Page:Convocation Addresses of the Universities of Bombay and Madras.djvu/174

 These impressions would surely be deepened and intensified should our countrymen but look for a while upon this present spectacle. The very hall in which we are assembled is the gift of a Native donor—a Parsee. The neighbouring library and tower are due to the munificence of a Hindu, who in his days of great prosperity showed his countrymen how wealth could be worthily expended, alone at that time, almost like Vespasian, amongst the Emperors, showing himself improved by his great fortune. I shrank from his acquaintance then, but often since have I admired the cheerful stoicism with which he has borne a reverse of fortune and harder lot. Then, apart from the building, Mr. Chancellor, I invite you to look at this assembly. A foreigner not long ago, a man of great acuteness and observation, told me that he had seen many striking things in India, but what had struck him most was the working of this University. "Here," he said, "I find a liberality and single-minded pursuit of knowledge to which nearly all Continental Universities in Europe are strangers." On a Board of Examiners one finds on his right hand a Jesuit and on his left a Presbyterian Minister. Facing him are a Parsi and a Jew. Amongst them all a common spirit prevails, of disinterested zeal in diffusing the light of science. Men of every race and creed unite without chicane in the simple furtherance of learning. It is a glorious work of English principles and wisdom. The teaching by which our young members are trained is equally single-minded and equally free. There is no educational police, no Government scheme of morality or politics to hamper the intellectual action and the influence of our Professors. They throw their whole energies into their work and under such teachers as Principal Words- worth our students learn how to the burghers of the Middle Ages in Europe their clock tower was the centre and the symbol of their civic life. They look up to the noble tower that rises over this group of buildings and resolve that, gathering round this centre of their new intellectual being and aspirations, there shall for them too be a civic life, and an effort to win for India an honourable place in the society of nations. Such is our University and such is the University life in India. It is only on these grounds that we could venture to ask so distinguished a man as Lord Ripon to accept the humble tribute we offer him. Montesquieu said, "I don't like small honours; they seem to fix your position and measure your merits too exactly." And so it were no wonder if Lord Ripon, who has held the greatest office of State, and gained the highest tokens of approval from his Sovereign, had declined the compliment we desire to confer. But when we take up, not without warrant, a representative