and ye shall receive; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you." "If ye, then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children; how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit, to them that ask Him?"

Beloved Ones, "the child," with you, is, now, to be "the man." You leave to-day, the loving bosom of your Alma Mater, to struggle with the storms, and be tried, by the temptations, of a hard and heartless world. But, you do not go without her fondest blessing. She will still watch over you, with a mother's solicitude. She will still pursue you, with a mother's hopefulness. She will still wait on you, with a mother's patience. She will still dote on you, with a mother's love. She will still protect you, with a mother's prayers. Go, to be men. Go, to be men of God. Fulfil her highest hopes. Fulfil her fondest prayers. While others boast of wealth, of wisdom, of his toric glory, let it be hers to say, "En mea ornamenta !" THESE ARE MY JEWELS! And, at the last, may it be mine, to say, of and those who went before you, you, and are yet to follow you, "Behold, I, and the children, which God hath given me!" Sons of my heart, God bless you!

VII.

THE BACCALAUREATE ADDRESS,

AT THE

SEVENTH ANNUAL COMMENCEMENT OF BURLINGTON COLLEGE.

ALMA MATER.

I WELL remember the first time, that I ever saw the expression, "ALMA MATER." It is, now, fifty years ago. It occurred, in a curious anecdote of Dr. Isaac Barrow; recorded, in a book, which, it is probable, no one, here, has ever seen: "Maternal Instruction," by Mrs. Elizabeth Helme. I knew no Latin, then; nor, for three years, after: but, I was struck with the look of it; guessed out its meaning, from the context; and, never forgot it. I have scarcely seen the volume, since: but, these first Latin words, that I had ever met with, impressed me with a desire for Academic Education; and kindled, in me, a love of learning, whose flame, in half a century, has never flickered. It is a trifling, yet a fruitful, incident; and might be easily drawn out, in many

*St. Michael and All Angels, A. D. 1856. VOL. IV.-5

profitable lessons. The value of good books, in early childhood, the slight thing which gives course and colour to the current of a life; the mysterious power of words, not understood, and truths, not comprehended, over the mind and heart: are only two or three of them. The truths, which, in this morning twilight of our being, flit before us, like the shadows of the mountain; in the eternal noon of heaven, will stand, as glorious and eternal realities.

ALMA MATER, in its literal meaning, is a nursing mother. ALUMNUS is its counterpart, precisely. Both come from alo which means to nourish, strengthen, cause to grow. To almus, the adjective, there is no limit of the meanings; and all, so gentle and so genial. It is applied to the Sun; it is applied to the Earth; it is applied to Ceres; it is applied to Venus; it is applied to the light; it is applied to faith; it is applied to peace; it is applied to the vine; it is applied to a mother's breasts. It means nourishing, cherishing, bountiful, gracious, favourable, fair, propitious, sacred. Alumnus, its derivative, is a nursling, a foster child, a pupil. Cicero speaks of one, who had been, as it were, the nursling, the alumnus, of his discipline: and he calls Aristotle and others, the alumni of Plato; that is, his followers, disciples, pupils. By a natural transition, the Students of a College are its alumni; the College is their Alma Mater. It was first applied to the English University, at Cambridge. It is, now, of universal application. The theory is natural and beautiful. We all have mothers. They bear

us. They feed us. They bring us up. The time comes when we need more than they can do for us; and yet, we are not fit to enter into life. The College takes us, to her arms. She feeds us, from her breasts. She trains us, at her knees. She nourishes, she cherishes, she strengthens, us. She makes us men. We are her fosterchildren. She is our nursing mother. Latin phrase, she is our ALMA MATER Cantabrigia," "Alma Mater Burlingtonia." The connection seems a bold one. But Cambridge, once, was small.

In the beautiful

"Alma Mater

"ALMA MATER." Could there be happier words? They condense, into a minimum, whatever is embraced in the relation of a College, to its Alumni; and, of Alumni, to their College.

SHE IS THEIR MOTHER-They are children. They have left their home. They are alone, upon the world. They are without experience of its ways. They are without suspicion of its temptations. They are without consolation, in its trials. What, but a mother, can come into such a place. A sister could not. Her innocence would be her ignorance. A brother could not. There is rivalry in brothers. A father could not. He would be too busy. He would lack tenderness. He could not make allowance for inexperience or infirmity. Who does not feel, that it is just the occasion, for a mother? A mother's gentleness. A mother's patience. A mother's watchfulness. A mother's thoughtfulness. A mother's ingenuity. A mother's faith. A mother's

hope. A mother's love. A mother's prayers. There is no other thing, no other thought, to meet the case, but just a mother. And that does. It provides for ignorance. It provides for inexperience. It provides for infirmity. It provides for inconstancy. It has helps, cautions, counsels, cares, reproofs, entreaties, exhortations, tears. Are you sick? There is nursing. Are you alone? There is company. Are you sad? There is a smile. Are you petulant? There is forbearance. Are you wilful? There is endurance. Are you dejected? There is encouragement. A mother's eye brightens, at your success. A mother's cheek grows pale, at your misfortune. A mother's arms are open, for your protection. A mother's heart is the shelter, from every storm; and a solace, in every sorrow. How beautiful, the provision of such a mother! How happy, they, who have her, for their own!

AND, SHE IS THEIR NURSING MOTHER-They must be fed. They must be watched, at night. They must be nursed, in sickness. The muscles must be developed. The sinews must be strengthened. Vigour must be cultivated. Endurance must be cultivated. Courage must be cultivated. They must be made men of, for the masteries of life; and fitted, in all physical regards, to be good soldiers of Christ Jesus. Committed to her care, just in the turning years of life, for three, or five, or seven, their Alma Mater must be held, for these results: and, do what she can, to restore the old heroic line, which yielded, to the state, unconquerable soldiers; and indomitable martyrs, for the Church.