testamentary endowment, a poor thank-offering to God from his unworthy servant for his many and great mercies to him in his education at that college;' and the words, once * a pupil, always a patron,' making part of the inscription, in which her gratitude recorded the merits of another distinguished magistrate, on the edifice, by the gift of which he had expressed his filial regard, have a truth and an interest for the many bosoms, in which the same sentiment is doubtless devoutly cherished. If we have no wealth to offer her, possibly there are those who have, who desire to have their liberal designs enlightened and guided by our, so far, better discretion, and to whom our upright and fitly spoken word may usefully commend her claims. We do something to possess * The inscription on the front of old Stoughton Hall was as follows; DEO OPT. MAX. BONISQ. LITERIS S. GULIELMUS STOUGHTON ARMIGER PROVINCIÆ SEMPER PATRONUS FECIT ANNO DOMINI 1699. Peirce's History, p. 71. The Court agreed to give 400 £ towards a schoale or Colledge, whearoff 200 £ to bee paid the next yeare, and 200 £ when the worke is finished, and the next Court to appoint wheare and wt building.' Such is part of the record of the General Court of Massachusetts Bay, convened Sept. 25th, (Oct. 6th, N. S.) 1636, and continued thence from day to day by adjournment. In little more than two years, then, the second century from the foundation of the College will be completed. Is it fit, or not, that her nineteen hundred living sons should be thinking of doing honor to that event by some joint expression of their gratitude? Their aggregate means are ample. The wants of the college, in two respects, those of accommodation for its invaluable library, and provision for indigent students, are great. To keep the anniversary by a liberal united effort to advance the object, to which it owes its interest, would make a sensible and memorable novelty among forms of commemoration. her patrons of the reward they coveted, when we increase the number of sharers in the good which they devised; and, understanding their spirit to be that of the sage who said, that, when he did a kind action to one man, he always meant it should be paid to another, for he loved to have benefits go round,' we shall, as opportunity favors, enable young persons, who desire, and would do justice to, the advantages here, which we have enjoyed, to obtain them, by pecuniary assistance, if they need, and we can render it, or by information, counsel, facilities in their studies, or other requisite aid. It may be, that the interests of our college may require to be served in the public councils. If we have a place there, it is true that we shall be acting under obligations, higher than can be deduced from any relations our youth has borne, or favors it has experienced. But, in that sphere, we may well rejoice, that we can use the voice she formed to tell with freedom and affection all her desert, and to plead her cause, with a full heart and to good purpose, as often as we see that her interests and the public interests are the same. Like the Psalmist's wishes for the home of his kindred, our friendly wishes will be breathed for her, in entreaties for a blessing to him who alone can bless. We shall pray for her peace; that they may prosper that love her; that peace may be within her walls, prosperity within her palaces. For our brethren and companions' sakes we shall ask, that peace may be within her. Happy they, once more, who, rendering her the best honor by signal services to the cause of truth, and righteousness, and God, and man, shall authorize her to say, with the proudest exultation of the maternal heart, behold my jewels.' Yes, my brethren; and happy every one of us, who, in an humbler sphere, by the consistent tenor of worthy lives, shall do credit to the rearing which she gave us. If there is any truth in what has been said, I would submit, in a word, that it is not applicable alone to such, as have obtained from this college that general education of the mind, which is to serve for a basis for the further studies of preparation for professional pursuits; but also to those, her children by later adoption, who having chosen their walks in life, have then sought her aid, while they advanced towards them.* They, too, have been domesticated in her family. profited by, and become debtors to, her bounty. Her honor is their honor. Her prosperity must be their care; nor of them is it any more to be supposed, that having received from her what she had to bestow, they should ever go from her door that welcomed them, on their sordid way, and not cast back, while they tread it, a glance of thankfulness and good-will. They have been For those who are not to meet us again in these Sabbath services, the feeling which arises in the mind cannot fail to be a feeling of affectionate in * The number of professional students in the different faculties, in the academical year 1833-4, approached within one fifth to that of undergraduates. terest. We hope that success and honors await them in the world; and we hope that the world, into whose mass they are proceeding, is to find them ambitious of that truest honor and success, which are only to be found in usefulness. But we know that honor and success are not all which they are to look for. They are men; and the common lot of men is to be theirs. We hope that when, hereafter, the bitter experiences of that changing lot shall come to any, they may find the christian spirit of power and of a sound mind,' ' of wisdom and of the fear of the Lord,' present to sustain them in their hour of trial, and the peace of God, which passeth all understanding,' shining like warm sunlight on their hearts, when the cloud has passed away. May God Almighty, 'the God before whom their fathers walked,' 'the God which hath fed them all their lives long unto this day,' go with them on their untried way, keep, and direct, and bless them, and redeem them from all the evil that is in the world. A guiding pillar of fire to them in the glooms of life, may he be too a shading pillar of a cloud to allay the consuming blaze of their untempered prosperity. May he incline them to trace happiness to its untroubled fountain. May he teach them to sanctify and truly to enjoy his gifts, by devoting them to the one great aim of his glory and his children's good. May they prove signal blessings to the friends who have so longed, and perhaps so struggled, to see them coming forward to the honorable tasks of life. Young, may they pro foundly feel the high responsibilities of educated youth. Aged, may they reap the rich reward of well-spent years in the general esteem, and their own approving consciousness. May they be aided to contribute bright names to the catalogue of their country's worthies. May every name stand in golden characters on the Lamb's book of life. Long, and useful, and prosperous, if so it please God, be their earthly service; honored, the place of their last rest; that memory of the just which is blessed, the memory which they leave behind; and the company of the just made perfect, the society where their ripe spirits shall find at last congenial and satisfying good. |