University of Mississippi - Ole Miss Yearbook (Oxford, MS)

Page 27 text:

XX X YN f X 4 Sf. J If gi I x . 55 z l': -v K ,.,-1' ,I 4

Page 26 text:

tolerance. If we are secure in the truth of our political and religious beliefs, we can generously afford to give and take in a kindly spirit of charity and common sense, instead of assuming that necessarily and by divine decree wis- dom will die with us. By their fruits ye shall know them, ought to be our University principle and practice. This University reflects the prevailing senti- ment of her mistress, the State, and is, therefore, orthodox and Southern 3 but mu t she therefore fail to be American and Chris- tian? Now, true Christianity and true nationality are toler- ant and charitable. May we always live up to the noble maxim: ln essentials, unity: in non-essentials, libertyg in all things, charity. The laws of nature and the teachings of Christ alike belong to God- they are essentials. But ec- clesiastical dogmas, however worthy and widespread, and partisan dogmas, however traditional and bred-in-the-bone, are not essential enough to make us insist on intellectual in-breeding instead of intellectual cross-fertilization. We shall be iight in prohibiting the inculcation of what our people regard as political and religious heresyg but we shall be wrong in calling a Unitarian an atheist or in treating a National N Republican as an outcast. These last few sentences are but the individual expression of the writer of this article, but they nevertheless ring true to the key-note of real university spirit everywhere. Our University ought to encourage the investigational spirit. We belong to our age and nation as well as to Mississippi. We must keep in the current, for lVlississippi's sake, if for no other reason. If our blood is as potent as we think it is, let us show what red blood can do and not talk too much about our blue blood. There are scientific, social and commercial prob- lems that we, as a people, are well fitted to work on. And we are loath to believe that there is any class of scientific problems, however psychological, or however metaphysical, that our strong-brained folk can not investigate success- fully. A university without investigation is no university at all, the modems tell us. The most important leaders in modern thought and practice are often to be found in the ranks of scientific investigators. Shall we not do our part in re-thinking the thoughts of God in nature? - , 20

Page 28 text:

Already these things have partly come, and are surely coming in their fulness. Let them come as quickly as they should-not too quickly, not pre- tentiously and superhcially, but quietly, soberly, in God's good time. The future is rosy with hope. Indeed, we may say without exaggeration, that the University has undergone a new birth. With ability in guidance, strength and practicality in execution, unity of spirit, co- operation and loyalty on the part of all, we may well hope in the near future to hear the people of the State say with just and kindly pride: Our University is a great and in- dispensable public servant. God bless her! And what sort of human product shall this great spirit- ual machine turn out? This: Christian gentlemen who are not partisan but patriotic, not merely denominational but religious, not intolerant but truth-seeking, not privilege-seeking but righteous, not mammon-worshipping but practical, not faddy nor pedantic but scholarly. Hflrmis el Virtutef' THOMAS PEARCE BAILEY.