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10 sen her love and courage nor mar her ministrations with harshness. It does not make her less thoughtful for those nearest and dearest to her nor less capable and willing to be a helpmate or a guiding spirit. Instead of dependency it gives her courage and self-respect; instead of pettiness and pettishness, a wider range and firmer grasp; instead of spinning and weaving, a comprehension of the nature and extent of the laws of influence; instead of looms and spindles, a command over mental, moral, and physical powers. In the halcyon days of Rome it is said that women petitioned for permission to ride in chariots, wear purple and deck themselves with jewels. Now, woman asks for broader humanity, the royalty of knowledge, and the jewel of highest culture.

We find imperfections everywhere in nature, and it may be that there are recipients of diplomas who do not illustrate the highest ideals. If such be the case, failure is not due to an excess of education, but to deficient, defective or misdirected training.

Revels in the field of science, and acquaintance with men of genius, are of little avail, unless it be a companionship which suggests subjects of conversation more solid than gossip of society and sensations of the day. Artistic accomplishments are of little avail if they do not reproduce in the life of the student the rythm and purity and grace found in the music and canvas and marble of the old masters.

A thought I would emphasize is, that an aspiration or a preparation is not a life. One is the plans and specification for a building, the other the completed structure. A legend is told of a nymph who, obtaining a spark of fire of the gods, built an altar on a hill, which, like a beacon, sent out its light for miles around, and to which others might come and carry away sparks to kindle hearth-fires or to light other beacons. She also gave to nymphs, initiated in the mysteries of this heavenly flame, torches which they were to carry and whose magic fire, unless extinguished, would emit continuous rays of light converging at her shrine. She watched and ministered to this sacred flame until each home and every hill were lighted with promethean fire.

Forty-two years ago a light was kindled on this mount. For forty-two years the hand of Mrs. Shimer and her associate have kept it burning day and night. Thousands have visited this shrine and carried therefrom vestal sparks which gladdened happy homes. Many more have kindled beacon lights. On each commencement day the guardian of this light has given to certain chosen ones torches and her blessing, and sent them forth to impart to others the same beneficence which they received. From Maine to California, from lake to gulf, these torches have been borne even across oceans and to the islands of the sea. To each one of these wandering ones, "Wherever they may rove or roam, Her blessing, like a line of light, Is on the waters day and night, And, like a beacon, guides them home." To-night it is your privilege to receive a token of approval and a proof of your novitiate. Some of the light and strength and inspiration and nobleness of the life of Mrs. Shimer, her associates and assistants have entered into your lives. You do not depart hence as you came. New thoughts have been instilled, new aspirations awakened, new strength imparted, new visions given of what your life may be. You can not separate and classify these acquisitions and tell who taught you this, who gave you that, but the diploma you receive witnesses your possession. To-night your novitiate ends. Your Alma Mater will watch anxiously, lovingly, the line of light which marks your past. Think not, it makes no matter if your taper vanish. One spark extinguished, leaves darkness in its place. Each new thought which you may awaken, each new aspiration you may enkindle, each new impulse for good you may stimulate, flashes back to her a thrill of joy and makes the fire on her altar burn more brightly.

Each person has two educations. One which he receives from others and one which he gives himself. The latter necessitates a culture of brain and hand and heart worthy the name of higher education. To-night ends your first education. You are now going out on life's great tide To enter a school-room broad and wide, Not where pupils are found by the single score. But where millions are met with millions more And so varied the classes in which they are found, That they range from the lowest to the topmost round. Yet in this school where the myriads meet, There is full many an honest seat. And the highest of these may always he won Not alone by the rich, but the poor man's son, For happily here, true, honest worth Is esteemed more highly than pride of birth. There are noblest themes that the mind can try, And problems not solved by x and y; There are theorems grander and more profound Than Euclid did ever attempt to expound. There are battles to fight, more important by far Than ever were gained by force or in war, There are victories many and dear to be won Without booming of cannon or firing of gun. There is evil to conquer, and vices to shun. There is hatred to banish and love to be won. There is error to vanquish and truth to uphold, And a banner of light o'er the world to unfold. In short, all around you, above and below, There's a broad field of labor wherever you go. And oh! how sublime, how noble the strife, When worthily waged is the battle of life. It is not to the swift, nor yet to the strong, But to him who succeeds in conquering wrong, Shall be given a crown with jewels as bright As stars that emblazon the dark brow of night. And the Teacher who governs this school, day by day, Is He whom suns and planets obey. He'll give you each lesson, He'll hear you recite, He'll keep you by day and He'll keep you by night. He is Teacher of teachers, the truth and the way, The fount of all wisdom, the source of each day. Go forth, then, and serve Him, His rules all obey. Confide in His wisdom and you can not stray. His ways are all perfect, His prizes are sure, And when earth's have all perished, His ever endure.

 A Booklet of Seminary Views has been prepared and is now ready to be mailed for 25 cents a copy. The proceeds are to be used for the Seminary library. Address, Miss F. Turney, Mt. Carroll, Ill.

A patron speaking of her daughter says, "She writes me from the first day till now of the palatable meals from the home farm, garden. orchard. etc. The systematic regularity of everything. She says, 'I shall always look back to this year as the turning point in my life when I caught new inspiration and my ideas and aims were turned in the right direction.'" 