Though Medhurst College is not an old foundation, it should be the aim of each one of you students to develop the school spirit, and by your actions and achievements in school, or whet you have entered into wider spheres; to bring honour and laurels to the foundation to, which you owe your training. By doing this, not only will you keep your ideals, but you will give justi-fable pride to the school and endow with such an heritage of achieve-ser ment, as have already spoken of, which will be of inestimable value to generations of students yet unborn. You can establish traditions such as the tradition of the English Public Schools I have mentioned, and I trust that in years to come Medhurst College will have a list of former students, world famous in the Arts, Sciences and world affairs, and that Medhurst College as pre-eminent in China as are some of the great Public Schools England.
I have spoken of school life "in England because T know it, and have spoken of the three essentials to character because they are fundamental, and to me appear ta be points in the English Publi School system well worth copying.
As I said "Masters of Men" aco. wanted and never more than at the present time, but for a man to be a "Master of Men" he must be fully equipped mentally and with a solid foundation of character.
To you boys whose Red Letter day it is and who are starting out id: to you other boys in the next few years graduate, I would say this:—Seo that your foundation of character is solid and firm, build on it with care, choosing your material carefully, cement it with thoroughness and industry, and then, if the wore is well done, you will, in due courts when the work is mature, be picked out by your fellow men, for the world is looking for leaders, for "Masters of Men."
Tu Lucknow, the stone above the grave of Sir Henry Lawrence of Indian Mutiny fame, is the simple epitaph:—"I have tried to do my duty." It is @ simple. phrase but full of meaning; it implies ati T have unselfishness and, if we at the our journey can say the same then our lives "have been" wort while, for duty done not merely the accomplishment riven task, it means doing our beat work at all times and making the best and highest use of every ounce of brain and sinew that the Creator has entrusted to our care."
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.