Hampden Sydney College - Kaleidoscope Yearbook (Hampden Sydney, VA)

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MORTON HALL AND WATKINS MEMORIAL TOWER

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A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT RECEIVED, a few days ago, a letter from a recent graduate of Hampden-Sydney, in which he said that he would always be grateful to the College because its teachings had revo- lutionized his outlook on life, and he added that such was the effect of the College on him despite the unlovely things which showed themselves in some of the student life. I have often said that one of the greatest benefits to be gained here is the opportunity given for a good training in citizenship in the democracy to which our country is rapidly com- ing: where each citizen is to an increasing extent a law unto himself. In the book of judges we read of a similar experiment among the people of Israel, when there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes: and the experiment eventuated in a miserable failure, because the majority of the citizens of that nation, declining to have either God or man as a standard of authority, chose-willed-to follow their selfish desires, regardless of proper standards. Whether the experiment will succeed or fail in this country is beside the point. What is strictly to the point is whether each one of us shall choose-will-to uphold every right standard in private and public life, or choose-will-to disregard these standards. We have at Hampden-Sydney each year 350 students, and we need 350 policemen, or guardians of the law, to see that the 350 students obey every law of proper conduct, but we expect each of the 350 students to be his own policeman, or guardian, for in this way, and in this way alone, is the best training for life. The unlovely things in college life: Let each student ask himself, Have I chosen any unlovely thing as a part of my life? If he has, he is to that extent a failure. It is often asked, What is a proper standard? Have not many of the old standards been discarded? Are we not living in a new era of liberal thinking and liberal actions? A proper standard is one based, not on whim, not on expediency, not on temporary advan- tage, but on principle: and principles do not change, they are as eternal as God. Two-and-two have always made four, and always will. The eHotts in private and in public life to make two-and-two mean three-and-a-half, or to make two-and-two mean five, are sheer dishonesty. The result is failure and suffering, for they are efforts to change a principle. God had a rea- son for commanding, Thou shalt not steal, and God's reasons never change. We are told that our code of morality has changed. Any code of morality that varies from God's code becomes a code of immorality, whether adopted and practiced by a nation, a group, or an indi- vidual. This may not be in hannony with much of our liberal thinking and liberal actions: but it might be well to remember that one of the root meanings of the word liberal is loose. These observations are trite: but human nature is such that it learns only when taught by iteration and reiteration: line upon line, and precept upon precept. One other trite observation, and I conclude: The power-the will-in a man is not suffi- cient in itself to sustain the highest degree of right living: and why be satisfied with any degree except the highest? The Hampden-Sydney student knows what I mean. Whatever is true, whatever wins respect, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovable, whatever is of good repute-if there is any virtue or anything deemed worthy of praise-cherish the thought of these things. U21