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experiments of the new day。 And always their college motto meets the
eyes that are raised to its penetrating message； 〃Not to be ministered unto；
but to minister。〃 How many a young heart has loyally responded； 〃And to
give life a ransom for many。〃 That is the 〃Wellesley spirit；〃 and the same
sweet spirit of devout service has gone forth from all our college halls。 In
any of them one may catch the echo of Whittier's noble psalm；
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WHY GO TO COLLEGE？
〃O Lord and Master of us all Whate'er our name or sign； We own Thy
sway； we hear Thy call； We test our lives by Thine。〃
That is the supreme test of life；its consecrated serviceableness。 The
Master of Balliol was right； the brave men and women who founded our
schools and colleges were not wrong。 〃For Christ and the Church〃
universities were set up in the wilderness of New England； for the large
service of the State they have been founded and maintained at public cost
in every section of the country where men have settled； from the
Alleghanies across the prairies and Rocky Mountains down to the Golden
Gate。 Founded primarily as seats of learning； their techers have been not
only scientists and linguists； philosophers and historians； but men and
women of holy purposes； sound patriotism； courageous convictions；
refined and noble tastes。 Set as these teachers have been upon a hill； their
light has at no period of our country's history been hid。 They have formed
a large factor in our civilization； and in their own beautiful characters have
continually shown us how to combine religion and life； the ideal and
practical； the human and the divine。
Such are some of the larger influences to be had from college life。 It is
true all the good gifts I have named may be secured without the aid of the
college。 We all know young men and women who have had no college
training； who are as cultivated； rational； resourceful； and happy as any
people we know； who excel in every one of these particulars the college
graduates about them。 I believe they often bitterly regret the lack of a
college education。 And we see young men and women going through
college deaf and blind to their great chances there； and afterwards
curiously careless and wasteful of the best things in life。 While all this is
true； it is true too that to the open…minded and ambitious boy or girl of
moderate health； ability； self…control； and studiousness； a college course
offers the most attractive； easy； and probable way of securing happiness
and health； good friends and high ideals； permanent interests of a noble
kind； and large capacity for usefulness in the world。 It has been well said
that the ability to see great things large and little things small is the final
test of education。 The foes of life； especially of women's lives； are caprice；
wearisome incapacity and petty judgments。 From these oppressive foes we
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WHY GO TO COLLEGE？
long to escape to the rule of right reason； where all things are possible； and
life becomes a glory instead of a grind。 No college； with the best teachers
and collections in the world； can by its own power impart all this to any
woman。 But if one has set her face in that direction； where else can she
find so many hands reached out to help； so many encouraging voices in
the air； so many favoring influences filling the days and nights？
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