Valedictory Address

“The Valedictory.”The University Monthly 20, 8 (May 1901): 197-201. (UA Case 68, Box 1)

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

I have the honor of offering a few remarks on behalf of the Graduating Class of this year, 1901. To this important duty on the present occasion more than ordinary honor is attached, for not only are we the first class of this century to graduate from this University, but the close of the old, and the beginning of the new century have been marked by some very important events of which I am privileged to speak. The Class of 1901 entered U. N. B. in October '97 with a membership of seventeen well-ordered and hopeful students. From time to time during the Freshman and Sophomore years eight recruits were enlisted, but so severe have been our losses that at the beginning of the Senior year eight only remained, and among the missing was the only lady member of the Class. (Miserabile dictu!)

Of our seventeen absent members I will be able to say little. Suffice it to remark that neither the College nor the course is in any way responsible for their absence. One we recall with the deepest regret, Robert Starkie, who died on Dec. 20, 1899.

It would be difficult to describe our educational inclinations as a class, for no two of us have taken exactly the same course. And yet we agree in principle. Class standing at Encaenia is a matter of no importance. One day is but a brief period, we hope, compared with the rest of life; and Encaenia classification is arbitrary, somewhat different from the ranking principles of a world of practical usefulness. The student should independently select a course best suited to his case, that he may not only serve his own best interests, but that he may reflect the greatest credit on the institution of which he is a graduate.

While I think it not too severe criticism to say that very few of us have imperiled our health with overstudy, yet there are some appendages to the life of a college man, which I think it not complimentary to say we have not altogether neglected. No man need attempt to stay here without some close application—it would be sad if he could; but the man who tries to shirk his duty to college societies and college affairs generally should be drummed out at short notice. One of the most onerous duties outside the curriculum is the management of the UNIVERSITY MONTHLY, which, unlike so many college journals, is almost entirely the work of the undergraduates. This year, in addition to the regular issues, free copies containing the regulations and other information concerning the College, were sent to all the larger schools in the Province. On completing their work, our editors have the assurance, not only of friends here, but from abroad, that the MONTHLY has easily retained its high standing among college publications.

College Societies, too, have been vigorous. The Literary and Debating Society has seen a more than usually successful year. From a greater publicity of discussions an increased amount of benefit has been derived by the students. Attendance at this Society seems to be very largely a matter of habit, and we believe might well be compulsory, at least in the Fresh man year.

Though many of us lack some qualifications essential to an active member of the Glee Club, none could possibly enjoy their entertainments better than we; and the College Orchestra organized under their auspices is to be congratulated.

A startling departure came in the department of athletics. On November 1st, 1900, the U. N. B. Foot-ball Team scored a decisive victory at Memramcook—but suffered a slight reverse the following day at Sackville. The sports this year were good all around, and some improvements were made in our already very creditable list of records.

Although we cannot claim any particular credit for the showing of the past year, we do feel a certain satisfaction, as the Senior Class are largely held responsible for failure.

As a class we have always had a disadvantage in numbers, but in part compensation we have placed implicit reliance in the strength of unity. The principle of rank by classes is by far the best organization for this College. From it there arises neither personal dispute nor favoritism, neither within the class nor in dealing with others.

Gentlemen, members of the Faculty, for as such we address you and not as individuals we desire now to express our appreciation of the treatment you have extended to us.

Not so much do we refer to your patient and painstaking assistance in our studies, as to the kindly and courteous manner in which you have discussed the various questions that have come up at our conferences with you. And gentlemen, we trust that those feelings, not only as exist between Professor and student, but between friend and friend, will remain undisturbed after our attendance at College is ended.

Fellow students, to you we may be able to say little that you do not already know; but we would take this opportunity to thank you for the very liberal support with which you have favored us, especially during our Senior year, and fully convinced that nothing will be neglected by you, we hope you each in turn will have a like support from your Juniors.

One of the mistakes we hope none will make is to take the advantage or rather the disadvantage of exemptions. If we cannot substantiate this advice from our own example, we surely can from sad experience. Three only of our number have taken a full four years’ course. Better to lose your year if you have not attended lectures than to hold it merely in name.

While, unfortunately, exemptions may be really necessary in some cases, students should be encouraged to take the full course. But, under a present regulation, one of our most valuable scholarships is awarded on non-attendance or demerit. For what is it to say that a scholarship is to be awarded on the Senior Matriculation excluding those who have passed the Junior, but to offer a premium on failure to pass the Junior Matriculation or to favor a three years’ course? We commend this important matter to the tender care of justice and wisdom.

Alma Mater, it affords us very much pleasure to consider your present condition of unqualified peace and prosperity. But this has not come even within our memory, before, threatening storms have been encountered and overcome. The event of the fall of '99 brought about a great internal change. Now at a distance of nearly two years from the scene, we are concerned not with those who played a part, nor with the event itself, but with the results; and of these, we “standing at the parting of the ways,” claim we may fairly judge.

To the unpracticed ear what could be more agreeable than a proclamation of unconditional equal rights and privileges? But before this is established one of two results must be attained. Either your verdant sons, fresh from the village or town High School, must be exalted to the dignity of Seniors, or your Seniors reduced to Freshmen.

Less than the experience of one hundred years should have shown that privileges should entail responsibilities; and further, that duties and responsibilities will not be long accepted without the authority which the execution of these duties require Your “Novi Homines” are not competent to care for your societies; they must be largely entrusted to Seniors. But how to powerless Seniors? We trust those in-definable “personal liberties of Freshmen” will never take away the imperative privileges of the higher classes.

Neither will you be led away by systems at other Institutions without carefully weighing and comparing your conditions with theirs.

A year ago we were celebrating with you the festival of your Centenary. A wide and deep interest in your welfare attracted guests not only from many Institutions of Canada, but from the United States, and the British Isles. The Centennial celebration is past, the memory of it will live long after the last surviving witness. But such an event could not merely please the eye, or gratify a desire to honor your past career. Great results are for the present and extend far into the future.

But a short time before, seeming almost friendless and in a manner isolated from this very Province, that event disclosed your real character and removed many a prejudice. Abroad, your circle of friends was widened, and affiliations were effected, or at least hastened.

In a word, it has assisted in establishing a source and an outlet for students. May it not be attributed to this, that the present Freshman Class is not only the largest but the most widely representative in your history, and for the first time bringing the total enrolment above one hundred students? And some of our class, we are pleased to learn, have decided to accept those privileges which were extended at the Centennial to graduates of U. N. B.

It will be one year to-morrow since the science building began “its form in fact.” On that day the cornerstone was laid with appropriate ceremony, and since that date there has grown up at the border of the grove, a structure admitted to be one of the best of its kind in America.

For a long time this building had existed as something to be earnestly hoped for, a necessary complement to the one already in existence. That the movement had a widespread sympathy may be judged from the very lengthy list of influential names who subscribed to its benefit. Further, there was at hand a man amply capable and energetic to cope with the difficulties of the undertaking, a man willing to devote his time and labor to the cause of science—Prof. Dixon.

The building contains lecture-rooms for engineering, chemistry and physics. One could scarcely leave such rooms without wishing that his course could recommence. The upper floor in de- voted entirely to the work of engineering.

In the basement are the dynamo room (communicating directly with the physical laboratory overhead), the engineering laboratory, the current laboratory. Here might be mentioned among the more rare apparatus, a steel tester built specially for the University, and driven by a Robb-Armstrong engine, which may also be used to drive the dynamo for experimental work in thermodynamics. This machine and the cement tester will be used to test the iron, steel and cement user by the Public Works Department of New Brunswick.

A full description of the building would be impossible here. But this Institution will afford the means of satisfying a long felt want, the supplying of that knowledge which is as essential in this country as is professional training. Both are necessary, now we may have both.

If we of 1901 had not all the advantages which will be placed at the disposal of succeeding classes, we may at least boast of having witnessed the formal opening of the building which took place a few weeks ago. On that occasion again we had evidence of the prestige of U. N. B. abroad; for there was present Dr. Loudon, President of the University of Toronto, a foremost authority on technical education. Another interesting feature in connection with the opening was the announcement by Dr. Pugsley that a bill would be introduced into the Legislature to provide the pecuniary aid which had been asked. This Act not only practically cleared the building, but it showed that the work of the University is obtaining more just recognition.

Citizens of Fredericton, to you we are indebted for numerous acts of kindness, both to us personally and to our College. Perhaps we should mention particularly the merchants and others who have been so generous, but the town at large have not been backward in their support of our Societies. We have always been pleased to see a full house attend the sittings of court and parliament in the room where we are now assembled. And now for the benefit your presence has conferred upon us, for all the favors we have received from you, we can but return our most hearty thanks.

Happiness may come largely from within, yet who could fail to enjoy the pleasing surroundings and the exciting incidents which have attended our past four years. Men may go to college to find out how little it amounts to, but they also find there is far more in the course than what is laid down in the calendar or asked on examination day. The inexperienced learn to listen and not prescribe. Hollowness is repressed by daily encounter with equate or superiors. Most valuable suggestions come from the same source Then the College associations,—there is something in common in the make-up of every U. N. B. student. And this is true not only of fellow-students but also of the average fellow-graduate. There is certainly “no place like College.” -Still, college life is not the whole of life. Hard though at first it seems to interrupt what has become a mode of life, and the many friendships that surround us, yet it is not till this juncture is reached that the mind fully realizes what the true nature of the environment and the depth of our friendships has been.

“Friend after friend departs,
Who hath not lost a friend?
There is no union here of hearts
That hath not here an end.”

The class of 1901 has run its natural course, and now to Faculty, Fellow students, Alma Mater, and Citizens of Fredericton, we bid fare-well.
“Farewell! you cannot teach us to forget.”