Graduation Address

"Address to the Members of the Graduating Class by Hon. H.I. Taylor, Minister of Public Health of New Brunswick" Alumni Bulletin 7, 1 (29 June 1929): 3-4. (UA Case 67, Box 1)

After a somewhat prolonged absence from University circles, and a profound silence in University life, it is needless to say that I feel a little out of place in attempting to address a Graduating Class.

I wish, however, to express my appreciation of the honor done me in asking me to say a word on this occasion and while appreciating the honor, at the same time I realize the responsibility of my position, its importance and the difficulties that necessarily confront me.

In our lives, Certain Days - Certain Years - stand out with greater prominence than others owing to the fact that events of more than ordinary significance are associated with them and make them deserving of remembrance. It is not necessary that I cite specific instances. You are familiar with and can readily recall many such.

To you today may be worth while remembering. It certainly has memories for me.

Just half a century ago with a score or more of other boys - the largest class that has ever matriculated, no young ladies among the number, be it regretfully said, for co-education was not recognized at that time in this province - I wended my way through College Grove to College Green and the old University Building where I wrote and passed my matriculation examination, was enrolled as a member of the Freshman Class, began my college course and in due time graduated.

One is very forcibly reminded that time flies and that changes come with the years, and in reminiscent mood I might recall events of long ago and revisit past scenes. But this is neither the time nor the place to indulge in such reveries.

Suffice it to say that the old building which has passed the century mark still stands in all its stateliness, but not in lone splendor, for other imposing structures have been and are being added to keep pace with up-to-date and modern educational methods and ideas, thanks to private munificence and provincial recognition.

The course in Arts no longer stands alone and reigns supreme, as evidenced by those before me today. Other courses of equal if not greater importance have been added and a year with a meaningless and mysterious name has crept in.

I might refer to the Faculty, who were spoken of by their agnomens instead of by their cognomens; and songs with lines such as Ariston Men Hudor, Boyas and Dos Hemin Hudor O Pai.

Enough has been said to show that there have been extensions, innovations, expansions, additions, improvements - within and without - all requisite and necessary. I might go on indefinitely but I have digressed sufficiently.

Now to my task.

To have accomplished the object for which one sets out is always a matter of great satisfaction, and if that object is a laudable one, deserving of commendation, its aim to uplift, its purpose to elevate, then in addition to the feeling of satisfaction, there must be that of happiness as well. Such I take it is the fortunate and somewhat enviable position in which you find yourselves today.

Your fondest hopes have been realized, your most ardent wishes gratified, the end you have had in view has been attained.

You have completed the course of study laid down for each of you in your respective lines of work, pursued these studies with varying degrees of diligence, sometimes as inclination prompted, more often as duty compelled; satisfied exacting but not unreasonable examiners that you possessed a fair amount - a considerable amount - at any rate, the necessary requisite amount of knowledge.

The observed of all observers,
The cynosure of every eye,
The central figure on the stage,
This day is peculiarly your own.

And now, in the midst of friends who are delighted with your success and whose presence here at this time is an indication of the interest they have taken in your welfare, you have received at the hands of your esteemed Chancellor, the visible rewards of your labor - those coveted parchments - the tangible tokens of time spent here, work done, instruction received, knowledge acquired, and friendship formed and, in accordance with the time-honored custom, I have been asked to say some of the things that are generally said on occasions of this kind and which, no doubt, if your wishes were consulted, you would quite willingly dispense with.

You are leaving your Alma Mater. You are saying farewell to familiar faces, familiar scenes, familiar places. You are parting from faithful, efficient painstaking and interested teachers, not, I trust, without some feeling of regret.

You are going out into the world to take your place with those who have gone before you, to face the stern realities of life and assume new responsibilities.

You have been highly favored. You are going out, I believe, well prepared and well equipped and might I truly say in the words of the Psalmist, "The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places, yea I have a goodly heritage."

You have had ample opportunity to lay deep and firm the foundation to build widely and well for the future.

By precept and example, by discipline and training, you have had impressed on your mind and instilled into your very being, Thoughts and Teachings that must serve you in good stead in whatever may be before you.

I have perhaps said enough, I don't wish to weary you, but it may be that I am allowed some latitude on an occasion of this kind, provided that I keep within a reasonable time limit.

My authority for continuing is a good one.

Kipling, in his Rectorial Address to the students of St. Andrews University a few years ago, began by saying - "The sole revenge that maturity can take upon youth for the sin of being young is to preach at it. When I was young I sat and suffered under that dispensation. Now that I am older I purpose, if you will permit me, to hand on the sacred torch of boredom."

I have just two thoughts to leave with you for your serious consideration at your leisure. They should be important factors in determining your future.

1. Health (the importance of health)


2. Work (the necessity of hard work).

Taking the latter subject first, let me say that success depends on work.

"The heights by great men reached and kept
Were not attained by sudden flight.
But they while their companions slept
Were toiling upward in the night."

So eminent a man as the late Sir William Osler, idolized by the medical profession, and justly so, has this to say, (and anything he says is worth repeating and worth listening to), speaking before the students at the University of Toronto in 1903, his subject "The Master Word" -

"It seemed a bounden duty on such an occasion to be honest and frank, so I propose to tell you the Secret of Life as I have seen the game played and have tried to play it myself. You remember in one of the Jungle Stories that when Mowgli wished to be avenged on the villagers he could only get the help of Hathi and his sons by sending them the Master-Word. This I propose to give you in the hope, yea, in the full assurance that some of you at least will lay hold of to your profit. Though a little one, the master-word looms large in meaning. It is the 'Open Sesame' to every portal, the great equalizer in the world, the true Philosopher's Stone which transmutes all the base metal of humanity into gold. Not only has it been a touchstone of progress but it is the measure of success in everyday life. Not one before me but is beholden to it for his position here, while he who addresses you has the honor directly in consequence of having it graven on his heart as he was when you are today and the master-word is Work."

Osler's advice to his students, as to the method of work, and to which he attributed much of his own success, was as follows:

"Take no thought for the morrow,
Live neither in the past nor the future
But let each day's work absorb your entire energies
And satisfy your widest ambitions."

No doubt you would like to hear what Sir James M. Barrie, with whose works you are all familiar, has to say. In addressing the students of St. Andrews University as Lord Rector not many years ago, he said:

"Izac Walton quotes the saying that 'doubtless the Almighty could have created a finer fruit than the strawberry, but that doubtless also he never did,' Doubtless also he could have provided us with better fun than hard work but I don't know what it is. To be born poor is the next best thing."

Talking to you on the importance of Health may seem superfluous - kike bringing coals to Newcastle - to sell - but if you want to talk Health in the abstract, healthy people are very good subjects.

Although there are numerous instances where notable men and women have achieved fame and fortune, handicapped by frailties and infirmities, these are exception, and the fact remains that our best work - manual and mental - is done when we are in good health. Our literature abounds in aphorisms and phrases, both apt and pertinent, showing the importance of health, with which you must all be familiar. "All that a man hath will he give for his life." (Job. 2:4).

"Give me health and a day and I will make the pomp of emperors ridiculous." (Emerson).

"See the wretch that long has tossed
on the thorny bed of pain
At length repair his vigor lost
And breathe and walk again."

"The meanest floweret in the vale,
The simplest note that swells the gale
The common Sun, the air, the skies
To him are opening Paradise."- Gray.

We do not prize our commonest blessings until deprived of them.

The story of our lives as it has been written in the history of the world today shows that the promotion of health is becoming more and more a dynamic force in personal and social development.

We are not interested in health merely for health's sake, but are gaining a fuller appreciation of its significance in the accomplishment of our hope, our desires and our ambitions.

Dr. Abernethy's advice to his wealthy, pampered patient: "Live on six-pence a day and earn it," conveys a world of meaning, and the Divine command to our first parents is equally significant, "By the sweat of thy fare shalt thou eat bread."

You are looking hopefully and anxiously to the future. What the future has in store for you depends largely on your own efforts.

"'Tis not in mortals to command success
But we'll do more, Sempronius,
We'll deserve it."

It would be interesting to cast your horoscopes. Individually I dare not, collectively I will not. I can only say that hard work and good health spell success. Useful and busy lives mean happiness. It's only service for others that makes life worth living.

Coming to the end of my rambling remarks, my duty - a most pleasant one - is to congratulate you all on your success - the Rhodes Scholar, the prize winners, those who have taken honors, those who have not.

St. Paul's Epistle to the Corinthians 9:24 states "Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize." This was true then as it is true today.

Longfellow says:

"No endeavor is in vain,
Its reward is in the doing.
And the rapture of pursuing
Is the prize the vanquished gain."

As I close I would express the wish that whatever your lot may be cast, in whatever sphere of work you may be engaged - and I sincerely hope that your work may enable you to remain in this fair Dominion - an even greater measure of success may attend your efforts.