Page:Convocation Addresses of the Universities of Bombay and Madras.djvu/577

284 suing the same ends as other men. In each and all of those duties let it appear that you are guided by those qualities of mind and heart which genuine culture imparts. To some of you more than to others there will come a large measure of what is called success in life. But to all of you, if you abide by the promises you have made to-day, there will come, whatever else may fail, the sweet consciousness that you have striven with all the strength that was in you to live up to a high ideal. Go forth now to your allotted walks in life, clear in intelligence, resolute in purpose, pure in heart; carrying with you the inspiriting and sustaining thought that you have this day been admitted as citizens of no mean city—as citizens of that catholic Universitas, or republic of letters, which knows no distinctions of race or creed, and on the burgess-roll of which are inscribed in undying fame the names of the wisest and the best of every age and clime.

 

Mr. Chancellor,—I rise by your appointment to exhort the newly made graduates to conduct themselves suitably in the position to which they have attained by means of the degrees conferred upon them. Sir, by your hand.

But, gentlemen, before I proceed to touch on matters, the consideration of which will form the substance of my remarks this evening, it is, I think, well to invite you, to recall for a few minutes the names of those Fellows of this University who have passed away during the year which ends to-day. They laboured loyally and honourably for many years either in the administration of public affairs, or in the pursuit of knowledge, or in the dissemination of higher moral religious and political ideas: and one and all in furtherance of the best interests and happiness of the people of this country. Two of them, Sir Thomas Pycroft and Sir Madava Rau, made for themselves names, as administrators, which will live in the annals of Madras. The former appears in the Act of Incorporation, among the first Fellows of this University, and on him in his capacity of Chief Secretary and subsequently as Member of Council, must have devolved a considerable share in the organisation of public instruction in this Presidency. As an administrator, Madras has seldom, if ever, had his equal: and his unwearied industry, his high sense of responsibility and his fairness of mind have helped to produce these virtues in all 