Time passed. Around their chieftain's grave 'Original orthography. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:-Education is the physical, the intellectual, and the moral cultivation and development of man. cles are increased in size and strength by alternate contraction and relaxation; so the brain is enlarged and improved in texture by mental exercise. Its growth can doubtless be accelerated or retarded, during the transition from the tender age of childhood to maturer years; and on its size and quality intellectual capacity in some measure depends. Not that mind results from any combination or conformation of matter, but during their mysterious union, through matter, mind acts and manifests itself in the material world. The developement of the brain, therefore, is an object worth attending to, and one of the ends to be aimed at in intellectual train And not the brain only, but the mind itself, like the body, is enlarged and strengthened by exercise. To beginners in the art of reading, for example, letters are unmeaning marks; laborious is the process of fixing them in the memory; to combine them into syllables and words, and then recognize successively the words of a sentence, as the eye falls upon them, is more difficult still. But in the end the mind becomes so trained by long continued exercise, as to recognize these representatives of sounds, and call up the ideas they stand for more rapidly than the organs of speech can utter them. The body is the instrument with which the minding. works, and the medium through which it manifests itself in this natural world. Without this instrumentality and channel of communication, the highest genius, or the most brilliant intellect, could effect nothing here. The body, therefore, though formed from dust, and unto dust destined to return, yet consecrated as the dwelling place of the immortal spirit, and formed for its use and enjoyment, is an object of no ordinary interest, and worthy of the most watchful care and solicitude. Always feeble and fragile in infancy, it is nevertheless capable of attaining a high degree of comparative strength and perfection, or may be consigned by mismanagement and neglect to imbecility, disease and early decay. Bestowed on us by its maker for wise and important purposes, we are guilty of a breach of trust, and dereliction of duty, if we neglect or abuse it. The fulfilment of certain laws and conditions is necessary to a full and healthful corporeal development. What those laws and conditions are, so far as they have been ascertained, is an interesting study not unknown in this institution; but to examine it in detail, would be foreign to our present purpose. Suffice it to say, there is no mechanism more curious, no truths in the whole range of physical science are more striking, than the anatomy and physiology of the human organisms disclose. Physical education devolves mostly on parents and guardians, and how important that they should understand its principles. But preceptors and teachers are by no means exempt from a care and supervision over the physical well-being of those entrusted to their guidance. Mental energy and activity are immediately dependent on the health and tone of the body. All its functions must be well performed before we are at liberty to make any considerable requisition upon the powers of the mind. A teacher, however, is not expected to mend broken, or make new constitutions for his pupils, but is to take good care not to leave them worse than he finds them. Again in mathematics, the mind is at first puzzled by the simplest equations, but progressing, step by step, to the solution of questions more difficult and complicated, it acquires a power and arrives at results that astonish itself-weighs worlds and systems in its balance, and measures their traceless paths through fields of illimitable space. So exercises in composition are resorted to for the purpose of improvement in expressing and communicating our thoughts. Most persons, when the words of a discourse are presented to their minds, readily connect with them the ideas they represent, but if you call on them to reverse the process and clothe ideas in words, they are at a complete stand, for they are unaccustomed to do so. The young tyro, however, to whom his first essay was a source of sleepless anxiety, by practice and habit may at length become an easy and accomplished writer. For the same object the dead languages are studied. Inasmuch as the fundamental principles of all languages are the same, and can be traced by analogy to a common origin, in analyzing them we analyze our own, and at the same time accustom ourselves to clothe the beautiful and sublime thoughts of the classic authors in our mother tongue. They furnish us with ideas, but we must find out and arrange words to express them. Health is a never-failing fountain of happiness-to disease a frightful source of misery. How many thousands are at this moment withering and dying beneath its blighting touch. A sound constitution is one of the greatest blessings parents can secure to their children; without that their success in life will be doubtful. But, without stopping to dwell upon this subject, let us pass to the consideration of intellectual education. The brain is the organ of the mind. When the muscles of the body are used, an increased flow of blood to them takes place; and when the mind is exercised with thought or emotion, there is likewise an increased flow of blood to the brain. The mus And to become a fluent speaker also, as well as writer, it is highly useful to devote a portion of time the study of the classics. But the classical student should not content himself with the acquisition of words and a command of language onlyhe should gather up as he goes along, the living thoughts, the beauties and treasures with which the ancient writers abound. He will find in them the finest models of poetry, history, and eloquence, that any age has hitherto produced. Their study will sharpen his intellect, improve his sentiments, refine his taste, vivify and expand his imagination. The imagination, by the way, is no mean faculty of the mind, and should be cultivated and unfolded equally with the rest. It wields a creative power ranges at will through the universe-bounding from earth to sun and sun to star-forms new and striking combinations of its own, colors and One grand object of education then, as we see, is to develop the intellectual faculties, to strengthen them and increase their intensity,-to widen their capacities, arouse their energies and excite them to activity. To this end tend the exercises we have glanced at, and a whole round of studies and mental discipline besides. The intellectual powers are susceptible of vast improvement. The philosophy of mind, a knowledge of the constitution and laws which govern its operations, have indicated the mode of training; increasing light has advanced the process, and to what extent it may still be perfected is a topic that engages the attention of the philanthropist and scholar. stand its constitution and principles, and know some. hing of its domestic policy. There are other branches, which, if not equally indispensable, are exceedingly useful and deeply interesting. Poetry, for example, throws around us the most gorgeous creations of mind-leads us captive by its glowing descriptions-transports us on the golden wings of fancy amid thrilling events, through scenes of absorbing interest, enrapturing joy, or overwh Iming sorrow-and yet, ever faithful to nature, adorns truth with the hues of the rainbow, and paints it with the freshness of the morning. History passes in review before us the events of the past-calls up the thoughts, feelings and actions of the generations that have gone before us, their combinations and conflicts, the foundation and decay of empires, and the lives of nations. It lays bare the secret springs of human action, and enables us to study the characters of men,-to compare the present with what has been, and thence infer the future. Another object of intellectual education, is the attainment of knowledge by the instrumentality of Geology reveals the history of the earth as writthe capabilities and activity of mind. The pursuit ten on her surface by the finger of ages, in those far and apprehension of truth are the appropriate busi-back periods,when like the moon she made in solitude ness of intellect-for that end was it fashioned and her countless revolutions round the sun-before the adapted, for that is it developed and strengthened, trees were planted, or the green herbs brought forthto that are its highest capacities and mightiest enerwhen her hills were barren, and no living thing gies to be directed. dwelt in her valleys-when man himself was among the things that were yet to be. It reveals to us too, the mighty changes that have since intervened on our planet, the progress of creation from the lowest vegetable and meanest reptile, up to immortal man, the crowning work and connecting link between the earth and the heavens. And thent the absorbing question comes up-has creative power exhausted its energies, if not, what new or more perfect creations are to start forth in ages to come? And the fierce conflicts raging between truth and error in the world of thought, render it necessary to clothe the intellect in all the panoply of its brightest and strongest armor. They are more furious and appalling than the struggles and bellowings of earthquakes, or the rush and roar of waters. The introduction of christianity-the promulgation of the doctrines of American liberty-the violent throes and explosions, and the social revolutions of Europe, are specimens of great mental upheavings and convulsions, that have successively shaken the nations of the earth. Astronomy transports us across the immeasurable abyss of space, finding new worlds whose light had In all ages the progress of truth has been slow and never fallen on the vision of mortal eyes, and notes difficult, and too often has its course been marked their motions and periods, as they wheel in immense with devastation and blood. But like a slowly rising orbits round our common centre-penetrates the atar, it grows brighter and brighter, as it ascends dim nebula of the distant borders of the universe, towards the meridian, and eheds its silver beams resolving them into galaxies of suns, with millions through the realms of mental night. In proportion of dependent systems circling round them, peopled to its diffusion in the world of mind, has ever been by imagination with countless myriads of unknown the amelioration of the condition of mankind.-intelligencies, and all together moving onward in Christianity itself is a ray of divine light, shot down from the sun of truth, through the gloom and thick darkness that enveloped a lost and fallen being, to guide him back to the pearly gates of Paradise.Truth is the light of Heaven, ever tinging with the rainbow of hope the gushing waters of life, as they leap and sparkle in its beams. Falsehood is the darkness of hell, that shrouds its inmates in the folds of intellectual night, and wraps them in the black pall of despair! But though the progress of truth has been slow and difficult, and its conflicts with error severe, vast stores of knowledge have been accumulated, sufficient to occupy the time and labors of the student, and employ his mental energies for years in the work of their appropriation. There are some branches of study, however, more necessary than others. Reading, writing, and the fundamental rules of arithmetic, are indispensible to all. Grammar, geography and physiology, are scarcely less so. And in a country where almost every man exercises the elective franchise and takes part in the government, he should at least under a grand concert of inconceivable harmony. If astronomy makes known the laws that govern stars and systems in their course, chemistry comes down to the minutest atoms that make up the great masses of matter-discovers that amid seeming confusion, they are ever combined in definite proportions according to unvarying mathematical laws, and a few simple substances make up the infinite variety of the stupendous whole. Natural philosophy unfolds the laws and proper. perties of matter in general, multiplying the agencies subject to our control-enabling us to outstrip the winds in speed, and transmit our thoughts on the veritable wings of the lightning. By it the corners of the earth have been brought together, and distant nations into one family and brotherhood; the pursuits of men and the face of society have been changed. Mental philosophy and psychology disclose to us something of the nature and constitution of that spiritual being within us, that is destined to live on, when the habitation in which it now dwells has become a mouldering ruin, interesting, like the dust and ashes of Thebes or Babylon, only for the life it once contained. explore, and uncover their buried treasures and bring to light their gold and pearls, their sparkling diamonds and their costly jewels. well, and may you reap abundant harvests as the reward of your labors. Ophir or Golconda, has Theology, the science of sciences, reveals the neither shining ores nor precious gems, like the Supreme Intelligence-Fountain of life and light-hidden wealth of the mines which you are about to First cause of causes-source and centre of Being: communicates the living Word of the Infinite Creator to his finite creatures, and makes known their final destiny: opens a new world, more exalted spheres, and unending states of being beyond the shores of time, and without the realms of space, where choirs of shining cherubim and starry seraphim peal their hymns of joy and anthems of praise around the flaming throne of the Eternal One. But the intellect, notwithstanding its dignity and the importance of its attainments is subordinate in rank to the moral sentiments and affections. The understanding guides the moral sense in the separation of right and wrong, and hence the light of truth has been so potent in improving the conduct and social condition of men; but it is the state of our affections and desires that impels us to do good or evil. What we most love, that we will, often in the face of the clearest light; and too often are our understandings darkened and obscured by the perverseness of the moral feelings. Some profess not to be responsible for their faith, inasmuch as belief they say, is an involuntary act of mind; but let me tell them, it is more the result of their moral state than of anything else. appropriate them to his use, by such means as he has at command. The votary of intemperance, is sure his favorite beverage is a portion of heaven's bounty bestowed upon man which it would be well nigh in Astonishing and almost incomprehensible has been the progress of the present century, and the past,-new discoveries are continually developing, and science increases in depth, in vastness and splendor, till the human mind is dazzled, bewildered and lost in the flood of light that bursts on its vision. But past revelations are as nothing compared with those which are to come. The intellects of the thousand millions of inhabitants that people this globe, sharpened by use, stimulated by success, and The man who earnestly covets the things of othaided by what they have already acquired, are pre-ers, reasons to convince himself it would be right to paring for mightier conquests, and their march is ever resistlessly onward. Men have as yet but just approached the portals of the temple of science, and gathered only a few scattered rays of the streams of light that flash on the untold treasures within.-gratitude to slight. When suffering humanity apCould the years of our pilgrimage be prolonged a century or two, we should be amazed at the startling disclosures which will be made in that period; and they will be but the prelude to discoveries more wonderful still that are to come after them. To the researches and acquisitions of mind there is no end. The highest archangel in the course of an eternal existence, will never come to a period where he has compassed all knowledge, and there is nothing more to know. The thought would be appalling and overwhelm him with serrow. Intellect, human or seraphic, will never reach a point beyond which it can go no farther. And among all the busy avocations of this life, there is none higher or more dignified than the pursuit of knowledge. It is doubtless a chief employment of higher intelligences than ours, who devote to it the superior powers of their lofty intellects. And its pursuit is no less delightful than useful. True, the paths are often steep and difficult, but beside them, from crystal fountains flow the delicious pleasures of taste, their borders are ever fragrant and blooming with the flowers of imagination, and the music of poetry and eloquence is continually breaking on the ear of the traveller to beguile the hours and cheer him in the way. Truth elevates, expands and purifies the soul. The young, who have yet a few of the precious hours of the morning of existence remaining, if they are wise, will forego trifling pleasures, and devote themselves to its attainment. It will increase the usefulness and happiness of their noon-time of life, and sweeten the evening of their days. You who are the professed votaries of truth in this institution consecrated to the science of instruction, having spared no effort I trust to strengthen and enlarge your own capacities, and acquire rich stores of knowledge are about to become apostles of that science, and go forth to sow broadcast the seeds of truth over the fertile fields of the mental world. They will spring up, and be it yours to water the young and tender plants, to tend and nurture them peals to the worldly a thousand considerations offer against lending a listening ear, and hanger and distress are permitted to do their work unmolested. Thus the still small voice of conscience is quieted, and the wicked make peace with themselves. So the man who loves himself and the world above all things, is proud, covetous, envious, hard-hearted or sensual, is wholly incapable of assenting to the pure. and holy doctrines of Christianity-they are throughout the direct antagonisms of his moral nature, the enemies of his most cherished desires and darl ng propensities, and he cannot believe them unless his whole moral constitution is regenerated and changed. There is no tuer saying, than that" men love darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil." The understanding is but the instrument of the will, with which it works out its good or evil ends. The proper cultivation of the moral sentiments therefore, is necessary to a well-balanced mind and the successful pursuit of truth. This is the reason why so many men of otherwise powerful intellects, are deluded by follies and commit such glaring errors. The dispositions and feelings of the young are to be cultivated, not merely by the communication of cold precepts of moral philosophy, but also by examples of virtue and kindness; by teaching them to practice in their daily intercourse as citizens of their little republics, sincerity and justice, gentleness and benevolence towards each other, to bridle their evil passions and restrain their vicious propensities, for it is more by use and exercise than by rules, that their moral natures are developed. The sweet affections should be carefully nurtured and cherished, and the pupil chained to his duty by the winning bonds of love. There are some indeed, so vicious that they can be restrained only through their fears, but the number is small, and such moral deformity is entitled to our pity along with our condemnation. There are few natures so depraved as to be entire ly insensible to kindness. As moral is decidedly more important than intel lectual training, parents and teachers cannot bestow too much attention on the moral education of those dear objects committed to their charge. They will prove to be blessings or bitter curses, in after years, to those who gave them birth, in proportion as the good or evil ultimately preponderates in their characters. The endowments and acquirements of intellect will possess only a negative value, if they become the instruments of a wicked and depraved will. ter of death, and then bloom and bear anew in endless succession, throughout the mingled springs and autumns of eternity. Think not that your sphere is lowly, or your vocation humble; you are to mould and fashion the plastic minds of youth just entering upon the career of existence, to fit them for usefulness and the discharge of their duties here, and prepare them for a higher destiny hereafter. A more dignified or exalted profession, or one more important in its results cannot be conceived. We have said the instructor of youth should be thoroughly educated, and we may add, that he should be specially educated and prepared for the great work in which he is to engage. To that end the munificence of the State has founded this seminary for teachers, and is rearing yonder noble structure for its use and occupation; to that end these learned professors and preceptors have been provided, and you were called from your several homes to listen to their instructions. We trust the time may come when similar institutions shall be established in other parts of the State, and the present crying want of more qualified and accomplished teachers for our common schools, shall cease to be felt; when common schools academies and colleges, united as they are in interest, shall be elevated together, and each tread closely upon the heels of the other; when the blessings of a better, a higher and more liberal education shall be diffused abroad, and the science of teaching be ranked, as it deserves to be, among the most honorable and useful of all. Then shall the benefits of this institution be appreciated and the wisdom of its founders acknowledged. Experimental in its inception, its success in practice has fulfilled the expectations of those who gave it birth, and have watched over and cherished it as their offspring. And to the future teachers themselves, let me address a word on this subject. I am not now address ing myself to the material bodies that sit before me, but to the immortal minds that are beaming through them. Those minds are made up of thoughts and feelings. Every good and every evil thought or affection, from earliest infancy to the hour of dissolution is indelibly written with a pen of fire, in burning characters upon the living tablets of your souls, and their record to each one of you will constitute your book of life and fix your eternal destiny. If your inward emotions and desires are evil, and your thoughts and imaginings are dark and depraved, unless your moral nature is changed, they will increase in intensity, and bear you irresistibly onward with constantly increasing velocity throughout your lives, and throughout the unending ages that succeed them, to deeper and -deeper ruin. Death, which is but the shuffling off this mortal coil, the uncovering and disenthralment of the deathless spirit or real man, will not change his nature. As well might we expect Afric's burning sun to whiten the Ethiopian's skin. "As the tree faileth so it lieth," and true as a magnet to the poles, or a system to its centre, like seeks and revolves around its like, and each its own forever. Here in this earthly tabernacle, each seeks the society of companions whose thoughts and feelings are congenial to his own. The intercourse of the sensual is with the gross and vile, the intemperate hold their drunken orgies and revel together, robbers congregate in dens and thieves form societies. The union of the just is delightful only to themselves, and they naturally attract and enjoy each other. In the train of evil follows its invariable penalty, misery; and every one is the Nearly a thousand teachers have been educated author of his own wretchedness. Parents and at this institute. Established now upon a permateachers may have instructed and persuaded by pre- nent basis as the parent of common schools, its incept and example too, but it rests with you to culti-fluence is destined to be yet more widely and deepvate and exercise the nobler sentiments, the better feelings and desires implanted in your bosoms, or to unbridle and let loose your evil passions and propen sities. Now is your seed tine, such as you sow shall you reap. However abundant your intellectual harvest may be, it will be of little value if bound up with tares and thistles. The members of its able and efficient board of instruction, have already won the confidence of the community, besides being recompensed for their unremitting exertions and toil, by marked success in their profession, and the high satisfaction of having been eminently useful to their constituents. ly impressed upon those primary seminaries, and through them to elevate the character and intelligence of the great mass of our citizens. As the endurance of our free constitution, depends upon the cultivation and morals of the people, the State cannot appropriate a liberal portion of its revenues to a better purpose, than the support of such institutions as this, and providing a sufficient number of competent and qualified teachers to instruct the youth of our land. Finally the teacher of others needs to be thoroughly educated, physically, intellectually and morally. He should have a sound mind, well cultivated and endowed, in a sound body, controlled by well regulated desires and pure and virtuous affec- FELLOW STUDENTS:-Another term has passed, tions. You are about to fulfil the duties of a high and we have met to exchange the adieus of the and noble calling, to give form and direction to the parting hour. As one of your number I am not a budding thoughts and affections of a rising genera- stranger to the emotions which this hour awakens, tion. You are about to enter upon a new, a pleas- nor am I unconscious of my inability to do justice ing, and an interesting work-the cultivation of to your feelings, in assuming to be your representagardens of flowers, tulips, roses and lillies, hya- tive, and the exponent of your kind wishes towards cinths, japonicas and eglantines, sweet with the those from whom we are about to separate. Enfragrance of an immortal bloom-the rearing of or- gaged as we are in the same field of preparation for chards of fruit trees, apples, olives and pomegran- the responsible duty of training the immortal mind, ates, nectarines, citrons and oranges, that are to ri- bound together by the cords of common interest and pen their golden clusters in the approaching autumn common sympathy, endeared to each other by eveof life, shed their leaves before the frosts and win-ry consideration which a long and agreeable friend ship can render sacred, it is but natural that such its definition must be revised, corrected, and promulan occasion should call forth reflections which words gated to the world; teachers must know, feel and act can but feebly express. upon it, and with the true missionary spirit, make it You will therefore pardon me, if waiving the in-known and believed of all men. It has been often dulgence of these reflections, I make a few remarks said, and truly, that "as the teacher so is the school." on the importanee of the profession to which we have To this axiom might with propriety be added, "and pledged our best services, the means of elevating that as is the school, so is the sentiment of the commuprofession to its proper standing, and our relations nity in which it exists." If the school be truly a to it as graduates of this institution. accomplish will generally be properly appreciated; school, the importance of the ends it is designed to but if it fail in the accomplishment of the work assigned it, lukewarmness in regard to the great and true object to be attained, is the direct consequence. It will hence be seen, that the teacher is responsible in a great degree for the proper appreciation by the public mind of the real ends and aims of education; that if the importance of his profession is to be generally felt and acknowledged, it will be through his instrumentality, through his persuasive teachings of the great fundamental truth we have hastily endeavored to develope. Education as too frequently defined, would seem to imply the mere acquisition of facts, the furnishing of the mental store house with just enough of knowledge to enable its possessor to count his dollars, to shield him from the imposition of his neighbors, to speak and write respectably his mother tongue; in short, to get through the world smoothly and reputably. This definition is as superficial as it is unworthy of our adoption. To the too general acquiescence in its correctness, and comprehensiveness, is attributable the low state of schools, the dilapidation of school houses, the incompetency of teachers, the superficial character of their instruction, and the indifference of community respecting the great question which most vitally concerns it, the thorough and true education of its younger members. It is this that has degraded one of the noblest professiona to the mere handicraft of a pedant, it is this that has given to the dignified avocation of the instructor, the odious title of school keeping that has stigmatised even the faithful, devoted, self sacrificing teacher, with the sneering epithet of pedagogue and school master. In short, the reason that the world is accustomed to ridicule the teacher, to cast obloquy upon his calling, to make himself and his profession a reproach and a by-word, is, because it too lightly regards the momentous interests entrusted to It underrates the importance of the work given him to do. It seems not to know that man hath an his care. "Intellectual being, Searching out the eternal mind," and that education truly signifies the full, judicious and harmonious development of this mysterious soul within. Assuming this as the true definition of education, it reveals to us in all its magnitude, the importance of the work to which the teacher aspires, and points out most clearly the means to be used in raising it to that degree of consideration which its importance demands. To train up a child fn the way he should go, to fit him for eminent usefulnces and respectability, to mould the habits, social, physical, intellectual and moral, to establish a character which shall make the honest man, "the noblest work of God" and so far as his influence and example extend, to qualify him for that higher grade of being, that ultimatum of man's toils and hopes, is then the work that is given the teacher to do. This is that which gives the profession its true dignity, and exalts it above all mere mercenary considerations. When, therefore, the world comes to learn and act upon this definition, then will the office of the instructor be respected, and he who truly fills it, be elevated to his proper position in its regards. It hence becomes a question, fellow students, "What can be done to give to this vocation its proper standing?" The answer is obvious, and its import you have doubless anticipated. Education must be interpreted according to its true meaning; | But how shall he be made sufficient for these ، That harp whose tones, whose living tories He must be afforded those advantages so common aid. Semi our profession is to be raised to its proper standard; Thus, fellow students, does it appear to me that by making known and felt the true import of the term' educate'; by sending forth spirits thoroughly furnished for their work. Are question home to our hearts, "are we after having It then becomes us to inquire and to press the this our beloved institution offers, are we thoroughso long enjoyed the facilities for improvement which ly impressed with the magnitude of the responsibili ties which are so soon to devolve upon us? our minds well stored with the rich treasures which science has here so profusely held before us? and above all, are we conscious that the teachers spirit departed, is ours? The expectations of the friends so earnestly invoked upon us by one not long since of sound education, the hopes of the founders, the directors, and the liberal supporters of this seminary, require that we should examine ourselves, and be able fully and satisfactorily to answer by the fruits our labors may yield, these, to us, momentous ques tions. Let us then search and know what manner of spirit we are of; let us endeavor to profit well by the instruction we have here received, by the words of wisdom which have here been spoken; and now |