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Les diagrammes suivants illiisirent !a m6thode. ata iture. : zx 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 « • htUi >4^^ %^)- 7 VALEDICTORY ADORES TO THE GEADUATES IN AllTS (IK TIIK ^liiibtrsitn of 3lBt6tll €o(lf(|c, MONTH KA1-, DELIVERED AT THE ANNUAL CONVOCATION, TUESDAY, 3rd MAY, 1864, | | BY THE REV. A. DE SOLA, LL.D., PROFESSOR OF HEBREW AND ORIENTAL LITERATURE. ' V> '^* -.ii^X^' V^"*- i" ■%• ■»-' ^^ ->.r' . " \,' --/"■ MONTREAL: PRINTED BY M. LONGMOORE & CO., GAZETTE STEAM PRESS. 1864. i I I V I T I 1^ ADDRESS. 4f ircntlrmrn^ Gradnntes in Arts : Tlie Acadcniic distinctions and honors whrk h'ave jnsl ^cen bcstowod upon you, constitute a fitting and happy termination ^^f your connexion with this University in the capacity of students. For these distinctions you have long, well and earnestly labored. And while I tender to you the warm congratulations of your Professors — may I not say of tlie as.sembled University ? — on this gratifying termination of tlie past, I would ask you to afford me a brief and patient hearing, while I proceed to say a few words as to ^'our future. I would ask you, further, to accept the words of advice and admonition I shall ofJ'er you on behalf of the Faculty, as best proof of the complete satisfaction with which they have viewed your proficiency, industry and general g-oed conduct, — as best proof that these have begotten in them sentiments of esteem for you and ati..n. I will fur- ther suppose you to hi fully aware that, by proper physical trainin-, weakly orgiuiized forms lia.ve ken stren-tliem^d, and an extraordinary degree of muscular activity attained,-that not only has such a train- ing developed musde, but has even nltered and improved solid bone, wlulc it has completely removed many painful nervous affections.' Let me, however, remind you, and at the same time all our alumni present, that it will little avail you to know the theory, if you neglect the practice. The necessity for cultivating the physical powers^has been recognized by this University in the establishment of a Gymua- Kium ; but 1 am sorry to think thiif students do not seem sufficiently to recognize the importance of physiud training, shice it is not so commonly and frequently visited as it should be. IJut let me ask that its exercises be not disdained, ,'is occupation only tittijig for idle juniors,— and let it be remembered that busy (k^sar, grave Cicero, and other heroes and sages of antiquity, thought it of the first moment to cidtivate such exercises. And altliough I may not exjiect that the instructing and other officers of this University may themselves fre- quently engag,e in throwing the discus and other feats of the ancient athletic, yet uuiy I express the hope that such exercises may not only constitute an essential part of the regular duties of the student, but that preeminence in them may be deemed worthy of reward, as in other graver departments. I have enlargijd somewhat on this toi)ic ; bui when the press of a neighbouring people is so loudly raising the cry of physical deterioration, and propounds, instead of a pro})er syetem of physical training, schemes whicli arc either ludicrous or «7 \ \ t I I \ * / ^ : rt'Voltiu':, the n'rmiik!> just uukIc mny be tleeme*] ncltlicr uu!«;asonnV)k «or sujKrfluous. You will ri'iidily intor, gontlcincn, tnMn wlwit Ihavo jiist hjiiU, tliat I ♦leiHr mental improvcniont. A valuabUi writer i)t' the last ♦•entury quaintly rcmarkH'. " >Vhile tho nuni ot'bcxly takes tlie gri'atest eare to set out aud adorn the pari lor which he tliinks; hinisclt' the most valuable, tlie man of mind will bestow most pains in improving that mind." To this kit me add, that the law for imjmjvinti; the mind «nd maintaininj^ it in its healihy state is, just as witli oar physical bein<;, to exercise constantly and successively every vmo of itn laeulties. Now, I cannot supj^ose that you see no further u^e for these exercises; or. in other words, that hencefortli you regard your education aa complete. Gentlemen, you have only gathered a few of its mate- rials, and acquired men'iy the elements of thtxt tlis-Tiplinc which ii indispensable to the improvement of your progressive nature. If you are to be known for enlarged views, sound thinking, and just princi- ples, you must determine ever to regard yourselves as mere students ; ever to remember that your college training has been merely introduc- tory to the course of study re<[uisite to fit you tor permanent useful- ness, and that maidiood, like youth, has its appropriate course of study which it cannot afford to slight or set asid«, under penalty of inferiori- ty or humiliation. Whatever tends, then, to withdraw }\)u from the advanced studies you undertake, should be avoided as evil and inju- rious. So should you regai\l those greatest enemies of mental and mo- ral progress — bad books anil bad associates. While you remained under the safe guidance t)f the College, while your time was mainly occupied with the healthy exercises it imposed, there was not aiiy great danger of your tasting other than that proper nourishment, as much rc(piired by the mind as by the body to secure healthy developement. — ^' Animi cultus quasi qaidam humanitatis cibusJ" But now that vou go forth finally from tliesc halls, you become more ex^wsed to the pestilential influence of such writings as tend, by their dangerous and seducing sentiments, by the fascination of their style, to wcakeu your character; to relax the firmmess of your moral nature; to taint, if not thoroughly corrupt, your heart; to engender low and (^iebasing tastes and appetites; and to make the laws of nature and virtue appear but as light things in your eyes. These 1 exhort you to «void ; to touch not, however slightly ; for ax poison is to the body k> are these to the mind> Avoid them for the h^'althy und th« gi)od, It 4a(iB uat inattCT, «ays Scnoca, liow man.y, but li„w y,i^udhuokt>yuuUn^e. mm:, therelbre, you luect witl» a j-uod book, treat it a.s you would a gwd frwnd: let it be your frecjiK-ut couipauioiu Cecil did so a.ij. devoted a «helf' for what he called bis tried book». Tliin «holf HhoulJ be the best Hou-lit in >our library. Faithlully read, they will afford you more satisfaction and i)roUt than were you to skin> over thous.ivJs. of volumes, j)erused liurrk^dly and wnreflectin-ly. The jxiet's wJl- kuown reconimeudation, to " drink deep or ta»tc rjoi the Pierian spring," as«unission of which seeni» to be to actiuife knowlctjoe without labor . feelf-deceiving, men will be unmindful that uneomproniisin- ,^ff-ort and patient tod areinseixirable conditions »f all oxcellenco, and that tliLs first law of our constitution is irresistible.. Eschew, then, that luea^ ..Jane- i«g at pcrwdicals and superficial re^idin- of ,,<.p,^av works, that "lover yet fastened the b:iys and laurels aroainl the student's brow. Follow the' contrary course, and seek wisdom for herself alone. Th^ pleasures slie- bestows never terminate in a sigh ; a.:d though slie be usually grave yet does she not always exclude the sportiveness of wit, thov^i she Inay condemn ,ts unbridled lie^>nse and malignity. You will .dso renuire ^er as a lamp for your guidance in other directions. The literature of the present day exhibits,, perhaps uiore tlian ever before,, a tendency to question opinioiKJ however established by the lapse of agc^ ; to overturn every tlnug, no n^atter ],mv sacred it be deemed, that cannot be imme- diately srpared with the views of hasty objectors. Now if stagnation be opposed, a» it undoul>tedly is, to that universal law whieli secures both mental andl pliysieal development, its reverse quality, aciivity must, evidently, be good and proper. Yet, wh.. yon see this activity perverted into wrong dian«els,and elevated ignoranct. and p.esumptioi, run-a-muck at tliose greaC fundamental tratlis whidi the whole civilized world avouches, it were well to re&ct whether by the hasty and incon- siderate removal of the old land marks, there is not danger of fallin-^ into an abyss oT utter confusion and darkness,. At the same time i'^ were well to bethink you that each and all of you have fitting and legitHuate guides to open your eyes to the danger, and to warn you trom it And you will evince at once the goodness of jour heart and the wisdom of your head by ever exhibiting that respect for the teach- ers oi religion, of whatsoever mime they k^ whi^h their sacred vocation demands. That thoroughness of study and acquirement to whicli I have just i^eterred as opposed to superficiality,, would imply that to excel, it were- <; ^; necessary fur you to tan"H religious convictions, while you enjoy your own. Be a? vt no one will intentionally impose on himself in nuitters uppe: "is salvation; and freely accord to all, the rights and immu -ght in this regard, you would desire for yourselves. Carry . you, gentlemen, the noble lesson taught by your Alma Matei , . receives into her fostering bosom every race, nation- ality and creed. And be assured that if this example were more generally followed abroad, and if men would as assiduously seek points of agreement as they seek points of difference, much of the acrimony, uncharitableness and ill-will thtit now array God's children against each other, would soon disappear, and prepare this earth for that universal diffusion of brotherhood, peace and happiness, so earnestly desired by the wise and the good. Besides the improvement of your mental powers, another result of thoroughness of acquirement is a refined taste : "Say what is taste, but the internal powers, Active and strong, and feelingly alive, To each fine inipulbe ? a discerning souse Of decent aud ;5ublime, with quick disgust From thnigs deforua'd." Now, although, as the poet teaches, a natural sensibility is essential to taste, still may it become improved by due cultivation of the percep- tive powers, by comparison and experience. And I would bid you not to overlook its influence. For from the dress of our persons, the fur. niture of our dwellings, up to our sculpture, poetry, eloquence, music The Rev. Dr. Wilkes. find all the urts which ombclli^ih life, its (Jui..Iiiion iis felt. It hrtii also its laws of progress ; and if, as we are told, tlic {tolishcd coiitcMii- porariiw of Horace bluslivd at the praises which their ancestors had bestowed on the dialogues of IMautus — to them so rude when compared with the elegant comedies of Terence, it should be evidently your am- bition to assist in raising such a st; ndard, that those who come after you may regard it with admiration and respect. Closely connected with the culti'atiou of tisto is -i proper reg; rd to whrt are popu. -ly recognised as the accomjilishments of life. '» o these a due degree of attention must needs be paid. Without suffer- ing them to i^npersede sterner and more useful duties, those points that are essential to the demeanor of a gentlenxan, should not be overlooked. I allude, of course, to no mere affeetatif»n, but to that politeness which is the genuine result of goodness of heart and rectitude of mind. Without these latter, an elegant exterior and highly cultivated I'lental powers will be indeed but vain, and will certainly not at all elevate you above the frivolous and vicious who.se companionship I liave already referred to, as calculated to jKtllute the whole current of your moral lil'e at its source, by instilling a disicgard for all authority, whether of man or of God. One main antidote to the deleterious effects of such com- panionship, is self respect. This, however, you are to distinguish from lliat overweening self-love vhich, as it has been justly said, can swal- low any absurdity, however gross, when long pampered. Hollow as- sumption will only exitc; the contempt of the di.sc'rning; but a proper «elf-respect will generally secure to you the respect of others. Another such antidote is the love of fame. When Cucsar said he was satistied with his share of life and fame, his sincerity was doubted ; but not so the truthf'dne.ss of Jexandcr, when lie oxclaimod, "Oh, Athenians, Ikjw much do I suffer to be prai.sed by you." But the nictst lowly, ha well as an Alexander and a Caesar, have not been exempt from the desire of admiration ; and lience, it has been styled the universal passion. So long as you keep the vehemence of this pa,ss'*on within bounds, it is doubtless of proper salutary tendency. Yoii will only constitute it a folly when you are more solicitous about the ai)probation of fallible man than that of the unerring judge of your own con.science. To listen to the high promptings of this conscience amid.st all temj)tations, to hold fast to your integrity, and to determine that your heart shall not reproach you so long as you live, is to adopt for yourselves principles of honor the highe.«:t. as they are the most comprehensive. They will prove, if steadily adhered tn. you:- «;,')fpst guide in the slippery walk;* / ^ .- •' ^ I* 4 y of lift'. Tho>' wilieiuiuly you to realize tlic triitli vhicli IMnto tniiirlit, that it U LMiually the officti of virtuous constaMcy to withstand tho attacks of )»aiu and tho blandishniontH of ]>li'asuro. 'I hoy will avc you froii' toniptations and discour!i;.'enu'nt,s which nii heon placed under a constitution of law which, as it has been <';;ViSv d by infinit(! wisdoin, you cannot violate without detriment to your hapjtincss both here and hereaflfU". Ke- nuMuber also that tho infeiicitio,-? of lito arc* mainly in coiisoquence of i^morinij; or violating those laws, and are to be re^'arded only as pioofn of .he intinite goodness of your Heavenly Father, who thus ad- itioni.shos you to walk in tho paths of obodionec, and to develop and foster the mental and moral welfare of your bcimr. Accordinulv as you do this, will you advance, and causa others to advance ; according- Iv as vou noLjlect thi>-, will vou retrourade and carry back others with you. adding to the multitude of woes over found in the train of ignorance. Thus, then, must you influence even future generations; yes, even upon them must you leave your imjiress, whether for weal or for woe. And if you supply them with better means of educating themselves than you yourselves could lind. you will have done an imj)ortant woik, a n()))lo work, and you will i\ot have lived in vain. And in this Pro- vince, especially, is this work required of you ; for here we are but taking tho first steps in the naturalization of science and educational imprijvement among us, and it becomes us lo see that these steps are properly and wisely taken, so that w*. may fall In among tho foremost and the best, — in the van, and not in the roar. Of the Spartans it is recorded that when their young men walked the streets their eyes were ever modestly hnvored, and that one might as well anticipate the eye of a nuirblo statue to bo turned as theirs ; but that in battle no one dared to look on them. Countrv was the all dominating idea with them, as it should be with you. So mu'^t you do battle for the intclioctual and moral advanciMueut of your country. To you let the words with all truth and appropriateness be applied — " Qui didicit jyofncr quid drhii, et quid amici^,^^ Ecjually modest and tolerant, you must yet gird yourselves to cope with error, and to spread light, or be for ever lott r' tt> tbo a"ppliiu^>c of the good. In this glorious struggle you must quil yoursolvcs like men ; for here are wanted no triflers, no insignificants. but zealous, earnest workers. Here too are wanted not superficiality but thoroughness ; not merely the grdces, but also the virtues ; not hollow puiiotiliousness, but genial morality ; not a torpid lukewarmness, but a lively c.vercise of every faculty and talent. And wherever duty, wherever honor calls, there must you be, and dare to do all it becomes a man to do, to overcome ignorance and stem the torrent of prevailing immorality. And prevailing misery too ; for you must extend your view over all the wide field of practical benevolence, and unite your- selves with that glorious band of both sexes who are habitually engaged in assuaging the pains and alleviating the woes of mankind. Let it be your chief ambition thus to engage yourselves, so that responsive to the words but just now uttered by your representative, when you are called hence, you may leave the world better and happier for your having lived in it. And think not that your success in the battle of life will be viewed either coldly or uninterestedly. Nay, but on you do relatives, instructors, friends and society now turn their anxious eye, all alike desirous to see realized in you their best wishes, their fondest hopes. In your keeping there is placed the happiness of many others. On your behaviour will depend the progress of multitudes who will rise or sink accordingly ?" you shall adorn or disgrace your generation, accordingly as you shall fulfil or neglect the discharge of the various duties devolving upon you as conservators of those great moral and social privileges which must be transferred to your keeping when your predecessors have finished their allotted task, and their sand is run. You may thus be blessed as the benefactors, or become execrated as the enemies of humanity. It is given you to choose. But when mortal and immortal powers are interested in your choice ; when the great Searcher of all is watching you from Heaven his dwelling- place, and when those you respect and love best on earth are regarding you with earnest expectation and awful suspense, can I doubt what will be your choice ? No. It will be that which constitutes the whole duty of man, " To pear God and observe AjuL his laws." ^ I ^ 4 V" ' ' > t