Alumni Oration

"Mr. H.V.B. Bridges’s Oration" University Monthly XI, 8 (May & June 1893): 118-119. (UA Case 67a, Box 1)

Mr. Bridges mentioned this as the anniversary day in the annals of our university. Another year has been added to its history, increasing its influence for good. The encoenial day is pleasant to many—to the Faculty because it ushers in a period of well-earned rest; to the graduates, for it is the commencement of a hopeful struggle with the world; to the undergraduates the prospect of the long vacation is especially grateful. He was glad to extend a hearty welcome to the graduates and to felicitate the undergraduates upon another year's promotion in the dignities of student life. But there is an alloy of sorrow with our happiness. A few months since, the sympathy of the graduates and friends of the university went out toward their chancellor and his family in their sorrow over the loss of a wife and mother, whose interest in the university grew, like the sun at his setting, more beautiful and bright with failing health and strength. To Professor Stockley the Alumni Society extended its profound sympathy in a loss so great that the passage of time will not render it the less overwhelming. Socially, and in its inner life, the university has lately lost more than we can easily estimate.

Thirty years ago the alumni society was organized, such men as Hon. L. A. Wilmot and Chas. Fisher being among those who took the initial steps, and defended the university in the darkest hour of its history on the floors of the legislature. The aims and objects of the founders were to promote sounder education and to further the interests of the movement; to renew old friendships and cultivate kindly feeling and friendly intercourse among the alumni; and to establish alumni prizes for competition among the undergraduates. In carrying out these aims the Alumni medal was founded, and has been for many years bestowed. The Alumni Professorship was founded two years ago and at the beginning of this year the scholarship in memory of the late Dr. Jack was announced for competition. We wish we could do more and I am voicing the sentiments of the majority of our membership when I say that had we means at our disposal, steps would be taken to erect dormitories for the re-establishing of college residency, the abolishing of which has severed the tie which binds the student life of the present with that of the past. Our free school system is something which we are all proud of and which does honor to those who inaugurated it; but it is by no means perfect. The aim of the public school is to form in the children habits that will make the end of their school days to be but the beginning of their education. Possibly in some cases our schools have done this. They have had but a short period in which to arrive at perfection, and their advance and the benefits they bestow are still very great. The influence of the university through its graduates and those of kindred institutions had much to do with the establishment of our system of education, and now on the methods and aims of our system we need the active co-operation of these higher institutions for any improvement in education must come from above and not below. The co-operation can be more readily effected and the influence of the university more readily utilized through the grammar and high schools. The curriculum of these schools should be as nearly as possible a step to the university. By this means the schools themselves would be the recruiting stations over the province, finding out the young men and women of promise, and bringing them forward, under the influence of the university. We look forward with pleasure to a reform in this connexion. Uniform examinations are now held by the board of education throughout the province, entitling a successful examinant to a certificate of admission into the university. The immediate tendency of this reform will be to retain most students in the advanced schools, and to send more students to the university, and to make it more than ever the head of our educational system. The objection of uniformity has been raised to this system. But in this country we have the best incentives to development of individuality, as defined by John Stewart Mill. In a system of education supported by the state there must be a certain degree of uniformity. The greatest good to the greatest number is the principle upon which we are still to proceed. The future of our university ought to be secure under existing conditions. A great drawback to the success of the university is the immense exodus of our young men from the province at an age when they are just ripe for college. Then the extension of the course to four years is by some looked upon as an unwise movement, but apparently this is not so. Our university has to face also the competition of denominational colleges, heavily endowed, who draw away a number every year. To offset this we need the presence of the faculty in our preparatory schools and the active interest of all graduates, especially those engaged in the teaching profession. We need special education for the training of farmers and mechanics, in order to attract those classes but this our Alma Mater cannot afford. She must go on educating her students not for a particular occupation, but for life itself. Education is a good thing in itself, without reference to its practical use, and if we could only recognize the truth of this, what a long step ahead the world would take. — The Daily Telegraph (2 June 1893): 2.