Valedictory Address

“The Valedictory”The University Monthly 21, 8 (May 1902): 201-205. (UA Case 68, Box 2)

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 footsteps of a hundred classes have scraped the classic halls of the University of New Brunswick, yet none with a foot more light, a step more true, than the class of 1902.

It seems but yesterday when 28 youths of our land were winding their way up “the rocky hill to knowledge” towards the University for the first time. Then, when we came upon the campus we were freshmen in flowery prime contrasting sharply with the vineyard's ruby treasures of the mellow autumn. Now, with a degree of pardonable pride in having added our names to the long list of graduates of the old U. N. B., a sore of us are about to descend amid the maple and the birch, clad in their early summer luxuriance, and which have given an added charm to our college days.

On entering College we were ushered into a new and mysterious world. We were strangers to each other and also to the higher classmen. In these early days the genii of unwritten, yet not unenforced laws, hovered close about us. We struggled manfully for a noble existence. Alas, how soon the change. In one short year our ill advised presumption had but changed to foolish wisdom, and we considered ourselves, as all sophomores seem to do, the ruling spirit of the College. We do not look upon our Sophomore year as the most pleasant period in our course, for no revolution, whether successful or not, is pleasing while in progress. It is true we each had our grievance. And it is equally true that the lapse of time has done much to take away any spirit of division that may have arisen among us. To-day we stand as a class perfectly united and with the utmost of harmony. This unanimity unsurpassed by any preceding class, has been characteristic not only of the senior class during the past year, but also of the entire student body.

Our Junior year was peaceful, quiet and transitory. We began to see that there was more in college life than we had hitherto dreamed of. Our vocabulary had enlarged sufficiently to grasp the word "criticism" and to touch lightly upon the borders of “responsibility.”

At last came the experiences of a Senior. These are felt, not described.

The indifferent hand of time has not been so severe upon our class as upon some others. Yet, we have felt his impress at different periods. Of the eight ladies and twenty fellows in the Freshman class we graduate but two ladies and twelve men. By the beginning of our Sophomore year we had lost one lady and gained nine gentlemen. Our loss in this case has become another’s gain. We began the Junior year with only two ladies and twenty fellows. At the beginning of our Senior year we numbered an even score, and to-day we have received from the hands of our Chancellor the expression of the reward of our labors.

The past year has not been uneventful in the different College societies. The Debating Society has maintained its former good record, nay it has made a new record. Our debating room was transformed last summer into the English lecture room. But in it we still hold our regular Saturday night debates under more favorable conditions. The debates this year have been more orderly and of an improved character. We cannot speak too highly of the importance to the students attending the Debating Society. The regret of many a graduate is that he did not make better use of these hours. The accumulation of knowledge is but part of a student’s work. Expression is a necessary complement. A mock trial in the library took the place of one of our debates during the first term of the year. During the latter part of the year the burning questions of the Dominion were thoroughly discussed in our popular yet dignified Mock Parliament. My predecessors have boasted of Mock Parliament as the culminating point of oratorical endeavors. It is my privilege to go even further than this. We received ours outside our own college walls on the 14th of March last when at the close of the Intercollegiate debate between the University of Mount Allison and this University on the subject of “Trusts” the judges announced that they had decided to give the honor on that occasion to U. N. B. Now that the initiative has been taken we trust that succeeding classes will continue these Intercollegiate debates.

The UNIVERSITY MONTHLY has been quite up to its former excellence. Although the editors are particularly responsible for the issuing of this magazine, which compares very favorably with other college journals, yet all the students should feel their responsibility and never refuse to contribute at least one article each year.

The Glee Club has had another successful year under the direction of Professor Stockley. The services of Professor Dixon have been much missed. Next year it will suffer another loss in the person of Professor Stockley.

The power to regulate the animating contests which delight our athletes is exercised by the University Amateur Athletic Association. The results of this department of our college life have been most gratifying. The defeat of the U. N. B. football team was so marked in former years that it came to be looked upon as inevitable. In the fall of 1901 the scene was changed. We began to look upon the football field as a place where we might rejoice over victories won, for of the six games that our team played we lost but two of thorn. Then it has been proven that U. N. B. can play football. We have the men, what we need is more practice. For this the captain is particularly responsible, and he prefers active to moral support from the student body.

During the winter months a hockey team was organized. They played several games in the city and one in Woodstock. They won and lost in the ratio of 3 to 3.

At a later date, captivated by the basket ball rage, we organized a team which went forth from victory unto victory not knowing by experience that there is such a thing as defeat. A basket ball league was organized in the city and a series of games arranged for. The league offered a silver cup to the most successful team. It is needless to say after what has been intimated that the cup is now in our possession.

The sports were held on the 21-th of May as usual. They were a decided success. Seven new records were made. We tried to get on Intercollegiate sports with Mount Allison. They declined our invitation. Then we tried to make arrangements with Acadia but we have not yet been able to arrange for a convenient day. Graduates of our college have offered a fifty dollar cup as an inducement towards Intercollegiate sports. We trust that next year me students will begin earlier to arrange for such sports.

During the last year two new societies, the Ladies’ Debating Society and the Engineering Society, have been added to our list.

If we may judge from the increased use the ladies have made of the library books since the organization of their society, we would say that it has been productive of much good.

The Engineering Society includes in its membership not only undergraduates of our College but also other engineers in our province. The organization of this society is an indication of the advancement the department of Civil Engineering has made in our University during the last few years.

Last but not least among our College Societies are the Young Men’s and Young Women’s Christian Associations. Each is doing its own good work and tending to elevate the moral tone of our College.

These different societies seem like an imposing barrier to the students who see nothing in College life but high marks during examination week. The training and culture which they give is worth all the effort expended and in proportion as the student interests himself in their work so will he appreciate his college course when it is completed.

The public lecture course this year has not received the attention it should have. The lectures have been helpful in the past and should be continued.

In February our “elegant and beautiful” gymnasium was destroyed by fire. The fire really did a good work in removing a building which in a poor way served the purpose of a gymnasium. Situated as we are at the present time no opportunity of obtaining the much needed exercise is provided. Student life is such that a well equipped gymnasium is not a luxury but a necessity. We hope that the Senate has already made definite arrangements for the speedy erection and equipment of a modern and up-to-date gymnasium.

The department of Physics having been removed to the new building a year ago it became possible to enlarge the library to twice its former size. Today and on similar occasions this change is much appreciated. When we returned to College last fall we missed the old stoves in the halls and many of the lecture rooms. In their place we found hot-air registers. We were thankful. Residence too had received new heating apparatus and other improvements.

A residence for all the students would add much to College life. Our present residence is little more than a small boarding house, run at a certain expense to the College.

Our most valuable scholarship, tenable for three years, is now awarded on the result of the Senior Matriculation Examination. This gives an inducement to students to take less than a full four years’ course. The freshman year at College is not the least important. If a student is assisted in his College course it should be in the early years. Having completed his junior year he will most likely find the necessary funds for the senior year. Therefore we hope that in the future the Wilmot Scholarship will be awarded as in former years.

Through the first two years of our course the University’s thought and action were turned towards its Centennial. For the last two years we have been watching the centennial approaching the western horizon. We have learned many helpful lessons and received much inspiration. But we make a mistake to think we can live as a
University on past blessings. It is time that we were facing the east and pushing our claims with greater energy.

Have we been overlooked in the Cecil Rhodes scholarships? If so, will not our educational authorities make an enquiry? Our faith in the great empire builder is too strong to allow us to believe that our province, which is as loyal as any in the British Empire, has been purposely neglected with reference to these scholarships.

Our University is doing more for our province now than ever before. More students are enrolled upon the College annals this year than in any preceding year. Therefore, we claim that the small grant from the provincial government should be increased. It is true that the province helped to liquidate the debt on the new science Building. One swallow does not make a summer, nor does one small grant found and properly equip a University.

We need more professors if our College is to do ample justice to its curriculum. The calendar tells us that there is a valuable building called the Observatory. Our professors are so busy that they have not time to turn the key and lead us in that we might see the wonders of the heavens.

Since last encaenia Professor Dixon has gone out from us. He has been much missed, for he was a man exceedingly energetic and willing to devote his time and labor to the cause of education. To the enterprise of Professor Dixon the University and Province are chiefly indebted for the new Science Building. We have been fortunate in securing the service of a distinguished graduate of our own College to take Prof. Dixon’s place, Prof. Brydone-Jack. Under his management the engineering course is coming to take a greater part in our University.

It is with feelings of regret that we loam that Prof. Stockley is about to take his departure from this college. He has been our English and French instructor for many years. The students have always felt that they had a warm friend in the person of Professor Stockley. We all wish him the greatest success in his new sphere of
activity.

Professor Davidson has obtained leave of absence for a year. By this we feel that the departments of economics and philosophy are to be placed at a disadvantage, for with the small salary at our disposal we cannot hope to obtain a man of Professor David- son's worth for one year. We cannot hope to retain our able and energetic professor unless it be by chance or a peculiar fitting of circumstances with the present low salaries. With the prosperous times of the last few years and having so many distinguished sons in prominent positions throughout the province and in our legislative halls, it seems that this University should receive more hearty financial support. Those whose business it is should see that our claim is pressed. If we hope to see a large Freshman class here in the fall it is necessary for our College to take an interest in the different high schools of our Province, Having graduates or teachers in all or nearly all of these schools is not sufficient, they want to see or hear from members of the University.

As undergraduates of this time honored institution our work is done. The days spent here have been among the pleasantest in our lives. We have tried to do our duty to our College and to ourselves. As a class we have received more than our share of rewards in the way of scholarships and medals. To show our appreciation of the good received we have established a fund to be known as the Class of 1902 Library Fund. The terms of the fund are as follows:—Each member of the class is to pay five dollars a year for five years. The first payment is to be made before the end of the year 1903 One quarter of the fund is to be spent under the direction of the professor or professors in charge of the engineering department. One-third of it is to be under the direction of the philosophy and economic departments. The remainder is to be divided among the different departments in the same way as the present library fund.

To you, Mr. Chancellor and Gentlemen of the Faculty, who have been our guides, advisors and friends for the last four years we desire to express our sensibility of the impartial and just treatment we have always received at your hands. We thank you for your painstaking efforts and patience with us in our instruction. If we make a success in life we will owe a large measure of it to the training we have received from you. In bidding you farewell we wish you every success in your future work.

It is not with pleasure that we bid farewell to those of our friends who are undergraduates. We will rejoice over your success in the different College societies. Make good use of the opportunities as they present themselves to you and remember there are other advantages in a College course than those derived from study.

To the citizens of Fredericton we extend our hearty thanks for the many kind efforts you have put forth to make our college days so full of happiness. Wherever our lot may be cast in future years we shall always remember with pleasure the happy days spent in your beautiful city in the May of life.

My task is nearly over. Yet the hardest remains to be said. It is, Farewell, Farewell.