To the study and advocacy of that truth--which is mighty and which maketh free-consecrate the years and energies of your whole life. It will lead you to its great Author, and standing in His presence, you will look forth over the broad field of the world, with the holy resolution, to live, labor, suffer, do and die in the service of humanity, and to stamp upon society the impress of truth, in characters which shall remain when sun and moon are no more! We have met on this occasion to renew the recollections of the past, and to exchange the signs and words of friendshiplike ships on the ocean, which exchange signals and then pursue their different courses upon the pathless deep. But ere we part, and "mingle with the universe," from which we have escaped to participate in the solemnities of this night, let us again unite the Student's song, and, with heart and soul, give a "vivať" to our Alma Mater! Then Gaudeamus igitur Vivat Academia, Vivant Professores, Vivat membrum quodlibet, Vivant membra quælibet, Semper sint in Flore! Vivat et respublica, QUESTIONS DEBATED IN CONTESTS. It will doubtless afford interest and amusement to see a list of the Questions which were debated at the Contests, since they began. They are as follows: 1799. Whether the Mathematics or the Languages, Latin and Greek, be more necessary? 1802. Whether is luxury or war most ruinous to Nations? 1804. Should a Governor, when elected into office, under our present form of government, fill all the offices under his jurisdiction with men of the same political sentiments with himself? 1805. Are the natural talents of men superior to those of women? 1806. Would it be policy in the United States immediately to emancipate their slaves? 1807. Can the immortality of the soul be discovered by the light of nature? 1808. Would it be policy for the Americans to join in alliance with France, should a war take place between America and Great Britain? 1809. Are animals, inferior to man in the order of creation, possessed of immortal souls? 1810. Is the soul created immediately at the time of its infusion into the body? 1811. Should a system of religion, which is contrary to the Holy Scriptures, be tolerated by civil governments? 1812. Should capital punishment be inflicted in a well-regulated government? 1813. Should conscience be the ultimate rule of duty? 1814. Is the Deity discoverable by the light of nature? 1815. Is the human understanding naturally right?, 1816. Does the belief of moral truth necessarily incite to the fulfilling of moral obligations? 1817. Is a high degree of refinement favorable to the Christian religion? 1818. Is war naturally lawful? 1819. Is there any such thing in human nature as disinterested benevolence? 1820. Suitable provision being made for the comfortable settlement of the blacks of this country in Africa, and for transporting them thither, would the Government of the United States, at any time of peace and common prosperity, be justifiable in passing a law, compelling them to colonize? 1821. Is a high degree of sensibility conducive to our present happiness? 1822. Is language a human invention? 1825. Would a community of goods contribute to the happiness of a people? 1829. Should Ecclesiastics have a vote in National Councils? 1830. Is utility the rule of moral action? 1831. Should a Republican government support a standing army in time of peace? 1832. Does a paucity of laws, as among the American Savages, subject man to greater evils than a superabundance of laws, as among the civilized Europeans? 1833. Should the power of pardoning those who commit offences against the laws (the military excepted) exist in a republican government? 1834. Should capital punishment be inflicted by civil governments? 1836. Should the Government of the United States discourage, by powerful restrictions, immigrations from Europe -not including that of paupers? 1839. Should provision be made by law for the maintenance of the poor? 1840. Should emulation be encouraged as a stimulus in education? 1841. Is our present Constitution more likely to terminate by the encroachment of the State Governments on the powers of the Federal Government, than by the consolidation of the powers of the States in the Federal Government? 1846. Is the human mind always active? 1855. Should our judicial officers be chosen by the people directly? 1856. Is there in the human mind a principle of disinterested benevolence? 1857. Should emulation be encouraged in common schools, as a stimulus to education ? N. B. For the years omitted, the questions could not be obtained; and in some instances, there was no Contest. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF THE LATE REV. MATTHEW BROWN, D. D. The former President of Washington and Jefferson Colleges. BY REV. DAVID ELLIOTT, D. d. The words "the memory of the just is blessed," express an aphorism sanctioned by the spirit of inspiration. Accordingly, the Jews, whenever they named an eminently just man who was deceased, were in the habit of adding, "let his memory be blessed." This practice of preserving the memory of good men, seems to fall within the scope and teachings of God's word on the subject: "The righteous shall be had in everlasting remembrance." "The elders, by faith, obtained a good report." And of the woman who poured the precious. ointment upon the head of the Saviour, he himself declared that "Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her." By thus recording and preserving the memory of good men-their sayings and their actions-they are made to live over again, and to furnish lessons to surviving generations. "He being dead yet speaketh," is an affirmation of the spirit of God, respecting Abel. And so it may be said of any other good man, on whom the grave has closed, and whose memory has been preserved. His good deeds live in history, and what he said and did while living, |