favorably identified with th
ear y history of the State.
e
His father, John Worthington Dorsey of Elk·"d
A
A. d 1
'
II ge
nne
. m~ .eh ~ounty, was a volunteer in the Revolutionary,Army
m w i1c ie rose to the rank of captain · He b elonge d to th at
'
veter
l
an corps, t le famous (' Old Maryland L. " t h e term of
wl
l'
ine,
10se en istment was generally" for the war·" and h
. d
for nearly tl
·
.
'
e se1ve
Island Wl ~e entir~ penod, participating in the battles of Long
believ:d in l~tt:e~:a~~:: B;nd~wine :nd Morn~outh, and it is
memorable stru 1 ."
o ~ve ta en an active part in that
nobility which ~teeA1s t~e highest, and the only patent of
'
men can gentleman may claim.
2
'I
�10
OF ST. JOHN'S COLLEGE.
MEMOIRS OF' DECEASED ALUMN I
It was during the war, viz., in June 1778, that he married
Comfort dauohter of Samuel Worthington, of Baltimore
)
"
county; and of these parents, the subject of our sketch was
born, the second child, October 17th, 1780, on Elkridge.
The rudiments of his education were received at Newark,
Delaware, whence, at an early age, he entered St. John's
College, and graduated, as we have said, with the class of
1799, of which he was almost the last survivor.
The tradition is that his standing at college did not excite
any high expectations of a distinguished career. Not deemed
by his associates to possess much talent, he was yet noted for
his steady, plodding, persevering industry. His life, therefore,
adds another to the many examples, which prove that, while
precocious minds do not always fulfil the promise of their youth,
the intellect slowest in development is often the strongest and
most vigorous in action. It is an illustration, also, of the
reward which scarce ever fails to attend systematic perseverance and patient toil. After leaving college, he entered the
office.of Judge Walter' Dorsey, in Baltimore, as a student of
law, and was admitted to the bar in 1803. He at once commenced practice in Baltimore, whe:re he remained till 1811,
when the state of his health compelled him to suspend active
professional duties and to retire to his farm upon Elkridge.
The same habits of industry and systematic labor which dis·tinguished him as a student, were carried by him into his
·early professional life. The degree of success to which he
had attained, and th e high estimation io which he was held,
during this period, are evinced by the fact, that in 1807 he
was elected, with Robert Steuart, to represent the city of Baltimore in the House of Delegates;-and that in 1809 he was
chosen a member of the State Senate, where he served for
two years. His professional standing was still further shown
by his being appointed in 1809, the District Attorney of -the
.United States for the State of Maryland.
He resumed practice after his removal to Anne Arundel
county, and attended the courts of that circuit. He was al~o
again sent to the Legislature, repres.entin.g his native county_
m
the House of Delegates during the sessions of 1813 and 1814.
In the Legislature such a man was, of course; an useful
\
11
member,-bestowing faithful attention to the details of business in the committees and the house, and also dist.ingi1ished
by his readiness and ability in debate. He took a prominent
part. in the discussion of the more important measures of the
time; and in the session of 1813 he gained special credit by
his course in the investigation of the celebrated Alleghany
Contested Election Case; in which he was the principal
champion of the Democratic, as John Hanson Thomas was
'
of the Federal, party. In the bitterness of their disappointment at the result, some leaders of the Democratic party proposed extreme measures of a disorganizing character; but the
more' conservative counsels of Judge Dorsey even tu ally prevailed, and controlled their action 'to a wiser moderation.
He was always decided in his political opinions, and frank
in the avowal of them, and often took an active part in the
canvass; serving as one of the Electoral Candidates for De Witt
Clinton in the Pref'identia! contest of 1812. He subrnquently
took the hustings in the same capacity for John Quincy
Adams, in his first contest for that office, but resigned it to
accept a seat upon the bench.
Whatever ambition he may have had for political honors,
his devotion to the law was paramount; and his professional
career was active and laborious, and continued almost to the
close of his life. In February 1822, he was appointed Attorney General of Maryland; and one of his first official acts was
to take a prominent part in tbe trial of the Bank cases; noted
for the interest which they excited, and the importance of the
principles involved. Qn the 27th July 1824, he was elevated
to the bench, receiving the appointment of Chief Judge of the
Third Judicial District, which position gave him also a seat
upon the Bench of the Court of Appeals. Upon the death of
Judge Archer, Judge Dorsey was commissioned to succeed
him as Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals, on the 3rd July
1848, and held this highest point of professional eminence
until the reorganization of the judicial system of the State by
the;adoption of the n ew constitution in 1851.
Of the convention which met to remodel that instrument
'
Judge Dorsey was a prominent member, and was distinguished
therein, not only by his wise, conservative views, but by the
�12
MEMOIRS OF DECEASED
OF ST. JOHN'S
ALUMNI
ability with which be maintained thern; participating in the
discussion of most of the leading topics, especially upon the
elective franchise, the test oath, and the tenure of the judicial
office.
From the period of his leaving the bench to the time of his
death, he devoted himself to the congenial pursuits of agriculture. His health, which in his early life was delicate;-and,
notwithstanding his appearance and the activity and regularity
of his habits, was never very robust.,-became impaired, and
sinking by gradual decay, brought him to the close of a long
and useful life of seventy-five years, on the 26th December 1855.
JuDGE DoRsEY married, January 28th, 1808, Milcah Goodwin, daughter of William Goodwin, a prominent merchant of
Baltimore, by whom he had a family of nine children, six of
whorn survive him,-and of these, two are well known law yers of our State, and esteemed members of our fraternity.
To speak adequately of JuDGE DoRsEv's personal and
professional life, ·would require a chronicler more familiar with
both, and more competent than I can pretend to be.
His brethren at the bar can bear testimony to the fidelity
and research which characterized the performance of his duties
as a lawyer; the syslematic preparation, the zeal and earnestness, which he brought to the trial of his cases:-and the
records of our highest courts, through a long series of years,
illustrate the learning and ability, the logical acumen, :md
soundness of j udg1nent, which signalized his judicial career.
In the circnit courts, his prompt decisions, and· his capacity
and vigour in the despatch of business, will long be remembered. Cases were not allowed to slumber and grow musty,
nor could suitors often complain of'' the law's delay," where
he sat as judge. The case of Jarndyce and Jarndyce, would
have had but little chance to survive all the parties to it, and
to fee two generations of lawyers, had it been upon the docket
of one. of his courts. Decision and promptitude- were leading;
traits of his character, and they are those . which are most
potential in commanding success. His life may be considered
an eminently successful one. He attained a high position
among his fellow rnen ,-he won and maintained their respect.
and confidence,-he enjoyed the esteem and affection of his
13
family and a large circle of fr1
'e11ds. Wh at more of happiness
can fall to the lot of any man?
. 'l'o a life of irreproachable moral excellence, he added a
smcere and earnest reverence for the great. 11.u tl1s of 1e11g10n:- ·
. ..
.
he was a promment member 'c
and for many ye ais a vestryman,
.
.
.
of the congregatton t-0 which he belonged , a11 c1 t001{ an active
1
•
.
.
.
mt.~r~st m its. p~·osperi(y. As years gathered over him his
rehg1ous co'.1vict10?s became deeper, and he met the final
summon~ with the firmn ess of a Christian' and died in the
commumon of th e church.
DR. SAJ\IUEL RrnouT.
We turn now to a brief notice of one who did not lik th
th
.
'
e e
o er two, ~ti.am to a ripe old age, but was cut off in the
fl~we~- of l11S days. H'.s future seemed full of hope and
p10rrnse, and the domestic and social ties that bound him to
the world were of the most endearing cha1·acte1· · B u t d'
. .
1sease
laid it~ hand upon him, and he whose office it was to heal the
malache.s of others, was him self stricken by t11e de st.
.
·
royer. H e
1
~ece1vec . tl~e visitation as a mandate from Heaven, and bowed
m subn11ss10n to the Divine decree.
b DR. SAMUEL RrnouT, the son of Dr. John R'd ou t , was
. · l
.
i
on~ m t~e city of Annapolis, September 15th, 1824. He
received his early education at home, whence he entered the
Grammar School of St. John's, and having completed the
usual college course, was graduated in February 1842. Perhaps from a sort of hereditary bias, he followed t.he bent which ,
seer~s to have led so many of his name in the •choice of a prof~ss10n, .and .became a student of medi.cine. He prosecuted
his studies with ardour and industry, attended three courses of
lectures at tl.1e ~edical School of the University of Maryland,
and ~ool~ 111s diploma in 1846. He soon after commenced
pra:t1~e m c.unnection with his father, and gave promise of
attamm~ a. l~1gh rank in his profession. His natural gentleness
and am1~bihty of manner made him a welcome visitant by the
bed of. sickness, while his judgment and skill in the use of
remedies begat confidence in his professional advice
s But this c~re.e1: of u~efulness was soon interrup~ed. The
eeds of that ms1d10us disease, consumption; manifested them-
'1
\
COLLEGE.
�14
MEMOIRS OF' DECEASED ALUMNI
selves in a frame not naturally strong, and bafiling nll human
skill, gradually destroyed his life. His bitter trial was lengthened out through several years of painful suffering; but the
afflictions of the body produced a chastening and sanctifying
influence upon the spirit, and enabled him to commit himself
unreservedly t<? the will of his Heavenly Father. In the
realizing sense of his Saviour's presence, his last whispered
accents were, ''I am not afraid to die!'' And thus peacefully
did he enter into rest, June 11th, 1856.
In his character "the gentler elements" were blended in
beautiful harmony;-his life was one of unusual purity,-and
for at least six years before his death, his religiuus convictions
led him to an open confession of his faith before men ,-in
the Presbyterian Communion, to which his family belonged.
DR. RmouT married, in October 1850, Anne, daughter of
Mr. Jacob Winchester, and left a widow and three children.
�REGISTER
OF
ST. JOHN'S COLLEGE,
MDcooLVI.
Visito1·s and Governors chosen by the
original Su.bsc1·ibcrs in 1784.
Robert Denny, 1810,
N icholas Brewer, do.
Righ t Rev. Thos. J. Clagett, D. D.,
James Shaw, 1812,
Rev. William West, D. D.,
John Stephen, do.
Nicholas Carroll,
J ohn Ridgely, M. D., 18:t3,
John H. Stone,
George Mackubin, do.,
William l:leanes,
Lewis Neth, Jr., do.,
Richard Ridgely,
Henry M. Murray, do.
Sam uel Chase,
Henry Maynadier, 1816,
John Thomas,
Henry H. Chapma n, do.
Thomas Stone,
Addison Ridout, 1817.
Alexander C. Hanson, LL. D .,
William E. Pinkney, M. D., 1820,
Thomas Jennings.
Samuel Sprigg, do.,
W illiam H. Marriott, do.,
Visitors and Govemors elected by the Georrre Shaw, do.,
Tho~as H. Carroll, do.,
Board.
John N. Watkins, do.,
Gustavus Brown, M. D ., 1789,
Thomas F ranklin, do.,
John Allen Thomas, do. ,
William Kilty, do.
Charles Carroll of Carrolton, do.,
Ramsay Waters, 1821,
Jeremiah Townley Chase, do.,
Dennis Clau de, !\'[. D., do.,
Charles Wallace, do. ,
Jeremiah Hughes, do.,
James Brice, do, ,
John Johnson , do.,
Richard Sprigg, do.,
Nicholas Brewer, do.
Edward Gantt, do.,
Gideo n White, 1822,
Clement Hill, do.,
Thomas Beale Dorsey, do.
Right Rev, John Carroll, D. D., do. Reverdy J ohnson, 1824,
Thomas Harwood, 1790,
Thomas S. Alexander, do.,
Upton Scott, M. D., do. ,
Thomas H. Hall, do.,
John Davidson, do.,
Theodoric Bland, LL. D., do.
William Cooke, do.,
Alexander ·Randall, 1825.
Benjamin Ogle, do,
George Wells, 1826.
Joseph Kent, 1827.
James Murray, M. D., 1792,
Gabriel Duvall, do.
Joseph H. Nicholson, 1829.
William Pinkney, 1794,
Daniel Martin, 1831.
Philip Barton Key, do.,
James Thomas, 1833,
John Ridout, 1795.
Robert W. Howie, do.
Samuel Ridout, 1796.
Joseph E. Muse, M. D., 1837.
Horace Ridout, 1797.
Isaac Nevett Steele, 1839.
Arthur Shaaf, do.,
John Ridout, M. D., 1840.
John Johnson, do.
Richard W. Gill, 1842.
John Callahan, 1799.
Brice T. B. Worthington , 1846.
Allen B. Duckett, 1802,
Thomas G . Pratt, 1848,
Thomas Buchanan, do.,
l<'rancis H. Stockett, do.
John T. Shaaf, M. D., do.,
John Thomas, 1852.
James Mackubin , do.
Thomas Karney, do.,
John Kilty, 1803.
James Mackubin, do.,
James Murray, 1855,
Richard Harwood ofThos., 1804 ,
Lewis Neth, do. ,
Anthony Kennedy, do.,
William Price, do.,
Reverdy Ghiselin, M. D., do.
William McDaniel, do.,
John M'Dowe!J, LL. D., 1806.
John Muir, 1807,
Daniel M. Henry, do.,
Edward Hammond, do.,
Alexander C. Magruder, do.
Jonathan Pinkney, 1810,
William Williams, do.,
James Boyle, do.,
John R. Franklin, do.
'I
�REGISTER OF ST. JOHN'S COLLEGE .
T1'easure1·s.
Benjamin Harwood, 1784.
George Mackubin, 1826.
.Tames Mackubin, 1852.
Sec1·etaries.
Ephraim Ramsay, 1786.
Nicholas Brice, 1789.
Alexander C. Hanson, 1790.
Samuel Ridout, 1806.
George Shaw, 1820.
William E . Pinlmtly, 1821.
James Boyle, 1825.
Thoi;rias S. Alexander, 1826.
Lewis Neth, 1827.
George Wells, 1833.
Professors of .Modern Lang iiages.
Thomas Nyol De L'Allie, 1791.
Martin De Targney, 1802.
Thomas Bovey, 1805.
Joseph Berge , 1809.
Charles T . Flusser, 1824.
Charles Dumas, 1837 .
Frederick E. Zerl aut , Phil. D., 1837.
Lewis .I<'. Lemanowski, 1839.
Antonio Martino, 1841.
Thomas L'Hombral, A. M., 1843
Charles Edward Anthon, A . M., 1848.
Rev. Edward J. Stearns, A . M., 1849 .
A. N. Giranlt, 1853.
Rudolph L. Tafel, A . M., 1856.
Professors of Gram mm·.
Patrick Magrath , 1790.
Principals.
Owen Filz Gerald Magrath , 1791.
James Priestly, 1792.
John M'Dowell, LL. D., 1790.
Joseph Blake, 1782.
Rev. Bethel Judd, D. D., 1807.
·Rev. Henry Lyon Davis, D. D., 1820. Hugh H. M'K earne, 1794.
Rev. William Rafferty, D. D., 1824. Dennis Donlevy, 1795.
Rev. Hector Humphreys, D .D., 1831. John J acob Tschudy, 1800.
John Conn~!, 1815.
Edward Sparks, M. D., 1820.
Vice-Principals.
Sa muel Turney, 1822.
Ralph Higginbotham, A. M., 1792.
Rev . Henry Lyon Davis, D. D., 1816. R ev. John Decker, A. M., 1822.
Rev. William Rafferty, D. D., 1820. William B. Leary, A . M., l834.
Rev. Henry Elwell. A . M ., 1836.
David Stewart, M . D., 1855.
Rev. Joseph Trapnell, A. M., 1837.
Professors of .Moral Philosophy and His · William H. T hompson , A . M., 1839.
tory.
.assistant Professors of (h ammar.
Hector Humphreys, D. D., 1855.
Thomas Scott, 1792.
Hugh H. M'Kearne, 1794.
Profes.•ors of Chemist1'y and Natural· John Jacob Tschudy, 1794.
Philosophy.
Philip Curran, 1800.
David Stewart, M. D., 1855.
Rev. Henry Elwell, A . M., 1836.
William D. Greetham, 1847.
Professo1's of .Mathematics.
John M. Schwrar, B. A., 1853.
John M'Dowell, LL. D, 1789.
G1·aduates aud .!llumni of 1793.
Thomas H. Hanson, 1817.
Rev. Henry Lyon Davis, D. D., 1818. " Charles Alexander, B. A.
" John Addison Carr, B. A.
Thomas E. Sudler, A. M., 1826.
* William Long, B. A.
David J . Capron, A. M., 1840.
.assistant Professor of .Mathematics.
Richard Owen, 1790.
* Benjamin Dulany .
H enry Steele .
* Joseph E . Muse,
*
M . D., Visitor
and G overnor.
" Levin Campbell, Register of Wills
Ralph Higginbotham, A. M., 1789.
Dorchester County .
Patrick Magrath, 1792.
" Howes Goldsb orou rrh.
Owen Fitz Gerald Magrath, 1795.
" Benjamin Ogle.
William Duke, 1803.
'·' Clement Dorsey, J udge of the CirJohn Allen, 1815.
cuit Court of Maryland.
John Wylie, 1816.
* Daniel Clark e, Judge of the Circuit
Rev. William Rafferty, D. D., 1819.
Court of Ma 1·y land .
Edward Sparks, M. V., 1822.
*' James J\IJ 'Candless.
Rev. Russell Trevett, D. D., 1855 . ' N inian Pinkn ey, Clerk of the Council.
.assistant Pro
fessors of Langttages.
'' John Don e, Chi ef Jud ge 6th JudiHugh McGuire, 1795.
cial Dis ti ict.
William Bates, 1812.
" Christoph er Harr ison.
'thomas Hanson, 1813.
" William Hall Ha rrison .
Professors Df Languages.
0
REGISTER OF ST. JOHN'S COLLEGE .
:~
1794.
1797.
Chase, B. A .
" John Leeds Kerr, B. A., Senator
" John Bowie Duckett, B. A .
in Congresss .
" Richard Harwood, B. A., Adjutant
John Tayloe Lomax, B. A., LL.
General of Mary Janel.
D., Judge of Court of Appeals of
• John Carlisle Herbert, B. A.
Virginia, and Orator before the
" John J acob Tschudy, B. A.
Alumni.
" James Lowry Donaldson, B. A.,
.. Thomas Walley.
Member of the Legislature.
" John Hollidav.
John Rumsey, B. A.
" Thomas Higginbotham.
.. John Owen, M. D.
* Thomas Lunsford Lomax .
John C. Weems, Member of ConEdward Courtney,
gress .
* William Mnynadier.
.. Alexander Contee Magruder, Mem- * James West .
ber of the Senate of Maryland,
Lewis 8mith.
Vhitor and Governor , Reporter
William Patterson.
William Thomas .
of Decisions, and Judge of the
Court of Appeals, and memb er of
John Thomas, · Visitor and Gov·
the Executive Council of Md.
ernor.
John Seney, Member of Congress .
Samuel Bayly.
" Peregrine Warfield, M. D.
Thomas Blackburn.
" Richard Tilghman Cooke.
William Humphreys.
John Fowler.
" John Contee Herbert, Member of
Congress, Senator of Maryland,
and Orator before the Alumni ,
1798.
and Speaker of the House of Del- ''·' Willfam Campbell, B. A.
egates.
* John Claude, B. A.
• William Donaldson, B. A ., M. D .
1796.
Alexand er Hammett, B. A., Consul
· at Naples.
William Cooke, B. A.
" Robert H. Goldsborough, B. A .,
William Potts, B. A.
Member of the Legislature, Sena- * John Hanson Thomas, B. A., Memtor in Congress, Orator before
ber of the Legislature.
the Alumni.
" Francis Scott Key, B. A., District "' Daniel Martin, Governor of Mary·
Attorney of the United States,
land .
and Orator before the Alumni.
John Wilmot, Judge of the Orphans
" Daniel Murray, B. A.
Court, and Adjutant General of
" John Shaw', B. A., M. D .
Maryland .
" Carlysle F. Whiting, B. A.
* William Rodgers, M. D., U . S. N.
* Grafton Duvall, M. D.
" Trueman Tyler, Register of Wills " John Higginbotham .
of Prince George County.
John Harrison.
* John Ridgely, M. D ., Visitor and
Thomas U . P. Charlton, Chancellor
Governor.
of South Carolina.
,. Tobias Watkins, M. D., Auditor
* Joseph Hall, M. D .
. Archibald Lee, Member of the
United States Treasury, and As·
L egislature.
sistant Surgeon General, U.S. A.
" Horace Clarke.
*' Waller Wyvil, M. D.
Robert Tilghman .
' ' Charles S. Sewall, Senator of Mary·
* Ralph Higginbotham.
land.
.. Samuel Maynard .
*' Samuel Brown, Register of Wills
Anne Arundel County.
* John Claytor.
* Joseph Howard, Judge of the Or- Edmund Brice Duvall, Member of
the Legislature and of the Exephans Court.
Lloyd 'I'. Hammond, M. D.
cutive Council.
Thomas Gantt.
"' Gustavus Brown , M. D .
John C. Henry, Member of the
* Samuel Chase, Judge of the OrLe11islature and of the Executive
phans qourt. of the District of
Council.
Columbia.
Richard Galen Stockett, M. D. ,
Member of the Legislature.
Washington Van Bibber, Member
of Congress .
* Thomas
'I
�REGISTER OF ST. JOHN'S COLLEGE.
REGISTER OF ST, JOHN'S COLLEGE.
1799.
" Charles Sterrett Ridgely, Speaker
of the House of Delegates.
• Thomas Beale Dorsey, l3. A., Mr.,
William Gibson, M. D.
Senator of Mary land, Attorney
General of Maryland, Visitor * Charles Ridgely.
William Bowley.
and Governor, and Chief Judge
of the Court of Appeals.
1804 .
., Walter Farnandis, B. A., Mr.
" Thomas Rodgers, B. A., Mr., Clerk " Upton Scott Reid, B. A .
of the Senate.
Nicholas Carroll, B. A.
" James S. Grant, B. A., Mr.
' ' Robert C. Stone, B. A., Mr., Mem- * Christopher Hughes, Charge to
ber of the Legislature.
Sweden, and Member of the
Legislature.
Dennis Claude, M. D., Senator of
William Grason, Member of the
Maryland, Visitor and Governor,
Convention, Senator and Govand Treasurer of Maryland.
ernor of Maryland.
Philip W. Thomas.
* Enoch M. Lowe, Paymaster U.S.A.
" James Shaw, Member of the Exec- * Robert 0 . N. Maguire, M. D.
utive Council.
" Phil em on Chew, Member of the
G. W. P. Custis.
Executive Council and of the
Philip I. Thomas, Poet before the
Legis'ature.
Alumni.
John Hammond.
" Matthias Hammond, M. D.
Thomas Williamson, M.D., U.S.N.
,, Beale M. Worthington, M. D .
" Polydore O'Reilly, M . D.
Kensey Harrison, Member of the
John H . Brown, M. D.
Legislature.
* David R. Geddes.
James Cheston, M. D
Rev. Charles Mann, D. D.
'' Charles Stewart, M. D .
1800.
William Middleton.
" James Boyle, B. A., Mr., State's " Antony Diant.
Attorney, Visitor and Governor,
John Contee, Lieutenant U. 8. M.
Member of the Legislature and
Corps.
Executive Council.
1806.
Richard Brown, B. A., M. D.
Thomas J . Brice, B. A.
* Jo'lrn Guyer, B. A.
Rev. James Williams.
" James Harwood, B. A.
~, George Carr G1undy.
" James Thomas, Governor of Mary- * George Mackubin, B. A., Visitor
· and Governor, Treasurer of St.
land.
John's and Treasur·e r of Mary" William Mann.
land, and Member of the Legisohn Patterson.
lature.
" · esse Eichelberger.
* John Mercer, B. A., Member of
Russel Lee.
the Legislature ,
"Nicholas Harwood,M. D ., U.S. N.
* Henry Maynadier Murray, B. A.
1802.
" Lewis Neth, B. A., Secretary of
" Richard Lockerman, B. A.
the Visitors and Governors:
James Murray, B. A., Member of " William E. Pinkney, B. A., M.
· the Legislature, Commissioner of
D., Visitor and Governor.
the Land Office.
" Jesse Ray, B. A.
* Hyde Ray, M. D., U. S. N.
* James F. Brice.
" Charles W. Hanson, Judge BaltiJohn Thomas, Member of the Lemore County.
gislature.
"! Alexander C. Hanson, Member of * William T. Wooton, Member of
Congress, and of the United States
the Legislature, and Secretary of
Senate.
the State of Maryland.
John Gibson.
John R. Shaw, Purser, U. S. N .
" Allen 'Thomas, M. D., Member of " John \V. Thomas, Member of the
' the Legislature.
Legislature.
* Nichola3 Thomas.
* Samuel Sweetzer.
" Jarrett H. Snowden.
* Seth Sweetzer, Consul to Guaya" David Hoffman, LL. D., Visitor and
quil.
Governor, and Professor of Law
John R andall.
in the University of Maryland.
Nathaniel Burwell.
j
" George Mann, Lieutenant U. S. N.
" Daniel Randall, LJeputy Paymaster
General, U. S. A.
" John Gwinn, Captain U. S. N.
1810.
Thomas. R~ndall, B. A., Judge of
the District Court in Florida
John Ridout, B. A., M. D,, Vi;itor
and Governor.
-
" Richard Marriott, M. D.
Joh" M. S. Macubbin M D
Member of the Legislat~re . .,
John Denny, M, D., U. S. N.
Jo~n N. Watkins, Clerk of the
. Mnati8, and Adjutant General of
y. and,
J ohnaRr1dout. Visitor and Governor.
*
John Johnson, Member of the Legislature, Visitor and Governor,
Chancellor of Maryland Orator
before the Alumni.
'
John Carroll, Member of the Legislature.
Thomas H. Carroll, Member of the
Legislature, Visitor and Governor.
Nicholas Brewer, Visitor and Governor, and Judge of the Circuit
Court.
David Ridgely, State Librarian.
William Greenbury Ridgely, Chief
Clerk in the Navy D epartment
at Washington.
" Landon Mercer, Lieutenant U.S.N.
* Waldon Middleton.
" Frederick Mackubin, M. D.
GLrge G. Brewer, Reo-ister of the
and Office.
"
1822.
Hugh Mercer Patton.
" John Carville Howard, B. A.
John M..' Patton, Member of the
Alexander Randall, B. A. Member
Executive Council of Virginia
of the House of Representatives
,. and Member of Congress.
'
U. S., and of the Convention
Ramsay Waters, Register in ChanVisitor and Governor and Ora to;
ce.ry, Visitor and Governor.
before the Alumni.
David Crawford M D
" William Denny, 0M. D. ·
" Philip Barton Key, State's Attorney.
George Shaw, Visitor and Gov~r~or, and Secretary.
John A. Magruder, M. D.
,. Wilham Latimer, Captain u. s. N.
Joseph H. Nicholson, Clerk of
John Wesley Peaco, M. D., U.S.N.
Senate and of An ne Arnndel CirGovernor of Liberia.
cuit Court, Visitor & Governor.
George Reid Pierce, M. D.
1811.
George L . Magruder.
" John Gwinn, B. A., M. D.
William Brewer, M. D.
,. Joh~ Marbury, B. A.
James Buchanan.
· Addison Ridout, B. A., Member of
Thomas Buchanan.
the Legislatnre.
John Stephen Sellman, Senator of
Maryland.
Francis Thomas, Member of ConBurton Randall , M. D., U. S. A.
gress, Member of Legislature and
Robert K. Matlack.
of the Convention, and Governor
Benjamin Watkins, M. D.
of Maryland.
1827.
Richard Randall, M. D., u. s. A.,
and Governor of Liberia.
John H enry Alexander,B. A., Mr.,
Henry Randall.
LL. D., Chief of the TopograReveif v Johnson, Senator of Maryphical Survey of Maryland.
Thomas Archer, B. A., Mr.
lan~Senator and Attorney General of the United States.
William Harwood, B. A., Mr,,
State Librarian.
George Wells, Visitor and GovEzekiel Hughes, B. A., Mr.
ernor and Secretary, Member of
Rev. William Pinkney, B. A., Mr. ,
the Convention of 1851, and Senator of Maryland.
J?. _D., Orator before the Alumni.
W1lham . H. Tuck, B. A., Mr.,
" William ~· Marriott, Member of
the Legislature, Visitor and GovSpeaker House of Delegates,
ernor, Collector of Baltimore
Member of the Convention
Judge of the Court of Appeals'
: John B_. Wells, _M. D., u. s. A:
.. Frederrnk Lewis Grammar M D
and Orator before the Alumni. '
" Somerville Pinkney.
' · ·
* John Bowie, Lieutenant U. S . N.
" William baton, M. D., u. s. N.
Jonathan Pinkney, Clerk of the
Thomas S_. Alexander, Member of
Senate.
the Legislature, and Visitor and
Governor.
Nicholas H. Green, Clerk of the
Circuit Court.
,.
'I
5
�6
B. L. Bird, M. D.
Charles H. Stephen, M. D.
lt:\29 .
John T. Archer, B. A.
Hyde Ray Bowie, B. A.
, James Boyle, B. A.
,.. Daniel Clarke, B. A.
" Robert Emmet Culbreth, B. A.
* John Harcastle Culbreth, B. A.,
Member of the L egislature.
Thomas John Franklin, B. A., Mr.,
and M. D.
John Randall Hagner, B. A., Mr.,
and Paymaster U . S. A.
Ellis Hugh es, B. A., M. D .
Thomas Karney , B. A., Mr., Professor of Ethics United States
Na val Academy, and Visitor &
Governor.
Edward Pannel, B. A.
Ninian Pinkney, B. A., Mr., M.
D., U . S. N., and Orator before
the Alumni .
"' Nicholas John Watkins, B. A.
1836.
George Grundy, B. A.
Thomas Granger, B. A., Mr.
William R . Hayward , B. A.
George Johnson , B. A.
* Joshua Dorsey Johnson , B. A
* Edward Muse, :B. A.
George H. Reeder, B. A.
Willi am 0 . Reeder, B. A .
William Henry Thomas , B. A .
Franklin Weems, B. A.
Ni cholas Brice Worthington, B.A .
William P . Williams , M. D.
R ev. Samuel Ridout , M. D .
* William Levely, M. D., U.S. A .
*
Robert Franklin, M. D.
* Gabriel Duvall, Member of the
_ Legislature.
Sprigg Harwood.
" James B. Stephens, M. D.
John H. T . Magruder, State Librarian.
Augustus Bowie, M. D., U.S. N.
Richard Swann, State Librarian,
and Member of the Legislature.
George E . Franklin .
1837.
John M. Brome, B. A., M. D .,
Frederick S. Brown, B. A.
John W. Martin, B. A.
Rev . Jos eµh Traµnell, B. A., Mr.
" Trueman Tyler, B. A., State's Attorney for Prince George County, Md.
Philip L ansdale, M. D., U . S. N ·
Thomas R. Kent.
1838.
William T ell Claude. B. A., Mr.
Rev . Savington W. Crampton ,
B. A.
" Henry H. Goldsborough, B . A.,
States Attorney for Talbot CounJames Sands Holland, B. A., Mr.
ty, Md.
James West Thompson, B. A.,Mr.
Charles Nicholas Mackubin, B. A.
William Henry Thompson, B. A_.,
1834.
Mr., Professor of Grammar in
Rev. Orlando Hutton, B. A., Mr.
St. John' s.
John Greene Proud, B. A., Mr.,
Edward Worthington, B. A.
Poet before the Alumni, and
Rev. William Henry Trapnell,
Chronicler.
B. A.
* Rev. Lucien Buonaparte Wright,
James P. Archer, English DiB.A.
ploma .
Charles H. Steele, M. D.
William R . Goodman , M . D .
F . W. Green, Member of ConEstep Hall, M. D .
gress.
1832.
1839 .
1835.
Samuel Chamberlaine, B. A.
Philip Culbreth, B. A .
William Henry Goodwin Dorsey,
B. A.
John T homas Beale Dorsey , B.
A., Member of the Legislature,
State 's Attorney for Howard Co .
'' Worthin gton R oss , B. A.
Frederick Stone, B. A., Codifier of
th e Laws of Md.
B. T. B. Worthington , B. A., VisCharles W. Hanson, Member of
itor and Governor.
Brice John Worthington, B. A .
the Legislature.
Richard Weems, M. D .
Edwin Boyle, B. A., Visitor and
Governor.
Abram Claude, B. A ., Mr., M. D .
Richard Culbreth , B. A.
" Thomas Holme Hagner, B. A.,
Mr., Member of the Legislature
of Florida.
Richard C. Maclmbin, B. A., Mr.
M.D.
7
REGISTER OF ST, JOHN'S COLLEGE.
REGISTER OF ST. JOHN'S COLLEGE.
P. W. Hawkins, M. D.
Charles Baer, M. D.
" Benjamin Gray, M. D .
1840.
John M. Brewer, B. A.
Benjamin F. Bohrer B A
M. D.
'
·
"
M
r.,
" Jeremiah L . Hughes, B. A.
Rev. Thomas W. Win ch ester, B.
A., Mr.
1841.
Luther Giddings
B A
M:o:jor U. S. A. '
· " Mr.,
W1ll_1am Giddings B A
• Damel Maynadie~ H ., Mr.
Mr .. , Memherofth eLry! B. A.,
and Visitor and Ge eg1slature,
" George Stephen H overnor.
A M ~.
umphreys B
., . r., .u1eutenant U S ' .
Frai;lC_s H. Stockett B . . A.
1
V1s1tor and Gove rnor.· A., Mr.,
'
Marius DuvallM
Benjamin Har~ood DM UD. S. N.
1842.
.
'
John Basil, B. A., Mr
George Betton B A .
Rev. Jonatha p'10 ·
· ·k
"
B. A., Mr.n
neyHammond,
Samuel Ridout, B. A., Mr., M. D.
John G. Garn~M. D.
1844.
Lle"."ellynn Boyle B A
Lieutenant U s' A.
., Mr:,
hrarian.
· · ., State L1Alexander H am11ton Gambrill, B.
.
A., Mr.
John Thomas Hall
B
· A., Mr.,
Jam es Kemp Harwood
Mr., Purser U. s. N ' B. A.,
ThMomas A. McParlin B A M
•
. D., U. S. A , . .,
r.,
. Basil S. Murdoch . B A M
Henry M ayna d' ' Murray r . A
M
ier · ., B
Cr., States Attorney f~r
_A'
J aunty.
· ·
ohn Shaaff Stockett, B. A., Mr.
M. D .
'
A
Wll!iam H y - .
ma Stat·, An g , English DiploTheodore Ws ' Rttorlnley Baltimore.
· eve , M. D.
1846.
Nicholas Brewer J
Marbury B.
' r., B. A., Mr.
M. D.
iewer, B. A., Mr ,
" Richard H. Cowman
M. D., u. s. N ' B. A., Mr.,
Joh~ Decker, Jr., ·B A
Dame] Murra Th . ., Mr.
Theodore Lin{hic~:,aM.Bo~·· Mr.
1847.
Robert Chandler, B. A., Mr.
Elizur Lance! Foote, B. A., Mr
"John R. P. Forbes, B. A., Mr. ·
James ~haw Franklin, B. A., IMr.,
State s Attorney for Anne Ai:u~del Co., Maryland.
Wilham Henry McParlin ' B. A. , .
M
r.
John Mullan, B. A., Mr., Lieutenant U.S. A.
Charles S. Parran, Member of the
Legislature.
Charles S. Winder, Captain U .
S. A.
1849.
Thomas B. Chase, B. A., Mr. ,
M.D.
William Q. Claytor, B. A., Mr.,
M.D.
Harwood Iglehart, B. A., Mr.
Jam_e~ Mackubin, B. A., Mr.,
V1s1tor and Governor, and Treasurer of St. John's.
James Revell B A Mr
John Ridout,'B.°A. "Mr. M D
Thomas Jones Wils~n i' A . M.
States Attorney for'A.' A:'co.r.,
H. Roland Wal ton M D
ChArles F. Goldsb'oro~gh°, States
M~~rney for Dorchester Co.,
1850.
Dennis Claude Jr B A M
JoMhn McMaho~ Holl~nd" Br.A
r M
b
f
'
. .,
of M.' : em er 0 the Legislature
mnesota.
Thomas Richard Stockett B
Mr.
' ·A.,
1852.
Charles Brewer B A M M
U . S. A.
' · ., r., . D.
WMilliam Saunders Green ' B . A .,
r.
William Sprigg Hall B A M
James Iglehart, Jr. B A 'M: r.
JoMnathan Pinkney Sp;rks"B r.A
r.
'
.. ,
William W. Childs, M. D.
1853.
Richard Henry Brewer
A M
J ohn . Grant Chapman 'BB .A "Mr.
W11!1am H en dry Gassaway B.
' · ., r.
A . , Mr.
' '
Ri~fr~rd Harwood Greene, B. A .,
John Grant Harris B A M
Charles Edward Hu'tto~ ' · j'. A ., r.
j r.M
.
�8
REGISTER OF ST. JOHN'S COLLEGE .
William Thomas Iglehart, B. A.,
1836.
Mr.
" Rev. Henry Elwell, A.M.
George Palmer Keating, B. A., • Rev. David F. Shaeffer, D. D.
Mr.
Daniel Randall Magruder, B. A.,
1839.
Mr.
Rev. Joseph Wolff, D. D.
John Miller Schwrar, B. A., Mr.,
Assistant Professor of Grammar
1840.
in St. John's.
Washington Greene Tuck, B. A.,
Rev. George F. Worthington, A. l\J .
Mr.
Edward Hazen, A. M.
Lemuel Flannigain, English Di. 1841.
ploma.
Right Rev. George Washington
1855.
Doane, Bishop of New Jersey,
LL.D.
Isaac Williams Brewer, B. A.
Edward McCeney, B. A.
1844.
Osborn Sprigg Iglehart, B. A.
Philip Randall Voorhees, B. A.
John Tayloe Lomax, Judge of the
Supreme Court, Va., LL. D.
Edward Augustus Welch, English
Diploma.
1850.
Rev. Gordon Winslow, D. D.
1856.
Rev. Edward J. Stearns, A. M.
Marshall Chapman, B. A.
Hammond Claude, B. A.
1852.
Philip G. Clayton, B. A.
Dr. William Sands, A. M.
John A. Conner, B. A.
Dr. William W. Duvall, A. M.
Louis G. Gassaway, B. A.
Dr. Marius Duvall, A. M.
Thomas B. Kent, B. A.
William G. Ridout, B. A.
1856.
Alvan C. Wilson, B. A.
Rev. Peter Van Pelt, D. D.
Honorary Degrees.
Rev. Edwin M. Van Deusen, D. D.
Rev. James A. McKenney, D. D.
1827.
Nou BENA.-The names of the GRADUATE•
" Theodorick Bland, Chancellol'. of
are taken from the Record of the Visitors and
Maryland, LL. D .
dates are authentic and
Sylvanus Thayer, U.S. A., LL. D. Governors and the in which other Classical
correct. The years
1834.
Nathan C. Brooks, A. M.
Scholars left before the course was completed,
who are called .ALUMNI, in this list, cannot be
determined from the books ;-and they may
not, in some instances have been placed in
the proper periods.
'
�
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Commencement Programs and Addresses
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Annapolis, MD
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
St. John's College Greenfield Library
Description
An account of the resource
Addresses given at commencement and programs of events related to, and including, the annual commencement ceremonies at St. John's College. Includes both the undergraduate and Graduate Institute commencements. <br /><br />The College Archives holds programs and/or addresses for the following years:<br />
<ul>
<li>1796</li>
<li>1835-1836</li>
<li>1842</li>
<li>1852</li>
<li>1856-1857</li>
<li>1870</li>
<li>1878</li>
<li>1880</li>
<li>1890</li>
<li>1893</li>
<li>1895</li>
<li>1897</li>
<li>1907</li>
<li>1910-1918</li>
<li>1920-1924</li>
<li>1928-1929</li>
<li>1932</li>
<li>1936-1937</li>
<li>1939-1945</li>
<li>1947-present </li>
</ul>
Click on <strong><a title="Commencement Programs and Addresses" href="http://digitalarchives.sjc.edu/items/browse?collection=18&sort_field=Dublin+Core%2CDate&sort_dir=d">Items in the Commencement Programs and Addresses Collection</a></strong> to view and sort all items in the collection.
Identifier
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commencementprograms
Text
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text.
Original Format
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paper
Page numeration
Number of pages in the original item.
14 pages
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Memoirs of Deceased Alumni, 1856
Description
An account of the resource
Memoirs of deceased alumni of St. John's College. Read, by appointment of the Association, August 6th, 1856, by John G. Proud, Jr., A. M. To which is added a register of St. John's College, for 1856.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Proud, Jr., A.M., John G.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Robert F. Bonsall, Printer
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Annapolis, MD
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1856-08-06
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
St. John's College owns the rights to this publication.
Type
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text
Format
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pdf
Contributor
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Watkins, M.D. Tobias
Dorsey, Thomas Beale
Ridout, M.D., Samuel
Relation
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<a title="Commencement Address" href="http://digitalarchives.sjc.edu/items/show/3619">Commencement Address</a>
Language
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English
Identifier
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Register and Memoirs of Deceased Alumni of St. John's College by John G. Proud 1856-08-06
Alumni
Commencement
-
https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/sjcdigitalarchives/original/90d0b40f187bcf30d426c2d44fb0738a.pdf
650b8b52a74f55ece317a81e681dbb24
PDF Text
Text
Ulhe Ufmdeucies olf J!J),otlem
~cience;
viewed in their
!Jleligious J!,specfs.
A~
ADDRESS
.
DELIVERED BEFORE
The Alumni of St. John's College,
AT THE COMMENCEMENT, HELD ON THE 27TH JuLv, 1870.
BY THE
Rev. 0. HUTTON, D. D.,
Rector of Asceuaiou Parish, Washiugtou, D. C.
PUBLISHED :SY EEQ,UEST OF THE .A.LUJ)<l:NI.
BALTIMORE:
GEORGE LYCETT, 44 LEXINGTON ST.
1871.
,I
�lfhe l§mtlencics off JjjJ.orlcm ~cience; viewell in their
IJ,cligious J!,spcds.
A_N ADDRESS
DELIVERED BEFORE
The Alumni of St. John's College,
AT THE COMMENCEMENT, HELD ON THE 27TH JULY, 1870.
BY THE
Rev. 0. HUTTON, D. D.,
Rector of Ascension Parish, Washington, D. C.
PUBLISHED :BY EEQ.UEST OF THE .A.LU:I!<I:NI.
BALTIMORE:
GE.OHGE LYCETT, 44 LEXINGTON ST.
1871.
.
�I
.
REV. DR. O R LANDO HUTTON:-
ANNAPOLIS,
October 12, 1870.
Rev. and Dear Bii· ··- At th e meetmg of the so · t
.
College, on the afternoon of I t
.
cie Y of the Alumni of St. John's
as commencement da th
w ere instructed to t ender t
y,
e Executive Committee
0 you on behalf of the A
. .
masterly address which you d 1·
ssocrat1on , their thanks for the
h
e ivered on ti· at day and t
t e sa m e, when convenient for pub! ' t· '
o r equest of you a copy of
the College.
'·
ica ion, to be preserved among the archives of
BRETH R EN OF THE A L U:i\I NI :
I know not the considerations that moved tl1e fou nders to give
to this venerable institution the nam of ST. J OHN; b~1t I am persuaded that all her ::;ons and those having charge and trust within
these walls should find in snch a name so sacred and significant,
the source of an honorable pride and the stimulns to a noble ambition.
St. John was t he first and greatest of Christian philosophers.
Like the eagle, by which he is symbolized in all ecclesiastical literature, he soars aloft into t he hi ghest regions of thought, and
with undazzled eye looks upon the very centre and source of all
celestial light. T lwough diction sweet and simple almost as that
of a child, he unfo lds the deep things of a wisdom as sublime as
it is profound . T he unseen heavenly t rnth::; that absorbed his
whole inner beiug were mirrored in pu rity and loveliness upon
his character and life. St. John therefore ::;tands as the representative of everything noble in the intellectual, the contemplative, and the spiritual. By bearing his name, than which our
Alma Mater could bear none more honored and befitting, this
College is engaged to impress upon her scholars the living and
undying characters of a philosophy which, fo unded upon t he essential principles of truth, reaches beyond earth, sky, and Heaven,
up to the uncreated One, and finds ' its response in t he innermost
clept hs of the soul of man. In an age when as yet science in its
physical depart ments had no distinct existence, St. John, with
his k een perceptions and eagle insight into th e Divine and human
I therefore 'in compliance with these instructions
·
take pleasure in adding that ·ts
..
.
'request a copy of the same, and
i me11t emmently entitles it to be .
V ery trul
p1eserved.
y,
FRANK H. STOCKETT,
Chairman Executive Committee.
FRANK H . S TOCKETT, ESQ.,
WASHINGTON, D . C.,
F eb. 22, 1871.
C hai?-m an of the E xecutive Com m'ittce :
Derir Sir:- Your c ommumcationrequesting on b b
.
College a copy of th e address d 1· .
e alf of the Alumni of St.John's
. e iv e1ed bv me before th . b
m en cem en t , h as been r eceived I I . . .
e1r ody at the la te com.
ie11oiw1th send y o u a c
f
I trus t the addr ess may b f
opy o th e same.
e ound to subserve in I
t er ests of r eligion a n d true .
so n e sma ll m ea sure the great inscience. In consentina t ' t
.
.
geth er the jud~ment of t~
h
o
o l s publlcation, I defer a lto"
ose w o are pleased to think th t · .
.
t o such ends.
a it will be servi ceable
Yours most truly,
O . HUTTON.
'
I
....
�4
THE TENDENCIES OF . MODERN
SCIENCE;
aspects of truth, met the subtlest f; .
. .
cism . and all
.
I
or ms of Gnosticism and skepti'
<
em nest f'ee <ers after th
.
things whether m t . I
'. .
e essential knowledO'e of
'
. a er1a or "Plfltual h
fi
d .
.
;.
a power to shield them from the h · ]. a~e oun m h1.c;; wr1tmgs
them into the pure em
I
. y< ia s iapes of error and guide
pvrea rf'0'1ons of absol t
d
,.
. To teach and vindic~te su I " l :l
h. u e an per1ect truth.
as the hiO'h vocation o'f
. cA p 11 ~;sop y I err not in claiming
1l
"
oui
ma J.V!ater a
· · ·
·
so hallowed in its a«C>oc1.,,t.
I
' s l'f'.J01c111g Ill a name
ions an< s 0 1Jrscriptive of her noble
• •
m1ss10n.
0 ·,
"
The College is the O'reat edrcator 0 I
there are. for fro111 tl1e"' b . .'
.
t 1er educators, indeed
'
eO'umrng t ti
J
f
'
life a thousand influences a"'· t . ol 1e c ose o man's earthly
· re
wor
t ·
·
d or evil, all the capahil"f a f I . c to brin!! ou, m d"
goo
1rectwns
f; t"
I IP.S o
i1s nature Bt t ti
ec !Ve agencies that mo Id r
. I le most efmental activity. of
u 'c irect, and control the thought and
an age aTe the colJeO'. t . . .
t lmm are to be foiwd ti
h
o 1 e 111st1tut1011s.
a
In
.
ie m~m w o do th tl. . k.
the men who ta] k and
k b
.
e tin ing; and it is not
ma e usy stir and noise b t tl
th . k
m that govern the world. From
: ' u le men who
crates, Plato, and Aristotle whose
the times of Thales, Sothe progress of Greo] d '1
. systems of thought controlled
.
e { eve opment and that f
b
until now, this ma::;tenr of mi ,J 1'
I 11 .o su sequent ages·
•
n11
t
E very yea1· tl1 o·o forth ,.1·0 ti 1as ie. c its dom·
ere
d
.
man sway.
0
JJ
m le e 11cat10n J • ft ·
country thousands of youthful . d
.
a. rns i ut10ns of our
ciplined in tho1wht cult
l n~rn s, storerl with knowledge, disthe great uesti,7ns 'an ~1rec anc tr~ined to meet and battle with
the millio~s of our p~o~~;ues t~at rnvolve the highest welfare of
gravest responsibilities r·eC> e, t n upon wl1om must devolve the
~
.
., pee 111cr Ollr 1 111 . . ·1·
rLJt
.
0
cause oft·
, ·
·
'
e c1v1 1zation and th
i ne science and Ro 111H] religion.
e
To no subject, then, of pl'ofo1111c1er . t . t
a consideration of the t
.
- 111 e1 l's - can wc tnm than to
is being afforded our edendet11cl1 es of 1.liat e11 ltnrc which in this aO'e
·
'
nca e< youth.
"'
Under tne awakened inten·"t wh i 1 1
.
.
ments has l'ecently excited ,,l ·- .c i_ 11cat1on in all its depart1e(
•
r
arisen: suc:h as Ifov'.., . tl ' S ( ep ..tn<1 com r ex qnes t"
· nl ·,
·1011s Jlave
'
' 1 ar
JP
tatesliall · ·1 f'
control of education. t
I
p1 ov1t e OI', and assume
.
.'
' o w iat extent the old s. t
d
Jects of i 11structio11 sh ll b I
. J s ems an sn b·
.
·
d wl1etl1er education a I II e l c 1a110'ecl 'and new ones rntrodnced.
an
':
·
s 1a . >e entirely sev r J c.
.
. . '
rnfluence and teacl11"n• , d I
. e ec nom a 11 rel10'1ous
•
g an
'c of a
. I . l
"'
These points I undertal·
n. exc ns1ve y secular character.
• ,e not to discuss. Tliey al'e at this mo-
VIEWED IN THEIR RELIGIOUS ASPECTS.
5
'
ment engaging the most anxious thoughts of our best and ablest
men. Upon their right solution immense interests are depending.
Apart from these questions, certain it is t hat ~e have to deal with
modern society, with what the past has made it, and with the
mighty and pervading elements that are at work to mould it, and
retard or advance its pl'ogress towards the practical and happy solution of those problems, deep and multiform, which lie at the
basis of our whole modern social structure. I am convinced that
there are no influences, outside of religion and yet intimately connected with all religious belief, more powerfully at work than
those which modern science, as popularly taught and systematically set forth, is exerting upon the thought, the culture, and the
activity of the present age.
It is to this subject, the tendencies of modern science, that I
invite the attention of the distinguished and learned body before
which I stand, and of this audience that <!Oncentres in itself the
intelligence, the beauty, and the refinement of a city that any son
ol' daughter of Maryland may be proud to claim as his birthplace.
And if it seem presumptuous in one who can lay no claim to any
fitness to discuss such a theme, especially in this presence, I can
only plead the remembrance of those counsels, to be ever ready
for any service, however feeble, in the cause of truth and sound
education, received from that venerated man at whose feet in
these halls it was my privilege to sit, whose high culture of mind,
vast and varied learning, dignity of bearing, and noble devotion
to science, literature, and religi0n, rendered him not unworthy of
any position which such qualities are requisite to sustain and
adorn, and whose mantle it is no light praise to say has fitly descended upon him* who now occupies the chair once and so long
filled by Hector Humphreys.
No one can fail to note the intensity and perseverance with
wh ich the human mind is now pushing its r esearches into the
minutest and remotest realms of all knowledge. These researches
al'e constantly discovering new facts in the constitution of the universe, and are bringing the discoveries to bear directly upon all
points of human Lelief and all matters touching the progress of
human society. S ince the time of Francis Bacon, who by his
*Pres ..J. C. W elling.
I,.
•
�VIEWED IN TIIEIR RELIGIOUS ASPECTS.
6
THE TENDENCIES OF MODERN SCIENCE;
mighty genius gave the first impulse and the new method and
direction to scientific study, the investigations have taken the
most varied and extensive range, and have everywhere been rewarded with laurels of success. Never before in the history of mankind have the results in any departments of study been so astonishiug as they have been in the physical sciences. In fact, these
sciences have progressed so far that they now claim to deal not
only with material phenomena, but with the higher questions of
life, mind, society, history, education, and the deepest mysteries of
creation. In the " battle of the philosophies" Physics has triumphed over Metaphysics. The old Stagirite master has been
dethroned from that royal supremacy which for centuries he had
held. New sciences have arisen; new questions have been
started; new issues have to be met. The whole current of
human thought touching old matters of settled belief threatens to
be changed. Modern science, like another Pallas, springing fullarmed into life, steps forth, points everywhere to the trophies of
her conquest, and claims that all men shall rise up and do her
reverence. So intimately and essentially indeed are scientific
principles and facts now involved in all branches of human industry and pursuit, in manufactures, in agriculture, in commerce
in navigation, in the agencies of warfare, in all modes of inter~
communication and locomotion, in resthetics and the fine arts, and
in the problems of political economy and social progress, that it is
impossible to be educated up to the level and the spirit of the
age without some considerable knowledge of those principles and
facts. They are becoming more and more extensively studied
and investigated. Science, simplified and familiarized, is introduced into our common schools and academies. Popular treatises
upon it abound. Magazines are full of it. The lecturer takes it
to the remotest country village. Governments are occupied with
it, and are making the most liberal provisions for the vigorous
prosecution of its researches. In fine, institutes and museums,
richly endowed and furnished with most extensive apparatus and
laboratories, have sprnng up in all parts of the civilized world, and
not least here in our own country.
Thus it has come to pass that modern science, by her accumulated stores of new facts, by her enlargement of the sphere of
human knowledge, and by the wonderfql adaptation of her dis-
•
7
.
and advantages of life, has acquired
coveries to the practical uses
. cl Physical studies are bever the human mm .
•t
a master-power o
l d nd rosecuted. Ho'v long 1 may
coming more and mor~ va ue a f ~reece and Rome will be banbe before the old classic masters o l
Plato and Aristotle now
ished to the peaceful shades w 1etre
d1"ct Certain it is that
I ·n
t venture o pre
·
quietly repose, w1 no
h
l s up in cloistered walls and
the days when men shut t em;es v:culations and reasonings, and
p
gave themselves to purefabstraclanguages aml the ancient philoso.
t d
dead
to the exclusives u y o
h
.
may think, however
t
l one . and w atever we
..
phi.es, are pas anc g
' H t face the new facts of our pos1t1on
we may feel, we are broug 1 o lt . and the whole system of
.
d to science mental cu ure,
m regar
'
modern education.
. whly pract" l an d utilitarian ' wherein
ica
. .
In an ao-e t l1us ti10101"'
.
cl
y knows no hm1t
"'
d .
t" e life an energ
thought i.s quickene 111to ac iv
~he educator of the thinking
save the impossible, the College, as
t keep pace with this
. d f tl e country mus
and controlling mm s o 1 1 . i' • h place to the physical
d not on y g,1ve ng
h
spirit of t h e age, an
d"
e to it that as taught t ey
t hful guar 1an se
sciences, but as a wa c . . l
f solid truth and tbe well-ascerare founded upon the pnnc1p es o
.
t and not upon theories
b
t" on and ex:penmen ' ly to be abandoned totai.ned facts of o serva i
and hypotheses accepted to-day as true, on
morrow as false.
h b ficent material results of
sti.on as to t e ene
b
There ean b e no que
ld"t"ons contributed there y to
.
s to the vast ac J l
. .
d
modern s01ence, nor a
t that valuable trammg an
l
I dge nor yet as o
l . .
our stores of rnow e
' .
.
t the intellectual facu ties m
discipline which such studies g1ve o ti er results than these to be
the search after truth ; but there are. o 1
considered.
.
l- ries are put forth touching the
When bold and startling t ielo.
11 mental power, all moral
. .
. .c. •
ongm an d nat ure of man ' reso v111g a d 11 spiritual behe1s m t o
.
c 1·
J sentiment, an a
. lf .
affection, a11 iee mg an
d. 1 · thlil universe 1tse 111
.
t . l forces . an w 1en
b
divers automatic ma ena
. ' d
ations is asserted to e
all its marvellous beauty' order, an . olpedr lop' ment which for
lt f a 1)hys1ca
eve
'
nothing but the resn
t"l from some
.
h
t has been gomg on un l
countless ages m. t e pas
..
. ·1.•1 and invisible have been
.
.
.
pr1mord1al seecl or. ger m a11 thmgs v1s1,., e · uire whither mtb ese
evolved - then thoughtful minds pause to i~q
.
f our modern s01ence.
regards are the ten d encies 0
°
.
�8
THE TENDENCIES OF MODERN
'
SCIENCE;
. !lrnse tendencies - and it is onl as t
lrg10us belief that I h .
.d Y
hey respect matters of reer e cons1 er them
h
h
markedly in two main direct· .. th - s ow t emselves most
· ·
wns · ' e one towards unconsc10us
·
s lrnptw1sm in the minds f
.
o men generally . th th
tive conviction in the . d f h
'
e o er towards posimm s o t e great b d f . .
cu l tured men that there is a d .d :I
? y o scientific. and
. .
ec1 ec antagomsm bet ween science
au d re l 1g10n.
An investigation into the causes which .
.
results, conducted philosophicall
. . are le.adrng to these
trium1)hs of modern sc·
dy, recogmzmg the JUst claims and
ience an at the
·
· .
setting forth the true s h' .
f
. ~ame time vrndwating and
':ould be a work of in~a1::1~a~le 1~;!~~1s though_t and belief,
Ciples of a sound philosoph in re ·d
' as ~e~tlmg the prinfor all truth must emanaty c.
gar to both relig10n and science .
e
·
.
h armony with itself 0 1 lrom one . sou rce an d beat umty and'
b
·
n y very nefiy
d ·
c.
present any considerations b .
an. unperiectly can I
,
earmg on the subject
The characteristics of th
.
. •
1
science are an extreme pr
. e p.opu. ar mmd m connexion with
•
epossess10n Ill favor of
h.
.
t 1 gmse of science and an . d. t•
le
,
everyt mg bearmg
·
'
Ill is met idea th t
·
g10n are incompatible prod d b
a science and relit1·eated and reliofon r~ferred u~e . y the way in which science is
tions of the day 0 Tl
1 u~ the popular scientific . publica.
le popu ar mmd rec .
th
.
ments and propositions w·th
e1ves e scientific stateence. Call any theory hr unquestioning and unreasoning cred' owever prepostero
. .fi
once acquires a IJrestige "'h. h
. .
us, scientr c, and it at
.
" re secures rt th
belref of a great proportion f
e respect and even the
. .
o men The ma
.
SCJentrfic method and hav
•th .
ss are ignorant of
'
e ne1 er the abTt
test any scientific questions a d
bl
I I y nor the means to
conscious of the immense b n fro ems. But they are perfectly
discoveries of science H enehts conferred on mankind by the
·
ence t ey are J d
exaggerated views of tl
, .
e most naturally to form
·
S uch wooden; in the pastle provmce and capa bTrtres of science.
h
b
I
.
h e1r eyes that the w·ld ··tave een wrought an d are da1·1 y before
t
d
.
1
reams
.
T heir thoughts and hopeses th b for th e fiut ure are rndu!ged.
are
material and the usefiul 0
dus .rought to concentrate upon the
·
ur a vanced h - · ·
is everything that science .
h. p JSICists teach that nature
.
'
Is everyt mg Th
·h
h
.
gives mastery over the ph . 1
Id
·
ey s ow ow science
yswa wor rer
f
.
makes nature man's hand·
1
' ieves rom toil and trouble
r-wor rer and
t ·b
.
'
ways to add to the sources d
'
con rr utes In a thousand
an means of human wealth and enjoy-
°
VIEWED IN 'rl-IEIR RELIGIOUS ASPECirs.
meut. Thus in the popular mind ideas of utility and of material advantage become so thoroughly associated with physical science, that
the spiritual as beyond the range of sense-perception loses its true
value in the ordinary life, and is supposed to be without evidence
of reality. It is therefore ignored and set aside for that which
seems more real, and is regarded with doubt, suspicion, aud at last
skeptical unbelief.
It may indeed be asserted that nothing is grander and more ennobling than the triu111ph of mind over matter as illustrated in
physical science, that nothing is calculated to give us more lofty
, conceptions of the unseen and mighty powers of nature than when
they are represented as working ever under what is called necessary and immutable law. Unfolding beauties and wonders indeed
are everywhere and in everything to be seen. For God has made
the world as wonderful in its beauty as it is complicated in its
parts and ~tructure. From the pollen of the tiny lily to the
mightiest orb of the heavens, in whatever microscope can reveal
or telescope bring near, there are the lines and shades and colors
of the beautiful, as well as those infinite adaptations and contrivances which in all things proclaim the power, wisdom, and glory
of the great Creator. Indeed, this ve~'Y element · of the beautiful
in the constitution of the universe stands as one of the unaccountable things which science cannot reach or explain. But the question is not with what feelings of admiration we should contemplate the natural worhl, nor what would be the effect of a proper
study and just presentation of natural science, but what practically
is the effect upon the popular mind of such knowledge as is imparted in popular treatises and lectures, wherein for the most part
the thoughts are concentrated upon the material and the useful,
and nature herself is vested with attributes of Deity.
Nay more, in the enthusiasm with which physical str,dies
are recommended by the advocates of modern science, it is
gravely asserted that om· whole modern civilization has been the
product of modern science; that the great advances made, especially within the last half century, in education, culture, and
everything that is comprehended under the term civilization, have
been the results of scientific discoveries and their application to
the uses of life. But herein the true order of things is reversed.
Modern science with all the improvements to which it has led has
2
�10
nm
TJ;;NDENC!ES OF MODER.N SCIENCE;
been the outgrowth, not the cause - the offspring, not the parent,
of our advanced civilization. It is not to any one cause or set of
causes that we are to ascribe that multiform and complex state of
things around us which we call modern society. Many agencies
and influences have been at work in a long series of years to brin(J'
•
•
0
it to its present stage of advancement. Science has been one of
the concomitant results of that progress. As in society deep
wants were felt, so physical science came more and more into
being, and experiments were directed to meet these wants. Sometimes by happy accident, sometimes as the reward of long and
patient study, the most important discoveries have been made.
So rapid and extraordinary of late years have been these discoveries, .e~peeially cf the application of steam as ~motive power, of
electricity and magnetism for the communication of thought, of
new modes of warfare by land and by sea, of chemical combinations as applied to the arts and uses of li.fe, of the spectrum
analysis, of photography, of physiology, of the conservation and
correlation of forces - so great and varied have these been as to
constitute the present age one of remarkable and unprecedented
scientific progress. But these have all successively followed upon
the advancemeut of modern civilization, and are the outgrowth
and results of its awakened life and energy. They react
indeed to give additional stimulus and zest to modern improve- .
ments; but the just claims of science do not require us to put
that as the cause which is fairly to be reckoned as the sequence in
the history of modern civilization.
"\<Vhen, however, the mass of men become imbued with the conviction that everything which gives to modern life its advantages
over the past and its prestige for the future is to be attributed to
physical science, they will give to it an unreasoning predominance
over all other studies and pursuits, and receive without discrimination, as alike established and true, both the facts and the theories
of modern science. Now a wide distinction ·is to be drawn between the practical and the theoretical divisions of science. "\<Ve
accept the facts of science, all of them, so far as they are proved
to be facts; for as so proved they are as certain as the evidence of
sense an~ reason can render any knowledge. "\<Ve deem the study and
systematic arrangement of those facts in their relations connexions
'
and bearings, of immense importance and of the greatest practical
VIEWED IN THEIR. REJ~IGIOUS ASPECTS.
11
utility. It is this that constitutes trne science, which differs from
cOn1 mon knowledo-e si mply in the fact that it is extended and
0
.
systematized knowledge of material phenomena, differing. not in
nature and kind but in degree from that common experunental
knowledge which one must have to preserve his life and promote
his comfort for a si ngle day. To t he practical labors of the
zooloo-ist the chemist, botanist, the geologist., the astronomer, too
mucl~ e1;couragement can scarcely be given 1 By their investigations they have laid bare such a multitude of facts in the constitution ancl operations of the natural world as to fill us with au
ever-increasing wonder at the boundless and ever-widening field s
of knowlP-clge before the human mind. 'Vhile we extend all
honoi· and admiration to the noble band of men who with such
acuteness and patient research have sought to penetrate the mysteries
of nature, and while we gratefully accept and take just pride in t he
actual results of their labors, we cannot be too cautious and discriminating in the reception of theories based in part on assumptions of supposititious facts lying so far removed from the sphere
of man's investigation as to rendet· any positive determination concernin(J' them impossible. It is from such theories, as commonly
set for~h and recei vecl, that men conclude that science and religion
are antagonistic. In the popular mind the facts and the theories
are indiscriminately blended together. 'Vhile the conclusions of
science are received as absolute and certain, the postulates of rel io-ious belief are reo-arded as in conflict with these conclusions.
0
0
Hence, what I term unconscious skepticism on the part of the mass
of men results. It is a seer misgiving as to all religious truths,
scarcely admitted or expressed, but surely terminating in that
skepticism so deplorably prevalent in the present age.
But when we turn to the consideration of that decided antagonism which, in the opinion of so many scientific and cultured men ,
exists between science and revealed religion, we are forced to recoo-nize it as one of the most painful facts in the development of
m~dern science that there should seem to be this conflict between
the two. This result is partly to be ascribed to those bold and
startling positions of which I have spoken as assumed of late by
scientific men, and partly to the way in which both the facts and
the theories of modern science have from time to t ime been met
hy theologians and the defenders of Christianity.
�12
VIEWED IN
TI-IE TENDENCIES OF MODERN SCIENCE ;
Revealed religion has nothing to fear from sciencer Sure and
immovable is the basis on which her divine verities rest. Increase of knowledge and lapse of time shall only make more
manifest her stability and her glory. For revealed religion, no
less than science, is founded on facts, true and certain ; and
there are other facts in man's nature and in the universe than
those material ones of which physical science takes cognizance.
All true philosophy must not only recogni ze but be based upon
the real composite structure of our being, the material, the intellectual, and the spiritual. From the failure to do this results the
chief dangerous tendency of modern science, which takes hold of
one element of our being and cultivates that at the expense and
to the exclusion of all others . It deals with the uni verse and with
man- simply as presenting so many material phenomena to be investigated, and as fact after fact is discovered it is assigned to its
supposed place with its antecedent and consequent connections;
thus classified and ordered, ignoring and rejecting all other
agencies, everything is brought under the control of self-acting
and perpetually evolving material forces, which are indestructible
and yet convertible and correlative, working ever according to
necessary and immutable laws. From such positions as these no
other impression can be received than that, somehow in the indeterminable ages of the past, things have wrought themselves up into
their present condition ; and that if there be a personal GoD at all ,
He stands away back of those endless millions of years when the first
primordial and self-developing seed sprang into existence. If.th e
ideas. of GoD and religion are to be a<ilmitted into this system, they
must stand apart from this unchangeable order and succession .
There can be no place found for them in such a conception of the
universe. True, indeed, the non-existence of GoD and of the
human soul, and the impossibility of any supernatural proofs of a
Divine revelation, are not in so many words positively asserted;
but if the mere theories and speculations referred to are to be. received as established facts, it is hard to find where and how the
religious beliefs are to come in. For if you are to reduce all things
to material forces and immutable laws, you of necessity exclude
the spiritual and religious idea, and the supernatural becomes a
contradiction and an impossibility. Thus these conclusions
referring all things to impersonal forces, and either reducing the
'IIIEIR RELIGIOUS ASPECTS,
rt Or excludin<F him altogether from OUr
D eity to an imperson~ I y en t'. ly· ~aIT to satisfy the requirements
f ti
mverse
ne i:
•
conceptions o ie u
' l the very instincts of his nature IS
•
of man ' s na t t ne . For. man iy •
intelligence and t h e cl esll'e of
.
b ·
His reasonrng
~
cl
relicnous e1ng.
'
t
er·sonal GoD all-penect an
••
""
1 h" t eek un o a p ,
'
.
his soul impe im o s b
b" ctive reality to meet that rnThere must e an o ~e
.
f
"
s
supreme .
d cl •
"The personal1tv o man, say
· conv1ction an
·
esire. t cl y "demands a personal G OD."
'
stinct1ve
~
cl writer of the presen a '
d b .
a pro1oun
.
cl ls with matter alone an p ys1But it is said that as smence ea bly expect to obtain from it
e cannot reasona
;
cal forces al one, w
. f
' craving after snpernatura1
.
. tecl to sat1s y man s
conclus1ons sm
d . b t we do assert that in no depart.
u
.
1 . Tl11 s is not expecte t ; d consequent reasomng app l'ie d t o
trut 1
.
1 wledge can JUS an
.
t
ment of rno .
. . ~ t
roduce conclusions rncompa r hed and certam iac s p
t
wel1-es t ab is
.
"t. 1 'med thatJ'ust and consequen
.l
' ature But l IS c a1
.
ible w1 t 1 man s n
h . th
conclusions be received. It IS pre.
demands t at ese
·
reasonrng
R r . has no quarrel with t Irn f:ac t s
cisely this that we deny.
e 1g1on.
hich deduces certain con.
. ·
1 with the reasomng w
of science; it is on y
F
h scientific men demand that
clusions from these facts . . or ,yt~: origin and transmutation of
. l'k those of Darwm on
theories i -e
lntion and development, or
.
f Herbert Spencer on evo
D
species, o
. lb . f life or protoplasm, of raper on
Huxley on the phys1ca cl ~sis~
:bsolutely immutable-when
the universe as governe . >Yl'l·awtsh
shall he received as settled
. .
.. d that theones I ,..e ese
.
. ..
.
h 1 . s to a searchrng cnt1c1sm,
1t IS requne
t snb1ect sue c ann
d
facts, then we mus
~
't'
be at least intelligible, an
tl at their exposi ions
,
.
t
and clemancl 1
,
t B t are these reqmremen s
. .
nd and correc .
u
d
d
their reasomng sou
l
cl they ascribe this gran an
duly fulfilled? To what t 1len o t thi: perfect and beautiful
. bl
l eme of deve .opmen ' e or forces actmg un cl er im.
•
in term ma e sc 1
I
t r
"
" ?
t is o 1orc
order of the cosmos .
.
cl l at lciw is and how causaB t I tjm·ce is an w i,
'
mutable laws.
u w 1~ . . ' do . eratinO' agents, is nowheTe
tive as in themselves or1grnatm? a~ ~ . wl~en I am told that
sati~factorily and clearly explame. ·t · o;ion and that law is per. l
duces or res1s s mo
'
I
.
force is that w h ic 1 pro
.
.
atural phenomena, am rn
cci vecl regularity and snccess10::: t;~is definition presents to the
reality no wiser than before, s as an effective cause. These terms
mind nothing that ca~ opera~~ti~s but simply conceptions .of ~he
rer)resent no ontological rea . ' 1 . the statement of acientdici
. l" cfhey are however ~o nsec H\ , . . •
n
mrnc.
.
�14
THE 'l'ENDENCIES OF MODERN SCIENCE.
VIEWED IN THEIR RELIGIOUS ASPECTS.
'
propositions atHl conclusions and .
:hey are deduced, that if we' are t~n)l~e argumants from which
ens.e, we rnnst invest them wit! .
~1ve to them any intelligible
real:ty. B ut is that sound r 1 a ~ort ?f substantive and concre
cept10.ns of the mind are
Ill
the abstract
material pl1 enome11·1 all
actual, or1grnatino· causes f II
th
I t
, ' . succession and I
"'
o a
.oug,1.,sentimcutaml foeli1w ? .y.
ciange of life, of all
science reason thus . Tl iey t"'l. ti et b
many expounders '>f nlo l l em
.
't ·e
.
c
conceptions of tl1e minrl , {' : ' . , ie a stract, intangible im1Je1·fi t
1
101 concret
1· ·
'
ec
a.c vanced systems of the da 't .
, e rea it1es. Thus under the
s1stent operation of j'01 .ce 1rnc er is gravely asserted th·1t [)Y ti ie pery]1 . , I . t · .
t'
'
1011, the sidereal anc1 sol
1
'
· ar sy:;f.em v. i,1 is •termed the frL\v of evo·1uJ
'
c,e~·eloped - that in the same- was iave .rn orderly succession been
e,utl1 has come to i ts present
'
y .
.
r by like successive, cl1"
"no·es th
life and its varieties in the
1:1011 -.that all the
like ~11anner been produced . I
~1nd ammal kingdoms hav .
phase of
- that man
111 us I)h ys1ca I strncture in l .
·
.ve ' has become what he . '
•.
moral
t
'
us mental co ft ·
is
fi • na ure, under th e operat'
f
, ns i ut10n, and in h.
' ne, that all proO'ress of 1
wn .o the same force ancl l
_is
l
"' ··
1uman soci t ·
· aw· 111
au~fovemment, is attributable •o t~ y rn culture, arts, civilization
so when it is said ti t t' " l~ same agencies .
'
·ibso l ute ly immutable I . la . umve tse is governed b 1
·
·
ne
· ·
.
for ti
' ieie aO'am we Iia ti
y aws
.ie concrete.
For in
1e abstract substituted
p.crce1vcd regularity ofrecm~re~:~es, la~v is nothing else but the
:~~ct~mstances, which so far as our oofb;~!~e ~henomena under like
• . e' but we cannot say that the
. . vat10n extends is in varid 1rects the reo· I .
pe1ee1 ved reO'ul . t
. t i . . 'd
. bu ar1ty and uniformity f tl
"' any causes or
llS ls I entical with sayinO' that ti
o . 1e phenomena; and yet
produced or O'Overned b ."'
ie uniformity of pheno
.
entities be b
y immutable law Th
mena is
t he
. come strangely mixed up toO'
us facts and non. .. concrete, the real and the s
. be lei. The abstract and
V1S1ble, the knowable a11d ti peekulat1ve, the visible and the .
bl d d
ie un ·no
bl
rnsc;~1 e ai~l without discrimination i:~h e,t are. all so intimately
nt?te, ~11 by the advocates of new th e _ermmology of modern
Co ns l utwn of tl
.
eories of the or1gm and
. .
t II
le umverse and f
e v;hether the forces of whicl o man, :hat it is impossible to
or spiritual, inherent in matt : 1 so mue!11s predicated are material
abstractions they are in vestede~v~~1e~::rwr. it; but still as mere
pos1t1ve attributes of D Cly,
•t
mad::~onrng w~1i?h
i:
~f
~he] ~11ghest
~~~~~
l:
develo1J~::1ttaiasnsmtnted
)h .· .
v:
;I .
t?
co1:~
phe1~rnen:
him:e;~
15
While thus ignoring and rejecting mind and spirit as a separate
entity in man, the physicists, by a strange inconsistency, showing
how truth will vindicate herself, are compe1led to assume the .existence of mind and of mental operations before they can proceed
to form any scientific propositions whatever.
vVe know that matter and mind touch each other. very closely,
and that there is a mysterious connection and interdependence
between them, as facts in physiology abundantly prove; but to
make the rational intelligence of man simply the result of so much
food, which, when converted into blood, produces thought in the
brain and digestion in the stomach, and which thought, when rn
produced or originated, resolves itself into will, emotion, sentiment,
imagination,~ all this is to be utterly nnsc·ientijic, to pnt the
necessary condition for the ccmse, and to pass into the wildest
speculations.
The universal convictions of mankind and the facts of a constant experience are to go for something. vVe are as much bound
to take the facts of mental phenomena into our philosophy as the
material facts of the outer world. There is a world of thought, of
reasoning intelligence, of spiritual being, as well us a world of
inorganic and organized matter. Into the mystery of the origin
of life and mind no human science can penetrate. The greatest
naturalist of the age has pronounced it impossible to solYe it.
You may trace the beginning of life to a simple cell, lmt you have
not solved the mystery. You may locate the seat of the intellect
in the brain, and undertake to show how the mental characteristics are modified by the cerebral structure and its convolutions, but
you have not proved that a material organization, however complex and perfect, can originate rational consciousness and voluntary activity. You have indeed shown the complexity and ingenuity of the machine, but you have not demonstrated that it is
self-acting, self-originating, and self-developing. It still remains
only a machine, and the motive power still remains to be accounted
for.
JTurther, in the regular ascending gratlation which you may traoe
from the lowest form of animal life, where the action is sim
reflex, as in the radiata and the mollusc, up to the highest
most complex organism of the adult man, there are no facts
stress upon the word ~ no fcicts to show that any one of
'I
�16
'l'HE TENlJENC!ES OF :MODERN SC!ENCE;
gl'e:lt classes of the animal kingdom evel· passes by any transmutation or development into another, or that life and intelligence
are the product of self-evolving material causes.
Now it is this effort to prove that for which from the nature of
the case there can never be sufficient testimony, that vitiates all
works of science which are opposed to religious belief.
Admitting then the whole series of new facts, so far as they are
facts, which of late years have been brought to light, there yet
remain to be seal'ched into the deeper depths of things unknown.
Great as may be .her advances, modern science cannot claim to
have reached the Ult:ima Thide of all knowledge and discovery in
the natural world. The very ardor with which investigatious
are now being pushed in all departments shows that the acquisitions of the past are ohly serving to give stimulus to inquiries
which it is instinctively felt will be rewarded with new successes;
and these new discovel'ies mocli(v, change, and set aside much that
was before regarded as settled and established. In science as in
practical life we are as continually unlearning as learning. Almost
every day witnesses new discoveries, new advances. As the new
facts come up, the old theories have to be discarded. The discovery, for example, during the present age of the correlation and
conservation of forces has entirely changed the views of scientific
men respecting heat, light, electricity, magnetism, and motion.
In geology, also, new facts are constantly being disclosed ; but
the evidence is too fragmentary and imperfect to enable us to form
any complete and certain history of the world; and our conclusions
and conjectures can only at the best be probable, perhap:: not that.
The same may be said with equal justness of the nebular hypothesis and the development theory. Thus science is ever changing.
This onward advance necessitates continually the abandoi1ment of
old theories and the formation of new ones, and makes it impossible for science t~ pronounce definitely concerning the constitution
of the universe, the genesis of stars and worlds, the origin and
nature of life. It is in the highest degree irrational and unscientific to base upon uncertain and changing theories such positive
assumptions as to require mankind to abnegate the convictions and
the beliefs founded upon the acknowledged facts of e
mr intellectual and spiritual being, and upon historical proofs of the most
conclusive character; and as this is done by scientific men with a ,.
.
I N 'rllEIR RELIGIOUS ASPECTS.
VIEWED
17
.
.
."t' vism we h ave a decided antagonism between .modern
.
certarn posl 1
h'
d vealed relio-ion. Three centuries ago,
t fort an re
"
.
. I
science as se
.'
'tl orror upon thought, ranged itself w1t i
't'
loolnng wi i 1
1
.
supers ti 10n '.
.
. t -day scientific skepticism, mockrng at
. .
'
. ·
·11
11gron agamst science .b o ·d'tiec with credulity. Skepticism WI
re
.
. .
f: 'th receives a snr 1 ~
. .
I
h
religions a1 '
erstition po1luted religion.
n trut '
.. t
. ence even as sup
.
v1t1a e sci
'
D' .
ource there can be no antagornsms.
'
.
.
11
t . a- from one l v111e s
as emana 111"
d I
ld and has so ordered rt that m a
who create t 1e wor '
1
The G OD
•
H' . fi 'te wisdom power and goo< ness,
cl )era t1ons is 111 Ill
'
its parts an o1
d
. or· should be proclaimed, is the
t
ator an govern '
.
d
as the grea ere cl
l.
the relia-ious instincts, emotwns an
" who is recoa-mzed as a G OD,
.
G OD to war s w iom
same
f
. and
.
f th soul o man nse,
"
adorat10ns o
e
t
•
f His grace for the benefit
. H'
If in the mys ..enes o
revealing rmse .
.
. t ·r·es What He reveals in His
·
f His ratlona1 crea u ·
and b l essrng 0
·
.
with the true teaching that
.
·d
not be at variance
.
wntten wo1 ~au
·c 11
1 c of creation. Whatever seemmg
f
His man110 c wor i::~
f
comes rom
b b tween them further knowledge o
. t'
there may e e " ·
'
]
contrac ic wns
1 .
'
1· 'ans truth will reveal a perfect
d el· r esearc 1 mto re 1g1 .
'
. .
nature, eep
T . science and revealed religion,
· t y and harmonv.
me
. ·
cons1s enc
..
. t r·s of truth having one ongrn,
.
b
ide as the twm sis e
' .
.
side y s
. .
l . t o11e destiny muted m the bonds
·
'
1nt reac 11n<>' o
h.
breat .mg one bSI]J '. t
us~ alike witness with convincing power
of an msepara e um y, m
.
l G D self-existent and ommpotent.
for a persona o 'fi l
l f to her legitimate sphere. Over all
Science must con ne 1 erse
. ·
Txrhen she assumes
.
. h ' that sphere we reJ01ce. n
.
her conquests wit m
'd
d
wh'1ch to rest passes mto
. 1
soh groun on
'
to be dogmatic, ias no
l d ft ipon our faith for millions
.
.
f
l tion ma ccs ra s t
the regions o specu a
'
. bl
· the past demands
.
f ]
t intermrna e ages 111 ·
'
and mill10ns o a mos .
.
. all its complicated parts,
1. l'
ti t the um verse rn
that we shall ue ieve . 1U
•
bl daptations harmonious
c t
cl r 111 numera e a
'
in its present per1ec or e '
.
d that even the very
.
1 b eaut'fu1 contr1vances, an by the supposed self 1
movements, ant
d
f
have been evo1ve
. t
mind and s.ou l o man,
. 1
,
then we protest agams
. l1 'e have spa , en,
.
b t
acting forces of w h tc v.
· t'c to relia-10n,
u as
.
1 s antagoms I
"
~
the assumpt10ns, not o.n y. a
on in - which is valuable 8.Jly.
opposed to all sound scient1fi~ reas ·t ~ cl and established
. d ls with ascer ame
conclusive only as it ea
in the natural world.
.
. ·on the keenness
. B· n w1t1 a v1s1
1
The great Francis aco '
h these dangero
saw through and throng
we marvel at,
�18
THE TENDENCIES OF MODERN SCIENCE, &C.
He perceived the grand truth, not even yet fully recognized,
tpat true science must cleave steadily to facts -no divergence, no
imagination, no abstract terms, no wild speculation. And as induction is the method of discovering and utilizing facts, so he proclaimed induction as the method of science. With a fearless
voice whose E;lChoes shall never Cease nor be needless, he warned
h.is own and all future ages against the real adversaries of true
science, against meaningless or wrong-meaning terms, ·and against
all imaginative theories and systems.
Let modern science, so far as she has departed from these great
essential principles of a sound philosophy, return to the true system of all real scientific investigation; and while she searches
into the profoundest mysteries of the natural world, let her bow
with reveren~e and devotion before those higher and diviner truths
which revelation unfolds concerning GoD and man, and all things
created; and h~r future glory in her true sphere will be as great
as her conquests in the past have been triumphant. We look
with anxious yet eager longing to the future. The interests of
hunfanity and the cause of truth alike require that science and religion shall go hand in hand in the great work of ameliorating
the condition of the race. Science fails and is powerless to satisfy
the real wants of man's nature. Religion must come in with her
Divi11e consolations and hopes, and reveal to the soul a glol'ious
destiny of immor't ality and blessedness. Let the two be conjoined to benefit and bless mankind. Let the philosophy taught
in our academic halls recogn ize the claims and respective spheres
of each; and as human knowledge progresses, parallel with it and
ever sanctifying it will be that knowledge which comes from
above, and is above all because it raises man up to GoD, the one
source of all true light.
_Never did human heart so pulsate under the celestial influences
of the Truth Divine, and never did human eye so rapturously
gaze npon its radiant glory, as did the heart and eye of him from
whom our Alma lVIater takes her name; and may she ever reflect the bright beams of that Light which shined upon St. John
with such a halo of beauty and glory.
"Ccelum trausit, vel'i robam
Solis vidit, ibi totam
Mentis figens aciem ;
Speculator spi.ritalis
Quasi Sera.pbim sub alis,
Dei videt faciem."
'I
�
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Commencement Programs and Addresses
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Annapolis, MD
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St. John's College Greenfield Library
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Addresses given at commencement and programs of events related to, and including, the annual commencement ceremonies at St. John's College. Includes both the undergraduate and Graduate Institute commencements. <br /><br />The College Archives holds programs and/or addresses for the following years:<br />
<ul>
<li>1796</li>
<li>1835-1836</li>
<li>1842</li>
<li>1852</li>
<li>1856-1857</li>
<li>1870</li>
<li>1878</li>
<li>1880</li>
<li>1890</li>
<li>1893</li>
<li>1895</li>
<li>1897</li>
<li>1907</li>
<li>1910-1918</li>
<li>1920-1924</li>
<li>1928-1929</li>
<li>1932</li>
<li>1936-1937</li>
<li>1939-1945</li>
<li>1947-present </li>
</ul>
Click on <strong><a title="Commencement Programs and Addresses" href="http://digitalarchives.sjc.edu/items/browse?collection=18&sort_field=Dublin+Core%2CDate&sort_dir=d">Items in the Commencement Programs and Addresses Collection</a></strong> to view and sort all items in the collection.
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Commencement Address, 1870
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An address delivered before the alumni of St. John's College, at the Commencement, held on the 27th July, 1870. By the Rev. O. Hutton, D. D., Rector of Ascension Parish, Washington, D.C. Published by request of the alumni. Entitled "The tendencies of modern science; viewed in their religious aspects".
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Hutton, D. D., Rev. Orlando
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George Lycett
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Baltimore, MD
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1870-07-27
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Commencement Address 1870-07-27
Commencement
-
https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/sjcdigitalarchives/original/930925781d487e41b620d7c104a79f09.pdf
75d7aee1ccea31553ab5c9dda1f45186
PDF Text
Text
,
. r
MJ1.::MOIRS
.
OF
'
,·_
..
DEOEA"
SED
.
ALUM-NI
OJ<'
> .....
ST .JOHN'S OOLLEGE1
A_~N.APOLTS'.
·
. -;
I
_ BY
1
.1
.J OilN H. PIWU D
AND
,JOHN S. \YIUT,
~ f I 8'JIOHIOGRAPFfF.H: ~-
! ,·
--
__......._....--- .
-
COMMENCE MENT DAY,
, r
B A L T 1 !II· 0 l{ E :
1879.
•J •
1878.
f
·1
!
_)
�:MEMOIRS
OF
DECEASED
ALUMNI
01<'
ST. JOHN 1S OOLLEGE 1 ANNAPOLIS 1
BY
JOHN G. PROUD
AND
,TORN S. WIR'l',
HTSTORIOGRAPHllRS.
COMMENCEME N T
DAY.
BALTIMORE:
1879.
1878
�NECROLOGY .
HEVEHDY .JOHNSON, LL. D.
} ' J. G. PROUD.
FHANCIS 'l'HOMAS, A . M.
N I N IAN PINKNEY, M. D., LL. D.
JOHN WAL'l'ER J,YNCH, L.B.
I
I
J.
s.
WIR'l'.
RICHARD SWAN, ESQ.
JOHN HIGGS BROWN, A. B.
PROF. HOPKINS.
PRI NTED BY REQUEST OF THE ASSOCIATION OF ALUMNI.
W I LLIA~{
K.
BOYLE, PRINTli:R,
BAI. TUfURK
�.. MEMO .LRS.
0.N the last occasion. of memorial remembrance
of our departed Alumni your. ai.tention was called
to notices of two of our number then recently
removed by sildden death. Both ·were taken in
the prime of life and in the mi~st of activ~ dutybut in both an insidious disease had iong been
sapping the vital functions, only at ~·ast t~) claim
its victim with a .s uddenness that was trnly startling.*·
Now, .our attention is arrested by providential
visitations still more iinpressi ve. .Two ·others of
our Alumni, full of years as of h01iors, robust in
constitution, vigorous in body · and mind, with
every prospect of years of corit.inued activity, without a moment's warning, were bot:ji inys_eriously
t
cut off, within twenty days of each other, by an
instantaneous and violent death.
You have already anticipated that reference is
made to the deaths of REVERDY JOHNSON and
FRANCIS THOMAS.
It is proposed to ask your attention to a brief
summary of the leading incidents in the life of
each in turn.
*Dr. John Thomas Hall.
J uclge Wm. Sprigg, Hall.
�REVERDY JOHNSON, LL. D.
eldest son of John Johnson, the first Chancellor of that name, was born
on the 21st of May 1796, in the City of Annapolis, within a stone's throw of the spot where he
met his lamentable end. Almost his entire educacation was received at St. John's, having entered
the Grammar School when very young, but it is
doubtful whether be ever took his degree. The
time at which he would have completed the ordinary course of collegiate study, was embraced in
the unhappy period in the history of the College,
when, by the unlawful withdrawal of its funds, it
was reduced in strength and shorn of academic
honor. No commencement trophies illumined the
darkness of those melancholy days. Not a few of
our Alumni, since eminent, left her halls during
the interrnl without the customary tokens of her
regard.
Mr. Johnson is said to have withdrawn from
College at sixteen- it is quite certain that he began
the study of the . law at an unusually early age,
under the direction at first of bis distinguished
Father, and afterwards, for a time at least, in the
office of .Tudge ~T ohn Stephen, of the Court of
Appeals.
I have heard from contemporary authority that
he early became familiar with the atmosphere of
the Court, and during the whole progress of his
REVERDY .JOHNSON,
�REVERDY JOHNSON.
5
preparation for the Bar attended the trial of causes
with remarkable regularity :- thus imparting to the
theory of the science a reality and practicalness in
application, which afterwards gave him that clear
perception and ready mastery of the principles of
the ]aw whicl1 excited the admiration alike of the
Bench and the Bar. His passion for it washereditary, and was manifested by a devotion which was
prophetic of success.
He was admitted to the Bar and began practice
at Upper Marlboi'o, Prince George County, in
1815, when only in his twentieth year. Not long
after he was appointed by the Attorney General of
the State, his deputy for that J11dicial District,
and performed the duties of the office with energy
and credit.
In N ovem her 1817 he sought a wider field for
the exercise of his talents, and removing to Baltimore, entered upon the brilliant career which has
rnade him one of the most eminent lawyers of bis
country. His rise in his profession was rapid and
steady, with no backward step, until the topmost
round of the ladder was reached.
It was not till 1821 that we see his name for the
first time, connected with public duties other than
those of .his profession. In that year, when only
twenty-five, he was elected to the State Senate for
a term of five years, and at its expiration was
re-elected for another term. Of the latter, however, be served only two years, and resigned the
office to devote himself more exclusively to his
practice.
In 1845, he was elected to the Senate of the
United States, where he at once .assumed a leading
�6
REVERDY JOHNSON.
,position, and took a prominent part in the discus..sion of the important questions which then en gaged the attention of Congress and the country.
This position he · resigned in 1849 to accept the
appointment of Atto1·ney General in the Cabinet
of General Taylor. Perhaps no official position
could have been rnol'e congenial to bis habits and
tastes, but he held it for little more than a year,
retiring, with most of thr Cabinet, on the death of
General Taylor and the accession of l\!l:r. Fillmore.
He now devoted himself to bis praetice almost
e:x;clusively, until the outbreak · of the unhappy
civil war which convulsed the land. His earnest
efforts were exerted to avert that calamity. He
was one of the delegates from Maryland to the
"Peace Convention" which met at Washington to
make a last attempt to compromise our seetional
di:fficul ties.
In that convention he b<lldly repudiated the
doctrine of secession, and avowed himself an un conditional Union man. When therefore all measures for that purpose failed and the strife became
inevitable, .M r ..Johnson, as is well known, defended
the use of thwrnilitary powei· of the General Government for the maintenance or restoration of the
federal Union. While ('Ontinuing to su~tain this
position, he s~rove by every means in his power to
allay the bitterness of .local feeling, and -watched
for the first opportunitr for conciliation and for
terminating the horrors of fraternal strife.
In 1861 he accepted a seat in the House of Delegates from Baltimore County ;- and in the wiilter · '
of 1862- 63, he was again elected to the United
States Senate,- resuming his seat in that body in
�REVERDY JOHNSON.
7
March ' 1863, after an inter--\ral of fourteen: yeats.
About this time be was deputed by President Lincoln as a special commissioner to visit the City of
New Orleans and revise the decisions of its military commandant (General Butler) in regard to
some important questions involving our relations
with other Governments. He found it ne<"essary
to reYerse those decisions, in wl1ich his course
receiYed the approval of the Government. While
in the Senate he voted for the constitutional amend~
ment abolishing slaYeIT- · having, in cornrno11 with
his great predecessor Wm. Pinkney, and other of
the older statesmen of Maryland, deplored tlrn
existence of that institution. He participated
large}~- in the debates of the period, arid evinced
that perfect independence in the formation of his
opinions upon public measures and in the advocac~'
of them, which was so marked a trait in his char
acter. Alwa~-s decided in his Yiews, as a publie
man he often found himself in conflict of opinion
with leading rneu of the party with which he
acted. The liberality of his mind and his habit of
bringing eYery subject to the test' of calm reasoning aud cool judgment, woi1kl have always prevei1ted him from becoming a bigoted partisan. '
'Ve eome nO'w to au important 'event in the
public life of J\/[r. Johnson. This ,,T~S l1is appointment a,s Arnbas1:<mdor to England, , with special
reference to tho differences '".'ith ~hat country, pa.r ticularly those growing out of what were known
a::; the "Alabam~ Olain~s." , Ile was 11ow to appear
in a new character, that of a diplomatist.
Coming as a minister of peace and with a repu- ,
tation of the highest distinction for ability, upright-
�8
REVERDY JOHNSON.
ness and candor, he was met by a reception, both
from government and people, never before accorded to an American minister. So general and
so marked was this sentiment, that Lord Clarendon
declared, in a letter to a friend in America, that
"Mr. Johnson was the only diplomatic representative which had ever brought out the true friendly
feeling of the British people for those of the
United States." There was about Mr. Johnson a
personal magnetism which drew and charmed the
English mind, and his blended geniality and dignity of manner was calculated to confirm his influence. Entering upon negotiations with a mutual
feeling like this, it is not surpTising that in the
course of a few months a treaty was framed that
embraced the main points in dispute.
As is well known, however, the Senate refused
to ratify it. It does not befit the occasion to consider the reasons assigned for its rejection. There
was at the time a condition of popular and pai·ty
feeling unfavorable for calm judgmei1t, and quite
sufficient to account for the senatorial action, with out disparaging either the merits of the treat~,, or
the skill and ability of the negotiator.
There are not a few unprejudiced men who think
that the subsequent treaty (which was ratified) did
not differ very· essentially from the former, as to
the value of the principles established or the
material advantages gained.
Mr..Johnson returned home in June 1869, and ·
resuming practice in the higher branches of hiR
profession, continued it,·with unabated ardor, clown
to the very clay of his lamented death.
�REVERDY JOHNSON,.
On the momjng of that day the 10th of February 1876, be bad come to Annapolis to argue, at the
opening of the Court of Appeals the next morning,
the first case upon the docket. Dining, witl1 other
distinguished guests at the Executive mansion, his
life was terminated suddenly, in the evening of that
day, by the melancholy accident, the incidents of
which are too well known to need repetition here.
Apart from a natural shock at its character and
yiolence, there would seem to be a happy fitness in
the place and the occasion of his death. ]'ull of
years and full .of honors, he had returned to his
~ative city to engage in another forensic contest in
the same old Statehouse which had been one of
the principal theatres of his fame, scarcely a hundred feet distant from the spot where he fell. Still
nearer, on the right, stands the ancient mansion
where his life began and his youth was nurtured,
and a few hundred yards distant in another direction, rise the classic halls of his Alma Mater,
where his education was received and he put on
the intellectual armor which was to fit him for
professional attainment.
At the height of his fame, in the full possession
of his faculties, with the devoted love of many
kindred, the affection of numerous friends, and
the uniYersal esteem of his countrymen, he passed
out of life, without the pangs of sickness or the
infirmities of decay,- by a painless death.
In the calm retrospect of such a life, the associations of its ·close seem in fitting harmony with its
history- the quiet sunset of an almost cloudless day.
Mr. Johnson's earthly life was an eminently succesRful one, and to outward observation a happy one.
•
�10
REVERDY JOHNSON.
I
•
Of calm and placid temperament, his disposition
was not easily ruffled by the koubles of the world.
Resolute in will, patient of results _
and of unusual
self-control, he seemed to . possess the faculty of
overcoming difficulties~ and of shaping events to a
happy issue. High-minded ;:i,nd honorable in all
his dealings, he never stooped to an unfairness.
With the instincts of the perfect gentleman, his
professional bearing was uniformly courteous and
respectful.
Amiable and kind-hearted, he was
gentle and considerate towards all men. In all
the relations of life he was exemplary. His heart
was the home of pure and noble im.pulses, and he
passed through life without a stain upon his reputation.
J\!Ir ..Johnson always manifested a high sense of·
the obligations of religion, and was a regular and
reverential attendant upon its services. It was
natural, therefore, and necessary to the completion
of such a character, that -in his later clays, he
should yield obedience to the requirements of the
Church by a hearty reception of its ordinances.
To my mind there is no more touching incident
in his history, . than that which . witnessed the
approach of the great lawyer and statesman, lean,.
ing on the arm of bis son, to the chancel-rail of
St. Paul's, and kneeling there with bowed bead to
receive from the Bishop "the laying on of hanch~"
in the holy rite of Confirmation.
That was th.e consummationi the crowning glory
of his life; . and from the spirit of 11umility and
the testimony .of faith which inspired .a nd accompanied it, may his , ft~iends derive ,sure hope and
consolation in his departure. ·
�REVERDY .JOHNSON.
11
NOTE.
Mr. Johnson's death was caused by a fall, the precise circumstances
of which are unknown. Dining at the Executive Mansion, he left the
table before the other guests and was conducted by the Governor to
the parlour for a short repose, as was his custom after dinner. About
a half hour afterwards he was found lying on the pavement near the
side of the house, bleeding and lifeless. It would seem that he had
gone out alone in the dusk of the evening, and misled by his imperfect
vision, had strayed from the path and fallen down an area connected.
with the building, striking his head against a projection of the basement wall.
Mr. Johnson had for several years been gradually losing his sight,
making it unsafe for him to walk out alone, and occasioning his friends
no little anxiety by his venturesomeness. For a long time he had been
unable to read a line, and was wholly dependent upon others for the
examination of authorities in the prepai·ation of bis arguments. But
bis increasing blindness was borne with uncomplaining submissiveness,
bis cheerfulness of spirit seemed never to leave him, and bis conversation was full of characteristic pleasantry and humour to the last.
There is another subject of which mention should be made. Mr.
J obnson took a deep interest in the welfare of bis Alma Mater, which
was shown in various ways. For several years past be rarely omitted
attending the exercises of Oommeucement, and his presence and
speeches made the most attractive feature of the Alumni banquet.
Those who were present will uot soon forget the occasion, upon which
be alluded in touching terms to a visit, while in England, to St. J obn's
College, Oxford; and how, as he wandered through its ancient Halls,
his thoughts reverted to his boyhood clays and to his own Alma Mater
so far away, until he gave utterance to bis feelings and told them of his
indebtedness for intellectual culture to another St. John 's College in his
native Janel.
�FRANCIS THOMAS, A. M.
FRANCIS THOMAS was born on the 3rd of February 1799 in Frederick County Maryland, where
the larger portion of his life was passed except
when absent in public duties.
He obtained his collegiate education at St.John's
and is credited on the records with having received
the degree of Bachelor of Arts, but in what year,
and with what class, does not appear upon the
books. This, and other similar instances of omission, would seem to indicate a lamentable carelessness in keeping the records of the College at that
period.
_
He at once entered upon the study of the law
and was admitted to the bar in 1820 when twentyone years of age. Of fine personal appearance
and agreeable manners, having a rich voice and a
ready command of the best language, he possessed
in a remarkable. degree the outward qualifications
for the orator. With a mind of great vigour imlffOved by high cultivation and varied reading, he
had the power to make his influence felt among all
classes of the community. He became at once an
unusually attractive speaker and a successful advocate. Not confining himself to his practice he soon
engaged in politics, and was sent to the Legislature
in 1822, and by successive re-elections represented
his district in the House of Delegates till 1~27.
Returned again in 1829, he was chosen its speaker.
�14
FRANCIS THOMAS.
In 1831 he was elected to Congress and continued
a member of the House of Representatives for ten
years, withdrnwing· from that body, or declining
a re-election, when, in 1841, he was elected Governor of the State. Previous to this period, in
1839, he was made President of the Chesapeake
and Ohio Canal Company.
It was about this time that the· domestic trouble
occurred which shadowed all his after life with
sadness. This was a difference between himself
and his wife, (a daughter of a distinguished citizen
of Virginia,*) which at last terminated in a divorce.
It attracted much attention and variety of opinion
at the time, and much feeling was manifested by
the friends of the parties on either side. The general impression, however, among disinterested persons was that there were no circumstances in the
case which a spirit of mutual forbearance and coneiliation might not have reconeiled, and thus have
prevented the lamentable result, affecting the happiness of both, a final separation.
This event produced a lasting influence upon the
character and the pursuits of l\ir. Thomas. A
morbid sentiment took possession of his mind
which crushed the impulses of ambition within
him, and caused him to withdraw from public life.
Fl'orn this 1·etirement he was re-called by the
excitement which preceded the late civil war. He
entered at once into the contest, and his popular
addresses in defence of the Union revived the
recollection of the eloquent efforts of his early
days, especially a speech of great power and brilliancy' deliveted before a large meeting in the City
of Baltimore.
*Governor McDowell.
�FRANCIS THOMAS .
15
His activity was not confined to popular appeals.
By his personal efforts and infhience he earlyraised
a considerable force, numbering at least a full regiDlent, the honour of 'c ommanding which he declined
' for the reason that he had no knowledge of military
tactics, and was therefore unwilling· to assume such
responsibility.
'
·
He SOOll . aftei· became a candidate foi; Oongr:ess
and was.· returned · to the House of Representatives, by su:ccessive elections, from the year 1861
.to the )~ea!· 1869. . The crisis atoused all his
energies 'and he participated ~argely in the debates
in the , ouse, advocating with great earnestness
H
the leading measures ~f . the ' Government and
yoting for the proposed · amen~ments to the Ooniltitution:
.
His speeches always connnanded mai-ked attention and were characterized by a breadth of view,
and a statesmanlike .comprehension 'of principles,
which went beyond the exigencies of the hour.
All his contemporaries bear testimony to the graces
of his oratory. In corinnanding presence, in voice
and tone and gesture, and in power of thought and
nervous elegance of langti.age, he ·w as unquestionably one of the most accoinplished orators that
Maryland has produced, and in whose fame, therefore, his Alma Mater may justly take pride. And
yet he himself seemed to attach but a subordinate
rn.lue to the reputation, in comparison with acts
and results. As he said to a fellow member, when
a vote was about to be taken upon a measure of
transcenden"t importance, in the defence of which
he had taken a prominent part,- " Words die as
men die; but the vote you are about to give will
' I
�16
FRANCIS THOMAS.
be recorded for all time, on the side of right or
against it."
In 1869, after the close of the 40th Congress, Mr.
Thomas was appointed by President Grant, Collector of Internal Revenue for the Fourth District of
Maryland, which included the place of his residence; a position which he held till April 1872,
when he resigned it to become Minister to the Republic of Peru. This was the first diplomatic post,
and the last public office, he ever filled. Returning from this mission in the summer of 1875, he
told a friend that he intended to take no further
part in politics, but to retire to his "mountain
home," and spend the rest of his days in peace and
tranquility.
But alas! his pleasant anticipations were doomed
to be suddenly extinguished. He did, indeed, resume the agricultural pursuits so congenial to his
tastes on his farm in Alleghany Oo1mty, but not to
continue them long. Absorbed ·in his plans of
improvement, he was one day walking from one
part of his estate to another on the line of the Rail
Road, when, perceiving a train approaching, he
stepped, to avoid it, on the other track, without
observing that another train was coming from the
opposite direction. All unconscious of his danger,
he was in a moment struck b~T the engine and violently hurled several feet from the track. A small
contusion on the back of the head and a larger
bruise upon the shoulder were the only marks of
the violence of the blow- but he "vas found to be
insensible, and was not known to haYe spoken
afterwards. Thus terminated, on the 22d of J anuary- 1876, the life of Francis Thomas, lawyer and
�FRANCIS THOMAS.
17
statesman, just nineteen days before that of his
compeer and friend, Revercly Johnson. How
strange the coincidence by which two aged men,
both eminent in the councils of their state and
country, during the same period of rare histOTic
interest, should meet their end by a fate so similar!
In the case of Mr. Thomas, death came at what
appeared to be a turning point in his career.
Years of mental depression bad passed away,
pecuniary embarrassments, which to a proud spirit
like bis, sensitive to every obligation, must have
been peculiarly irritating, had given place to a
condition of comparative prosperity and he was
relieved from future anxieties. He had brought
with him from Peru a stock of Alpaca sheep, with
the hope of being able to introduce the breed extensively, and bad formed various plans connected
with agricultural pursuits, which he fondly expected would employ bis energies of mind and
body for yet many years of vigorous life. And
thus we purpose, day by day, "whereas we know
not what shall be on the morrow."
Mr. Thomas was well fitted for rural enjoyment; he had been a close observer of men and
things, bad seen much of the world and realized
its hollowness. Fond of reading and retaining
what he read, his memory was stored with facts
and incidents, that made him a delightful companion to the few intimates whose society he preferred to general intercourse. To such · he was
wont to pour forth, in fluent words and animated
manner, the flood of recollections which can1e
welling up as from a copious fountain. · Nor "were
these . mental traits merely the charm of private
2
�18
FRANCIS THOM.AS.
life; they exerted a potent influence over men o
independent thought and action,- and men ii
high official station not unfrequently took counse;
from his well-trained and thoughtful mind. :Ever
President .Jackson himself is known to hav~
yielded him warm attachment and unboundec
confidence. Like him, too, J\/[r. Thomas was i:
man of imperious will, and as a politician ht
sometimes manifested an arrogance of manne1
which contradiction aroused into vehemence.
Holding it as a maxim that a leader should brook
no opposition to his sway, he assumed absolute
control over the inferior men of his party, and
when such claim naturally excited revolt, he did
not hesitate to ostracise the offender.
Decided in his own convictions, he was often
intolerant to the opinions of others. As a consequence of this lofty bearing he was perhaps more
generally feared than loved. There was no question, however, of his integrity in word and deed.
He believed ·w hat he asserted, and carried his belief into act. His conscientiousness was in some
things pushed to an extreme. It is said that he
would never accept any gift, however trifling, as
a recognition of public service. John Quincy
Adams himself was not more severely scrupulous
in this respect. A similar instance in the life of
each illustrates this characteristic of both. Some
friends of Mr. Thoinas procured a costly cane as
a token of their appreciation of his public conduct -which he respectfully declined! And the
writer was present when Mr. Adams refused to
receive a cane, made from an ash-tree cut at Ashland by Mr. Olay himself, which "the Young
�FRANCIS THOMAS.
19
Whigs'' of Maryland had prepared as a mark of
regard to "the old man eloquent," then a member
of the House of RepresentatiYes. It may be well
to add that the cane afterwards found a fitting
recipient in Mr. Johnson, who had (he assured
us) "no conscientious scruples against its acceptance."
Notwithstanding the peculiarities of cliaracter
to which allusion has been made, ]!fr. Thomas bad
many · warm personal friends, who cherish the
better qualities of the man while they admire the
ability of the orator and statesman. His long·
public services will be held in grateful remem brance by bis native State, and his name will ever
live in her history as of one of the most eloquent
and gifted of her sons.
·
�NINIAN PINKNEY, M. D., LL. D.
Medical Director NrNIAN PINKNEY, of the
United States Navy, the second son of Ninian
and Amelia Pinkney, and nephew of the celebrated lawyer and statesman William Pinkney,
was born in Annapolis, J)[aryland, on the 7th day
of June, 1811. At an early age he entered St.
John's College, and graduated with honor in the
class of 1830. Upon leaving college he decided
to adopt the profession of medicine, and after
spending some time in the office of Dr. Edward
Sparks, who was at that time ProfesRor of Ancient
Languages in St ..J ohn'R College, young Pinkne3~
attended a two 3 ears course of lectures at the
T
J)[edical College in Baltimore, and then removed
to Philadelphia, where he entered the .Jefferson
Medical College, and during his whole course· of
study at that institution, was noted for his enthusiastic love for his profession, as well as for bis
patient research and original inYestigations. He
graduated with high honor from that institution,
and soon after received an appointment in the
Medical Corps of the Navy, where he quickly rose
to eminence in his profession; the records of the
Navy showing many instances of his skill as a
surgeon, to which none but those learned in surgery are competent to do full justice. It is sufficient to say here that Surgeon Pinkney amply fulfilled the promise of his early professional life, and
�NINIAN PINKNEY.
21
w hen retired from the ~ervice at the age of sixtytwo, in the full possession of all his powers, he hacl
been promoted to the rank of l\!t:eclical Director,the highest grade in t.he service.
It was at this time that be received a letter from
Medical Direct.or Johnson, which is given below
as showing the estimation in which Dr. Pinkney
was held by his professional brothers, and as explaining his connection with an important invention in surgery during his residence in Lima in
the early years of his professional career. The
letter bears elate January 11th 1873, which was
about the time of Dr. Pinkney's retirement ..
"My DEAR DOCTOR:
I cannot allow you to. retire from the active service of the Navy without expressing to you the
high estimate I place on your skill as a surgeon.
In 1843 it was my pleasure to be present when
you removed a portion of the lower jawbone from
~ young man in Lima. The fleet surgeon of the
French Fleet was present on the occasion. The
question arose as to the mode of the operation.
The usual plan, as laid down by eminent surgeons
as Sir Astley Cooper and Velpeau, was to make
an incision along the lower portion of the jaw, and
then carrying the incision to the corner of the
mouth. I recollect well that you did not approve
of this mode of operation, for two reasons: First,
that the operation would be unseemly. Secondly,
the division of the seventh pair of nerves would
mar the expression of the face and leave an ugly
scar. For the first time in surgical history you
made a curvilinear incision below the lower border
�22
NINIAN PINKNEY.
of the jaw and extended it to the middle of the
chin. By this mode of operation there was no
disfigurement, and the operation was performed
in a manner which elicited commendation at the
hands of the French Fleet Surgeon, who had been
a pupil of the celebrated Velpeau of France. The
palm of originality was accorded to you, and you
richly deserve it.
(Signed,)
WM. JOHNSON,
Med. Director, U.S. Navy."
During the whole of his professional career, Dr.
Pinkney took a deep interest in the Medical Association, of which he was one of the founders. He
was at one time Vice-President of the Association,
a~d on t~o occasions was called upon to represent
it abroad, at Leeds and Florence, the second time
as chairman of the delegation from this country,
and his report excited general interest on account
of its exceptional ability and thorough carefulness.
But not alone as a professional man is Dr.
Pinkney deserving of our respect and admiration,
for there are abundant proofs that he was possessed
of that scholarly culture which graces the highest
stations in life, enlarging and strengthening the
intellectual powers, while it tempers the energies
of the mind with "sweetness and light." A_ prominent clergyman of the Episcopal Church the Rev.
Dr. Hutton, himself a scholar of no small attainments, and who was intimately acquainted vvith Dr.
Pinkney, says of him: "I can speak from my own
knowledge of his noble characteristics, and from
personal experience of his many kindnesses to me
�NINIAN PINKNEY.
23
and mine. I had a Ligh estimate of his great and
varied powers- of his vast erudition in medical
science- of his extraordinary learning outside of
his profession, even to a large .c ompass of corn;titutional law and political philosophy- of his special
gifts of oratory- and not least, of those genial
qualities which rendered him so delightful in the
social circle and made his presence so enjoyable to
his friends, whether at his own hospitable mansion
or elsewhere. I can never forget his kindnesses,
his marked characteristics his almost marvellous
'
powers and capacities." The Hon. Revcrdy John:son also entertained a, Yery hiu·h opinion of his
•
I"'.)
knowledge of constitutional and international law,
as well as of political philosopL,,:.
In 1873 Dr. Pinkney delivered the Annual Address befor~ the Soci~tics of St..John's College,
and on Commencement day the degree of LL. D.
was eonferred upon him. This was the second
address he had delivered at the College, having
alreadr filled the posit.ion of orator before the
Alumni somf\ years before. Be Wal'! an enthusiastic believer in the future
t ..John's College,
and a frequent and most
e guest at our
Commeneement Exercise
ht> enlivened
with his ready wit and
ompanionship.
Among the students of
e he was the
most popular of all the
ni, and the
annual banquet would ha
hem at least
a dull affair, without the
:0 Army and
Navv and Dr. Pinkney
d eloquent
resp~~se. I remem bel'
evening of
Commencement Day l
e number
of the students had
of Rum-
�NINIAN PINKNEY.
phrey's Hall for a :final jollification, that Dr. Pinkney being on the College green and hearing our
College glees, came up and joined us. We all
called upon him . f~r a s.peech, and after some
persuasion, he mounted a chair which some one
had provided and made a short ·address to the
boys, who crowded around him. Never could be
have had a more appreeiative audience, and the .
shoutR of laughter evoked by Rallies of wit, were
f0llowed by cheer after ch eer from lusty lungs
which made the campus ring- with merriment.
This incident of which the writer was a witness,
is mentione.d as indicative of ·wiiat he conceives to
have been a prominent trait in Dr. Pinkney's
character- his ready sympathy with the young.
Surely there is no better proof of the existence of
a kind heart than that this grey-hai"red veteran
sympathized with the aspirations of youth, and
loved the companionship of the young, and could
p~rticipate with as keen a zest as any of us in the
joyous mirth of our College life. The social qualities of Dr. Pinkney were indeed remarkable, and
there are those present to-day who can bear better
and fuller testimony than mine to his possession
of many qualities which made his companionship
fascinating to all who knew him. ·
By thus dwelling upon bis social characteristics
it is not intended to imply that be was deficient in
those more serious attributes which dignify and
ennoble manhood. During his long service in the
Navy Dr. Pinkney made hosts of friends among·
his associates, n1a11y of whom held high rank, and
his character was not only such as to win their
love, but to compel their respect and admiration.
�NINIAN PINKNEY.
25
His old friend and messmate Admiral 0. R. P.
Rodgers, · exp1·essed a general opinion, when he
said of him that he "was .as true as .steel and as
brave as his own sword."
Upon his retirern ent from actiYc service Dr.
Pinkney took up his residence on his beautiful
estate near Easton, Maryland, where he spent the
remaining years of his life. It was here that be
died on the 15th of December, 1877, in the sixtyseventh. year of his age, in the full communion of
the Episcopal Olmr<;h, and in the full possession
of all his powers.
[N. B.-I regret my inability to make a more perfect sketch of Dr.
Pinkney's life, but those of the Alumni who desire a more detailed
account aTe referred to a very foll and appreciative sketch prepared by
his brother the Right Rev. William Pinkney, which h as been largely
used in the pTeparation of this memoir.
J. S. W.]
,I
�JOHN W AJ_,TER LYNCH, L. B.
CLASS OF 1872.
JOHN ~r ALTER LYNCH was qorn in Richmond,
Indiana, on the 13th of January 1833, and at the
age of eight years, removed with his family to
Washington, D. C., his father having received an
appointment in I the Post Office Department. In
the early part of 1869 Mr. Lynch e.n tered St.
John's College as a mern her of tl1e l!'reshman
Class, and soon showed that he was endowed with
intellectual gifts of a high order. He was thoughtful beyond his years, and in all his studies he
displa~~ed originality and independent criticism.
His classmates soon learned to loTe his quiet
gentle nature, to appreciate his intellectual worth
and to admire his frank and manly character.
He ·was one of the best writers in College, and on
one occasion he read an essay on Tennyson which
Prof. Corson considered a most admirable critique,
and one which displayed remarkable originality,
as well t\.S a keen sympathy with poetic feeling and
expression.
At the end of his Sophomore year, ho felt compelled to return to W af3hington, ·w here for nearly
four years he held a position in the City Post
Office. He always manifested a deep interest in
the welfare of the College, though the duties of
his position often forbade him the pleasure of returning to take part in our celebrations and re-
�~rOHN
WALTER LYNCH.
27
unions. During bis residence in W asbington in
1873 and 1874, and while be held his position in
the City Post Office, he studied law, graduated at
the la"v school of the Columbian University, and
at the April Term 1874 was admitted to the bar
of the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia.
In the summer of 187(j he went to Indianapolis,
furnished with excellent letters and animated with
bright hopes of success in his profession. Shortly
after his anival there his health, which had not
been strong for sometime before, began to giYe
way, and in the very beginning of his professional
career he was obliged to lay aside Lis books.
:From r.h is time he grew steadily worse until in
April 1877, he went to the Sanitarinm at Asheville, North Carolina, where bis sufferings were
ended by death on the 18th of July 1877.
,I
�RICHARD SWAN.
materials for a biographical notice of RICHSwAN are very meagre, though an effort has
been made to acquire more exact information.
Richard Swan was a Virginian by birth, and
when quite young removed with his family from
his native place, Alexanclria, to Annapolis. It
appears from our Catalogue of the College, p.uhlished in 1874, that J\i(r. Swan attended College
from 1830 to 1832, but did not graduate. During·
~his period of his life he lived with his brother,
who kept the Cit,1 Hotel in Annapofo;, and sometime afterwards he became proprietor of the hotel;
together with James Iglehart. In those days the
position was one which brought him into contaet
with many leading men of the 8tate, with whom
he was deservedly popular. Many lawyers from
all parts of the State would spend two or three
weeks at a time in Annapolis, waiting for the
argument of their cases in the Court of Appeals,
as the present custom of assigning a certain number of cases for each day of the term djcl not then
prevail.
It was probably during this time that 1\1.:r. Swan
laid the foundation of that popularity which he
possessed in after life. He was very much respected by the community in which he lived, and
was honored by his fellow-citizens with several
positions of public trust. He was J\!fayor of the
THE
ARD
�H,ICHARD s·wAN.
City of Annapolis, and served several terms in the
City Council. He also represented Anne Arundel
County in tbe lower House of the Legislature, and
for a number of years filled the position of State
Librarian. During many years of his life he was
a director of tb_ bank in Annapolis, and in 1850
e
he was appointed Commissary of the Naval Academy, and discharged the duties of the position with
fidelity, until his death on the 7th of May, 1877.
In all these positions of public trust Mr. Swan
was faithful in the discharg'e of their duties, and
bis conduct was such as to win the respect and
esteem of an who knew bim. A good citizen and
public-spirited man, he was equally respected in
private life as a man of integrity and generous
impulses.
I
'
'
,I
'
�.JOHN RIGGS BROWN,
JI~.,
A . .M.
FoR the third time are we called upon to chronicle the death of a member of the Class of 1859.
The first was that of Richard R. Goodwin of
Annapolis, the second of James Edgar Richardson
of Anne Arundel County; and now we have to add
to the roll that of .JOHN RIGGS BROViTN, who was
born at Ellicott City, Howard County, on the 14tl1
of November, 1840, and died November 19th, 1877,
in the 38th year of his age. He was the son of
John R. Brown, a prominent farmer and highly
esteemed citizen of Howard County, and a member of the House of Delegates of Maryland during
the sessions of 1860- 1861.
At an early age young Brown evinced a studiou:s
disposition and a decided fondness for books, and
after having received a good elementary education
at the primary 1schools of the County, he waH sent
to St. John's College, entering the Freshman Class
in 1856. His course at College was a very creditable and successful one in all the studies of a full
academic curriculum. B1it especially in linguistic
studies and in general literature was his proficiency
worthy of note. His attainments in these branches
won the respect both of Professors and of Students;
so that; although his class-standing at graduation
. was not so high as it would have been, had he
chosen to devote more time to mathematical and
I
�.JOHN RIGGS BROWN.
31
scientific studies, his literarr culture, ·we are
a8sured, was superior to that of any of his cla:-;smates, and his msthetic faculties in general had
received a development quite -unusual a.ruong- college graduates.
Three years after leaving College, namely in
1862, he joined the Confederate A1:my, enlisting
in Company A, First Maryland Cavalry, in which
he served until the close of the war. He then
returned to the residence of his father near Woodstock, Howard County, and engaged in agricultural pursuits unt il 1869, when he removed to
Ellicott City and founded the "Ellicott Citr
Times," a weekly newspaper, which he published
with marked ability until his death .
A friend and brother editor says of him: "l\1:r.
Brown was endowed with far more than ordinary
ability and intelligence. He was a keen observer
of passing events, and always clothed his thoughts
in graceful, pleasing and forcible language. For
the profession of journalism he was peculiarly
adapted, possessing, as he did, quick perceptions,
true intuitions, varied information, and a just
appreciation of the requirements of the people for
whom he always wielded an able pen. He was a
a young man of excellent judgment, and all that
emanated from him was read with careful attention by the community for whom he wrote. His
editorials were always seaso:i;ied with wholesome
humor and spatkling wit; and, when provoked to
recrimination, his caustic pen was used with telling effect. His talents gained him the respect
.and admiration of all who knew him even but
slightly, while his genial disposition and rare per-
,I
�32
JOHN RIGGS BROWN.
sonal fascination endeared him to all who knew
him well. He was generous to a ·fault, sincere
and ardent in his friendships,· warm and impulsive
in bis sympathies, ·and always gentle, courteous,
kind, and frank.''
[From notes of bis class-mate Prof. Hopkins.]
••
•j
��
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Commencement Programs and Addresses
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Annapolis, MD
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St. John's College Greenfield Library
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Addresses given at commencement and programs of events related to, and including, the annual commencement ceremonies at St. John's College. Includes both the undergraduate and Graduate Institute commencements. <br /><br />The College Archives holds programs and/or addresses for the following years:<br />
<ul>
<li>1796</li>
<li>1835-1836</li>
<li>1842</li>
<li>1852</li>
<li>1856-1857</li>
<li>1870</li>
<li>1878</li>
<li>1880</li>
<li>1890</li>
<li>1893</li>
<li>1895</li>
<li>1897</li>
<li>1907</li>
<li>1910-1918</li>
<li>1920-1924</li>
<li>1928-1929</li>
<li>1932</li>
<li>1936-1937</li>
<li>1939-1945</li>
<li>1947-present </li>
</ul>
Click on <strong><a title="Commencement Programs and Addresses" href="http://digitalarchives.sjc.edu/items/browse?collection=18&sort_field=Dublin+Core%2CDate&sort_dir=d">Items in the Commencement Programs and Addresses Collection</a></strong> to view and sort all items in the collection.
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32 pages
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Memoirs of Deceased Alumni, 1878
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Memoirs of deceased alumni of St. John's College, Annapolis, by John G. Proud and John S. Wirt, historiographers. Commencement Day, 1878.
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Proud, John G.
Wirt, John S.
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Baltimore, MD
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1878
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St. John's College owns the rights to this publication.
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text
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pdf
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Commencement Address-Memoirs of Deceased Alumni -John G. Proud and John S. Wirt. Proud and John S. Wirt
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William K. Boyle, Printer
Alumni
Commencement
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https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/sjcdigitalarchives/original/7fba504bb37057a09cc0965c47b3e8c7.pdf
b57ef5df8a40826ff5094121db024184
PDF Text
Text
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�sADDRESS
TO THE ALUMNI OF
ST. tTOHN'S COLLEGE,
ANNAPOLIS,
MARYLAND,
-ON-
COMMENCEMENT
DAY,
:f"'CT'NE 3 0 t h , l.SSO,
-BY-
JAMES M. GARNETT, M.A., LL.D.,
Principal of ST. JOHN'S COLLEGE.
Published by request of the Soci ety of the Alumni.
ANNAPOLIS:
L. F . COLTON &
co.,
1880.
PRINTERS.
�ADDRESS.
Before bidding good-bye to the youngest Alumni, I desire, in view of the present circumstances of the College,
to say a few words to the older Alumni, and to put the
situation plainly before them, for now more than ever is
their a~sistance needed in assuring the future of their
Alma Mater.
If time permitted, it would be interesting to review the
history of collegiate education in the State, and to note
the efforts made to procure, and still more to retain, State
support for it, although it is a history of repeated failures
and but partial success.· I shall, however, allude but
briefly to the attempts made to establish a college in
Maryland before this time-honored institution was chartered,* and shall narrate its history in as few words as
possible.
The first legislative action of which we have record
with regard to education was that taken by the General
Assembly convened in the city of St. Mary's in 1671,
when an Act was passed by the Upper House £or ".found-:
ing and erecting a school or college for the. education of
youth in learning and virtue." This was returned by the
Lower House with certain amendments providing for differences in religious views existing among th.e people,
which amendments were not acceptable to the Upper
*Th e historical facts r elating to education in Maryland previous to the charter
of St. John's Colleg<o (1784) were taken originally from a manuscript document
on file in the U. S. Bureau of Education, and were included in an address on
"The Past and Present of Edu cation in Maryland," delivered by the pre~ent
writer before the Maryland State Teachers' Assoeiation, at Hagerstown, Aug.
27, 1873, and in "A. Brief Historical Sketch" prefixed to the Catalogue of Graduates and Alumni of St. J;ohn's College, published in 1874. The facts relating to
the history of the College have been frequently published, ana especia.lly in two
appeals to the people of Maryland by the Visitors and Governors of the College,
one publishe<l ii::t August, 1868, and the other in November, 1870, and in the
Reports of the Principal of the College to the General Assembly of 1868 and to
that of 1878.
I
�4
House, and thus ended the first well-meant effort for the
establighment of a school or college in the Province of
Maryland.
Passing over the message of Gov. Nicholson of 1694,
and th!3 Act of 1696, we come to the establishment under
that Act of the King Williarn School, noted. as the Alma
Mater of many distinguished men, and especially of the
celebrated lawyer and statesman, William Pinkney. This
~chool was opened in 1701 and eighty-five years later was
mcorporated with St. John's Oollege. The next importan.t record relating to collegiate education is ~ paper,
sa1d to be still in the Ex~cutive Department, entitled "Proposals for founding a. College at Annapolis,"
and dated 1732, whieh was read in the Upper House and
recommended to the consideration of the Lower House of
A,ssemhly. The author of the paper laments "the great
want of some well-ni?gulated seminary for the propagation
of polite and useful learning , in this large and. growing
-colony," and urges the project "that gentlemen may be
under no necessity of sending their sons at great expense
to Europe for education," and that native teachers may
'be educated, "it not being worth the while of men of
genius te come from England to teach for the precarious
stipends provided.''
The plan was a very liberal and comprehensive one, at
a , time too when Harvard College in Massachusetts, and
\Villiam and Mary College in Virginia, were the only collegiate institutions in this country ; but the General Assembly seems to have neglected to perfect the requisite
legislation, and so this second attempt to establish a college in Maryland failed.
We do mt find the project of establishing a colleae
revived untill763, when a Report to the General Asse;ibly says:
5
"Your committee are of opinion that the house in the
City of .Annapolis which was intended for the Governor
<>f this Province, be completely finished and used for the
·college proposed to be established." This house is the
building in which we are now assembled, begun in 1746
and intended for Gov. Bladen, but from remaining long
'unfinished known to local history as "Bladen's Folly."
The expenses 'of the college were to be defrayed out of
the Public Treasury, and among other estimated resources
were a tax on licenses and a tax on bachelors-from 5 to
20 shillings apiece. The Report was adopted and an Act
passed in the Lower House, but it failed in the Upper
House, and we are told that, after a lengthy and acrimonious discussion, with several messages from one House to
the other without producing harmony of sentiment, the
AsRembly was finally prorogued, and so this third effort
met with the fate of its predecessors.
But the intention of establishing a college at Annapolis was not abandoned, for we have a letter, dated Oct. 4,
1773, from William Eddis, Surveyor of Customs at Annapolis, to a friend in England, stating that "the Legislature bas determined to found a college for the education
of youth in ev,ery liberal an~ useful br:;tnch of scienc~,
which will precmde the necess1ty of crossmg the Atlantic
for the completion of a classical and polite education,"
and that it had been determined to finish the building on
the banks of the Severn formerly designed for the Gover·
nor's mansion, and to apply it to the purposes of collegiate educatioJl. ·
The Revolutionary War interfered with the immediate
fulfillment of this wis~ plan, but in 1782 ·washington
College, at Chestertown, was chartered, the Pr~amble to
the Act stating "that previous attempts had failed because
.of the difficulty of fixing a sibation on either shore of
€qual convenience to youth of both shores, and it was
�I
6
therefore desirable that the inhabitants of each shore
should consult their own convenience in founding a college
for th~mselv~s:" This Act was soon followed by that of
1784, contammg the charter of St. John's College, and
t~e two colleges were declared one university under the
title o~ "The l!niv.e rsity of Maryland,'' but this provision
was never earned mto effect and was afterwards repealed.
After repe~ted a~.tempts and failures,, we see two colleges
at l~st established m the State and provision made by the
Legislature for. their s~pport. Would that this provision
~ad bee~ ?ontmued With the same liberality with which
1t ';as ~ngrnally granted! The history of collegiate education .m Maryland might then have been very different,
and this appeal to the Alumni of St. John's College would
have been unnecessary.
The ~barter of this College is a most comprehensive one.
It provides that the College "shall be founded and maintained forever upon a most liberal plan, for the benefit of
yout? of every religious denomination, who shall be freely
admitted to equal privileges and advantages of education
an~ to all. the .literary honors of the College, according to
th~Ir. ment, ';;thout requiring or enforcing a~y civil or
rehgwus .test.
Oould any legal provision be wider, or
appeal With surer confidence to all classes of citizens ?
More.over, the subscriptions already obtained were made
the L~sis for e~tendi~g legislative support, and authority
_was giVen for mcreasmg them by appointing, in the charter, the Rev. Mr. John Carroll, the R'jv, William Smith
and P~trick .Allison, clergymen respectively of the Roman
Ca~~o~IC, Episcop~l ~nd Presbyterian churches, ,;agents for
sohc1tmg and receivmg subscriptiG>ns and contributions for
~he said intended College and Seminary of universallearnmg of any per~o~ or persons, bodies politic and corporate,
who may be w11lmg to promote so go?d a design;" and it
was further enacted that "to provide a permanent fund for
7
the further encouragement and establishment of the said
College, the sum of 1750£ current money be annually
and forever hereafter given and granted by the public for
the use of the said College.'' .
The sum of $32,000 was obtained by subscription fro!:fi
about two hundred imd fifty citizens of the State, among
whom we find the names of Carroll, Chase, Stone, Martin,
Dgle, Howard, Harrison, Paca, Clagett, Plater, ;Bowie,
Barnes, Key, Henry, Weems, Gantt, Magruder, Chapman
and others.
The first meeting of the Board of Visitors and Governors was held Feb. 28th, 1786, and on the following day
Annapolis was selected as the place for the location of the
College, Annapolis and Upper Marlboro' being the only
places voted for, and thus this building and four acres of
land attached were obtained as a donation from' the State
under the terms of the charter. On the 11th of November, 1789, the College was opened with imposing ceremonies of dedication and all due solemnity, and we are told
that "all the public bodies were in attendance and formed
a long procession from the State House to the College
H all." The first commencement took place in 1793 and
from that time until 1806 we have lists of graduates for
almost every year. Among the students during this period
are found those who were afterwards members of the U, S.
Senate and Hous.e of Representatives, Governors of th'e
State, members of the Executive Council, Judges of the
Court of Appeals, Circuit and other State Courts, and not
·only s0ns of Maryland, but of her sister States also.
How then was this career of prosperity interrupted ? ·
By the violation ·of plighted faith on the part of the State.
By an Act passed J auuary 1, 1806, by a majority of eight,
the State's donation was withdrawn, and a resolution immediately introduced to restore :1 portion of tile annuity
fail ed by one vote. Whatever were the causes which led
�8
to this action of the Legislature, Francis S. Key, in hi&
oration before the Alumni, Feb. 22, 1827, referring to it
says : "l undertake, however, to deny that there has been
any fair expression of the sense of the people of Maryland
upon the subject. At the unfortunate _reriod to which I
refer, when the brightest ornament Df the State was cast.
away from her protection, it was not the voice of the
people but the strife of party by which it fell."-"As the '
people at large seldom saw it o~ heard of it, and a grea;t
proportion of them, from their situation, felt no immediateinterest in its continuance, it was thought that the saving:
of the funds could be called economy, and that the many
who were to be flattered would be pleased with the destruction of what appeared to be only for the benefit of th€7
few."-"Each party caught at the advantage to be gained
by the apparent popularity of the measme, and the reaL
interests and honor of the Btate were sacrificed by each."
Might we not say that history repeats itself after the lapse
of three-quarters of a century?
,
In consequence of this action of the Legislature the
College was temporarily suspended, and there is a blarak
in its list of graduates until 1810, when the oldest living:
alumnus of the College received his degree, the vene.rable
Dr. John Ridout, who still lives to exert his influence in
·behalf of the College as a member of the Board of Visitors and Governors. In 1811 oae thousand dollars of the
annuity were restored, but the College €Ontinued to languish until 1821, when a lottery granted by Act of Legislature added $20,000 to its funds. In the next year the·
names of graduates reappear, one of whom was the Hon.
Alex. Randall, Chairman of the Executive Committee,
w_ ose unceasing devotion to the interests of tbe College is
h
continually illustrated by his earnest efforts to. promote its.
welfare.
9.
In the year 1832, in response to an urgent memorial of
the Board of Visitors and Governors, reciting briefly the
history of the College, and calling the attention of the
General Assembly to the decision of the Supreme Court
of the United States in the case of Dartmouth College, in
which the Acts of the New Hampshire Legislature w~re
declared to· be "repugnant to the Constitution of the U nitedt
States and so not valid,"-the Legislature restored two·
thousand dollars more of the annuity but coupled it with
the condition that this should be received "in full satisfaction of all legal and equitable. claims the College might
have or be supposed to have against the State." ~he
arrearages of the College annuity amoun.ted at tha.t time·
to over $100,000, and in order to obtam any assistance·
at all from the Sta.te the College was required to relinquish
this amount and accept the meagre sum of three thousand
dollars per annum in full of all legal and equita?le dai~s.
Here was might vs. right. There is no question t~at If,.
at any time between 1819, when t~e Dartmouth College
decision was rendered, and 1832, smt had been brought,.
the full amount. of the arrearages might have been recovered but in defence of the Board of Visitors and Gover'
nors it may be said that "they believed their rights were·
entirely in the power of the State and without any means.
of being enforced " so "the deed of release was executed
and E:ntered upon ' the records of the Court of Appeals. " ·
The resolution restoring two thousand dollars of t}1e
annuity provided that the Governor of the State, President of the Senate, Speaker of the House of Delegates, ana
Judges of the Court of Appeals, should be ex officio members of the Board of Visitors and Governors, and a c0m- ··
mittee was appointed to visit the College, which reported;
at the December Session, 1833, as follows:
"The prosperity of St. J ohn's College is deemed a subject of great importance, so that the youth from every
�10
portion of the two great divisions of the State may convene with the well-grounded assurance of being able to
acquire a liberal education and at the same time consummate the patriotic anticipations of the charter." "It is
believed in no way can this [object] be so well realized as
by sustaining on a liberal scale a seminary of learning at
the seat of legislation." The committee recommend raising money by subscription, which was undertaken, and
through the exertions of the late Rev. Dr. Hector Humphreys, Principal of the College, the sum of $11,000 was
·collected, which was applied in the erection of Humphreys
Hall. The corner-stone of this building was laid on the
18th of June, 1835, by the presiding Judge of the Court
of Appeals, and an address was delivered by Chancellor
Johnson. On this subscription list we find the names of
Bowie, Thomas, Magruder, Mackubin, Brewer, Randall,
Alexander, Chase, Dorsey, Goldsborough, Murray, Key,
Carroll, Merrick and others. It was the whole State
which joined in contributing to the support of St. J ohn'q
College and increasing the facilities for educating the sons
·of Maryland within her own borders. From this time on
the College continued to graduate students until the beginnecessarily closed.
ning of the late war when its doors were •
But the Board of Visitors and Governors could not rest
satisfied with the arbitrary settlement made with the State
-in 1832, by which advantage was taken of their unfortunate condition to legalize apparently the supposed illegal
Act of 1805, and consid.eringtoo that, under the terms of
the charter itself, their predecessors had transcended their
powers* and had no right to give the release required,•:The sixteenth section of the charter, which was relied on to sustain this view,
reads as follows:
"But in case at any time hereafter, through oversight or otherwise throu gh
misapprehensions and mistalcen constructions of the powers, liberties and franchises, in this charter or act of incorporation granted or intended to be gt·anted,
a n y ordinance should be made by the said Corporation of Visitors and Governors
or any matters. don e a nd transacted by the CorporatiOn contrary to the tenor
thereof, it is e;,:tcted that, although all such ordinances, acts and 'doings shall, in
�12
of justice, the General Assembly appropriated to the support of the College the sum of $12,000 annYally for five·
years from June 1, 1868-a sum which. with the former
$3,000, did not equal the interest on· the amount claimed
as. d~e to the College-and in consequence of this appropnatwn the appeal was abandoned.
·
This, :hen, is the history of the appropriation of $12,000: which was reluctantly renewed for six years by the
Legislature of 1872, and still more reluctantly for two
years by that of 1878, and which the recent Legislature
re:used to con~inue _any longer. This was the appropriation upon whiCh, With the $3,000 already mentioned, the·
College was dependent for support, and in return for which,.
when first received, the Visitors and Governors established
o.ne hundred and fifty scholarships for tuition, a:ssigning
s1~ t~ each Senatorial District in the State. This appropnahon, moreover, was not connected with the subsequent.
appropriation of $10,000 by the Legislature of 1 872:~
reduced to $5,200 by that of 1878, for furnishing board\
to two stude:pts (now one student), from each SenatoriaL
District on condition that they teach two years within the·
State, except in se far as the latter appropriation applied'
to students who held scholarships for tuition under the
former appropriation.
Whatever may have influenced the action of the lateLegislature, it iB not now pertinent to inquire. Doubtless
a false idea of economy influenced some, and perhaps personal motives influenced others, but if we look around andi
inquire what other States are doing for their institutions
of learning, we shall find that liberal appropriations are
made from the State Treasury for their support. Some
even go so far as to impose a special tax on the assessed
value of property ·n the State for their leading college or
university. It is not considered economy to restrict these
institutions, and force those who desire a collegiate educa-
13
tion to take their money out of the State which theywould willingly spend within it, but it is found profitable·
even to attract students from other States.
But, there is no use crying over the past, and the question is, what are you going to do about it? The Collegeis shut up now to rely upon its present small appropriation.
and the exertions of its Board of Visitors, its Faculty andi
its Alumni, but with harmony of action between these three
bodies, much may be accomplished. 'l'he recent action of
the Faculty of the University of Missouri may furnish an
example worthy of imitation, who, at the request of the·
Board of Curators, "promised hearty co-operation in the
effort to build up and make known the State University,"
distributed awong themselves the several Congressional
Districts of the State, and agreed to visit them and present
the claims of the University. The future Faculty of this
College may well apportion the Congressional Districts
and visit them to present the wants and claims of the·
College-to speak publicly in its behalf, if the opportunity
presents; if not, to make known privately its condition:
and necessities, and try to enlist the interest and support
of the people of the State-to induce them to imitate·
their ancestors by liberal subscriptions, or at least to send
their sons to be educated here.
It is well to rewember that, with the numerous and.
well equipped colleges of adjoining States, with the·
wealthy instit ution in the City of Baltimore, strong in.
the nur~ber .and ability of its instructors, and in the
appliances for . instruction, and giving · both collegiate
and university education-many students may not re~
main here long enough to obtain degrees. I t is manifest that the system of board and tuition scholarshipshas for some years furnishect the majority of the graduates,.
and, if not repealed, will continue to furnish a few each
year, but while the State is perfectly able to maintain it.
�14
),',
15
:·as a system of prizes for the best scholars from the schools
·1n each Senatorial District, strong objections have been
:.made to it, and another Legislature may repeal it too.
It is an unfortunate thing for a literary institution to be
· dependent upon the caprices of any legislative body.
But it is well to remember also that thorough preparation
'for higher instruction is very much needed in the State.
.Even for our great University, instruction extending at
least through the Sophomore year of an• ordinary college
:is required, and there is no reason why the preparatory and
:}ower collegiate classes of this College should not be filled to
o verflowing. An institution furnishing such preparation
is a great desideratum. There is room for it, and a wide
field of usefulness is open before it. The higher instruction corresponding to the course of the Junior and Senior
_
years should be retained'· for those who preferred to remain
:here and obtain their degrees-for local circumstances,
.Jamily ties, and ~he schol$-rship system (as long as it lasts,)
·will furnish some-but the course should be modified to
. suit the number and labors of the Faculty employed. Moreover, the retention of this course will furnish a stimulus
. ,to the lower classes, and will pr2serve the scholastic tradition, always strong in an old institution of learning.
. Sentiment and rrwerence for the past is not to be disTegarded, for it has a powerful effect upon the future.
But to bri.ng the College before the people, the present
l 1elp of the Alumni _s needed. Each Alumnus can be a ceni
..tre of influence in his neighborhood or in his county. He ~-can visit the men of means and get subscriptions. I
.notice that one object of_ the Society of the Alumni of
Georgetown College, specified in its Constitution, is ''to
seek to obtain donations and endowments, and to secure
for the College the most favorable legislation," and why
. should not that be an object of the Society of Alumni of
.t his College? The older A.l)lmni can give their money and
their sons. It is a notable fact that nearly all the tuition.
money the College receives comes from Annapolis, and
the bulk of that from Alumni of the College. Theyounger Alumni, of whom a goodly number has been
turned out in the last thirteen years, and who owe all the
education they. have to this College, can give their time
and their energies in its behalf, can make known its ad.~
vantages and induce others to support it. Cast your eyes
around this hall and witness the seventy-five names in,..
scribed on these shields of its graduates during the past
ten years. These names are the silent representatives of
numbers of others who completed here their collegiate
education and left without reaching graduation.
The young Alumni of the College are scattered through
every county in the State, and if they will go to
work in their counties and work persistently, I believe
that at least a thousand dollars could be easily 1~aised
in each county and much more in the City of Baltimore~
I cannot believe that the appropriation would have
failed if all the Alumni, both old and young, had used
the influence they possessed wi~h the Delegates from
their counties. The Alumni as a body have never felt
called upon before to go to work . in earnest and lend
their aid in building up the College. It is true, meeting~
have been held on Commencement Day, speeches made~
and committees appointed to seU:d out circulars which met
no response, but this is not work.
A Board of Visitors and a Faculty cannot do every ~
thing. If the former discharge faithfully the duties of
supervision and watch scrupulously ovel' the finances, and
the latter fulfill efficiently the duties of administration and
instruction with which they are charged, they are accom.plishing the objects for which they are appointed. ':l_1he
reputation of a College must, after all, rest upon the fidelity and efficiency with which these duties are discharged ~
�I __
16
•upon the exce~lence of its nnt~rnal administration and the
thoroughness of ite1 instructivn. If the Faculty fulfill these
·duties satisfactorily, it is as much as can ordinarily he
·e xpected of them, hut in an emergency, such as has now
arisen here, .they must labor more diligent] y outside of the
<College, and in this they must be helped ·by the Alumni
who have affection for their Alma Mater and will work ener:getically to increase her means and facilities for instruction.
The suggestions made, if approved, can be acted upon,
:and your own wisdom can arrange the necessary details
·for carrying them into effect. But the point to be kept
·in view is to bring the College more prominently before
the people as a place of education for the whole State, to
·interest them in it, and evincing your own interest in a
practical manner will inevitably awaken the interest of
others. If people see that the Alumni and friends of the
·College, ncvw in its time of need, make no effort in its behalf, they will naturally fetl no interest in it and will
•send their sons to more favored institutions. But if a
strong and combined effort by Visitors, Faculty and
Alumni is made to obtain money and students for the
·College, it must tell, and the failure of the appropriation
may not be such a severe blow after all, and will not be,
·if it awakens this renewed interest on the part of friends
- nd Alumni, and results in putting the College on a firmer
a
basis. The men tu,r ned out hy a college are the best
testimony to its value and to the quality of its work-not
·all, for unfortunately aH do mot take advantage of the
opportunities presented to the·m -but if those who do and
who hold the imprim11.,iur of •
the ·eollege for work faithfully done, take their stand along side of other men in
active life, in the ·church, on the be• ch, at the bar, in the
n
.sick-room, school-.roo:m, ·counting-room or work-shop, .a nd
hold their own amo:mg the first, the world will ask no better tes~imony dio .tJ:~<e 'tr.aini!{g th~y .hav.e received.
.
/
17
Therefore, my young friends, t(} you I would address . a
~few parting words. Yoa ihlave lahore~ through. your three,
..r
five years course and have JUSt receiVed the relOur, or
'
hl
'f 't
ward of your labors. But that diploma. is wort ess 1 :
·does not represent this ·diligent labor, this power of .a~~hthis training of the mind to intellectual acqUisition
t.
.ca IOn,
.
'Z • • •
d t
which must go with you through hfe. Tms It IS, an ~o
< meagre attainments in any branch of knowledge whiCh
the
you may have made • that must gauge the value of your
· d
t
ains w1ilst here. If you can use your mm s so as o
get from them their best work, if you can turn them at
to any mental effort and show some
result of
h effort your stay ihere has not been m vam. And
sue '
'
l d t d
while prizing highly the pG>wer to gain know e ge, .o evelop thought, and to benefit mankind by the .exercise of
:thought, forget not that more important ~xerCise of your
moral na t ure, Which you heard so forCibly presented 1a
·
iew evenings since, and -rhich must go on unconscious y
·whether yon will or no-the development o~ characte:.
Of this more certain'l y than of me.ntal. acq~uem,~nts IS
our motto strictly true-"nulla d~es sme _hnea.
unconsciously made often develop mto consciOus
.acts of good or evil. Guard well then the avenues of th.e
heart and leave no way open for the entrance of e~Il
.
.
Strength of character will be your best aid
~ ImpreSSIOnS.
·• .
·to success in life. Self-reliaRce is rrecessary, but there .Is
.
'd difference between -self-reliance and self-conceit.
.a Wl e
f . d h. h
The former is consistent with true hnmili~y o mi.n· , w lC
. ks strength for even the ordinary duties of hfe from a
.see
.
k · · lf
d
Power hiaher than serf. T;Jue latte;r is wea Ill Itse al)
is alway: an index of weaknes~ of char~cter. Let r~al
•strength of character ibe your aullil., and m whatev~r Clr..cumstances you are placed, r eed your Alma M~ter s adh
monition, "quit yourselves like men, be strong, . and rest
.
ever attend you. In her
.as sure.d that her iblessing wiilQ •
,name I bid you :a heariifelt Godspeed.
;ill
-~ressions
ta~gibl~
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Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Commencement Programs and Addresses
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Annapolis, MD
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
St. John's College Greenfield Library
Description
An account of the resource
Addresses given at commencement and programs of events related to, and including, the annual commencement ceremonies at St. John's College. Includes both the undergraduate and Graduate Institute commencements. <br /><br />The College Archives holds programs and/or addresses for the following years:<br />
<ul>
<li>1796</li>
<li>1835-1836</li>
<li>1842</li>
<li>1852</li>
<li>1856-1857</li>
<li>1870</li>
<li>1878</li>
<li>1880</li>
<li>1890</li>
<li>1893</li>
<li>1895</li>
<li>1897</li>
<li>1907</li>
<li>1910-1918</li>
<li>1920-1924</li>
<li>1928-1929</li>
<li>1932</li>
<li>1936-1937</li>
<li>1939-1945</li>
<li>1947-present </li>
</ul>
Click on <strong><a title="Commencement Programs and Addresses" href="http://digitalarchives.sjc.edu/items/browse?collection=18&sort_field=Dublin+Core%2CDate&sort_dir=d">Items in the Commencement Programs and Addresses Collection</a></strong> to view and sort all items in the collection.
Identifier
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commencementprograms
Text
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Original Format
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paper
Page numeration
Number of pages in the original item.
17 pages
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Commencement Address, 1880
Description
An account of the resource
Address to the Alumni of St. John's College, Annapolis, Maryland, on Commencement Day, June 30th, 1880, by James M. Garnett, M.A., LL.D., Principal of St. John's College. Published by request of the Society of the Alumni.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Garnett, James M. (James Mercer), 1840-1916
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
L. F. Colton & Co., Printers
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Annapolis, MD
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1880-06-30
Rights
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St. John's College owns the rights to this publication.
Type
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text
Format
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pdf
Language
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English
Identifier
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CommencementAddress1880
Commencement
Principals
-
https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/sjcdigitalarchives/original/dd504c209d4f121c43fd8a6d32f3a229.pdf
72518c67891138612d5ef463e8938c40
PDF Text
Text
---.H'M.
~lnt~.sttay,
~tttt-e
26th, 1$ 90.
'YWV"-
�7HO:R.S2'J.Yl
T~
JC.iY.E 26111, 10:30 A . .M.
ORDER OF EXERCISES.
SCRIPTURE AND PRAYER.
MUSIC.
8A LU 'l'A'l'ORY ADDRESS,
}
EssAY,
SECURITY OF OFR GOVERNMEN T.
John T . Truitt, Pittsville, l\!Id.
MUSIC.
\VEB'l'WARn, THE CouRsE O"F}
EMPIRE TAKES ITS WAY.
1\II. T. Johnston, Easton, l\!Id'
MUSIC.
JohnS. Newman, ·woodsboro', l\!Id.
PRE-HIS'l'ORI C lVIAN.
MUSIC.
E. lVI. Hays, Goshen, N.J.
CHEMISTRY OF LIFE.
MUSIC.
EssAY:
EDUCA'l'lON,A FA CTOR IN
CIVILIZATION.
.
VALEDICTORY Ar>DRESS.
f
A. K. McGraw, Sharpsburg, l\!Id .
MUSIC .
f!WaFding (!eFtiHcates or Distinctio11.
MUSIC .
ADDRESS TO GRADUATING GLAS8.
BENEDICT I 0 N.
�"~· kJe~Fees
to be ConfeFJ:!ed at the Commencement on
T Hll:ltS7)."'1!1..
r,
1890.
Jl/.JI/.E' 26/hJ
GE.A.:D"'tTATE
·~·
:DEGEEES-
BACHELOR OF An'rs .
Engene JVL Hays.
Chas. C. Marbury,
Goshen, N . J .
··w. A.
·
Croom, Md.
Hitchcock,
John T. Truitt,
Baltimore, Md.
.Pittsville, Md .
BACHELOR oF SciENCE.
A. K. McGraw,
John S.
8harpsburg-, Md .
Newman~
Woodsboro, Md.
BACHELOR OF LETTERS.
J . Fred. Adams,
J. A. Nydegger,
Kingston, Md.
Oakland, Md.
B. Vernon Cissel,
T. Ross Payne,
Highland, Md
Blacl' Horse, Md.
Eugene W. Heyde ,
Jesse H. Ramsburg,
Baltimore, Md.
Frederick, Md.
M. B. Freeman,
M . T . Johnston,
Bryantown, Md.
Eastor.., Md .
MASTER OF ARTS.
Edward. J. Clarke,
Rev . Leighton Parks,
Washington College, Md.
Boston, Mass . .
Do c TOR OF DIVIKITY.
Rev . Theodore C. Gam brall,
Rev. R. H. Williams,
Annapolis, Md .
Maryland.
Doc TOR oF LAws .
Hon. James Wilton Brooks,
N ew York .
��
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Commencement Programs and Addresses
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Annapolis, MD
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
St. John's College Greenfield Library
Description
An account of the resource
Addresses given at commencement and programs of events related to, and including, the annual commencement ceremonies at St. John's College. Includes both the undergraduate and Graduate Institute commencements. <br /><br />The College Archives holds programs and/or addresses for the following years:<br />
<ul>
<li>1796</li>
<li>1835-1836</li>
<li>1842</li>
<li>1852</li>
<li>1856-1857</li>
<li>1870</li>
<li>1878</li>
<li>1880</li>
<li>1890</li>
<li>1893</li>
<li>1895</li>
<li>1897</li>
<li>1907</li>
<li>1910-1918</li>
<li>1920-1924</li>
<li>1928-1929</li>
<li>1932</li>
<li>1936-1937</li>
<li>1939-1945</li>
<li>1947-present </li>
</ul>
Click on <strong><a title="Commencement Programs and Addresses" href="http://digitalarchives.sjc.edu/items/browse?collection=18&sort_field=Dublin+Core%2CDate&sort_dir=d">Items in the Commencement Programs and Addresses Collection</a></strong> to view and sort all items in the collection.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
commencementprograms
Text
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text.
Original Format
The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data
paper
Page numeration
Number of pages in the original item.
4 pages
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Description
An account of the resource
Program for the Commencement Exercises of St. John's College, Annapolis, MD. Thursday, June 26th, 1890.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
St. John's College
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
St. John's College
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Annapolis, MD
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1890-06-26
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
St. John's College owns the rights to this publication.
Type
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text
Format
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pdf
Language
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English
Identifier
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CommencementExercises1890
Title
A name given to the resource
Commencement Program, 1890
Commencement
-
https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/sjcdigitalarchives/original/325a929f5445932b78bbbd01680da4c6.pdf
fd7668e273f92087e45f831c2814d624
PDF Text
Text
'
��1893
cfca wwc.
Friday, June i6th
8 P.M.
Farewell Hop to '93.
Saturday, June ijth
Boat Regatta.
Sunday, June i8th
ii A. M.
Address before Y. M C A , Rev. J. W. Duffey, Baltimore, Md.,
8 P. M.
Baccalaureate Sermon, Rev. W. F. Corkran, D.D.
Monday, June ipth
10 A. M.
Military Drill and Competition for Flag,
8 P.M.
Philokalian Society Celebration.
Tuesday, June 2oth
10 A. M.
Class Day Bxercises,
8 P. M.
Philomathean Society Celebration.
Wednesday, June 2ist
10.30 A. M.
Graduation Exercises and Address before Alumni,
4 P.M.
Business Meeting of Alumni Association,
8.30 P. M.
Alumni Banquet.
�(Bio do20
10 a. m.
Call to Order,
Roll Call,
Reading Minutes,
President's Address,
Reports of Officers,
General Business,
Class History,
Class Prophecy,
Class Poem,
Distribution of Presents,
Address to Undergraduates,
Raising Mock Class Shield,
Smoking Class Pipes and Reception.
Office
i-ce^o.
Samuel Mitchell Wagaman, President.
Robert Penington, Vice-President.
William Henry Wilhelm, Recording Secretary.
James Philip Biays, Jr., Corresponding Secretary.
Howard Casper Norris, Treasurer.
Winfield Scott Schley, Jr., Historian.
Jonathan Handy Waller, Prophet.
Charles Early Dryden, Poet.
��
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Commencement Programs and Addresses
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Annapolis, MD
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
St. John's College Greenfield Library
Description
An account of the resource
Addresses given at commencement and programs of events related to, and including, the annual commencement ceremonies at St. John's College. Includes both the undergraduate and Graduate Institute commencements. <br /><br />The College Archives holds programs and/or addresses for the following years:<br />
<ul>
<li>1796</li>
<li>1835-1836</li>
<li>1842</li>
<li>1852</li>
<li>1856-1857</li>
<li>1870</li>
<li>1878</li>
<li>1880</li>
<li>1890</li>
<li>1893</li>
<li>1895</li>
<li>1897</li>
<li>1907</li>
<li>1910-1918</li>
<li>1920-1924</li>
<li>1928-1929</li>
<li>1932</li>
<li>1936-1937</li>
<li>1939-1945</li>
<li>1947-present </li>
</ul>
Click on <strong><a title="Commencement Programs and Addresses" href="http://digitalarchives.sjc.edu/items/browse?collection=18&sort_field=Dublin+Core%2CDate&sort_dir=d">Items in the Commencement Programs and Addresses Collection</a></strong> to view and sort all items in the collection.
Identifier
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commencementprograms
Text
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text.
Original Format
The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data
paper
Page numeration
Number of pages in the original item.
5 pages
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
St. John's College
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1893-06
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
CommencementExercises1983
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Annapolis, MD
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
St. John's College
Language
A language of the resource
English
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
text
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
St. John's College owns the rights to this publication.
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
pdf
Description
An account of the resource
Program for the Class of '93 commencement exercises, June 16th to 21st 1893.
Subject
The topic of the resource
Commencement (St. John's College, Annapolis, MD)
Title
A name given to the resource
Commencement Program, 1893
Commencement
-
https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/sjcdigitalarchives/original/1a1db3a500c824e90d9d0d4542894208.pdf
51e62914ec5dafc6d59b094bf0b15cff
PDF Text
Text
: : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : :
... .
-0~'-
ANNAPOLIS, MD.
-»Wednesday, June 19th, 1895.-«............... . ......................
. . . . . . . . . . . . -·. . . . . - . -.- . . -. · . - - .--. . . . . · - .
.. .. .
..
-
.t
�Wednesday, June 19th, 7895, at 10.30 o'clock. A. M.
ORDER OF EXERCISES.
SCRIPTURE AND PRAYER
MUSIC.
} Addison E. Mullikin,
Trappe, Md.
~A LFTATOR'Y ADDRESS,
MUSIC
l .Tames A. Fechtig, Jr.,
PmzE On.ATfON
(
Baltimore, Md.
}
Prof. W. H. Hopkins,
Ph. D., Class '59,
Baltimore, Md.
MUSIC.
i\ NNUAL ADDltESR BEFORE THE
ALUMNI,
MUSIC.
} W. Zach: Childs,
Annapolis. Mcl.
\TA LEDTnTOWY A DDIUJSS,
MUS ft_-:.
fiwaJ.Tdin~
(!eFtrificates of Distinction.
MUSIC .
ADDRESS TO THE GRADUATING CLASS
RENEDICTION.
�-~·Deg11ees
to be eorife1111ed at the eommencement on·~-WEDNESDAY, June 19th. 1895.
W o'clock, A. M.
lSES.
'ER
IJACHELO!t OF ARTS.
Addison E. Mullikin,
Trappe, Md.
W. Zaehary Childs,
Annapolis, Mu.
Addison E. Mullikin,
Trappe, Md.
E. Magruder Thompson.
.Tames A. Fechtig, Jr.,
Baltimore, l\IJ
Gaithersburg-, l\[d.
.Tames A. Fechtig, Jr..
Baltimore, Md.
Prof. W. H. Hopkins,
Ph. D., Class '59,
Baltimore, Md.
Leslie A. Oliver,
Annapolis, Mel
C. Xe ·man Joyce.
Mana~sae,
Va .
George E. Bennett.
l\farJPll11, l\ld.
Eugene W. Iglehart,
Annapolis, Md.
Courtney B. .Jones,
l\I11lwoocl, Ya.
A. Randall :McllYairn.·.
Philarlelph ia, Pa.
Hngh Ridgely lWey,
.-\.nnapoliR, Mtl.
Walter C. A. H. Schaefer,
AnnHpolis. Md,
BAC'HELO!l OF 1-\CIENCE.
W. Zach: Childs,
Annapolis, Md.
k)is tinction.
(;eorge E. Bennett.
1\IarJella, l\11!.
L. B. Keene Claggett.
Petersville, Md.
:::leth H. Linthicnm,
Wellham's, Md.
Reginald H. Ridgely.
AunapoliR, Md
.Joseph Stine.
BaltimorP, \Id.
Roy H. Snyder .
Port DPpoRit, Md
'.\L\STEH OF AHTS.
ING CLASS.
Du11glaK F'. Dnrnl. '.\!. I> ..
B. s,,., 'fll
.\nnapoliH, '.\Id
.Je~se
lfamshnrgh, '.\!. U.,
B. L., '90 .
FredPrick, l\IJ
.,
�DvcTo H
ReY . •James C. Kerr,
r.
(Jl<'
DI Y1XITr.
8 . A.,
Rev. Charles Pickella,
Georgetown, Dd.
Millbrook, N. Y.
Rev. Whitford L. McDowell.
l{er . .fames Wm. Mcllvaine,
Annapolis, Md.
Annapolis, Md .
Rev. Charles S. Baker,
Rev. Wyllys Reue,
Crisfield, Md.
H.ockfor,l, Ill.
DOCTOR OF LA ws.
Provost Thomas I. Ball,
He,·. Ralph Williams.
Combrae, 8cothmd.
London, England.
.MASTER OF ARTS.
Wirt A. Duvall. M. D ..
ClaFs of '85.
Baltimore, Md
Prize offerer! by the A lwnni to Senior Glass for tlte flps/ Original Orati:on.
James A. Fechtig.. Jr..
Baltnnore, Md .
l'l'f'sirlf'lif's Golrl J[Pdal o_ffered to Junior Class for Omfm·y.
Thomas S. Stine,
Baltimore, Md .
President's Prize fol' Bibliral Study.
W 'l'homas KPmp.
Trappe , Md .
RAIS/NP. OF CLASS SHIELD BY '95.
'·AULn LANG RYNE.''
•I
�
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
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Commencement Programs and Addresses
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Annapolis, MD
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
St. John's College Greenfield Library
Description
An account of the resource
Addresses given at commencement and programs of events related to, and including, the annual commencement ceremonies at St. John's College. Includes both the undergraduate and Graduate Institute commencements. <br /><br />The College Archives holds programs and/or addresses for the following years:<br />
<ul>
<li>1796</li>
<li>1835-1836</li>
<li>1842</li>
<li>1852</li>
<li>1856-1857</li>
<li>1870</li>
<li>1878</li>
<li>1880</li>
<li>1890</li>
<li>1893</li>
<li>1895</li>
<li>1897</li>
<li>1907</li>
<li>1910-1918</li>
<li>1920-1924</li>
<li>1928-1929</li>
<li>1932</li>
<li>1936-1937</li>
<li>1939-1945</li>
<li>1947-present </li>
</ul>
Click on <strong><a title="Commencement Programs and Addresses" href="http://digitalarchives.sjc.edu/items/browse?collection=18&sort_field=Dublin+Core%2CDate&sort_dir=d">Items in the Commencement Programs and Addresses Collection</a></strong> to view and sort all items in the collection.
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commencementprograms
Text
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text.
Page numeration
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4 pages
Original Format
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paper
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Creator
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St. John's College
Title
A name given to the resource
Commencement Program, 1895
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1895-06-19
Description
An account of the resource
Commencement Exercises of St. John's College, Annapolis, MD. Wednesday, June 19th, 1895.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Commencement 1895
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Annapolis, MD
Publisher
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St. John's College
Language
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English
Type
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text
Rights
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St. John's College owns the rights to this publication.
Format
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pdf
Commencement
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07cd64ad750a43856a609f5ab0048fef
PDF Text
Text
/'
..,
f
..
-
OF -
Wednesday, June 16th, 1897 .
.
.,
�_Jfil. -----·--·---- - -- -- -
~
Commencement Day, ~
Wednesday, June 16th, 1897, at 10.30 A. M.
ORDER OF EXERISES.
MUSIC.
Procession of Oandiclates for Degrees, Alumni, His Excellency,
Governor L. Lowndes, and the Board of Governors, th e
Superintendent of t he Naval Academy, an d other di stinguished Vistors, t he Facult_ aivl Presiden t of the Collt•ge.
y
READING OF SCRIPTURE,'
}
I'n.-1.YER,
Rev. A. L. Rovce,
Olrnpbin: u . f-:l. N .
:MUS I C.
} Olrnrl es I. Flory.
Jleist.erstowu, J\Id .
SALUTAT ORY ADDRESS,
MUSIC.
} Lewi s 0. Boehm,
Sno1r Hill, Md.
PmzE ORATION,
MUS I C.
00NFERRINfi- OF D EGREES.
ADDRESS TO THE GRADUATING CLASS, -
Gove rnor L. I.Jowntl os.
MUSIC .
AWARDING 0EHTIFICATES OF DISTINCT[ON AND PJUZES.
MUSIC.
\T ALEDICTORY
} W. Thomas Kemp,
Trappe, ML1.
ADDRESS,
MUSIC .
ANNUAL ADDRESS BEFO lrn THE
Ar.m.rnr
} Rev.F.W.Olampett,D.n
Bal timore, Mel .
BENED I CT IO N .
L
�Ode to St. John's College.
Ded'icatecl to the Ulass ~f '97.
1
lfosic b.IJ Elizabeth Ellen Starr.
We sing to thee, our mother, dear, (our mother dear,)
Our hearts are warm, our voices clear (our voices clear ;)
As to thy praise we sing,
!\.s to thy praise we sing.
Down through the sounding aisles of time
We send thy praise in tuneful rhyme,
Anrl make the old balls ring
And make the old halls ring.
Oho.-To thee, St. John's, we gladly sing,
To thee we sing, we sing, we sing;
To thee our sounding praises bring,
Our praises bring, our praiees bring
We \Jail thee, Jove thee, bless the day
That brought us 'neath thy guardian sway,
Thy guardian sway.
Farewell ! old bell! go on and ring: (go on and ring)
High in the lofty turret swing (turret swing.)
But nc.t for us the peal~
But not for us the peal.
Farewell green sward and shelter trees,
T'is not for us the whispering breeze
Shall through your branches stealShall through your branches steal.
Oft from the strife of coming year (of coming year);
Oft from the mingled hopes and fears (hopes and fears)
Our hearts will turn to tbeeOur hearts will turn to thee.
Thy restful paths, thy sunny slopes;
Thy promist>s, youth's buoyant hopes
We find in thoughts of theeWe find in thoughts of thee .
And stnmgthened by these mem'ries dear (mem'ries dear)
We forward with songs of cheer (with songs of cheer)
To thee our thanks we raiseTo thee our thanks we raise.
And to the guiding Hano above
w·hich over all our Jives doth move
A parting song of praiseA parting song of praise.
.I
�·~regl'ees
to be (!o:qfel'l'ed at the (!omrriencement
""'VV"ed.:n.esd.a:y,
J"u.:n.e
16th,
om~
1997.
---:0:---
GRADUATE DEGREES.
BACHELOR OF ARTS.
W. Thomas Kemp,
Willlam G. Fay,
TrappP, Md.
Annapo li s, Md.
Uharles I. F lory;
Hoger E. Simmons,
Re isterstown, Mel.
Hagerstown, Md.
Jijd 1vMd M. I/Engle,
Charles L. Walls,
Jacksonvi llE', F la .
Ingleside, Md.
Walter D. Smith,
.Joseph B. Douglas,
i{osaryville, MJ.
C11n1l>erlnnd, Mel .
Lewis U. Boehm.
.James P. Offntt,
onow Hill, }fd .
Granite, Md .
J3A HCHELOH
Ch arles I. ]:f]ory,
OF SCIENCE.
Ulric A. Skirven,
Bal ti more, Mel.
Reisterstown, Md.
Spri g nel P. Wile.1·,
Edgar D. Hil leat7,
Norri s vil!P, Md .
Petersville, Mel.
MASTER OF ARTS.
.Tohn T. Trnitt, B. A.,
William H. Wilhelm, B. A. ,
Class '90,
P i tts,·il ie, :Mel.
Glass '93.
Baltimore, Md .
II.tl'old C. Ridgely, B. A ..
William A. Case, B. A.,
Class '93,
Baltimore, Md .
Class '94,
Mount Washington, Mel.
U el'hert Noble, B. A.,
Class '89,
Ne w Yor k, N. Y .
•t
�HONORARY DEGREES.
DOCTOR OF DIVINITY.
Rev. John B. Blanchet, M. A.,
Rev. Alfreu L. Royce,
Clifton Springs , N. Y.
New York, N. Y.
Rev. Frederick W. Clampett, 1\1. A.,
Baltimo1e, Mel.
DOCTOR OF LA ws.
Calderon Carlisle, B. A.,
Rev. Thomas P. Hughes, D. D.,
Washington, D. C.
New York, N. Y.
Rev. Geo. IL R. Fletcher, B. A.,
Alvechnrch ,
En~.
- - -:o: - - -
PRIZES.
Prfae oJfered by the Alumni to Senior Glass for the Best
Original Essay.
Lewis C. Boehm,
Snow Hill, Md.
President's Prize for Biblical Stntly.
Charles H. MacNabb,
Macton, Md.
RAISING OF THE CLASS SHIELD.
"AULD LANG SYNE."
.~
.'
�BACCALAUREATE SERMON
-IN-
71 rv] cl@)owell
NG\11,
@t. c.John' 5 @olle9e,lE--
Sundau Evenina, June 13th, 1897, at 8 o'clock,
By Rev. J. S. Lindsay, D. D., of Boston, Mass.
~HYMN. I~
IVIagnificat,
All hail the power of Jes us' name !
Let angels prostrate fall,
Bring forth the royal diadem,
And crown Him Lord of all.
Crown Him, ye martyrs of our God,
Who from His altar call ;
Extol the stf'm of Jesse's rod,
And crown Him Lord of all!
Hail Him, the heir of David's line,
Whom David, Lord did call;
The God incarnate, Man divine!
And crown Him Lord of all.
Ye seed ·of Israel's chosen race,
Ye ransomed of the fall,
Hail Him vvho saves you by His grace, '
And crown Him Lord of all.
I
"'I
Sinners, whose love can ne' er forget
The wormwood and the gall,
G o, spread your trophies at His feet,
And crcwn Him Lord of all.
Let every kindred, every tribe!
Before Him prostrate fall!
To Him all majesty ascribe,
And crown Him Lord of all.
A. W. Marchant.
ANTHEM.
"If with all your hearts, "
Mendelssohn.
l\fr T. T. Caswell.
Solo,
SERMON.
ANTHEM.
"Praise Ye the Father, "
Gounod.
B E N E DI CT I 0 N .
EVENll\G CAPITAL Steam Print, Annapolis, Md.
t
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(
•
Jfd~o~#th!!!Y{i;ff.
24urfte76,./!£?.
~ne;/U?'V~
~t'd::/em?P£/
/r:Y.Yt.
�~lass.
ffnil.
:fAS. P. OFFUTT, President, Granite, Md.
LE WISC. BOEHM, Snow Hill, Md.
:JOS. B. DOUGLAS, Rosaryville, Mi.
W. GARLAND, FAY, Annapolis, Md.
CHAS. I. FLORY, Reisterstown, Md.
EDGARD. HILLEARY, Petersville , Md. W. THOS. KEMP, Trappe, Md.
ED W. M. L'ENGLE, :facksonville, Fla.
ROGER E. SIMMOlvS, Hagerstown, Md.
ULRIC A. SKIRVEN, Bultimore, Md.
WALTER D. SMITH, Cumberland. Md.
C. LESLIE WALLS, Ingleside, Md.
SPRIG. P. WJLEY. Norrisville, Md.
�Commencement Exercises.
PROGRAMME.
Thursday, June 10th, 8 P. M.-Oratorical Contest for mem -
bers of the Jun ior Class.
Friday, June 11th, 10.30 A. M.-Graduating Exercises of the
Preparatory Sc hool.
8.30 P. M.-Farewe ll Ball in Gymnasium.
Saturday, June 12th, 4 P. M.-Base-Bal l Game.
Sunday, June 13th, 11 A. M.-Address before Co llege Y. M.
C. A. in St. Anne's Church, Rev. John S . Doug las, of
Luray, Va.
8 P. M.- Baccalaureate Sermon, Rev . J. S. Lindsay,
D. D., of Boston, Mass.
Monday, June 14th, 4 P. M.-Lawn Tennis Tournament.
8 P. M.-Philokalian Society Ce lebration. Address
by Hon. J. S. Wirt, C lass '92, Elkton, Md.
Tuesday, June 15th, 11 A. M.- Senior Class Day Exercises .
4 P. M. - Business Meeting of the Alumni Association .
8 P. M.-Philomathean Society Ce lebration, Address
by Hon . E. H. Sincell, Class '83, Oakland, Md .
Wednesday, June 16th, 10.30 A. M.-Commencement Day.
Address before the Alumni by- -
--
��
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Commencement Programs and Addresses
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Annapolis, MD
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
St. John's College Greenfield Library
Description
An account of the resource
Addresses given at commencement and programs of events related to, and including, the annual commencement ceremonies at St. John's College. Includes both the undergraduate and Graduate Institute commencements. <br /><br />The College Archives holds programs and/or addresses for the following years:<br />
<ul>
<li>1796</li>
<li>1835-1836</li>
<li>1842</li>
<li>1852</li>
<li>1856-1857</li>
<li>1870</li>
<li>1878</li>
<li>1880</li>
<li>1890</li>
<li>1893</li>
<li>1895</li>
<li>1897</li>
<li>1907</li>
<li>1910-1918</li>
<li>1920-1924</li>
<li>1928-1929</li>
<li>1932</li>
<li>1936-1937</li>
<li>1939-1945</li>
<li>1947-present </li>
</ul>
Click on <strong><a title="Commencement Programs and Addresses" href="http://digitalarchives.sjc.edu/items/browse?collection=18&sort_field=Dublin+Core%2CDate&sort_dir=d">Items in the Commencement Programs and Addresses Collection</a></strong> to view and sort all items in the collection.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
commencementprograms
Text
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text.
Page numeration
Number of pages in the original item.
5, 1, 6 pages
Original Format
The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data
paper
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
St. John's College
Title
A name given to the resource
Commencement Program, 1897
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1897-06-16
Description
An account of the resource
Commencement Exercises of St. John's College, Annapolis, Md. Wednesday, June 16th, 1897. Also includes Baccalaureate Sermon and invitation addressed to Mis Milligan.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Commencement 1897
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Annapolis, MD
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
St. John's College
Language
A language of the resource
English
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
text
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
St. John's College owns the rights to this publication.
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
pdf
Commencement
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534e65657b5b473dfc8da698fa58a5d0
PDF Text
Text
crommencement JExercises
... OF ...
ST. JOHN'S COLLEGE
IN McDOWELL HALL
It~
WEDNESDAY. JUNE 19. 1907
"' .
10.30 O'CLOCK A. M .
.'
�COMMENCEIVIENT DAY
Wednesday, June 19th, 1907, at 10.30 A. M.
ORDER OF EXERCISES.
Procession of Candidates for Degrees, Alumni, the Board of
Governors, Presidents of Colleges and other distinguished Visitors, the Faculty and the
President of the CoHege.
Reading of Scripture, - Rev John McElmoyle, Elkton, Mel.
Prayer, - Rev. George M. Cumm(ngs, v\rashington, D. C.
Musrc
Salutatory Acldre~s.
Prize Oration ,
- William Childs, Jr., Annapolis, Md.
Asher R. Smith, Carrizo Springs, T exas
Musrc
Awarding- of Certificates of Distinction and Prizes.
Presentation of Medal on Behalf of the Baltimore
Branch of the Alumni Association
vV. I. Dawkins, Esq., Baltimore, Md .
Musrc.
Conferring- of Deg-rees.
Address to the Graduating Class,
Hon. Ferdinand Lttrobe, Baltimore, Md.
Valedictory Address,
Edgar Henry McBride, Adamstown, Mel .
SINGING OF CLASS ODE
BENEDICTION
�COMMENCEMENT DAY
MCDOWE L L HA L L, ST, JOHN'S COL L EGE
C.j::iU
WEDNESDAY. JUNE 19. 1907
ODE TO ST. JOHN'S COLLEGE .
MUSIC BY ELIZABE'.rH ELLEN STARR.
We sing to thee, our mother dear, (our mother dear,)
Our hearts are warm, our voices clear, (our voices clear;)
As to thy praise we sing,
As to thy praise we sing,
Down through the sounding aisles of time
We send thy praise in tuneful rhyme,
And make the old halls ring,
And make tbe old balls ring.
CliO.-To ti.iee, ;Sc:;, Juiu1 's, \Ve g·iadiy sing,
To thee we sing, we sing, we sing;
~ro thee our sounding praises bring,
Our praises bring, our praises bring,
\Ve bail thee, love thee, bless the day
That brought us 'neath tby guardian sway,
Thy guardian sway.
J<'arewell! old bell! go on and ring (go on and ring,)
Higb in tile lofty turret swing (turret swingJ
But not for us the pealBut not for us the peal.
Farewell, green sward and shelter trees.
'Tis not for us tbe whispering breeze
Shall tbrougb your branches stealSball through your branches steal.
Oft from the strife of coming years (of coming years;)
Ort from the mingled hopes and fears, (hopes and fears,)
Our hearts will turn to theeOur hearts will turn to thee.
Thy restful paths, thy sunny slopes;
Thy promises, youth's buoyant hopes
We find in thoughts oftheeWe find in thoughts of thee.
And strengthened by these mem'ries dear (mem'ries dear)
·we forward with songs of cheer (with songs of cheer.)
To thee our thanks we raise.
'l'o thee our thanks we raise ;
And to the guiding Hand above
Which over all our lives doth move,
A parting song of praiseA parting song of praise. _
�LI
.1
f Ou .. d,a l~.3
. ,_r
· ..i , . .- ... - -
.. .
,•
(
�=.NT DAY
it 10.30 A. M .
DEGREES TO BE CONFERRED
At the Commencement on Wednesday, June 19, 1907.
GRADUATE DEGREES .
:1SES .
BACHELOR OF ARTS.
;, Alumni, the Board of
:es and other cl is: u l ty and the
1Mege.
cElmoyle, Elkton, Md.
1gs, ·was hington , D. C.
els , Jr., Annapolis, Mel.
Carrizo Springs, Texas
1ction and Prizes.
he Baltimore
ti on
;, Esq., Baltimore, Mel.
Frederick, Mel.
First Honor-Edgar Henry McBride,
Adelina, Mel.
Benjamin Hance,
Salisbury, Mel.
Charles Ernest Tilghman,
Carrizo Springs, Texas.
Asher Richardson Smith,
South River, Md.
John Collinson, Jr.,
Gaithersburg, Mel.
Norman Alphonso Belt,
Prince Frederick, Mel.
Everette LeRoy Bowen,
Clinton, Mel .
Francis Bernard Gwynn,
Revell' s, Mel.
Alton Lindolph Arnold,
Washington, D. C.
Alexander Contee Thompson,
Baltimore, Mel.
Howard Thomas Ruhl,
Cecilton, Mel .
Robert Anderson, Jr.,
La Plata, Mel .
Walter Griffin Mudd,
Oxford, Mel.
Alexander McCully Stevens, - HaYana, Cuba.
Raoul J. Ruz y Poey,
Centreville, Mel.
Marcello Worthington Bordley,
Annapolis, Mel.
George Donald Riley,
Annapolis, Mel.
John Moore Thompson,
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE.
ees.
.cttrobe, Bal ti more, Mel.
lriele, Adamstown, Mel .
ODE
Annapolis,
Second Honor-William F. Childs, Jr.,
vVestminster,
Eli Elmer Bennett,
Baltimore,
John Triplett Harrison,
Annapolis,
William August Strohm,
Long Green,
Irving Patterson Kane,
Moscow Mills,
Cuthbert Clement Cathcart,
Havre de Grace,
Lee Isaac Hecht,
Crisfie lel,
Hugh Aubrey Coulbourn, Annapolis,
Eugene Webster Magruder,
- Annapolis,
Robert Currier Brady,
.,
Md.
Mel.
Mel.
Mel .
Mel.
Mel.
Md.
Md.
Md.
Md .
�DEGREES JN COURSE.
MASTER OF ARTS .
Blanchard Randall, B. A., 1874,
Charles Newman Joyce, B. A., 1895,
Walter C. Mylancler, B. A., 1900,
John Parran Briscoe, B. A., 1901,
Wayne Willing Keyes, B. A., 1902,
Alexander Randall, B. A., 1902 .
Freel Y. Cronk, B. S., 1903,
HONORARY DEGREES.
DOCTOR OF DIVINITY.
Rev Talliaferro F. Caskey,
Rev. John McElmoyle,
Rev-. Robert M. Moore,
Baltimore, Mel,
Elkton, Mel.
Washington, D. C.
DOCTOR OF LAWS.
Honorable Isidor Rayner,
John Hays Hammond, Esq.,
Baltimore, Mel.
New York, N. Y.
PRIZ E S.
Prize of $25. 00 offered by the Alumni Association of St.
John 's College to the Senior Class for th e
best Original Oration :
Asher Richardson Smith,
Carrizo Springs, Texas.
Philo Sherman Bennett Prize for the best Essay on the
" Principles of Free Government:"
Edgar Henry McBride,
Frederick, Mel.
President's medal for Oratory to members of the Junior Class:
Philip Harrison ,
Baltimore, Mel.
Pres ident's Prize for Biblical Study:
Charles H. Schuster,
Baltimore, Mel.
•f
�
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Commencement Programs and Addresses
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Annapolis, MD
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
St. John's College Greenfield Library
Description
An account of the resource
Addresses given at commencement and programs of events related to, and including, the annual commencement ceremonies at St. John's College. Includes both the undergraduate and Graduate Institute commencements. <br /><br />The College Archives holds programs and/or addresses for the following years:<br />
<ul>
<li>1796</li>
<li>1835-1836</li>
<li>1842</li>
<li>1852</li>
<li>1856-1857</li>
<li>1870</li>
<li>1878</li>
<li>1880</li>
<li>1890</li>
<li>1893</li>
<li>1895</li>
<li>1897</li>
<li>1907</li>
<li>1910-1918</li>
<li>1920-1924</li>
<li>1928-1929</li>
<li>1932</li>
<li>1936-1937</li>
<li>1939-1945</li>
<li>1947-present </li>
</ul>
Click on <strong><a title="Commencement Programs and Addresses" href="http://digitalarchives.sjc.edu/items/browse?collection=18&sort_field=Dublin+Core%2CDate&sort_dir=d">Items in the Commencement Programs and Addresses Collection</a></strong> to view and sort all items in the collection.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
commencementprograms
Text
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text.
Page numeration
Number of pages in the original item.
5 pages
Original Format
The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data
paper
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
St. John's College
Title
A name given to the resource
Commencement Program, 1907
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1907-06-19
Description
An account of the resource
The Commencement Exercises of St. John's College in McDowell Hall. Wednesday, June 19, 1907. 10.30 O'Clock A.M.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Commencement 1907
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Annapolis, MD
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
St. John's College
Language
A language of the resource
English
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
text
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
St. John's College owns the rights to this publication.
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
pdf
Commencement
-
https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/sjcdigitalarchives/original/c1e9977afacbb221443a8e15cfb1323a.pdf
5d4df607e5d0217cbc7f03468f9dabd4
PDF Text
Text
COMMENCEMENT
WEEK
St. ] ohn' s Col1ege
l784-l9l0
June 9th to 15th
• V • N I N • CA,.ITAL
,.,._INT
�COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES
PROGRAMME.
June 15th, Wednesday, 10:30 A. M.
_/
Procession of Candidates for Degrees, Alumni, the
Board of Visitors and Governors, distinguished
Visitors, the F acuity, the Chaplain, the Orators,
and the President of the College.
READING OF SCRIPTURE BY
REV.
INVOCATION BY
C. L.
HUBBARD, Hagerstown,
Md.
REv. C. T. BLANCHET, Philmont, N. Y.
Music.
ADDRESS by
THE HoN.
W.
J.
GAYNOR, New York
Music.
AWARDING OF PRIZES AND CERTIFICATES OF DISTINGUISHED
SCHOLARSHIP.
Music.
CONFERRING OF DEGREES ON GRADUATES.
CONFERRING OF HONORARY DEGREES.
ADDRESS TO GRADUATES BY
THE HON. HAMPTON
L.
CARSON,
Attorney-General of Pennsylvania.
Music.
MILITARY ANNOUNCEMENTS.
SINGING OF CLASS ODE.
BENEDICTION BY
REV. GEORGE
W.
DAME, D.D. , Baltimore,
Md.
June 15th, Wednesday, I P. M., Luncheon to Graduates and
invited guests in College Dining Hall.
�.ERCISES
GRADUATE DEGREES .
BACHELOR OF ARTS
Choptank, Md.
Webster Strayer Blades-First Honor,
A • .M..
Harry Francis Warrenfeltz-Second Honor, Smithsburg, Md.
-
William Linden Allen,
Jumni, the
stinguished
: Orators,
Salisbury, Md.
Cecilton, Md.
William Patrick Anderson,
Brookeville, Md.
Clark Ferguson Brown
Wingate' s, Md.
Cleveland Dean,
Middletown, Md.
:agerstown, Md.
Roscoe Earl Grove,
Philmont, N. Y.
Russell Peter Hartle,
Chewsville, Md.
Edgar Routzahn Hauver, -
Myersville, Md.
rnoR, New York
Leonard Eckart Kolmer,
DISTINGUISHED
Ellicott City, Md.
Robert Mullineux Heine,
Lonaconing, Md.
-
Annapolis, Md.
John Francis Lutz,
LaPlata, Md.
Thomas Brackett Reed Mudd, Jam es Percy Pinkerton,
Pocomoke City, Md.
lUATES.
Conrad Henry Ruhl,
Baltimore, Md.
REES.
Henry Douglas Taylor,
Baltimore, Md.
Harry Eugene Wilson,
Tilghman, Md.
CARSON,
Jf Pennsylvania.
Glyndon, Md.
Peter George Zouck,
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE
Roy Messick Jones,
Annapolis, Md.
John Frederick Koenig,
Baltimore, Md.
MASTER OF ARTS
Baltimore, Md.
' Graduates and
lall.
William C. DeVecmon, B. A.,
J. W. Huffington, B. A.,
Nicholas Orem. B. A.,
Andrew P. Kelly, B. S.,
vValter Griffin Mudd, B. A.,
' I
1881.
I898.
1898.
1906.
1907.
�COMMENCEMENT
DAY
MCDOWELL HALL, ST. JOHN'S COLLEGE
\!:>I ::
~
WEDNESDAY, JUNE
ODE TO
ST.
JOHN'S
16TH, 1910
COLLEGE
MUSIC BY ELIZABETH ELLEN STARR.
We sing to thee, our mother clear, (our mother clear,)
Our hearts are warm, our voices clear, (our voices clear;)
As to thy praise we sing,
As to thy praise we sing,
Down through the sounding aisles of time
We send thy praise in tuneful rhyme,
And make the olcl halls ring,
And make the old balls ring.
CHO.-'l'o thee, St. John's, we gladly sing,
'l'o thee we sing, we sing, we sing;
To thee our sounding· praises bring,
Our praises bring, our praises bl"ing,
vVe bail thee, love thee, bless the day
'l'hat brought us 'nellth thy guardian sway,
'l'hy guardian sway.
Farewell! olcl bell! go on and ring (go on an cl ring,)
High in the 10fy turret. swing (turret swing)
But l l ' ~• r ns the pealBut IH• • ·-·· us the peal.
Farewell, green sward and shelter trees.
'Tis not for us the whispering breeze
Shall through your branches stealShall tlirough your branches steal.
Oft from the strife of coming years (of com ing years;)
Oft from the mingled hop es and frars, (hopes and fears,)
Our he;uts will turn to theeOur hearts will turn to thee.
Thy restful paths, thy smmy slopes;
'l'hy promises, youth's buoyant hopes
Yl'e find in thoughts of theevVe tind in thoughts of thee.
And strengthened by these ITifHn'ries dear (mem'r ies dear)
vVe forward go with songs of ch eer (witb songs of cheer.)
'l'o tbee our thanks we raise,
'l'o thee our thanks we rai se;
And to the guiding Hanel above
vVhich over all our lives cloth move,
A parting song of praiseA parting song of praise.
�
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Commencement Programs and Addresses
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Annapolis, MD
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
St. John's College Greenfield Library
Description
An account of the resource
Addresses given at commencement and programs of events related to, and including, the annual commencement ceremonies at St. John's College. Includes both the undergraduate and Graduate Institute commencements. <br /><br />The College Archives holds programs and/or addresses for the following years:<br />
<ul>
<li>1796</li>
<li>1835-1836</li>
<li>1842</li>
<li>1852</li>
<li>1856-1857</li>
<li>1870</li>
<li>1878</li>
<li>1880</li>
<li>1890</li>
<li>1893</li>
<li>1895</li>
<li>1897</li>
<li>1907</li>
<li>1910-1918</li>
<li>1920-1924</li>
<li>1928-1929</li>
<li>1932</li>
<li>1936-1937</li>
<li>1939-1945</li>
<li>1947-present </li>
</ul>
Click on <strong><a title="Commencement Programs and Addresses" href="http://digitalarchives.sjc.edu/items/browse?collection=18&sort_field=Dublin+Core%2CDate&sort_dir=d">Items in the Commencement Programs and Addresses Collection</a></strong> to view and sort all items in the collection.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
commencementprograms
Text
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text.
Page numeration
Number of pages in the original item.
4, 1 pages
Original Format
The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data
paper
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
St. John's College
Title
A name given to the resource
Commencement Program, 1910
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1910-06-09-15
Description
An account of the resource
Commencement Week. St. John's College, 1784-1910. June 9th to 15th. Also includes Commencement Day handout "Ode to St. John's College."
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Commencement 1910
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Annapolis, MD
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Evening Capital Print
Language
A language of the resource
English
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
text
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
St. John's College owns the rights to this publication.
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
pdf
Commencement
-
https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/sjcdigitalarchives/original/4f69f80f5c131f68981ecf8e6cf8a871.pdf
377f0e4296be05f66691d7b92d9261cb
PDF Text
Text
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Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Commencement Programs and Addresses
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Annapolis, MD
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
St. John's College Greenfield Library
Description
An account of the resource
Addresses given at commencement and programs of events related to, and including, the annual commencement ceremonies at St. John's College. Includes both the undergraduate and Graduate Institute commencements. <br /><br />The College Archives holds programs and/or addresses for the following years:<br />
<ul>
<li>1796</li>
<li>1835-1836</li>
<li>1842</li>
<li>1852</li>
<li>1856-1857</li>
<li>1870</li>
<li>1878</li>
<li>1880</li>
<li>1890</li>
<li>1893</li>
<li>1895</li>
<li>1897</li>
<li>1907</li>
<li>1910-1918</li>
<li>1920-1924</li>
<li>1928-1929</li>
<li>1932</li>
<li>1936-1937</li>
<li>1939-1945</li>
<li>1947-present </li>
</ul>
Click on <strong><a title="Commencement Programs and Addresses" href="http://digitalarchives.sjc.edu/items/browse?collection=18&sort_field=Dublin+Core%2CDate&sort_dir=d">Items in the Commencement Programs and Addresses Collection</a></strong> to view and sort all items in the collection.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
commencementprograms
Text
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text.
Original Format
The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data
paper
Page numeration
Number of pages in the original item.
7 pages
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
St. John's College
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1911-06
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
CommencementExercises1911
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Annapolis, MD
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
St. John's College
Language
A language of the resource
English
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
text
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
St. John's College owns the rights to this publication.
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
pdf
Description
An account of the resource
Program for the one hundred nineteenth annual commencement exercises, June fifteenth to twenty first.
Subject
The topic of the resource
Commencement (St. John's College, Annapolis, MD)
Title
A name given to the resource
Commencement Program, 1911
Commencement
-
https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/sjcdigitalarchives/original/aff867a3e3e4dfbcb1ced4e7671b6f71.pdf
8b5ff179eb1d36a826cff7507785bfd3
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Text
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�l)rogrnmme of
llune 12Ur to
I
Jlfeeh
l9 t~,
1912
\Vedncsday, ] une r2thReturn from Encampment at Tolchester Beach.
Thursday, ] une 13th5.oo p. n1. Exhibition Drill. Con1petitive Company Drill
"'
for Sword presented by Lieutenant R. E.
] ones, U. S. A., Class 1910.
8.oo p. n1. Preparatory School Com1ncnccmcnt Address
by F. Lightfoot Ilarrcll, Esq., City of Mexico' (Class 1908)
Friday, June r4th6.oo p. n1. Dress Parade.
8.oo p. m. Dance and Supper by Phi Sigma Kappa Fraternity.
Saturday, June r 5th8.oo p. m. College Mandolin and Glee Club Concert.
Sunday, J une 16thJ I.OO a. m. Baccalaureate Sermon by Rt.Rev. John Gardner
'furray. D . D. , Bishop of Maryland, in
8. Anne's Church.
Monday, J une 17thI I .oo a. m . Sen tor Oratorical Contest, McDowell Hall.
6.oo p. m. Dress P arade.
8.oo p. m. Junior Oratorical Contest, McDowell Hall,
followed by Promenade Concert on Front
Lawn.
Tuesday, June 18thlO 30 R·1ising of Cla~ Shield and Presentation of Tablet to
the Memory of C. F. Roehle (Class 1895)
3.00 p. m. Baseball Game between Students and Alumni.
6 00 p .m. Dress Parade.
8.oo p. m. Fare·we11 Ball, Class of r913 to Class of 1912.
Wednesday, June 19th10.30 a. m. Graduation Exercises. Address by Hon. W.
L. Marbury, of Baltimore, \Id. nnd by
Hon . J . Harry Preston. ~1ayor of Baltimore.
I .30 p. m. Luncheon. in Senior Hall.
.
_...._
.
.-..·~
..
'
.
�..................
------------------------------
C!Llnss @ff icers
•
ARTHUR E~RETT WILLIAM·s,
President
R OBERT SPitNCER HOPKINS,
V1ce-Preside11t
HERMAN ANDERSON GAILEY.
Secretary
CHARLES HoLLAXD RIGGIN,
Treasurer
FREDERICK APPEL :i\fILLER,
~lass
.
A.
EVERETT V\'1LLT AM S,
J.
Historian
CCom1nitt.ee
.
Chair111an
A RTH UR BRASHEARS
FREDERICK
s.
MA'M'H.EWS
...
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PHJLlP LA .. ~GDON J\LGER
JOHN ARTH UR BRA~H}' \RS
Pn1LANDFR
RowrN RR1~co~
cA'l'LlN
\VILL.IAM GR.\N\T4LE
Ct
\Rl ~CE L1.:1~\vonn l)tl'h.1 N~ON
l'il~RM \ ~ ..\ 'NIWHSON GAU.J~Y
L H \RJ.F~ G1u1tf1Tn I lAs1.u1>
llER\I \N HlCllA Ill> llOLWEA
ROBERT _.FENCER
PIO PKT;\~
'~n HoPKt"s
PENC£R DRUM
JACK
1ASON
,~·ILLlAM
H
TDLJ::Y
Joax
}ONJ!S
\\ lLH'EI. M LENTZ
FREDERICK
SroNF. M.\TTII1~ws
BENJAMIN
Mien \J~LSON
FREDltRICK APPt•:L MIT,Ll':R
LoUl' EARN:£ T P.-\YNE
CHARLE - 11.0LLAND RIGGIN
Iru
EDGAR Rx"DER
RAYMO TD STAL'EY
SAMUEL RO\VI.ANn
\iV1n'1'E, JR.
ARTHUR EvERET'I' \Vn"r~tAM.S
I~NNETH EnGAR \V1tSON
GEORGE LF.tPER \\'JN~l.OW
��Qtnmmturtmtut luy
... .
lli!Ui-1912
' I
�Olnmtnrnrrmtut fxrrrisrs
PROGRAMME.
JUNE 19. WEDNESDAY. 10:00 A. M.
Procession of Candidates for Degrees, Alumni, the Board of
Visitors and Governors, Distinguished Visitors, the
Faculty, the Orators and the President
of the College.
READING OF SCRIPTURE,
By R ev. Frank G. Porter, Baltimore, Mel .
INVOCATION, By Rev.
J.
Henning Nelms, Washington, D. C.
Music.
ADDRESS,
By W. L. Marbury, Esq, Baltimore, Md.
ADDRESS on behalf of th e Board of Visitors and Governors,
by Phi lemon H. Tu ck, Esq , Balti::nore , Mel.
PRESENTATION OF SILVER,
By Herbert Noble, Esq., New York City.
Music.
Awarding of Prizes and Certificates of Distinguished
Scholarship.
Music.
Conferring of Degrees on Graduates.
Conferring of Honorary Degrees.
ADDRESS TO GRADUATES,
B y Hon . J. H . Pre ston, Mayor of Baltimore.
Musrc.
VALEDICTORY ADDRESS,
By Benjamin Micha e lson, Galloway's, Md.
Music.
Military Announcem e nts.
Singin g of Colle ge Ode.
BENEDICTION, By Rt. R e v. Alfre d Harding,
Bishop of Washington .
�~rahuatr
mrgrr:ea.
1!ilnrqrlor of i\rtn.
Ben jamin Michaelson-First Honor ....... Galloway's, Md.
Frederick A. Miller . . ... . ...... . . ... .. . Hagerstown , Md.
Wilhelm Lentz ._ ...................... Catonsvil le, Md.
C. Holland Riggin ........... . .. ... . . ....... Hebron, Md.
Spencer D. Hopkins . ..... . ....... .. ...... Onancock, Va.
Raymond E. Staley . .. ..... . ......... Breathedsville, Md.
A. Everett Williams . ... . . .... .. . ... _.. . ... Salisbury, Md.
Robert S. Hopkins. . . . . . ........ . . . ...... Onan cock, Va.
George L. Winslow... . . . . . . . . . . ..... . .. . Baltimore, Md.
Louis E. Payne .......... . . ... . .. .... Leonardtown, Md.
S. Rowl a nd White, Jr .................... Galloway's, Md.
John Arthur Brashears .......... .. ...... New Paltz, N . Y.
Herman R. Holljes .. .. .. . .. .. .......... . Baltimore, Md.
Jack Mason Hundley .... ... ....... ...... . Baltimore, Md.
Clarence L. Dickinson ............... Pocomoke City, Md.
Charles G. Ha:Slup .......................... Savage, Md.
Mark Victor Ziegler . . .. . . . . ...... . ... . . .. . Melrose, Md.
1!htrqrlor of .Sirirurr.
Philip Langdon Alger-Second Honor . ... . Annapolis, Md.
William J. Jones ........... .. . .. .... . .... Annapolis, Md.
Kenneth E. Wilson .. . ... . . . .. .... .. . . . . . . Baltim ore, Md.
flla.atrr of i\.rtn.
James A. Nydegger, B. A.,
J ames B. Noble, B. A.,
John R. Caulk, P. A.,
J. Howard Beard, B. A., Ve rnon S. Beachley, B. A.,
Andrew P. Kelly, B. A.,
Charles G. Eidson, B. A.,
- 1890
1898
1901
1002
1904
- 1906
- 1909
�i!jnunrar~
2 ,,;itrr •
i.
l\rb
~ .Draper,
.
Charles
Rev. W.
legrtts.
J.
B.A., B.D ........ . . Baltimore, Md .
. ·1val, M. D ........ . ....... New Orleans, ·La.
J. Cornelius, B. D . .... .. ... London, England.
iotlor of 11,j.rttrr.a.
Professor A. D. F. Hamlin ......... . ... . New York City.
Professor Wilbur F. Smith .. ......... . .. . . Baltimore, Md.
James '· Thom 1
iortor of ~timtt.
.J'ydegger, B.A.,IM.A . .......... Baltimore, Md.
Swattertnwaite, B A., M. D., New York City.
iortor nf
Allen ::- W ill, M. A., L.H.D .
Hon. ', L. Marbury .. . ... . .
Hon. J mes P. Gorter. .. . .... .
1•
11
. . ~ . ... . Baltimore, Md. ·
. . . . . ... Baltimore, Md.
. ........ Baltimore, Md.
indor of iiniuity.
Rev. J. F nning Nelms ..... .. ......... Washington, D. C.
Rev. F
G. Porter.. . ... . . . . . . . . . . ... Baltimore, Md.
Rev. V . Pierce Northrup . ........... . . St. Michael's, Md.
Rev. A. , . Gill .. .. ....................... Aberdeen, Md.
Priu 1/ $25.00 Offered by tht Alumni Amciation of St. 1ohn' s .
College lo the Senior Class for the bnt Original Oration:
LEWIS
E.
PAYNE ,
Prtsidtut' s Mtdal for Oratory to Membtrs of the Juni&r Class:
CALVER'l
MA .. 'DER.
Philo Sherman Btnnttt Prh.t:
WILHELM LENTZ.
' I
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Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Commencement Programs and Addresses
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Annapolis, MD
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
St. John's College Greenfield Library
Description
An account of the resource
Addresses given at commencement and programs of events related to, and including, the annual commencement ceremonies at St. John's College. Includes both the undergraduate and Graduate Institute commencements. <br /><br />The College Archives holds programs and/or addresses for the following years:<br />
<ul>
<li>1796</li>
<li>1835-1836</li>
<li>1842</li>
<li>1852</li>
<li>1856-1857</li>
<li>1870</li>
<li>1878</li>
<li>1880</li>
<li>1890</li>
<li>1893</li>
<li>1895</li>
<li>1897</li>
<li>1907</li>
<li>1910-1918</li>
<li>1920-1924</li>
<li>1928-1929</li>
<li>1932</li>
<li>1936-1937</li>
<li>1939-1945</li>
<li>1947-present </li>
</ul>
Click on <strong><a title="Commencement Programs and Addresses" href="http://digitalarchives.sjc.edu/items/browse?collection=18&sort_field=Dublin+Core%2CDate&sort_dir=d">Items in the Commencement Programs and Addresses Collection</a></strong> to view and sort all items in the collection.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
commencementprograms
Text
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text.
Page numeration
Number of pages in the original item.
4 pages
Original Format
The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data
paper
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
St. John's College
Title
A name given to the resource
Commencement Program, 1912
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1912-06-19
Description
An account of the resource
Program for the one hundred twentieth annual commencement exercises, June twelfth to nineteenth. Also includes Commencement Day programme.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Commencement 1912
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Annapolis, MD
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
St. John's College
Language
A language of the resource
English
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
text
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
St. John's College owns the rights to this publication.
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
pdf
Commencement
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