The literary exercises in connection the closing day of the summer term of St. John's College, Jessfield, were held on Friday, and there was x very La ance of friends, both foreign and Chi The proceedings commenced with a dress lawn at 4.30 p.m. Of thi in the college nearly all were sent. The volunteer corps were dressed in their uniform of blue and gold, the college colours. The drum and fife band numbered about twenty musicians, and the music they played during the parade was not the least enjoyable part of the programme. The volunteer corps under their commanding officer, G. B. Palmer, Esq., paraded in review order across the lawn, the band taking up its position on the right. The movements were gone through in a highly creditable. mannes the smart appearance of the youthful troops provoking general admiration. The drill was concluded by the march past in column order.
After refreshments had been served on the lawn, an adjournment was made to the spacious quadrangle, where the literary exercises were to be held. This was crowded to its utmost capacity, many Chinese Indies being conspicuous by the beautiful dresses they were wearing. Bishop Graves was in the chair, and on the platform we noticed H. E. Lord Li Ching-fong, H. E.Shén Tun-ho, Mr, Chen Oi. the Rev. F. L. Hawks Pott, D.D, the Rev. James Jackson, and others. The Hon. J. L. Rodgers, American Consul-General, was unfortunately prevented by illness from being present.
The proceedings were opened by the singing of the hymn, "The spacious firmament on high," and it was an in-spiting moment when Addison's grand old hymn was sung by the hundreds resent. After a short prayer had been offered by Bishop Graves, Lord Li rose to address the audience in Chinese, which he did in a very attractive manner, Inthecourse of his remarks he referred to the now learning which was spreading all over Ching, and how the minds of the Chinese were being ocoupied with new idess. He exhorted the students to be real in what they attempted to do—to get real learning not sham. Learning was a growth not a garment to be put on from outside. They must secure the real inner thing, and not be content with anything short of this. A sound eduoation was needed in China in order that the people might be able to man their affairs and to acquit themselves: they should. The woakness of China at the present day was due to the lack of real knowledge. Ho was greated with loud applause at the conclusion of his speech.
The President of the college, Dr. Hawks Pott, then explained that in the regrettable absence of the Hon. J. L Rodgets, who was to have addressed the meeting in English, he had been fortunate enough to secure the Rev. James Jackson, President of Boone College, Wuchang, to take his place.
The Rev. J. Jackson then addressed the assembly in English, After referring to his connection and intere-t in the college he said that at the performance of the doring exarch-es, the feelings of the touch ors were somewhat emotional because they suw their successes ud at the ame time the failures, and with regard to the latter thought what might have beenaccomplished. Dr. Arnold's last sermo 1 referred the fears of the teachers as well as the successes. It was If our gospel be hid it ix hid to them that are lost." 'The purpose of education was to train for life and not for any special occupation, the purpose of education wa to make men and no' craftsmen ly. Lord Li had reminded them that, the present was the renaissance period in the history of China, At thie juncture it beloved them to Mok very carefully into their work and into the future for their purpose must be to train men and not to train craftsmen. What China needed today and what all otter countries needed, was not so much craftsmen as men who were law-abiding, obedient, and truthful, men who would take their part in the Progress that wan now sprending over ina and accept the opportunity given to them. While the students sough' to gain knowledge, and it was the duty of the teachers to impart knowledge,. there was something higher and better than knowledge, and was character, for it was not what a man knew that told but what a man was. They must train their knowledge into character, th the purpose of education. Tonchors and students must over hoop this in view that character was superior to knowledge; that character was what. man was, not what he know, for had not Matthew Arnold said "Conduct is three-quarters of life?" Another point he wished to bring before those present was th: student must educate himself, his teachers could not do it for him. The teachers could do a great deal, they could help the students, but they could not educate them without the student's earnest corroboration. They could not expect knowloge to be poured into their heads without any effort of their own, it was similar to trying to fill a kettle with the lid on, When they once know: what the word education meant, and the work it implied. then they might set about doing it. Confucius had said "I know words." That was a grest achievement. Let them think on one or two words the Knowledge of which was essential if they would successfully accomplish this work of self-education. Obedience was the first word which he. wished to refer to. Lord Li had spoken some excellent words about the new learning, The Chinese
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.