Univ.of Ill. Library 
 5-5 
 
 tllf , ■ 
 
 EftLlcIranl; ®|m|; 
 
 THE ADDRESS, 
 
 T O 
 
 THE GRADUATING CLASS, AT ST. MARY’S HALL; 
 
 AT THE CLOSE OP THE FORTIETH TERM, 
 
 26tf) JEarcfL 185J: 
 
 BY THE FOUNDER AND RECTOR, 
 
 ,(.0 . Uar&'V %*£— 
 
 THE RIGHT REVEREND, THE BISHOP OF NEW JERSEY. 
 
 “That our daughters may he as the polished corners of the Temple” 
 
 PHILADELPHIA : 
 
 INQUIRER PRINTING OFFICE, 57 SOUTH THIRD ST. 
 
 1857. 
 
GRADUATES 
 
 MARY RAYMOND ARMS, 
 
 MARIA LOUISA BARRON, 
 KATHARINE AMANDA BLAKISTON, 
 ANNA BULL, 
 
 CHARLOTTE LUCRETIA COX, 
 
 MARY ELIZABETH CURREY, 
 
 ANNA WHITING DAVENPORT, 
 JULIA MATILDA DAVENPORT, 
 JULIA ANN DUBOIS, 
 
 MARY HOLLY GATLIN, 
 
 SUSAN BAKER GORDON, 
 
 MARTHA TURNER HARDEE, 
 PRISCILLA ANN HODGES, 
 PERMELIA VICTORIA IGLEHART, 
 MARY ELIZABETH KUTZ, 
 
 CYNTHIA ELIZABETH MITCHELL, 
 MARIA PARKER MOORE, 
 
 MARIA SANDS PAGE, 
 
 ELIZABETH SHELDON SCRIBNER, 
 JOSEPHINE LIPPINCOTT STOKES, 
 CAROLINE AUGUSTA SYKES, 
 JULIA WORTHINGTON TREDWAY, 
 MARY ELIZABETH WOOD. 
 
 One absent, from infirm health. 
 
ADDRESS. 
 
 By the good hand of God, upon me, I have lived, 
 to see St. Mary’s Hall, of age. Our next birth-day is 
 our one and twentieth: and, as if to mark the year 
 of our majority, we exceed, by seven, the highest num¬ 
 ber, that has ever graduated. To day, we send forth, 
 from our guarded hearth, and sacred shrine, three and 
 twenty—which, but for failing health, had been twen¬ 
 ty-four*—who have, for years, been daughters of our 
 house and heart. To lose the loving words and 
 cheering smiles of four and twenty daughters, from 
 one old man’s home, is not a loss, that can be esti¬ 
 mated, in any language, or by any figures. But, then, 
 what is it, to have given, to the world, in one day, 
 four and twenty women? 
 
 St. Mary’s Hall was opened, on the first day of 
 May, in the year of our Lord, 1837. I was young, 
 then; and full of hope. I do not feel, now, one day 
 - older : nor, am I, one whit, less hopeful. In the early 
 years of its existence, I was often asked—not, how¬ 
 ever, for the last twelve—why, I beganf—with a girls’ 
 
 *One, who, from infirm health, was unable to complete the course; hut hope* 
 ito return, 
 
 tBurlington Colkgo was opened, in 18RS. 
 
 LIBRARY 
 UNIVERSITY OF MW 
 
 fsc ) 
 
4 
 
 school. It was a thoughtless question; which no one 
 should have asked, who ever had a mother. I thank 
 God, that the wisdom of the act has been, long since, 
 fully justified. More than two-thousand girls have 
 gone out, from these walls. Too many of them, by 
 far, have not stayed, long enough. But, wherever 
 I hear of them—and they are found, in every state, 
 throughout the Union—I hear of them, as centres of 
 good influence; and, in the regions, where the Church, 
 still struggles, for a foot-hold, they are welcomed, as 
 the Missionary’s most efficient helpers, or best sub¬ 
 stitutes. I aimed, at this. That they should be 
 daughters, sisters, wives and mothers, to bless and 
 sanctify their homes; and, that they should shed out, 
 on the world, around them, the light and warmth of 
 their own consecrated hearths. And, I have not been 
 disappointed. While, in the loving way, in which, in 
 lettei's, that would make a volume, which have, 
 lately, come, to me,* they ascribe the good, that is in 
 them, and the happiness, which they enjoy, to their 
 religious training, here, I find an overpayment, for 
 ten thousand times, the loss, and suffering and sorrow, 
 with which God has pleased to visit me. 
 
 St. Mary’s Hall is, just, what it was meant to be. 
 After the trial of so many years, it is but justice to 
 the case, to say, that it has done just, what it was 
 meant to do; just in the way, that it was meant to 
 do it. And, this, by a threefold influence combined: 
 The Home; The School; The Church. 
 
 At JSt. Mary s Hall, the children are, at home. They 
 are watched over, by a father. They are cared for, by 
 
 ♦At my request, tliat all, wlio had been here, would inform me of their 
 whereabout. 
 
5 
 
 a mother. And, that, most wisely, and tenderly. 
 And, both are aided and sustained, by all the ten¬ 
 derness, and carefulness, which beautify the love of 
 elder sisters. It would not do to boast. All human 
 provisions a.re uncertain. But, in the general, it may be 
 said, that, in all that constitutes protection, from every 
 form of danger, to person, to health, to purity—what* 
 ever, would be thought of, first, or last, as safety, for a 
 girl—St. Mary’s Hall is better provided, than the 
 houses, from which its inmates come. For healthiness, 
 it has, always, been a marvel. And, in a recent case 
 of extremest illness, the most intelligent and unequiv¬ 
 ocal testimony is borne, that no home-care could have 
 met -the case, as well. But, after all, the test of home 
 is the home-feeling. And, in the absence of home-sick¬ 
 ness ; in the contented cheerfulness, which fills and 
 animates the house; in the anxiety, to stay here ; 
 and, in the love, which, after eighteen years, and 
 more, still, yearns, towards its walls, and cherishes 
 its memories, as traditions of delight, there is such 
 evidence, as none can question, that St. Mary’s Hall 
 is, and is felt to be, a home. Not, for specific acts 
 of kindness, or of carefulness, alone; not, for its habits 
 of affection and.devotion; not, for its uniformity, and 
 constancy and certainty, in every thing : but, that 
 pervading and prevailing atmosphere, which moulds 
 the nature, in unconsciousness; and tones the temper, 
 and the feelings, and the thoughts, into the unity and 
 unreserve of love. 
 
 At St. Mary s Hall, the children are at school. The 
 course of study covers all the ground of female ed¬ 
 ucation. It only asks more time, than parents, com- 
 
6 
 
 manly, afford for it. But, the outline is complete; and 
 the details are disposed of, with a just discrimination. 
 Elementary Studies are dealt with, and insisted on, 
 as fundamental. Grammar, Geography, Arithmetic,, 
 and History, must be mastered. For the rest, Mathe¬ 
 matical studies, as clearing, settling, satisfying, the 
 mind, and giving self reliance, accuracy, and certainty,, 
 to the whole woman, are most faithfully, and most 
 successfully, pursued. The female mind takes well 
 to Mathematics. And, we have seen the moral benefit 
 of their wise discipline, among our elder daughters, in- 
 the steadiness, and stableness, and settledness, and 
 well proportionedness, and equipoise, of the whole 
 character. But, our highest aim, the grand result, 
 to which all this contributes, is to enable them, having, 
 thought good thoughts, to utter them, in the very 
 best vernacular. English composition is my own de¬ 
 partment : and it is heart-work, with us; and done,, 
 as, only, heart-work is. In these departments, the 
 Mathematical and English, and in all that is more 
 elementary, the examination, just completed, has en¬ 
 abled you to judge, of what is done, and how. The 
 languages of Continental Europe, the French, the 
 Italian, the Spanish, and the German,* are as exten¬ 
 sively brought in, as the time, in each particular case,, 
 permits. And, they, not only, but the Latin language,, 
 relied on, as, for their separate, intrinsic, value, so, 
 for their absolute necessity, to the true mastery of 
 the noblest language, which the world has ever listened, 
 to, our own dear mother tongue. Nor, with all these 
 solid and substantial branches, are the adornments of a 
 woman disregarded. In the concert-room, and in the 1 
 
 -There is no additional charge? for anything. 
 
1 
 
 picture-room, there are results of taste and' beauty, to 
 be heard, and seen; which would he much, if they 
 were all, that is accomplished in the time: and are truly 
 wonderful, when the short time, which they can have, 
 is thought of. And, yet when all is done, it is not, 
 to attainments, or acquirements, or improvements, as 
 specially regarded, that we ascribe the value of our 
 plan. But, to its influence, as a well organized and 
 energizing system, to discipline and train the mind; 
 and fit the future woman, for her duties and responsi¬ 
 bilities, as daughter, sister, wife, and mother: and, 
 especially, for that, which is the highest work of men 
 Or women; which every man and woman, whether' 
 they will or not, is doing, more or less; and, which 
 Jesus dignified and glorified, the work of teaching. 
 
 But, what were a Home, what were a School, without 
 the Church ? Blank heathenism! The sinful sensuality 
 of Pompeii. The painted cloud banks of the Academy. 
 
 * As, in that graphic picture of their proudest, whom 
 St. Paul preached to, at Athens : “ and, when they 
 heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked; 
 and others said, we will hear thee again of this matter.” 
 It is the glory of our nature, that it was made, in 
 God’s own image. It was its curse, to lose that im¬ 
 age, by transgression. It is its blessing, that it is 
 restored, to penitential faith, in Christ. Hence, the 
 atoning Cross. Hence, the restoring Church. As, at 
 the first, “the saved” were “added to the Church,”* 
 and, so, were “ added to the Lord,” from Whom their 
 sins had parted them; so, to the last, it must be. 
 Therefore, St. Mary’s Hall is in the Church; is so much 
 
 *Acts ii 47; v,14.- 
 
8 
 
 of the Church. And, hence, alone, from God, its 
 vitalness and value. But, for that, I could ask, for 
 it, no confidence. But, for that, I could expect, for 
 it, no blessing. Or, only such, as may he asked for 
 any farm, or shop, or ship; that it may prosper, in this 
 Avorld: make money; and, then, keep it! It is because 
 St. Mary’s Hall is founded, on the Rock, Christ Jesus, 
 that it stands, against all storms, all floods, all foes, 
 of earth, or hell. And, it is because St. Mary’s Hall 
 is brooded over, by the wings, of that descending 
 Dove, which settled on the Saviour’s head, that the 
 dear children here, have grown, in grace, and gone on, 
 towards perfection; and carried to so many homes, the 
 blessings, which they gathered, here; and, led so many 
 parents, to the Pont, or to the Altar; and sanctified 
 so manj'' hearths: and, literally, turned “the hearts 
 of the fathers, to the children, and the disobedient, to 
 the wisdom of the justified.” The teaching of the 
 Church, in God’s own holy word; the ministry, of 
 the Church, entrusted, as His stewards, with His 
 grace; the prayers of the Church; the sacraments of the 
 Church; the training of the Church; the music of the 
 Angels, in the Church; the beauty of holiness, in the 
 Church; the very atmosphere of Heaven anticipated, 
 in the Church: these are our arms; these are our 
 agencies; these are our influences, from God,for good; 
 in these, is our hope; on these, is our reliance; by 
 these, is our triumph; through these, is our victory, 
 in that one Banner, which must, always, conquer; 
 and, on account of these, our claim, to human confi¬ 
 dence, and our certainty, that God is with us, of a 
 truth, and will continue, to us, His blessing. This was 
 our forecast reliance, from the first. This has been, 
 
9 . 
 
 year after year, for twenty years, the accumulating 
 experience of every day. To this, the letters of the 
 dear ones, who have gone, from here, for eighteen 
 years, bear testimony, that has melted my whole 
 nature, in the deep sense of my unworthiness, to be 
 the minister of so much grace; and filled my heart, to 
 bursting, with devoutest gratitude, to God, from 
 Whom, alone, these blessings are derived. And, it is, 
 in this spirit, and with this conviction, and on this 
 confidence, that our closing act is a religious act: and, 
 that, as yesterdayf we bade these darlings of our heart 
 to come, and be partakers, with us, at this holy altar, 
 of that spiritual food, which nourishes to immortality; 
 so, to day, we do not let them go, without a blessing: 
 commending them, to Him, to keep, and guide, and 
 care for, Who alone, can lead them safely, through 
 the dangerous paths of life; sustain their sinking- 
 spirits, in the hour and agony of death; and enable us 
 to stand up with them, at the last—redeemed, through 
 His dear blood, Who died for us; and, then, renewed 
 and sanctified, by the divine and Holy Spirit, Which 
 He purchased for us—and say, with trembling, but, 
 triumphant, love and joy, “Behold I, and the children, 
 which God hath given me!” 
 
 Beloved ones, the parting hour has come. How 
 shall I speak the words, which bid you, from my side ? 
 How shall I say, to you, farewell ? Only, in that tri¬ 
 umphant grace, which conquers, even, self. Only, in 
 that true love, which can forget its own, to seek 
 another’s good. Go then, my children, to your homes. 
 Go; and be comforts, to your parents. Go; and be 
 blessings, to your neighborhoods. Go; and be daugh- 
 
 fThc Feast of the Annunciation. 
 
. 10 
 
 ters of the Church. Go; and be women, such as God 
 made: the helpers, the comforters, the ornaments, 
 the blessings, of your kind. 
 
 “I saw her, upon nearer view, 
 
 A spirit, yet & woman, too! 
 
 Her household motions, light and free. 
 
 And steps of virgin liberty; 
 
 A countenance in which did meet 
 Sweet records, promises as sweet; 
 
 A creature, not too bright or good, 
 
 For human nature’s daily food: 
 
 For transient sorrows, simple wiles, 
 
 Praise, blame, love, kisses, tears and smiles. 
 
 * * * * * 
 
 The reason firm, the temperate will. 
 
 Endurance, foresight strength and skill; 
 
 A perfect woman, nobly planned, 
 
 To warn, to comfort and command: 
 
 And, yet, a spirit, still, and bright, 
 
 With something of an angel’s light,”* 
 
 Beloved, we must part. You take, with you, my 
 love, my prayers, my blessing. Every day, your 
 sweet remembrance shall go up, with my best loved, 
 to Him, Who hears the prayer. Let me be thought 
 of, at the twilight hour; and, mentioned, sometimes, 
 in your orisons. You have had, beloved ones, and 
 those like you, the twenty best years of my life. With 
 my heart, I thank God, Who enabled me to do the 
 service. Nothing, in it, that is not overpaid, by 
 the sweet assurance of your love. Nothing, that 
 could have been in it, of cost, or loss, or sacrifice, or death, 
 that were not welcome, as the airs of Paradise, for 
 the confidence of what you, and such as you, will be. 
 And, for myself, I ask no words, upon my grave—the 
 only land, that I can ever own—but the record, that 
 it holds the dust of him, whom God employed, to found 
 St. Mary’s Hall. My children, may God bless you! 
 
 *'Wordsworth.