DE LIVERED AT 'l'IIE OPE::\Ii\<J-

' oF Tfll:

<i-H.EEJ'\SBORO, A LA., .I

llY TilE

H 1•:\". \ V. \f. \V IUHTM.A~. D. I> .. LL. D.,

~1.\ HIO.~, .\.L.\ . :

ca.onc; E {'. HO•I EH~. 1'1\" 'I' Ht.

I ' :J!J.

Samford University Library

.. ' ..

•

..

Samford University Library

INAUGURAL ADDRESS

DELIVERED AT THE OPENING

OF TilE

SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY,

GREENSBORO, ALA.,

BY TilE

RE ~. ,V. ~I. 'VlGHT~IA:;, !1. D .. LL.D ..

PRF.SIDE:\T OF THE l":\!\"EMITY.

l'UBLISIIED BY REQUEST OF TilE TRUStEBS.

MARION, ALA. :

OEORGE C. ROGERS, PRINTER.

·18M>.

Samford University Library

Samford University Library

ADDRESS .

"·e meet to-day to inau~urate the ~outhern Cnivcn,ity. The periorl of anxious, hopeful prcpa1~tt ion is pa~t. 'Ihe time fur action has come. This brilliant a~scmbly, the>e venerable minil:>ters of re­lig ion, these honored trustees, this company of young men, this group of learned Profcl!sors-all, witnc~:>c:> of these In:lu~ural solcmn:t:c•, arc but the representatives to timcy, of that august cloud ofwitnes:;es, -our contcmpomries in ,·arious parts of the land, our successors in generations to come, who hang over the scene with solemn iutcre~t.

To this ~pot, henceforth hallowed as the shrine of 1<-ttcrs, of ~cicnce

and philosophy, the sanctuary of that di,·ine Truth which encompnl>· sc;; and en~obles all the 1\:st, come from far the tll{luzhts and ~ympa­

thic~, the wishes and praycfl> of patriotism and pic:y. And if there be lc:-s of objecti,·e glitter and force of i:nprt;~sitJn in the circum­stances which surround us titan might be fonntl in the coronatitm or an f,mpcror or the inauguration of a Presiucnt, to a profound think­er who grasps remote rci>ult:; and ultimate conH•qucnccs to society and the indi,·idual, to ci,·iliz:ltion and to Christianity, there woul1l be in the opening of a grcat.~cat of learning a force of moral impre~,ion

which uo military pomp or civic splendors couid enhance. \Y c arc about putting in motion instrumentalities noiseless as the ,·ern a! in­fluences, but as potent. The subject of these a;;cneics is the hu:uan mind in its plastic, furmati,·c p-.riod-thc most precious thin!! ou earth. The end aimed at is the culture of this mind, the unfolding of its capabilities, the placing it in harmonious relation to the ::reat plan of divine Providence, the expansion of its immortal facultic~

which point" to other stages of existence, and embrace eternity a~ their proper field ;-in a wonl, the realization of the grand Idea of Hu­mauit~·· The means brought into requisition compn:hcnd all rules of dil>cip!ine that tic down the stu•Jcut to specified period . ..; of mental labour. and produce habits of methodical and patient invc~tig-:ttion.

In this retreat from the noise of the great world, the ]c«;ons of hca-r­cnly wisdom from the di1 ine Book address him every day. Classic literature is made to open its golden treasures to his view. Abstract l\Inthcmatical science, llistory, the Belles Lett res, Physical science,

Samford University Library

[ 4 ]

thl' Philo>ophy of mind. of morals, of politic::- ;-all influences that cxp:uul thought .purify t:t>-t<', nnr"c reflection, de1·clopc energy ,kindle enthnsia~m, in~pirc the wi~h and direct the aim of cxccllcncc, arc laid under Clllltriuution. Ami the fini~hcd product of all this elab­orate care i:> the man of ntl!urc :md refinement, fitted to ndorn the pri­r:.tt) walks of life, the patron of every improvement; the ~<ta.tcsman

whn l'arrics into tho:! c:nuucils of his country the love which cherishes :111d the ability whi ch can dcfl'IHI her liberty and augment her glory;. the >cholar furni~hcd with inexh::mtible resources of refined enjoy­ment. :m C'x:mtplc of the lti.dtP<~ forms of intellcctunl cultivation;­the l'hristian wiui~ter glowin~ with lofty :tnd ~auctificd zeal, a light to tlwm that ~it in d:u knc~s, a guide to the waudcring, pointing their ~tcps to the g:-.tcs of hcaYcn and leading the way.

This L'nircrsity rise~ as t,hc noblest monument erected to sanctified le-arning by the munificence of the Southern ~lcthodist Episcopal Chureh. The annual Conf<'r<'ncc of Alabama felt the need, in bt•ha!f of the large and gro\ring community it represents, of a cen­tral Institution of learning, of high gmdc. broad and comprehensive plan, ~mplc endowment!', and C'L>mmanding influence. An inquiry wa- l'Ct on foot to a!'certain whether the members of the Church and the friends of liberal education in ~cncral , would support a really ;rrat mo,·cment. 'Jhc rc~ult is wh~t you thi~ day see. 'l'hc response prc~errts you with the noble!'!. in!'tancc and illustration of confidcncf\1

t·n.opcration and liberality kuuwn to the history of the Church iu the dir~:ctiun of liberal cduc·ation . ,.,. c h<n·e the proof before u~, that the cntcq1rif<c '' hic:h couCI)i1·cs large plan!! for the public good, and aim' :.r far-rc:tchinl!' results ~s well as the supply ofimmediate w:tnt/5, is apt to be wet \fith the energy begotten of <.-onfidcnce,.and impelled hy cnthu,i:bru. Our men of wealth have eontribtrtecl their tens of thow-ancls; person!' in more limited circumstances have not withheld thl!ir gifts ; 11 charter of ample prori~ions and singular privileges has O<'Cn granted by the State; this imposing structure has arisen; others, corrc,ponding in c:lcganc:e and dc,·oted to the· uses of the 1: nin~r,ity, arc in process of erection; an endowment of between two and three hundred thou•aud dollars has been ~ecurcd; ~he services of literary and scienti fic gentlemen of estab!ished reputation, as a Facul­ty of in<! ruction, h:l\·c been laid under contribution; and this auspi­cious day witnc~sc!' the commencement of a <.-arccr, destined, we de­voutly trust, to meet tltc largest expectations of the Conference; to remunerate a thousand fold tho!>C who haYc laid out their most liber­al inrcstmenta of property, of labour, of anticipatioR, and of p1ayc:r;

•

Samford University Library

[ 5)

a career through all coming time, illustrious ano hlc~~cd; v. hich will promote public liberty; rear great mcn-~hc !'pccial want of repre­sentative govcrnmcnl..'ij a<h-ancc intellectual refinement; and diffuse

the blessings of a christian culture and civilization over ever-widen­ing circles.

S tanding in the midst of facts and auguries like thc~c, p:1rdon me if you judge the warmth of my cnlhu~ia-m son1ewhat excc~~ive. I confess to ha"e been deeply touched by one :1;;pect of the ca.-;e. We are on the edge of "the garden of 1\ lab:una." J3cluw u~ ~!retches

out a belt of country uuparallcllcd iu fertility. Far a~ the eye can

reach, the magnificen t spectacle, lllt'cls it, of that great crop which clothes the world :~nd sustains A rnerican commerce. Of the f(Jrty­two millions of dollars which the last crop brought to 1-;outh Aiubama,

the canebrake lands furuishcd 110 mean por tion. I haYc a&kcd my­self the question- what is to be the result of this vast material pros­perity? Arc these annual accumulations of wealth dcstiucd to be

turned into fixed capital for still ampler gains ?-or cxpcuded in lux­

urious liYing? Can the old HcpuLlican simplicity of manners ion~ survive this inundation of wealth? Is the coluing gcncrution of rich mens' sons doomed to be a U<'J!cneratc breed, l:tp)ll'd in opulence nnd dandled in case and luxury, the prey of these vices which haunt the

abodes of the indolent liiH.l cff"minate? C:ln the religion of the Cross, with its severe and holy law of absolute cou~ccration of prop­

erty as well as g~'nius, of talents :md gifts of all kind:s to the sen· icc

of Christ, be expected to li\ C through many generations in the sti­fiing atmosphere of a prospl)rity such as this?

When questioninf!S of this sort haYe· ari~en, I have turned my

eyes to the heaven-pointing towers of this Institution, and bidden away my anxieties. H ere is the proof that our men of wealth know

how to act as God's stewards, by cons<'cmtinJ! their property to the best uses. H ere is the pledge th<lt our prosperi ty is destined to be

not a cur:!e but a blessing, a p ublic benefaction and an honorable dis­t inction. In the r ise of this munificently endowed 'Cni\·cr~ity, I sec more than the groveling utilitarianism which would fain fo:>tcr ~cicnec

bctau&c it may invent a lllachinc, intensify a manure, or enlarge a crop; or, in a word, help us to make more money. I l;CC the n~<mi­fc:<tation of nobler Yicws of duty, of man, of the destiny of our coun­try, than are cowprehcndcd merely in the development of phy:;ical r.:­sourccs. the building of Hail Hoad~, or the art ofclt'gant architecture.

In rearing a scat of chri:;ti:ltl learning like this, you haYc made a graud contribution to letters, to science, to :esthetic tastes, to moral~.

Samford University Library

[ G ]

trl fr.:'c in~titution!', to ~ood gon•rnment, to rcligiou~ culture :-and without th.:'~<'. what :tftl'r all. arc bro:td lands, wa\'inp: hancsts, the <'<'tton-~,;in and the :>te:uu-enginc ?-what to u~; what to the g;•ncra­tion" hl rome!

The Ul'rm:m Cnin•rsity realizes the highest idr:tl of Europran in­,titutil'n~ vf that cia!'.-<. It is well style<.! the culminating point nf pu!,Jic in~trnction; the common ~chool. and the Gymnasium which ,. 1!Tc·,..p•mds g<'net-ally to the .\.mcrican Colit'p:c, fnrni~hing prelimina­ry ~t:1;::'-'~ of education. It <'mbraccs f..ur Faculties, Thcoln;.ry, Law, ::'lk·licinc, and Philo~ophy or _\rts. Each of these employs t.h,• :<<'r­Yin>< of Ordinary and Extl~1ordinary Profc<;sOrs, Pri\·atim n o('l'llfCS­

IiecrH.:cd Lrcturet-:;. made up rhicfty of gr:1duatcs of the llnin·r,ity . . \ll the in"truction i>' carried on by Uicans of lecturc11, the stutlcnt8 ":lectin;: at their option, :he course they wish to attend. Th1• En­~li~l. l"ni,·cr~iti<'~ :trc collcc:ticm:> of Colleges and Tiall>'1 each pPs~('~Q­in!.: it.; ~cparatr huildin~,... a:t llibt~1ry, it< own IIcad, and Tut->r" and 'tu<ll'nts. The t: ni\·,·r~ity po~"e~sc.~ the authority of cxaminin;: stu­,J,.uh .wd conferring dc:!rec< ; in mo~t other re,;pcet:s it st:m<l~ ,,,m i­ui., 1'11/~ru. The instruction of the under ~'T:t•luates passed hyde­.!r,·c> into College hall;: from 'Cni,·c~">-ity lecture rooms, and finally into thl' hands of pr"vatc Tutof". Thu<. to a 1-!reat extent, thl' l"ni­,·er,-!ty <'<lur-e of ~tudy is ahobhcd: '·the shreds of the l'mfc,•or:al ,-y,tcm." in the lan;.:uat:e of ~ir \Ym. Jlamilton, •·arc now little more than curious \"Cstit:e~ of :lflt:rluity; ::nd boys who ou~ht to he uwkr the ;t:·il't ,Ji,.cipline which rropcrly belongs to the Cymna!<inm. arc l'llllowl'll with a L nivef"ity freedom which cndl', in regard to many ufthc stuclcnt:-:, in frin,]ity and di:o,ipation."

ln this e•Juntry which ori~inally deri,·ed it~ Collegiate sy~t<'mmai:l­

ly ft·<mt that of the En~l:sh CniYcrsitics, the Colleges hoth fumish in•tn:ctron and confer degrers. The trrms L"ni,·er~i ty ami l'oll<•ge, arc thnrcfore very often u,;cd interc:han;:cahly. Their onll'wry tl.cthu•l fJf in~tructio:1 by daily cla~~ recitations combined with "<·ca­·ioual let-turcs,rc~emblc; more the Genn:m Gymnasium syst<•rn than the C rti,·crsity practice; and is decidedly preferahlc fur the <'"''" of y•I'Jth:, who frcc1uent their hall", many of them of tender a;!C, :mel who>e )'~"<'!•aratnry ~tudi<:s in th~ U<.'jtartment of Eter.1l arts have nnt lu:tn <ufiici<·u:ly Cl!lli)'lckcl to cn:lJ.Ic th< Ill to puNue an c•xt<'nrll'<l and l ht~r<Jtt;!'h l'our'c hy mean" of" karnct! lcctl!rc~. Three or fuur, out of die llllll:itudc. of_\ llr(;J"iCall Ct~llC!!C,;, arc r niYc~itic~. in the full :c•·n~e of th•· tl'rlll, cmhracin:; in ml•lition tu the Faculty of .\.rts, th~ Facul­~i<:• of ThccJio;,-y, Iaw, and ::'lledieinc; and combining l•~"'•.Fss;,, ,,![

Samford University Library

[ 7 ]

education witb that liberal and tl10rough training which should be !'Ought independently of all professional ends. There arc others of our Colleges which furnish facilities for prosecuting an extended course in the liberal arts, after the completion of the regular curricu­lum and graduation. Others still, embrace in their arrangements provisions for regular instruction in Di,·inity, J .. aw, and scientific schools. In this class, the founders and guardians of the Sou them University ha>c placed the institution whose exercises are now inau­gurated. Their scheme embraces eight distinct, permanent Profes­sorships :-that, namely, of Moral Philosophy, of Ancient Languages, of ~Iathcmatics, of Natural Philosophy, of Chemistry, of :Modern Languages, of Biblical Literature, and of Law. FrYe of these chairs have been filled; and the institution is prepared to give full instruc­tion in the Collegiate department embracing the mmal curriculum in the Faculty of art'! and Philosophy, together with an extensi,-e course in civil Engineering. The University departr_nent will be opened anJ pro,·ided for, just as the demand of the public and the growth of thll institution indicate the proper time.

While for all the purposes of the former department, the endow­ment already secured may be considered sufficient, yet to carry out the full design of the institution, in the latter department, and to make it a chosen and worthy resort of our own graduates and of those of our numerous Colleges, as a centre of Professional schools of the highest gr.1dc, additional buildings, cxtensi,,c Libraries, full cabinets, and an obscrYatory furnished with instruments of the best powers arc needed. It is to be hoped that -our 'II"Orthy and energetic Agent will slacken neither zeal nor effort; and that the munificent offerings of the friends of such a. seat of learning in the heart of the cotton­~rowing States-Southern from foundation to battlement-will not cease until the full sum of S500,000 is secured. From our present point of view, looking backward, we see ground for the most confi ­dent cxpcct:.1tion for the future. Our success thus fin·. furtJ ishes a powerful incentive to carry out in triumphant c\·olution the most enlarged plans of the founders and friends of the institution.

Having stated in the most g_enernl terms, t.he arrangements set on foot by the Trustees of the Southcru UniYcrsity, I shall :n·ail myself of your indulgence for a few obscrYations on the subject of a proper .,t:mdard of scholarship all'd a suitable curriculum of studies ; of the modes of instruction and discipline best adapted to the end contem­plated in the <'Ourso of study; and the necessity for the amplest pro­\'isions, open to us in the nature of the case, for the interpenetration,

Samford University Library

[ 8]

through the whole procc,..s of liberal education, of the spirit and life

"f religion. \\"hat is the true criterion by which to determine a curriculum of

studies in the F:~culty of j , rts, in an institution of learning which claims to belong to the h ighest grade? 'l'wo answers may be given. First, we mny make the cxtcnsi\·c impartation of knowledge as a preparation for ncti\·c life, the standard ami test by which we judge of the function of an educ:~tional course. Pmctical utility, which is able to connect the whole concensus of studies with results that ha>e

mnrkctablc >alue, furnishes this criterion. Scientific information directed to the regulation and direction of the various olasses of human activities, and fitting one by an ample classification of k no\vl­cda:c and stock of fncts, for the earnest business of practical life­

this is held to be the ideal of liberal education. In the scoond place, wo find a much higher and truer criterion in

the symmctric11l development and thorough training of the mental power:;. 'J'he true value of liberal education, aceording to this stand­ard, is e5timated neither by the extent of information put into the mind, nor by the fitness it is supposed to give for particular business pursuits in after life; but rather by the unfolding and drawing out of the intelloctual faculties to the full extent of their capacity, in harmonious proportion, and with the greatest efficiency and precision . Training mainly, and information subordinately, I bold to be the proper theory of scholastic education. According to this criterion, v.-hate>cr course of studies tends most direclly and fully to cultiv~te

the powers or the mind, to awaken and expand the taste, and produce h:~bits of patience, accuracy, method, and mental ability, is the best for the grand purposes of liberal education.

That there ::should be n period of general scholastic culture, going before the time of strictly professional studies, is easily shown. The general impro\·emcnt of the mind fits its activities for the most rapid and thorough mastery of the speciality inYoh·ed in the professional course. The habits of aualysis and methodical progres~ion, of manly g:rapple with difficulty, and thorough investigation, have been formed in the foregoing eduention. They arc vigorou:,ly and successfully applied in the particular direction which the professional education now takes. 'l'he collegiate discipline bas impressed the abiding ap­titude of looking for the general principle amidst the details of man­ifold facts; of binding up those facts into system by means of the underlying principle, and thus of reducing them to a science. This philosophising spirit, the most gcnero\L~ of the products of scholastio

Samford University Library

[ !) ]

culture, is carried into c~cry department of after study, an•l bcc•nnc, the instrutnt>nt of the mind's highe~t and most rapid :•chiev,~mc nt~,

while it supplies ever fresh sources of satisfaction and in ' igoration to the advancing intellect.

And furthermore : the mind is protected againl<t the tcrulrncy to narrowness and ·one-sided ness in the unf.Jid in~ of its powers. Thi~

tendency is the necessary rc><ult of t he principle of the dh·i~ion of labour on which profe!<aional ~;tudics arc all ba.'>Cd. The ,·cry furl·"~

which move civilization on its triumphant career, cn•langer tlw •li, ­tortion of the individual intellect. By a fore(!oing lihcral education, however, we preserve the balance of i ts nati,·c adj ustment~, and carry

out the circle of its growing powers at all points . \V e liberalize its

vi9WS and give breadth to its sympathies. W e infu6C the tone or courage and independence. " ·c c~ posc it to the hardening of the mountain breeze, and open to it a horizon on all side~, before it goes

down into t he struggle of its particular pur:;nit in life. It is thus loss jn danger of becoming a mere cog or band in the ra~t machine

to which our modern utilitarianism would fain reduce society. A course of studies in the faculty of the liberal arts, accord in~ to

the criterion j ust laid down, would embrace not only a v:n·iety of sub­j ects, but such a selection of the different departments of human knowledge as experience has shown to be best fitted for the mi nd's

outgrowth. Art, Science and Philosophy arc the fundarnenbl dc­p:utmcnts of a proper curricul um. The first inclatlcs langua~c. lit­erature and mstheties, in their broadest connection:>; the second CJU·

braces )latheJuatics, Xatural l'hilosophy, and Chemistry; the third, moral, mental and political Philosophy. E ach of these departments

tends to develope a particular class of the activities. One train:, the analyti<>al faculty, another the generalizing; one dcrclopcs the cri ti­ical, another the speculative. In orre d irection the judgment i:~ sub­jected to discipline, in another , t he taste. 'J'hc mcrnory is exercised, but not nt the expense of the reason; the imagination is unfohlcd

and trained in harmonious movement with the gra;;p and vigour of t he discursive faculty. 'Jhc habit of attent ion-the art of •·being a whole man l<» one thing at a t ime" is formed . F acts :1re compre­hended in general principles. Sy :tern and method prl'~ide o,·cr the

entire intellectual mo,·emcnt ; and the lon:l of truth, the ~cnsc of the beautiful, and the force of duty become the ma'-lt•r impnl,cs. T IIU:i we hare the clements of mental power in harrnoniou~ curnbination

nnd perfect balance, making the possessor a 1rrll-t·clucalul mu11.

T here has been no small effor t maue, of late ycnrs, to improve

Samford University Library

[ 10]

upon the !'Chcmc of liberal studies which has obtained the suffrages

of many past ~cnerations. The physical sciences haYc made cxtcn­,.i,·c ancl r;lpi~l advances during the last half-century. Commerce and

the extraordinary facilities for oceanic intercourse . haYc drnwn the k adin" nations into much closer communication. A knowledge of

thrt'C : r fo ur modern languages seems very desirable on the part of all pt' l-:<ons liberally educated. And the Ycry currents of Amcricnn

life tr nd to hurry youn~ men on"'ard as rapidly as possible upon aet i,·c, lm~inc~s cngngcments. 'Grgent demands arc made for a re­Yision of the whole scheme of our higher eduention. In one direc­

tion enlargement is claimed; in \lnother, elimination; in another the ndmi~sion of f'ntirely new branches of science; yet no one advocates

the lent;thening of a college course to six years. W c may sec a !'omewhat amnl'in~ iustancc of the drift of popular clamour, in the

dcchrat ion of one of the oracles of ~orthcrn opinion, that a youth may h:H·c lcarnt'd nil that the schools and uniYersitics teach, and s till he a pitiably ignorant man, unable to earn a week',; subsistence. ".\.

llla"trr of Latin and Greek," this authority adds, "who does not know how to :rrow potatoes, is filr more impcrfeetly educated t han many an

unlcttcre<l backwoodsman ." The whole tribe of objections to the ordinary courl'c of liberal

~tulic~, of which the f<>rcgoing is somewh<Jt of an extreme illu:;tra­

tion, may be answered in one word :-the paramount intrntlon of lhc pn'C<'~:{ to which a yl)ung man is sulojcctcd in his college cour~c, is

the hi.::hcst possible impru\'!•ment of his mind. Ilo'll' a man ig to

'!Ct a liYin!! ; h ow he sha ll best arld soonest acquire the practical ~kill -the facu lty of work, by which Ire makes his week's or year':; sub­

~istcncc, i• an im p,Jrtant questiou, doubtless. But it is not thr <jUCS·

t ion which college life ~ceks to answer. To a ~tarring man a meal of " potol<Je:;" even, may, for the moment, be of greater importance than the trcasun·s of' the \'atic;ln or J3odleiao libraries-or all the

~o!d , for that ruattcr, of Australia. The ab~urdity consiots · in the

c lc\'ation of the lowest type of physical labour to a plane with the hi;;-hc,t in tr lleetual t;l~h, aH an iustrumcnt of mental culti,·ation.

T he w iwl's p:rowth is a dynamical product, a li\'ing, ~ccomiug pro­cc••, whic·h wCJrks Yigorou:<ly from withi •r, and differs essentially from mechanical ac:crctioro~, put on from without. Or, as DcQuinccy {in ely cxprc~-rs the :;amc thin!! :-" no d CJctriuc of importance, no complete truth c·m be tra nl<f'e rrcrl in a matured ~hapc, into any man's u:ulcr­

,-taruliu!.! from without ; it mu<;t ari-c by an act of genesis within the

unJcrstaudi u~ it~clf'." '!.'he crucial test of a seat of lcnrning is not

Samford University Library

[ 11]

the crron of whtit itt affects to put into the mind, of mubfariou~

knowledge, of scientific or even usrful information; Lnt the snc·cc~~ with which it leads out the mental f.1cnlties, ~i,·es the lar~c~t ,Jc::rcc~ of intellectual power and refinement, am] cultiYatcs the best h:tbits uf' thiuking.

Instead of yicldin~ to the intcnRcly practic:J! gt·niu-; of the age and country, and to the dcm:\H\1~ to m;okc our hi;,{hcr iH,titn· tions of learning mere profc!'sional school~, these institution" ()l!~ht

but the more steadily to maintain the true position, and hoi· I fr1rth the sound doctrine. They should firmly resist the Idyllic ~en!imcnt­

ality which is prepared to sacrifice Found and thorough sc!J,,hr~hip

at the shrine of showy but superficial nccomplishmcnts. To the utilitarian improvisation which demands that we teach in four yc:~rs the onme s('/'&ilc, an<l carry our ingenuous young n1cn, fa!!~ing at tnrrc clements and han·en forlllnlm, ~tript of cnth u~ia!;m an•l n-eary (If fvot, around the Ya.~t cycle of knvwled~e, ending the wl11 J,, affair which attempted every thing, in learning noth!ng, we !;houll "PJlMC the maxi01 of the truest and soundest utility, that superficial training and learned ignorance invoh·e the most ruinous of co~t~. ~\. hi..:h authority has said that it is fm· tn<)rC in1pru\·ing ·to read Oil(' good book l('ll times, than to read tc:1 good books once : 1101! m~tlta .•etl

mu/tum,-littlc perh:~ps, but r,ccuratc, has from ancient time~ ob­tained the authority of an axlo:n in cduc·1tion, from all who ha I a1 y titfc to cxprc's an opinion on the subject. ".\. dmptcr c.itically anrl thoroughly mastered," says another hi;;h authority, ''i, worth more than 3 volume hastily g-one OYer, considered either as the means of intellectual culture, or a~ a t1c!lity bo further progre,,.''

\\'hilc the extreme is :n·oidcd on the oue hand, of attempt in~ t•1 1],)

more than C;\ll be done well and thorou;:hly, on the oth\'r 1:.· 1 ftll an<! exact occupation must be furni>-hc.t to the ~tudent. ll :, work 1uust be dit·cetcd by the guitling principle of eliciting on hi, l'·•rt the brgcstamnuntofuJCntal cncrf,"y. " ll c who h:tsconcciYet!the pn"JH~'C.''

~;ays l>r. Olin. "of making of him~clf Hl cnnsi2crablt'n thin;: :1, a m<~ll, may, at the out.~ct, lay his ;tccount \\'ith no tri\·ial expcnditun· o!' tnil and pain~taking." The Profc~:<Ol\ it is true, Ht~tain;; an im!"'r:.mt relation to this process ]3ut his dl'urt::; arc only comlitillnal; the )lien tal effort of the student is pn!J'<'rly cau~::l. Our entire ~('hula~tie app:1ratus is de~i_!!:nccl to c:1ll out, to encourag-e, to \1';\tch oYer thi" <'!Tort, by no means to ~upplant it. We want no ea~y mcthotl·, no ~hnrt\'ncd C•nte. no empiric Pc~taloniani:;m, ~uc·h a" th:~t which some yt'al" ;1:.,:n un­dertook tv teach arithmetic Ly an in~trumcnt c:~Jicd the :nithm >meter,

Samford University Library

[ u]

ani (:cometry by another, called the !Dathcmometcr, by which the propv-itions ofEuclid If ere suppo~cu to be reduced to the comprehension of.'!'""'!! cliildrl'n, :111d all ~]athematic~ made easy! As well attempt to make a man out of n child simply by putting upon him the manly toga. C'oultl ~!athematic;; thus be made ca~<y, we should need to turn that ancient science out of the course, and find something else that is difiicult. 'l'hc thinking f:tculty grow:! only by it;; own thinkiug. "\p~u·t from the Yigorou~ exerci::oc of thou~ht, the in~truetion of books ant! teachers is to the student very much a tndfic in unmeaning wurJ~-~omcthing like the luminous explanation of the stcaw-cuginc, in one of lloracll Smith ·s characters:-"Thcrc is a thing that goes up ant! down, which ,is the h!;tlrostalic principle."

The ~cholastic di~cipline of tl1c Southern University, in the colle­g iate department, will require three daily recitations, each prepared carefully by a couple of homs' stlllly of the text. Each officer will l'eo:k. by au exact cxamiuution in the recitation-room, to ascertain wk n the student has been able to do for himself in the preparation­r· "Jm, duriug the hours of study. The society of a college coterie is no doubt pkas:mt. Books of general literature, reviews and newspa­pe~ furni.-h ea~y reading beyond uispute. 'l'o the embryo poet noth­

ing were more delightful than to court the muses-'·to sport with .Am:1ryllis in the shade, and play with the tangles of Nroera's hair." But )·oung gentlclllen come here not in search of gratific:1tions for the imagination, but to ~ecure the elements of intellectual greatness.

\\'hocn •r enrols himself a student of the Uni\'ersity, voluntarily l•htccs himself' under its training. IIe must make up his mind to the daily drill. II e mu-t expect to have his euergies tasked-his sinews 111adc strong by manly exercise. The study which inYoh·es think.ing-thc hardest kind of thinking; the stuuy which is pursued upon a plan, systematically, courageously, will soon become both his incitement and rewartl. '·Genius is patimce," says Buffon.

The stuuent to whom ~eholastie pureuits furnish full employment; who!le aims are high; and who turns with genial ardour and scholar­ly a--piration to hi3 work, is remoYcd from many of the liabilities which beset college life. Ile who has only half-work, and whose !'election goes in fa,·our of those departments of education which commend them~ch·cs as ir\,\'oh·ing least labour, finds time on his harllb upon which ac.u.lcmic duty seems to hold 110 claims. A very f:l\'ouralJie cuntlition is thus supj,lied for the approach of temptation. }, Ia:>! like the fitec of an , \ pril sky, youth has its changing hues, uow bright then dark; its hours of promise, and its fast-coming

Samford University Library

[ 13 ]

shadows to obscure the lo'l"clin<'~s of that smiling pr.uni•c. The danger is great to the extent in whic.•h the hold upon the affccli•.natc r.:spcct of stndeut>~ by their offic<'r" is Slllnll. If, a!! it ~ornctimt·~ un· fortunately happen~, there shoulcl prcncil a spirit thut rc::anb thf'

faculty aB a government in respect to which oppo,.ition i~ the unnnal and natural po~ition of student.~; if the college uc.buinistration ~llllu!<l

be more punctilious about small rcgulatiou~, m.inut c cxacliOu!<, anti trifling points of honour, than C;tn•ful to maintain the influence which rc~ulta from affcction:~tc n•g;c rd, :~nd firm and ab!c di~cltargc of tluty;

if the power of rcli:;ion should be low, and the chapel lend little ai.l to the administration; and uo heavenly visitations couu~, e1·cr :cnc.l

again, in the form of collcf!e rcY ind~, then the reliance mu~t he un what one of our accomplished authors cal!s "the rr:sthrtir <·on~cicncc," -n sense of what is tasteful and becoming in the propri~ti<'s of f!"'>d breeding and refinement. But cxpcricn .. c shows that we caunot

count too confidently on this. J>opular ~entimcnt in the collcgl' com· munity has a tendency obscn•able cbewhcre, to OI'Crridc the pri>at()

conscience. Young men of general rc.;pcctahility will too ol'tcn swim with the stream. Undue reliance is placcc.l in the powerofcoc: • bination. A ~cason of agitation produce~ an cmrulr. The hNol'- eot'

the barricades dictate terms and enjoy the sport, until th(' pcnahi(•s are pronounced ; and then suspcn~ion or cxput:ion turns out I•> be a somewhat abrupt and tragic clo-<e to t he brief sca~on of' rucrrimcut.

The catastrophe-injurious to all partie:<, as well as the prclicuill'lric", mig lit, in many instances, hal'c been f0rest.:lllcd, h:~d there lJCl:ll work enough for c:~ch student, and had there existed, from the fir~t,

a more cordial unders tanding hdwccn i<ludents'and oflicer,;.

The non-resident policy which has been established here, h:~s work· ed elsc~hcrc with decided adnlllt:lgc. There i~> one rc;:ult which is open ti'J the most casual observation. This policy idcnti{ies the ~tU· dents to a large extent with the town community. They lil'e in the families of the citizens, and become pc~onally known to those fami· lies. To whatever extent the softcnin~ and refining and restraining iuflucnccs of the family arc fcl~anc.l they arc among the lllost pre· cious that can be brought to bear upon young men-the whole ten·

dency is toward a good undor$tanding and conlial fcllow-fcclmg be· tween the parties, producing respect 011 the one side, aud :~ffcctionatc

interest on the other. On the subj.cct of admitting students, I must a~k your indulgence

for a remark Of two. DcfectiYc scholarship has been the opprobrium

of American higher education. The foundation fvr this, howcYcr,

Samford University Library

[ l!]

i:< mo•t c··>mmonly bid in the want of adetluatc preparation in the l,>wcr ~clln,llii of in~truction. An imperf.·otly trnincd tcach"r can hard!.' h.J t•xpcctcd to turn out thoroughly trained pupils. Superfi­cial auainmcnt:; in the master, perpetuate themselves in his ~cholars. Tim~ it not unfr\'<(UCntly happens that in th~ Frcshwan year at col­lc!!e. a :-tmknt "has to be unnwtl1' before he can be made." The higher .. r,Jt.r of instntction proper to a Professor's chair, must be sub­.. titmc.J Ly in::-tructivn in the c!cmcut•. Habits of superficial study mu-,t ltc <-xtirpatcd; in a word, the Professor must take the place and pcrfl'l'l:l the functions of the academic teacher. To supply a proper cvrrecti'"l:., we ~<hould go to t'lc source of the CYil, which lies in the public ~-clllimcnt of the country. American life goes at too fast a pace. \\" c haYe not time enough to giYC our sons an elaborate and thoroug·h preparation for th~ college course. This impatience of parent" wu~t be checked, if they desire for their sons the most pre­cious. fruit~ of liberal trair.ing Hcstraint must be put upon the cagcrnc~" of our youth to take the Preparatory or College course at a ~allop. a' though learning were the prize of a stccplc-chilsc. In fine, a wci,;l.ty ohli~ation, as I conceiYe, rests upon the Faculties of our higher iu,titutions of learning, to maintain a firmer attitude in admit­ting ulloth:r-graduates. Let the extent of tl1e applic::mt's preparation be tL'Sted by an exact examination, and let the class be assigned him fo r whi,h he is really prepared in nccordancc with the · requirements of a hi~h l'-landnrd. If this be jmlged ine::..:pcdicnt in colleges which depend on their patronage to pay their officc 1·~, in the Southern L'niYcr,ity at least, where no such cmLJrrassmcnt exists, it is due to the Board of Trustees, to this e.>mmuuity, to the sentimeut of the .\laLama Conference, aud to public e:~:pcctation, that the Facul­ty shouid insist upou a standard of preparation equal to that of th c foremost scat of lcaruing in this country. We can very well ajl'orcl -to usc a popular term-to be exact aud CYCn stringent, though at the co~t of not having our halls crowded at firflt. We arc ouly sur­rendcri~).! to-day to a more brilliant to-morrow. Our policy is sure to win, at no distant day, the confidence of the country. \\"llilc it confers a public benefaction it will secure an honourable distinc­tion.

I mu~t content myself with a brief reference to another topic, worthy of a larger notice. An earnest application to study must, of necessity, exhaust the vital power and endanger the physical health. _\ compensating element in public education which shall preserve the equilibrium of the nervous and muscular systems, so necessary

Samford University Library

[ 15 J to a hea lthy bruin, and keep the stomach free from the trouhlc~ o( dy~pcpsia, is very d<'sirablc. Ilc:~ l thful mcutal rccr,•:o ti•>n in con­nection with bodily cxcrc i~c, i:1 the desideratum. (]ymnastic~ an•l ealisthcoics, pursued as a system, and particularly under a lll ai- tcr':~

eye, would be apt, as soon as the n<I\'City wore away, to d<'gcncrn tc into :1 taf<k and burden , stript of the exhilaration occ:c~~ary to su~­

taiu the physical cxct·tiorl . I know not that I can reeotnrnt nd any thing better than the system l!encrally adopted by the ~tud<:nt:1 CJf the En~lil>h U ui>crsi tics. At Ca111hridgc, Bristcd tclb u~, the spougc and horse-hair glove arc nmoug the r<'gular acccs~oric~ uf the 11tudcot's toilet. Ilis exercise is as much a daily nccc~5ity tv l1im as his food; and by exercise he means all combinations of frc»h air and muscular exercise which shHkc a man well up, and Lrin).: hi::; drops from all his pores. The staple cxcrctsc is walkiug. Twu hours arc devoted to it, in all states of the weather. 13etw~cn tlt'o and four o'clock, all the roads in the ucighiJorhood of Uambri ugc­that is to f.ay within four miles of it, arc covered with men taking their "constitutionals." Eight hour~· a day i:, the unl inary amount of study gone through by the aid of this eight mib ' walk. The >igor of the English constitution, aut! the length of years attainc·..! by a large proportion of their public men, arc to be attribute•! vny much to the ' 'constitutionals" of their euucational li fe. In tl.c American student, 1cho has uot been )Jai ncd, often, to sec, iustcau t•f the brawny chest, and hard muscle, and hig-h health,

- ··T he :l< .. ·hin,t.:: r-ye, T hG p11llid <>heck, the tr~mhlin_g frnnw, the lwa<i, rf hrobbing: with thought, ~nd turn with !'I~()Jl y ··-

the result of ambitious aspi ration, cloi!C application, aut! ureaJ of fresh air and regular exercise.

Religious instruction, as connected with our for1llS of higher eJ u­cution, presents one of the most important aspects of the whole sub· ject. :lien tal culture acquired at the expense of hearty rcl ig~ous con­victions, im·olvcs a. serious cost. Literature and science are pl'opcrly hand-maids to religion. Vlheu they become antagonists, and arc made to array themselves against Christianity, the c\·il a...<sumc:; a portentous magnitude. Institutions of learning ba$ed upon the so·call­ed " liberal principle" which excludes religion from education or im­poses a total silence on the subject, from the apprehcn~ion of offend­ing the prejudices of religionists or awakening the antipathies of un­believers, are obviously unfitted by that very principle to meet the demands of a christian time and country. Public scntimen't right­eously requires that the men to whose training the youth of a chri~-

Samford University Library

[ 16]

ti:m people arc cntl·ustNl , ,.hould be ncith(•r infidel nor neutral on the great question of Chri><tianity; and that their instructions even when religion is not the direct subject of im·cst.igat.ion, should be pervaded by die christian a 11im1ts. Denominational Colleges and Universities haYe grown out of a persuasion of this kiiiCl, very generally felt .

On the other hand, it is ,·cry possible that more may be expected of institutions rcar.)d by the liberality of the Church, than can ordina­nly be realized. \'cry po~~ib!J, many a father who hoped to turn over the rcspon~ibility of furnishing his sons with religious kuowl­cdge and chri.::tian principles, to some one of the great educational centres of the Church , meanwhile neglecting his own duty, may be doomed to disappointment. You must allow me to remind you that religious culture begins at the fireside and the family altar. Charac­ter is moulded , and often destiny shaped, by home instructions and family influence$. Hcligious training goes back to the cradle, and im·oh-cs dedication to God in infancy, ins truction in the principles of divi ne truth as the mind opens, and proper restraint with advancing years. Beside:<, there is the powerful influence which comes from parental, christian example, silent it may be, as the great powers of nawre, but mighty to mould the plastic heart of childhood-migh tier perhaps, than words or arguments. Let uo parent presume to th ink that he can devoh·c on others the duty of th us training his chi1drcn. ::\or let the church at large indulge the delusion that denominational ~chools cau prcscn ·c the primiti\·e spirit of religion, fresh and Yital, if once it has fallen into general dccarlcncc in the family and Horr.c. Our lru~t is t lwt the large majority of young gentlemen who may matriculate at this in~titution, will bring with them those religious ituprcssions and moulds of early habit which a pious training at hvmc has formed, ~ o doubt, parental anxiety will follow them h ither. The prayer of many a mother will reach the ear of God iu behalf of her son, as he plies his daily tasks here. The memory of many a. fatltefs counsels and example will rise in influential forma, in the hour of temptation. This is the ground-work of our hope that pub­lic education may be truly christianized .

I t will be obscrYcd, moreover, that denominational ins titutions of learning, distinct though they are from theological schools, secure in · their Faculties a ,unanimity of religious sentiment, and a cordiality of reli!!ious co-operation, which are most auspicious to the full effect ofreli~ious example, instm ctions, and measures. I n addition to scho­lastic accomplishments, a Profes.~or to meet the full responsibilities of his position, should possess strength of faith, devotional fen ·our,

Samford University Library

[ 17 ]

a habit of affectionate intercourse with students, and a tender inter• est in their spiritual welfare. These elements of character can, in an institution of the Church, have free scope; all may be combined into a predominant religious influence, presiding over ·the functions and offices of education, pervading them all as a vital, hallowing presence.

The Greek New Testament holds the place of honour among all the text-books of the Southern University, since it alone is carried through the whole course, from matriculation to graduation. It is th~ authentic record of that Gospel which will be preached here­! trust, "not in word only, but in demonstration of the spirit and with power." This is the heaven.appointed instrument of man's con· version, edification, and salvation. In-its truth, in its power, in its suitableness to all stages of culture, all advances of civilization, all ages and conditions, we have an unquestioning confidence. It alone can turn the moral darkness of man into a day of glory. "It is petfect, converting the soul.'' It is eminently the guide of youth. From the height of its majesty the Gospel looks down on all research of thought, all progress of science and social improvement; it lends its aid to all, but borrows none. Omnipotence moves through its agencies, and its provisions grasp all i.nterests, and ages and worlds. Its God is "the God of salvation;" and nature, whose elements fell down at his feet and acknowledged his power, in the days of his flesh, still does homage to his glory in the voice of seas and thunders-its stars his torch-bearers-its nebularfirmaments chiming the chorus of his praise.

When I bid you rely on the power of the Gospel, as one of the chief means by which a pervading christian influence is to be hoped for in this Institution, you will understand me to mean that the original system of truth and grace revealed in the New Testament will be adhered to in its full integrity and strength. The great substance of that truth-"God so loved the world that he gave his

_ only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not per­ish, but have everlasting life" -will not be darkened into a dreamy ,mysticism, which, passing through the light of divine truth without catching its irradiations, soars to the regiGn of the transcendental, in the dim wanderings of sentimentality ;-nor transmuted into the mummeries of a poor formalism which substitutes for the life of God in the soul of man, pantomime and pageant, the mere masquer­ade of worship-finds religion in certain styles of ecclesiastical arch­itecture, and sanctity in a particular quarter of the sky-and instead of feeding the soul with knowledge, holds up to the eye the painted toys of a puerile superstition.

Samford University Library

[ 18]

Nor will a gospel, ttcconliog to science, take the place of t he "glad tidings," tts the instrument of t.hc soul's regeneration. Let metaphysical philosophy push its analysis into the secret places of the mind, and fathom the drpths of spontaneity, autonomy and liberty, which constitute its personality; these researches all ter­minate in the discovery of humanity in self-conflict; all the specu­lations of psychology point to the God-man, who alone can confer 8piritual life. Let nature display her august Temple, and open to the view of science, its deep foundations. 'Yo trace th• forces 'vhich were in play beneath the crystalizations of th~ solid granite. W c read in the stony sepulchres which entomb the dead of long cycles of past animal existence, the power of that Almighty One with whom "a thousand years are as one day." 'Vc approach the ycstibulc. Organization the most cxqui~:itc, adaptations the most perfect, stand open to observation. Visions and voices meet thr. rational insight on e'\"ery hand. ,\-c perceive the eternal archetypes which were in the Supreme Reason, and catch the sentiment of the Hublimc in dimly apprehending the supernatural. But science strives in vain to raise the curtain which shuts out the inner shrine. Beyond that veil shines in pavilioned glory, the majesty ineffable and unapproachable, of the Uncreated :\lind. Standing with un­covered head and awed spirit in the outer court, unable to catch ~ glimpse, yet wondering and longing, the gospel lifts the veil and reveals to man "the light of the knowledge of the glorj of God, in the face of J esus Christ." And the theme of all our preaching is "Christ crucified :" "the same yesterday, to-day, and forever."

In this new seat of learning, then, Jet the authority and influence of Christianity ·be enthroned as supreme over its whole scheme of educational influences. .August is its function, the culture of the faculties of mind-the unfolding of the divine gifts of reason, judg­ment and invention-treasures in comparison to which princely revenues are dross, and hereditary titles mere courtly gewgaws:­pCiwers which construct and defend governments, institutions, laws; which invent the mighty steam-engine, and create the immortal poem, and forge the massive links of the grand oration; which adorn civilization, bridge oceans, girdle continents, and bind nation to nation :-powers which lift the torch upon the "dark backward and abysm of time," and read the hieroglyphics written on the :,tratified rocks of primeval ages :-powers which climb upward to the stars; interpret their shining syllables, and enter "the unfolded gates burning tn the sun." Sublimer ~;till, its office to measure

Samford University Library

[ l!J ]

tho fearful greatness of the mind by its immortal destination; by the tragic grandeur of its very disorders; by tho magnificent reach of its insatiable cravings; by the cost of its redemption; by the doom of the last day :-to lift up all the knowledge here imparted to the scale of its immortality; and to point its wandering destinies to tho Cross of the Son of God, as the centre of all light and hope.

In the humble hope that whatever of experience, of capability, of industry I possess may, by the blessing of God, be rendered tributary to these great ends, I assume, with unaffected self-distrust, the weighty responsibilities of the office to which the partiality of the Board of 'l'rustces has invited rue. If by the divine help we may succeed in carrying out into full practical effect the principles just adverted to, I shall entertain the confident expectation that tlw future alumni of the Southern University will turn to it as the place where the most tender friendships have been formed; around which, in after life, shall cling the most delightful, hallowed re­JlliDISCenees. With prophetic insight into the future, I should see the successive processions of graduates, as they passed away from our rostrum with the blessing of their Alma lllater, reappearing in the great world, men of mark, in whom shining ability would not be substituted for large and devout spirit, nor splendour of talent for the virtues of private character, nor a surface of graceful accom­plishments be found to cover corruption at the heart. I should see, as the result of high intellectual cultivation in wedlock with genu­ine Christian principle, the men who woo and wore the laurelled honours of this seat of learning, flashing as polished jewels in the magnificent crown of IIumanity; illustrious for goodness and great­ness alike; destined to be finally set in the gemmed coronet of the Saviour's rejoicing. And down along the distant centuries of tho future, I should trace the influcnc~ of this Institution, venerable then in years, but ever freslt in power-growing with the colossal growth of the country, widening in the sphere of its noble aims, richer and richer in the fame of its greatness-its name graven on the ages as they pass, its impress stamped upon a multitude of minds destined to outlive all ages, mca2urcd by the chronicles of time.

Samford University Library

'

) , Samford University Library

.. ·-

Samford University Library

I \ \

Samford University Library