Valedictory Address

“Valedictory” The University Monthly 27, 6-7(Apr-May 1908): 177-83. (UA Case 68, Box 1)

Your Honor, Mr. President, and Members of the Senate, Mr. Chancellor and Gentlemen of the Faculty, Mr. President and Members of the Associated Alumni, Fellow Students, Ladies and Gentlemen :

The long-expected has arrived; we have watched three classes graduate since we came here and each time with the thought that our own graduation was one year nearer; now it has come, and there are other feelings beside those of delight with which we separate to-day. As we leave, what a flood of memories from the last four years crowd in on us, what regrets we have that the pleasant months here are over; and these, coupled with the thought of the future and all that it contains, bid us pause ere we cross the threshold and “cast one longing lingering look behind.”

Many classes have stood where we stand today, having received their reward at the hands of the Chancellor, about to go forth into the world of effort and achievement. They have gone and many of them today are gracing the proudest positions in the land, the admiring world has laid her tribute of praise at their feet and has crowned them with the laurel of success. The old College is proud to honor such graduates and to summon three of them here today to receive a further reward for honest effort and well deserved renown. Other men and women who have preceded us do not control the will of the multitude, the world has never made a beaten path to their door, but in some- humble sphere they are giving the weight of their lives to that which is best. We honor them all today and the class of 1908 goes to join them, to join that proud army of men and women who in the lofty and
the low positions of life are adorning whatever community may be honored by their influence. What record our class shall write on the pages of history no man can tell, but whether any of us ever receive the plaudits of the crowd or not, may we, in whatever circle of action that shall be ours rove worthy successors of the many classes whose footsteps we follow this day.

To me has been given an impossible task, one that would test the, eloquence of the ages and palsy the pen of the world's greatest— the task of writing the history and college activities of the class who graduate this afternoon. Words and sentences can never tell the meaning of these years, their history will be unfolded year by year in lines of effort, culture and usefulness.

In October 1904 a horde of Barbarians climbed the rocky way to college, spelled with difficulty and diffidence those awesome mystic symbols spiked to the stately maple down there—and in our search for the rear entrance got our first glimpse of college. But we were destined to more than a glimpse and in a few days received a full view. On the old hillside the young men held a reception; we were the guests of the evening; class after class and man after man vied with each other in the lavish entertainment they should give us and while the evening breezes whispered courage to our hearts from above and all round came unmistakable tokens of the high esteem in which we were held. Our Freshmen year was one packed with interest and has many spots of sacred memory as we look back to it today.

As Sophomores we numbered thirty-six and were somewhat changed: the barbarism was much worn off, college life was assuming now definite shape and to our hands was given an especial care over the new-comers. And it was a duty well carried out. At the close of our second year we lost eight, received two and on mustering forces at the beginning of the Junior year we numbered thirty. As Juniors we were still higher types in the scale of scholastic evolution. The barbarism was gone, the dignity had much softened, giving way to good natured complacency, the scales of ignorance had somewhat fallen from our eyes and a level headedness was shown which gave promise of better things the next year. And with the next year as Seniors, still numbering thirty, our class had to carry all the responsibilities of that exalted station. We did it cheerfully, and it is hoped successfully, ever trying as a class and as students to wield a proper influence in all college affairs.

Your Honor, a brief summary of the work of those college activities for the year may now be in order.

The Literary and Debating Society is the organization of first importance in our student life. It has had a prosperous year. The weekly debates have been on the whole successful, although often not
taken as seriously as needed to become really useful. In former years an Interclass Debating League was thought of; last year the schedule reached paper, formally drawn up—and died there. This year it went farther, two debates, won by the Seniors from the Juniors and by the Freshmen from the Sophomores were held, but the deciding contest between the two winners was never brought on. We hope that next year an extra effort will be made and the schedule finished. The Mock Trial for one evening and Mock Parliament for four under the Debating Society proved very profitable, giving to all concerned a very necessary insight into these important activities, as well as affording infinite amusement to various classes of people. THE UNIVERSITY MONTHLY has been issued as usual, the editors striving to keep it up to the high standard of the past. A new feature has been introduced this year in publishing a supplement to the MONTHLY containing the ever-necessary jokes. From the misty past a name was resurrected for this supplement, to its pages many people dangerously infected with the joke microbe contributed various, curious, never-to-be-explained and marvelous things and it was sent forth on its mission to delight the soul of the undergraduate with fiendish joy. The Debating Society reached the acme of its success when on the platform at the Opera House our team met the worthy foemen from St. Francis Xavier and in a brainy, bloodless battle won the Intercollegiate Debate. Our men have richly merited the unstinted praise that has been theirs.

In Athletics, the year has been one giving a large measure of success. The football team enjoy the distinction of tieing with Mt. Allison for the Championship of the Intercollegiate League. The four games played by the Basket Ball team have all been victories, while the Hockey team have won three out of five games. The Track team made a good showing at the Intercollegiate sports held at Moncton last week but were unable to bring the cup back home with them. One of the two records broken was by one of our men. The Interclass Sports were held on Monday of this week and proved very successful, four records being broken and another one tied. One record lowered had stood untouched since 1887.

The Glee Club, under the efficient direction of Prof. Harrison, has had a good year, meeting weekly for Sight Singing and Songs. The Engineering Society has been active, conducting special lectures and in other ways ministering to the efficiency of that work. The Ladies’ Society has this year been leaving the beaten highways of the past and treading in new paths. All those who attended the Greek Play put on by the ladies can genuinely compliment Miss Fish, the President of the Society, and her helpers on the signal success attending this new department in College life.

The Y. M. C. A. has taken its usual important place in our student community. Strengthened by the inspiration of a good delegation at Northfield, the workers entered into the year's service with energy and enthusiasm. A good President, surrounded by an efficient staff of officers and backed by a large and loyal membership, has done much to promote the religious interests of our student life. Among the lady students the Y. W. C. A. has also had a prosperous year. Capable management by able and enthusiastic leaders has made it even more influential than ever among the young women. The weekly meetings conducted by these societies have been of far reaching value, touching the inner life of many students and just how deeply we can never tell. The Young Men's Association are carefully planning for a delegation of ten men at Northfield, while the young ladies will send two of their number to the Silver Bay Conference. The Volunteer Band of seven young men has the largest membership among Maritime Colleges, and has had a good year, holding public meetings and doing other work of value.

Many changes have taken place since we entered four years ago. There have been many in the teaching staff; seven professors whose instruction we have received are not with us today, including the late Dr. Harrison, the former Chancellor, who closed many years of service, and Dr. Bailey, who retired after forty-seven years of continuous labor with us. To fill these many positions there have come a new Chancellor and new professors, who have assumed their large responsibilities with much ability and satisfaction to all concerned. Three new chairs have been created, those of agricultural Chemistry, Mechanical Engineering and Forestry. We are glad to know that a professor has lately been appointed to this latter important chair and that with his coming next autumn the course will commence.

But there have been other changes. In our Sophomore year the form of initiation was changed and from that time the valiant freshmen have not been given the same usage that they formerly received. That this is as it should be we are firmly convinced and no class has been more anxious than ours to see the arrangement adhered to. But we learned that a great deal of the stability of student life depends upon Senior control and while freshmen are always to be treated as gentlemen and not subjected to the brutal attacks of irresponsible upper classmen, yet they should be under the wise and careful supervision of those more experienced. It is scarcely a wise policy that makes a whole class submit to certain indignities for a few weeks and then allows them perfect freedom. The "new man" who comes here with a level head, and shows that he is determined to find his place and fill it in an unassuming manner should, under certain limitations, be given as much freedom as "a stately senior." But the man whose head instead of being level is swelled, who feels that the machinery of the institution would cease but for his beneficient presence, and who walks abroad with the air of the man born to command, is the one deserving the special care of his fellow-students in the upper classes. It is to the training and development of this gentleman that the wit and inventive genius of a strong sensible committee should be directed.

We are sorry to lose this year the valued services of Prof. MacDonald. In the four years that he has been with us he has shown an energy in and enthusiasm for his work, and an interest in the students and the College that have proved very satisfactory to all. And under his ripe scholarship and careful leadership he has built up a course in his particular branches that takes its place side by side with the very best. The debating teams of the future will lose much by Dr. MacDonald's leaving. His interest in this work has always been very great and his assistance valuable and much appreciated. As he goes he carries the best wishes of all for future prosperity and well-being.

But, your Honor, time bids me to be drawing near my close. Before we go we must pause and say farewell. To you, Mr. Chancellor and Gentlemen of the Faculty, there is much that we might say. To
you has been given for four years the priceless privilege of helping to mould our lives at the time when more ideals are being set, more habits formed and more impressions crystallized into character than at any other. And gladly can we say that you have proven true to your trust, our destinies were placed in worthy hands when we came under your influence, and you send us into life better men and women from having known you. In revealing to us the mysteries of the sciences and arts you have been unspairing in your pains, careful always that side by side with our scholastic development there should be that strengthening of character so essential to us in the years to come.

To Fredericton, an ideal University town, and to its hospitable citizens we must bid adieu. As a people your welcome of us has been cordial and hearty; you have well patronized our student activities; our midnight disturbances you have looked upon with the indulgent, kindly smile of a father whose beloved child is troublesome at times, and have straightway forgiven us. For all these we thank you and assure you that our farewell to you is among the hardest said.

To the undergraduates, those who take our places in these classic halls, we must give a parting handclasp and go. With you we have lived and labored, and our voices together have shaken the roof with the old yell and the treasured songs; we have cheered in victory and consoled each other in defeat. We as a class must leave you and for us the past can be lived again only in memory. To you descend large responsibilities—those of guarding well every interest of the old college, of treasuring as a sacred trust the old tried customs of the past and that of so living on this hill that the high and noble ideals of the many classes who have gone from here shall not suffer at your hands. Guard well your heritage.

Fellow classmates, what shall we say as we leave these walls? On the old coins of Spain we can see the two pillars of Hercules and around them the motto "Ne Plus Ultra," "No more beyond." These were stamped when Spain stood at the head of the world powers and imagined she possessed all. But with Columbus and the passion of discovery, men found what lay beyond the pillars of Hercules; and Spain, still leaving these pillars upon her coins, struck cut the negative and changed the motto; so that upon later coins we find the words "Plus Ultra," "more beyond."

We have been doing that the last four years. We have set up this day as our pillar of Hercules and around it have placed the motto,"Ne Plus Ultra," " No More Beyond ; " we have looked upon it as an end of effort, the battle won when our degree is conferred; our final goal, our limit, our ending. But just as it always is in life, as we approach this limit, especially in the last few months, we find light from beyond, light from the hilltops of the future breaking upon us. We see lying on the other side of what we thought was an end, a world of things, unknown and untried, Today we stand between the pillars and look upon the future and change our motto; no longer shall we write "Ne Plus Ultra" "No More Beyond " as our watch-word but "Plus Ultra," "More Beyond, " shall be engraven as our heart's expression from this day on.

And what is it that lies “beyond”? We cannot tell; there is life with its opportunities, there is service with its unselfishness, toil with its monotony, but whatever the “beyond” contains let us face it, stronger from our culture and inspiration here, realizing that,

“Ours is the conflict; humanity calls;
Life's not a dream in the clover:
On to the walls! On to the walls!
On to the walls, and over!”

Friends all, I must now on behalf of the class of 1908 say farewell; and with the benediction of our past resting upon us we now step forth, past the pillars of Hercules, to face whatever it is that lies beyond.