Alumni Oration

"Alumni Oration" University Monthly III, 4. (June 1884): 59-60. (UA Case 67a, Box 1)

The following is a summary of Professor Foster's oration:—

"Standing in these old halls, echoing the voices and instinct with the spirit of younger and not less happy days, what wonder that we should surrender ourselves to the impulse of the moment and dwell for a little amid the day dreams and memories that throng in upon us. And if we did who could chide us? For do not dreams and their attempted realizations, memories and the objects around which they cling, make up the most of life? As out of the mist-motes which winged and invisible float past us on their way to the distant skies are conjured the fleecy banks and rugged clouds from which showers descend like armies upon the earth, and drive out the enemies of famine and drouth, so out of dreams are born deeds. Open-eyed dreams are often the fertilizing sources of action. There the soul follows out its cherished desires unhindered by circumstances or limitation, the mind grapples with difficulty in some hope of overthrowing it, and the battle is driven on through the airy and distant fields till victory rises triumphant and resplendent. Does not one come forth from such dreaming stronger in purpose, livelier in thought and more hopeful in mind? The boy in far Western fields, dreaming of noble deeds, of wide freedom and of equal rights, grew out of his daydreams into the immortal Lincoln, standing in the White House and dashing down the signature that struck the fetters from four millions of slaves and set the jubilee notes of freedom echoing around the world. So Garfield lived in dreams long before Congress echoed to his ringing tones, or the laments of the nation bore testimony to the worth of the second martyred President. So all great preachers, orators, statesmen, painters and warriors have been such in ideal long before they became such in actuality. And we, too, brothers Alumni, have dreamed the dreams of boyhood, of studentship, of young manhood. We have not realized all that we dreamed, but more than if we had not lived at all in the bright ideal.

And memories? God be thanked for memories. In tradition's distaff sprung long and strong and fine they link the golden on to the later age, Paradise to less beautiful abodes, the era of gods and heroes to that of humble men. In history's web fine-woven they knit the infancy of the world to its riper years. In generations they bind all events and circumstances into compact harmony; in the individual they join childhood to age, scene to varying scene, association to association, and keep for us the pleasures, the joys and the friendships of other days. And these memories are about us to-day; memories of the boys we matriculated with, boated with, balled with, boys that we studied with, carried off prizes with, and graduated with, who possessed our friendship and shared our confidences. When that question comes to us: "Where are the friends of our youth?" among them all who so dear and so cherished as the friends whom Alma Mater gave. Some of them are behind us in the race, some before us, and some have done their work and passed away. Green be the grass that waves above their dust, warm the southern breath that lures the first wild spring flower to keep its fragrant vigil o'er their graves, and may each anniversary day find us ready to wreath their memorial marbles with the immortelles of living regret and kindly remembrance. But we are not here to dwell long in dreams and memories however sweet. The life and hope of the present calls; and the world's work beckons us from the distant field. What word can I say, standing for a moment upon this lookout, in praise of Alma Mater, in counsel to the young warriors she has this day sent out to battle or in advice as to the goal to be gained or the campaign to be conducted.

And first as to Alma Mater. She implants in us the strong stirrings of the broader intellectual life. The name of a University attracts us first and draws our attention and desire to realize the benefits offered. The subtle influence which it exercises through report and fame touches our ambitions into life. Its teaching opening up wide and hitherto unknown avenues of thought and intellectual endeavors, draws out our powers and guides our hesitating steps and leads us gradually up to the manhood of intellectual strength and effort. She surrounds us with an atmosphere of great achievements, great thoughts and great associations, and so translates us into a circle higher than our own, and feeds our mental and moral natures with the nurturing strengthening influences derived therefrom. The struggles and victories of the world are made familiar to us, the best thoughts of the best men of all ages are brought to reinforce our powers, and we learn to know the great of all centuries; to love their greatness and imbibe the spirit which actuated them. In this way our Alma Mater does for us an essential and invaluable service. She imparts to us habits—skill—and dominating tendencies. There is the stated order, each hour with its appointed recursing, the daily attack and conquest, the settling down of the mind to its best level of effectiveness and all repeated day after day and year after year until we become conscious of a firmer, stronger self growing up within us, marshalling our powers, directing our energies and dominating our lives.

Then she gives us skill, teaches us how to do with the least expenditure of force and in the best possible way. The patient analysis, the correct synthesis, the basic firmness, the careful comparison, the critical survey—all these are as skilled forces placed at our command. And she imparts tendencies to us. We enter her halls unformed in taste or masterful aim. The teaching given strengthens and develops the first and defines the second until we become fixed and the lines become drawn on which in distinct parallels our lives shall lead on.

Can we ever honor our Alma Mater too much for these benefits of intellectual development, induced of high achievements, thoughts and associations brought down to us? And what have we to say to the graduated soon we hope to become Brothers Alumni? As you stand there, just ready to bid adieu to the old halls and go out somewhere and for somewhat, do you feel that your services are needed, are wanted, are called for? Of this there can be no doubt. The world never needed better work than now. Life brings its complexities and with complexity always comes difficulty, and the need of wisdom and delicate tacts. She calls to you for the needful help. Nature lies full of beneficent forces waiting for you to release and utilize them. Watt and Stevenson, and Arkwright, and Morse and Edison, have not exhausted the treasure house of her rich helpfulness. These are toilers toiling to accomplish the best in every department of labor, and they need assistance—for expression, for guidance, for leadership, the call comes and it comes to you. Sorrow and pain and suffering are found and many are the helpers needed to alleviate and to diminish—and to you who have enjoyed in some respects advantages as great and in some respects advantages far greater than most have enjoyed, this call particularly comes—men marked by capability; trained, strong, intelligent, skilful, fitted by your Alma Mater for just such times and just such labors as these.

As you stand measuring call and capability, put undermost the question as to gain, and uppermost the question as to duty. By all means in deciding do what Nature and education has best fitted you to do, and by all means do not force yourselves to do what is not in the line of your talents and tastes for the mere sake of money getting. Men may make millions and yet fail utterly in this life work; men may die poor, and yet have been sublimely successful. Having on high grounds settled what you shall do, the next important question is as to how you shall do that, and what ultimate end you propose to gain for yourself and for others.

The end and aim of all education is nut to merely fit one's self for this work, nor to attain perfection in that work. So far ho may have gone, and yet be but working upon means the end of which has not yet been attained. To be a great mathematician, a great logician, classic, anatomist or chemist, and yet to go no further, is but to play at life and stop short of the real work.

All knowledge in the end is to be applied and is useless until applied. To pursue, a line of work merely to attain dexterity in it is but after all to be an eminent, juggler, dazzling all by his tricks, and benefiting none.

Knowledge must be applied and at the point of application begins its real usefulness. And the objects of the application of knowledge are two—the good of others and the elevation of self.

Place them high up upon the board of aspiration. May it be your aim to so use your energies and bring your powers to bear that the stream of human happiness may flow with a fuller current, and the sum of human good be augmented.

And as to self and the elevation of self, set character as the one living, imperishable good. Wealth soon passes, fame is but a breath, reputation withers at the touch of envy, scientific attainment is bounded by time, and character is the one treasure that abides, the one possession which satisfies—a life result—towering above the ruin of worlds, deathless as eternity."