Page:A history of the Michigan state normal school (now Normal college) at Ypsilanti, Michigan, 1849-1899 (IA historyofmichiga00putniala).pdf/25

 exercises and addresses was published in the report of the Board for 1853.

As this report can not be readily obtained a tolerably full outline of the proceedings will be given here. The Superintendent of Public Instruction opened the exercises with the reading of appropriate selections from the Scriptures. The reading was followed by a prayer offered by Rev. Mr. Reed of Ypsilanti, in which he invoked the blessing of God upon those who should be charged with the management of the institution, and upon ‘“‘the many youth that should in the future, crowd these halls,”’ closing with the petition that ‘‘streams of knowledge may flow out from this Institution in all directions, till they shall reach all parts of our State and bless every school, every family, and every child.’’

The following hymn, written for the occasion by D. Bethune Duffield of Detroit, was sung:

Hail: spirit of immortal Truth, Bright emanation from on high, Now o’er our nation’s glowing youth, Extend thy wings of purity,— To thy great purpose now we raise These noble walls, this song of praise.

Here have we built a holy shrine, Where thy true wershippers, may kneel, And seek to know the art divine, Of teaching what thy laws reveal; Pour then thy flood of golden light, And cheer the groping student's sight.

May thy disciples hence depart, Well girded for their toilsome life, And ever as they faint at heart, Sustain them for the ceaseless strife; Give them to feel that by thy power, Bright hopes oft deck the darkest hour.

Teach them our rising youth to lead In Wisdom’s ways, whose paths are peace, And grant as the years succeed, Our numbers here may still increase; Till from these heights bright streams shall flow, To cheer the drooping vales below.