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A 
 
 Rectorial Address 
 
 Delivered to the Students in 
 
 the University of Aberdeen 
 
 6th June, 1912 
 
 By 
 ANDREW CARNEGIE 
 
 NEW YORK: 
 REDFIELD BROTHERS, Inc. 
 
 1912 
 
 f 
 

 Ks-i^c 
 
 Y'l 1 
 
 
ABERDEEN RECTORIAL ADDRESS 
 
 Principal, Professors, and Students 
 
 of Aberdeen University — 
 
 Ladies and Gentlemen: 
 
 Rectorial addresses are generally of a character 
 which appeals more to the mature and educated men 
 and women of the world than to university students 
 still under instruction, but I propose to speak today to 
 those who are soon to leav their alma mater and plunge, 
 "sink or swim," into the tempestuous sea of life. Many 
 of those I see befor me are buoyant with hope, as they 
 should be, that they may in their day and generation do 
 the State some servis, or at least lead honorable lives, 
 and be in greater or less degree useful to their fellows 
 or rememberd as leaving behind them memories of 
 "the best of a good man's life, those little nameless, 
 unrememberd acts of kindness and of love." 
 
 The start in life is of vital importance — a good be- 
 ginning half the battle — and, keeping in mind that "No 
 gain is made where no plesure's ta'en," it is unfortunate 
 if either yung man or woman has to start and spend 
 youth struggling against inclination. 
 
 With wind and tide fair in your sail, nae dout you make 
 
 fair seaway, 
 But in the teeth o' baith to sail, it makes an unco leeway. 
 
 By all means, therefore, let youths hav a voice, a decis- 
 ive voice, if possible, in the selection of their future 
 
 3 
 
occupation. This starts them well, but there is not 
 always a smooth path to this result. To one million- 
 aire father, after repeated efforts to induce his son to 
 speak out freely and indicate his preference, it was at 
 last reveald that his ardent desire was to be a "coupon 
 clipper." He thot he could lern that and sooner master 
 it than any other honorable .occupation he could think 
 of, and of this he assured his father he was certain — his 
 heart would be in his work. I am sorry, indeed, for the 
 sons of millionaires, for they hav many serious draw- 
 backs to contend with. First, they cannot just see the 
 necessity for their father continuing to accumulate more 
 when he has enuf, and usually conclude that when their 
 time comes that folly shall cease. Meanwhile they will 
 gladly help him, not to acquire, but to distribute. 
 Where welth is left free, and unfetterd by primogeni- 
 ture and entail or the claims or needs of hereditary 
 rank, it does not remain long in one family. Hence, we 
 find a rapid and helthy distribution in your colonies 
 and in our Republic. "Three generations from shirt 
 sleeves to shirt sleeves" is a common saying not seldom 
 verified. 
 
 It is, however, safe to assume that most of the stu- 
 dents I see befor me, both men and women, are destind 
 to pursue in some department or other one of the pro- 
 fessions — a noble career. Assuming that you hav 
 alreddy made choice of a profession or educational 
 career "according to your bent," and subject to existing 
 conditions, you will naturally devote yourself primarily 
 to the acquisition of needful knowledge bearing upon 
 
 4 
 
your choice — not that all varieties of knowledge are not 
 helpful in any profession, for all of these will prove com- 
 plementary as you march on, and the possessor never 
 fails to find them of unsuspected importance, for all 
 knowledge naturally gravitates into the circle of servis. 
 I never pay any regard to trifles, said one, while the 
 other agreed he never wou'd either — if he only knew 
 what was a trifle when he met it. Not seldom assumed 
 trifles carry the key to victory. A few words, some- 
 times a small servis, a quotation or passage pointed 
 out in a book, or a mere nod of recognition proves the 
 open sesame; hence the conquering power of seeming 
 trifles. 
 
 Of course you will strive to excel in your profession, 
 making it your special study, and having graduated 
 with honors you probably get a favorable start. You 
 will see as you grow in years the seemingly rapid ad- 
 varice of one class of students, who, however, paus in 
 their ascent and disappoint expectation in later years; 
 they are not first at the goal. Others you note who 
 began more slowly, but march stedily upward, gaining 
 in position at every turn, which probably means that 
 the latter hav sterling virtues which the former lackt, 
 which impress their fellows. There is nothing more 
 certain in its operation in this life than the law by which 
 honesty, ability, good temper and assiduity carry one to 
 the front and keep him there. Lacking this quartette 
 the struggle is almost hopeless, and yet let me gard 
 myself here, for it is astonishing how often one gains a 
 creditable position with very modest talents, always 
 
 5 
 
provided he has the one essential foundation, — char- 
 acter — no blots ; spotless reputation. 
 
 Most of you are probably to choose one of the pro- 
 fessions, where welth has second place, in which lives of 
 constant but elevating toil are certain, but with the 
 gratifying fact that you will hav the proud satisfac- 
 tion of knowing you are in a region of effort in which 
 servis renderd, not pecuniary reward, is the primary aim. 
 Your aim is high ; possibly you may make some discovery 
 which enlarges the bounds of human knowledge, renders 
 improved modes of operation possible, or you may shed 
 lite upon what has hitherto remaind obscure. There are 
 many brilliant examples of professional men making the 
 world their dettors. Much better that you should indulge 
 such dreams, for even if these never be realized you will 
 at least hav had your dreams, which is always some- 
 thing to the good. Into noble dreams properly nour- 
 isht you may instil the germ of life. Aim to play a 
 leading part in your youth, and if fame should devolv 
 upon you later you will be in your element. The yung 
 man or woman who cannot entertain a very consider- 
 able opinion of himself or herself lacks an important 
 element of future success. Yung ladies, is there not a 
 homely Scottish proverb I hav herd somewhere — "She 
 never bode for a silk goon that didna' get the sleeve 
 o'd." Aim high; be king or queen in your dreams. 
 
 There is a class of joing men ambitious for glory, 
 who "would seek the bubble reputation, even in the 
 cannon's mouth." In generations past this was an ex- 
 cusable ambition, for military glory was in the van, no 
 
 6 
 
profession save that of arms being deemd worthy of the 
 daring youth or the gentleman; it was the only noble 
 profession. But in those days men were compeld to 
 defend themselvs ; if attackt it was dishonorable not to 
 wear and draw the sword. They had to lern the profes- 
 sion of arms. Today the man of the English-speaking 
 race who challenged another to fite a duel would be 
 laught at. Even in France the duel is being burlesqued 
 on the stage, and in the German Army the annual average 
 number of duels has fallen from twelv hundred to twelv, 
 under the praiseworthy, careful supervision of the 
 Emperor. We hav past the stage of barbarism when 
 there was constant danger, and hence heroism in the 
 profession of arms — all this has gone. The safest occu- 
 pation in the land today, either in Britain or America, is 
 that of the soldier, who rarely or never sees a battle or 
 fires a hostile shot, but marches from youth to age in 
 perfect safety, unmolested. Little of the heroic remains 
 in firing at warships seven miles distant or firing from 
 under cover at soldiers a mile away. Consider the 
 soldier's boastfulness in the past. Hotspur exclaims: 
 
 By heven, methinks it were an easy leap 
 To pluck brite honor from the pale-faced moon; 
 Or dive into the bottom of the deep 
 Where fathom line could never tuch the ground, 
 And pluck up drowned honor by the locks, 
 So he that doth redeem her thence mite wear 
 Without co-rival all her dignities. 
 
 Mark his vanity, vain peacock! as he struts across the 
 stage. The military age is rapidly passing. We can- 
 
 7 
 
not imagin that many students who hav receivd years 
 of precious education will hereafter dedicate themselvs 
 deliberately to this profession, binding themselvs to go 
 forth and kill their fellows when orderd, as a mere affair 
 of ' ' hire and salary. ' ' Compare these paid soldiers with 
 such true heroes of our day as coal miners volunteering 
 to descend the pit, or sailors to man the lifeboat at the 
 risk of their lives, to rescue their fellows, without thot 
 of reward. Not a day passes in any English-speaking 
 land without several heroic actions being performd. 
 This is moral courage. The hired heroes of barbarism 
 kild or wounded their fellows for pay; the volunteer 
 hero saves or servs them and wins true fame, regardless 
 of reward. 
 
 When human society had not yet reacht its present 
 enlitend stage, there was little or no idea of self-sacrifice 
 for others, and until that came we were not really 
 civilized, for men are so only so far as they feel the sense 
 of mutual co-operation and lern to dedden love of self. 
 A recent Scottish poet finely paints the picture : 
 
 I will go forth 'mong men, not maild in scorn, 
 But in the armor of a pure intent. 
 Great duties are before me and great songs 
 And, whether crownd or crownless when I fall 
 It matters not, so as God's work is done. 
 I've lernd to prize the quiet lightning deed 
 Not the applauding thunder at its heels 
 Which men call fame. 
 
 Here is the highest standard, performance of duty 
 regardless of self, fame or fortune, and, mark you! it can 
 
 8 
 
be reacht in greater or less degree in every pursuit, 
 whether of welth, fame or ♦simply duty. If the 
 worker be true to himself and to his mission he fulfills 
 his destiny and has won life's chief prize. 
 
 There are many aims and pursuits among men, and 
 not the least the desire for welth, "Put money in thy 
 purse ' ' its motto. Not a high aim this, altho, in the case 
 of the poor yung man, a high duty, and it may be the 
 highest if he has aged parents or near kin dependent 
 upon him. He has his call to 
 
 Gather welth by every wile 
 That's justified by honor; 
 Not for to put it in a hedge 
 Or for a train attendant, 
 But for the glorious privilege 
 Of being independent. 
 
 Should any of my hearers enter into business and 
 become millionaires, they can be at no loss how to refine 
 the dross acquired, by transforming it into some agency 
 for the benefit of their fellows. Many of our universi- 
 ties in the Republic, the first two, indeed — both Har- 
 vard and Yale — were founded by merchants, and we 
 hav at least a dozen others which bear the names of 
 men of affairs who thus refined their dross by endowing 
 it with a soul. 
 
 There are innumerable modes of serving mankind 
 and leading it upward. Hence, you can lead very use- 
 ful lives even in the business career, if the welth be 
 finally devoted to noble ends. Remember, however, 
 that what is only left at deth — becaus you cannot take it 
 
 9 
 
with you — carries no grace with it, since there is no gift 
 from the heart, no real optional bestowing and hence no 
 blessing. 
 
 There is, no dout, among you here a class which 
 intends to enter the domain of business and to win 
 Dame Fortune's golden smiles, assiduously to wait 
 upon her — would-be millionaires. This was the class 
 in which I toild, not at the University, unfortunately, 
 but in the home of poverty — honest poverty — ^which, 
 however was never inclined to hang its hed, I assure 
 you. 
 
 My experience with yung men pursuing their careers 
 soon led me to the conclusion that the use of liquor was 
 the rock upon which more were hopelessly wreckt than 
 on any other. Such has been our experience ; striking this 
 rock means almost certain ruin. As a rule, nothing can 
 be done with the drunkard. Exceptions there may be, 
 but these are rare, indeed. The most welcome news 
 that the true Scot abroad has herd recently is that his 
 nativ land is becoming less and less open to the charge 
 that of English-speaking lands she is in this respect the 
 most degraded of all. The rule for the yung men of 
 Scotland, "Tuch not, taste not, handle not," I hope is 
 becoming more popular each succeeding year. One 
 rule I hav often suggested to youth: "Remain teetotal- 
 lers until you hav become millionaires." Certain am I 
 that this would greatly accelerate their victory. 
 
 There is another practis of the yung gentlemen stu- 
 dents which should attract attention in our day, and is 
 sure to be recorded in future ages as surprizing — ^that of 
 
 10 
 
drawing smoke into their mouths only to be puft 
 out again. Things taken into the mouth should find a 
 different destination. It is so silly; seems to indicate a 
 lack of good sense, certainly of good taste. It is so easy 
 to refrain from this habit in youth, so hard to break in 
 after years. Pray think of this. 
 
 In the Republic, and I believ here also, if there were 
 two candidates for promotion equally matcht and one 
 smoked and the other did not, the latter would be pre- 
 ferd as less extravagant and more sensible. Certainly 
 the less odorous candidate would always win with me. 
 As between a strictly temperate youth and a drinker of 
 liquor there could be no contest. The moderate drinker 
 would not be considerd, the risk of his becoming an in- 
 ordinate one being much too great. Believe me, the 
 yung man who drinks or smokes voluntarily handi- 
 caps himself in the race of life. That he does either 
 or both shows that he lacks something; he does not 
 know how best to train himself for the race. The 
 coming man leavs nothing to chance, nor, mark you, 
 does he spend his slender means foolishly; certainly 
 not if he is to prove the coming millionaire. You 
 find him stript for the race, carrying no superfluous 
 weight in the day of trial. "Trifles these," no dout 
 some of you may be thinking— especially smoking — but, 
 remember, we hav seen it is almost impossible to know 
 what are trifles. In the race of life a foot ahed wins the 
 race; a pin turns the scale. A very small difference, 
 indeed, creates the victor. The poor 3mng man enter- 
 ing upon his career which has either servis, fame or 
 
 11 
 
fortune for its aim, should remember that the horse wins 
 the race only becaus it arrives a neck ahed of competi- 
 tors. "The little more" does it. It is duty done and 
 the "little more" that always tells. 
 
 The yung man, if he is one of the coming partners in 
 business, must know his department even better than 
 his employer. Shame to him if he does not. And if 
 ever opportunity offers to any Aberdeen student to 
 prove this, never fail to prove it then and there. Differ 
 becomingly, but leav no dout in voice or manner that 
 you can giv the millionaire points, and if ever an oppor- 
 tunity offers when you are satisfied a wrong step is 
 about to be taken or one less advantageous than that 
 you favor, whether you hav been invited or not, speak 
 boldly, now or never; play Nelson on a small scale, deth 
 or Westminster Abbey — dismissal or partnership— here 
 at such a crisis it is well to remember you are Scotch, and 
 stick dourly to your own opinion. If you win your 
 point consider partnership within site. There will 
 probably come a morning when your employer wishes 
 his mail brot to his residence for perusal and you are 
 the bearer. Momentous moment when the yung man 
 enters the household and is introduced to the reigning 
 queen, the wife ; if the Fates be exceptionally propitious, 
 perchance also to the fair dauter, who has been hearing 
 now and then of the surprising joing man who had ac- 
 tually masterd his master upon one memorable occasion, 
 and who is not averse to gratifying her curiosity, just to 
 see what kind of a looking yung man he was. We 
 Scotch are not renownd for beauty, but there are nota- 
 
 12 
 
ble exceptions. I mean the male is not, but the indis- 
 putable charms of the other sex still make a high aver- 
 age for the race. From what I see before me we are 
 not, however, without presumptiv ground for assuming 
 that the Aberdeen student would stand inspection. 
 
 Two romances are known to me in which the clever 
 yung man who proved he had ideas of his own not only 
 attaind partnership in the business but in the family by 
 marrying the millionaire's dauter. These both resigned 
 refusing to assign a reasonable caus. Neither had dremt 
 of partnership, at least with the old gentleman. "Re- 
 sign!" said the employer, "Surely I am entitled to know 
 your reason. Hav you been unjustly treated? " "No; on 
 the contrary, all hav been more than kind, but I hav 
 decided to try my fortune abroad." The master had 
 personally gone abroad on business. He had an enor- 
 mous trade in our Republic ; was first in his line. He had 
 askt the yung man to spend some time with the family 
 at the seaside during his absence, and especially to be 
 the wise companion of the son, who was still in his teens. 
 It may be assumed that the young man's attentions 
 were not entirely confined to his charge. In short, he 
 was caut in the net and couldn't withstand the counter 
 attraction of the dauter. My frend's wife had diag- 
 nozed the situation and told the master of her suspicions 
 who some time afterward boldly askt his employee if 
 his resignation was made becaus of the dauter, and dis- 
 coverd the truth by the lover's hesitation. "Hav you 
 spoken to Mary? " "Certainly not, sir ; not one word !" 
 "Why not? You are the kind of son-in-law I wish. 
 
 13 
 
Tell her your story ! If she agree I shall be happy and 
 so will mother." And so it was. The other case is a 
 repetition of this. So there appears to be one advan- 
 tage in the business career over most professions — more 
 likelihood of millionairdom — if that be an advantage, 
 a point which mite furnish a theme for your next debate 
 — "The principal's or professor's vs. the millionaire's 
 dauter." I am not inclined to rank the former class 
 second to any as the gardian angel of the happy home — 
 heven upon erth — ^nor would I place second to any the 
 yung lady graduate, especially if she has proved herself 
 competent as a teacher in some branch of education. 
 But external circumstances count for little. 
 
 It's no in fame, it's no in rank, 
 It's no in welth like London Bank 
 To make us truly blest; 
 If happiness has not its seat 
 And center in the brest 
 We may be rich or great 
 But never can be blest. 
 
 The unfailing reservoir of human happiness is found 
 only in the happy home. One of the greatest and most 
 desirable advances of our time is the growing import- 
 ance attacht to female education and the widening of 
 the fields of occupation for women. We find our public 
 libraries employing large numbers as librarians, and 
 from personal knowledge I can say that I know of no 
 occupation which yung ladies are better fitted for or 
 which is better fitted for them. We hav many thousands 
 
 14 
 
in the Republic alreddy. The Central Library in New 
 York has a school for teaching them. It has some 
 eighty-three branch libraries and no less than fourteen 
 hundred librarians and assistants in the City of New 
 York. The demand for lady graduates is pressing with 
 us in America, as I understand it is beginning to be with 
 you. It is in this important department, employment 
 of educated women, we find one of the greatest ad- 
 vances of modern times. It is significant that leaders of 
 the religions of the East declare that the greatest work 
 performd by the Founder of Christianity was the eleva- 
 tion of women. The contrast is indeed startling be- 
 tween the Miltonic description of our Mother Eve and 
 her relations to her husband, her supposed liege lord : 
 
 For contemplation he, and valor, formed 
 For softness she and sweet attractiv grace. 
 He for God only; she for God in him. 
 
 In our day, thank the kind Fates, the situation is com- 
 pletely reverst; it is the civilized man who looks to the 
 woman and finds God in her; from most points of view 
 she is upon the higher plane and is the more perfect 
 being. In the numberless happy and pure homes of 
 today she is the refining and creativ influence which 
 makes the home a heven here on erth. Hence, the 
 importance of bestowing the closest attention upon her 
 education. 
 
 I see before me the most interesting audience possi- 
 ble — ^yung men and women upon the shore, preparing to 
 plunge into life's stormy sea. There seems no limit to 
 
 15 
 
the progress and elevation man may ultimately reach, 
 even in this life, and it is from this point of view the 
 progress of our day should be regarded. Progress in- 
 volvs change ; hence the agitation prevailing thruout the 
 civilized world among the masses, who are thru superior 
 education increasing in knowledge and rapidly awaken- 
 ing everywhere to the gross inequalities of human life, 
 millions upon the verge of poverty, uncertain where or 
 how food and raiment can be obtaind for wives and 
 children, in contrast with one here and there overbur- 
 dend with riches. This cannot remain permanently. 
 These and other inequalities are destind to be stedily 
 lessend. Man is to become more and more his brother's 
 keeper, and ultimately, as far as human laws can oper- 
 ate, one citizen's privilege must become every citizen's 
 rite, as it is alreddy in all your colonies and in our 
 Republic. It is in this spirit these changes should be 
 regarded. They are for the best becaus all tend to 
 elevate the masses and hasten the brotherhood of man. 
 Be of good cheer, students of Aberdeen. By a law of 
 his nature man was destind to march upward, groping 
 for lite, his face ever turnd to the sun. He may mistake 
 the true path of progress for a time and absorb deleteri- 
 ous matter which after experience he, however, promtly 
 rejects and retraces his false steps, testing all things and 
 absorbing only that which experience proves to be good 
 and elevating, making his future better than his past. 
 
 Let us all resolv to do our best to obey this great 
 law of progress and leav this world just a little better 
 than we found it. 
 
 16 
 
Students of Aberdeen University, you will undertake 
 the duties of life at a stirring period in the world's his- 
 tory. It is doutful if ever progress was made in any 
 one century equal to that in the last, which the present 
 promises to equal if not excel. 
 
 You will find the world of today, which you are soon 
 to enter, different from that of the past. Just as all 
 creation moves, not one orb stationary for a moment, 
 so moves the moral and intellectual atmosfere in which 
 we liv. Last century's knowledge, beliefs and condi- 
 tions are in good part alreddy of the past. We today 
 attach increast importance to what a man actually does, 
 and much less to what he believs, becaus we know that 
 no man can control his beliefs. We look to what he 
 does becaus we know he is in this department a responsi- 
 ble agent. He can control action. We may therefore 
 look forward to the formation of a general concensus of 
 opinion upon many subjects upon which we hav hith- 
 erto differd. The day approaches when men, drawn 
 together in one brotherhood, are to cooperate in one 
 common faith, in many fields where they hav hitherto 
 stood apart, the only test of character being not what is 
 theoretically believd, but what is actually performd. 
 
 I hope, students of Aberdeen University, you will 
 ponder over this and resolv that in your day you will 
 hold fast to conduct as the only true test of your obliga- 
 tions, leaving to your generation its beliefs as free as 
 the air, as being often mere guesses at insoluble prob- 
 lems. This audience embraces many adults, men and 
 women whose white hairs betoken full maturity. From 
 
 17 
 
their point of view the contrast between what was and 
 what is is greater than ever it has been in ages past, for 
 our world has changed in the last century more than 
 perhaps it ever did before in many ages, and this 
 advance has been markt in both fysical and mental 
 sferes. Steam and electricity hav transformd the fysi- 
 cal world. Darwin's "Origin of Species," Adam 
 Smith's "Welth of Nations" and other modem classics 
 revealing startling discoveries hav changed our concep- 
 tions. The spred of general education, in which Scotland 
 was pioneer, beginningwith the erly law requiring parents 
 to educate their children, and John Knox's resolv that 
 there should be a school in every parish in Scotland,— an 
 example which all our race hav followd — , these and other 
 advances hav really revolutionized human life upon the 
 erth. Even the white heds of this audience cannot but 
 share the feeling of the students that they are entering 
 upon changeable days and that many new problems 
 press upon them. Venerable old China, the most popu- 
 lous nation by far, and until recently the most closely 
 wedded to ancient customs, has at one stroke emerged 
 from ancient hereditary traditions and is today a 
 Republic founded upon the will of the people, one man's 
 privilege every man's rite. These changes are all to be 
 warmly welcomed. Man has from the first been slowly 
 upon the upward march. He was created with an in- 
 stinct for ascension, and in our age he seems to be flying 
 upward and onward. He is becoming master of the ele- 
 ments and of all knowledge, and we find what Confucius 
 said twenty-five hundred years ago is being confirmd : 
 
 18 
 
"There being education, there can be no distinction of 
 classes." From presidents, emperors and kings to the 
 educated workman, all are equally fellow-citizens. We 
 must expect, therefore, no cessation in the march upward 
 to equality of citizenship. Hereditary rank is doomd, 
 becaus unjust, nor can we nor should we expect the 
 present unequal accumulations of welth to endure. 
 The cooperativ system of production, with its thousands 
 of owners, is the entering wedge. In the United States 
 Steel Corporation there are today more than 30,000 
 workmen shareholders and the number is rapidly in- 
 creasing. Here lies, I believ, the true and final solution 
 of the problem — capital and labor pulling together in 
 the same boat as joint owners. 
 
 Adam Smith lays down the doctrin that man should 
 contribute to the State in proportion to his ability to 
 do so. The Shylock of old, as you may remember, was 
 required to obey the law which decreed that "one-half 
 of his hoard goes to the privy coffers of the State." 
 "The Gospel of Welth," republisht here more than 
 twenty years ago, declared that the modem Shylock 
 should be required to do no less. While an income tax 
 during life may have some serious but still not over- 
 whelming objections, there is no objection whatever to 
 one-half of the millionaire's hoard being taken by the 
 State at his deth. 
 
 One cannot but wish his days mite be prolonged to 
 see the new world that is to emerge from the present 
 encouraging agitation. But let us be thankful we can 
 repose in the positiv belief that whatever form changes 
 
 19 
 
may take, that only can endure which is found best, 
 after experience, for the vast majority of our successors. 
 One of the most desirable features in this movement 
 is that it tends to draw our own race closer together. 
 All English-speaking men thruout the world are adopt- 
 ing those mesures which hav been found beneficial after 
 trial in other parts of the Empire. The valuation and 
 proper city taxation of land according to value, for 
 example, which you hav recently adopted in some 
 degree, is the rule wherever English is spoken. Your 
 system of plural voting, which you are about to abolish, 
 one man with a dozen votes, is unknown in any part 
 of the Empire. It would not be tolerated for a 
 moment. Equal electoral districts is the rule in 
 all English-speaking lands except here with you. 
 Unequal districts would not be tolerated, becaus all 
 citizens are equal under the law. Of hereditary legis- 
 lators you enjoy a complete monopoly, which your fel- 
 lows of the other lands, however, in one sense, enjoy 
 also, they are so amusing. The law of primogeniture is 
 unknown wherever English is spoken except here at 
 home. It would be considerd unfair that one son 
 should hav more than the other children. Equal dis- 
 tribution is the rule under the law. In like manner in 
 every land settled by our race all religions are equally 
 fosterd, none favord beyond another. Your com- 
 peers thruout the world cannot understand how any 
 citizen can uphold or tolerate unequal treatment of his 
 fellows in this sacred domain. The English-speaking 
 man in all lands except here in the old home insists upon 
 
 20 
 
giving to men of all religious sects the privileges he 
 himself enjoys. There is no State church. All churches 
 are equally her children. This tends to merge all 
 into one brotherhood. 
 
 While I hav mentiond mesures in which the old 
 home is behind her colonies, you are to be congratulated 
 upon being in advance of all in respect to old age pen- 
 sions, a noble mesure and one which we on the other 
 side may some day hav to follow, but so far the need 
 has not arisen. 
 
 My object in directing attention to the rapid 
 changes which hav occurd is to impress upon you that 
 these are not only inevitable but salutary, since they 
 are bringing our race thruout the world to a common 
 standard, making us a homogeneous and, I believ, irre- 
 sistible agency for the wise, becaus progressiv, govern- 
 ment of man, ever tending to equality of citizenship. 
 So far from the new conditions created from time to 
 time being dangerous, they are progressiv; not revolu- 
 tionary, but evolutionary, the last stage being better 
 than what it displaced. The cheering fact is that our 
 race everywhere is marching side by side, each part giv- 
 ing of its best to the other parts, and in some important 
 fields is leading the whole world in the march upward 
 and onward. 
 
 Not only hav conditions of life upon erth been 
 greatly improved, as the result of increast knowledge 
 and invention, but men's views of human life itself hav 
 been enlarged. 
 
 Insted of believing that man was created perfect but 
 
 21 
 
predestind to retrograde and fall, we now know that 
 thru countless ages man was developt in due course 
 from the lower orders of life and endowd by a law of his 
 being with an instinct for development, ever upward 
 and onward. Hence, we alreddy see and know men and 
 women, pure, holy and unselfish, ever aiding their less 
 fortunate fellows, happy only in promoting the good of 
 others, self subordinate to the common good. These 
 are they who set us the example we should follow. 
 There seems no limit to man's future development, 
 even here on erth, progress being the law of our 
 being. 
 
 We note a decided change in our generation in the 
 direction of making our present home, in which all our 
 duties lie, more and more hevenly than it has been in 
 the past. 
 
 Much has been said in past centuries about serving 
 God, who needs no aid from us. We can render him no 
 needed servis, hence there is appearing more general 
 acceptance of the doctrin that "the highest worship of 
 God is servis to man," and that the best and surest 
 way to deserv heven in an after life, is to make our 
 present home as much as possible a heven here upon 
 the erth. 
 
 Heven our home has its counterpart in home our 
 heven, so that while still living in the one we may taste 
 the joys of the other. 
 
 We are turning more and more to the gospel reveald 
 by Abou Ben Adhem when to the angel he said: "What 
 ritest thou?" "The names of those who love the 
 
 22 
 
Lord." "And is mine one?" The angel said: "Not 
 so." Ben Adhem spoke more low, yet cheerily said: 
 
 "I pray you then, rite me as one who loves his fellow men." 
 The angel wrote and vanisht, but next nite came with a 
 
 great awakening lite 
 And showd the names whom God loved best, and lo! Ben 
 Adhem's led all the rest. 
 
 Let us ever bear in mind the text — "Inasmuch as ye 
 hav done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, 
 ye hav done it unto me." 
 
 Surely he who best servs his fellows here in the 
 present upon erth must be best fitted for the future; 
 laboring to make here a heven upon erth seems the 
 best possible preparation. When I traveld round the 
 world in my erly years and began in China the study of 
 Confucius, a great flood of lite flasht upon me which 
 has never ceast to shine. That great teacher of old 
 left to us this message — "To perform the duties of this 
 life well, troubling not about the other, is the prime 
 wisdom." 
 
 Let us rejoice that we are privileged to liv in this 
 century and see before our eyes the mitey strides man is 
 taking toward the better day, which encourages us to 
 believ that even perfection may be finally reacht upon 
 this erth. 
 
 In conclusion, looking into your youthful faces, I 
 cannot refrain from asking myself "How can I tell you 
 what is most important for you to know? " Surely this : 
 
 The chiefest gem that mortal time affords is spotless reputation; 
 That away, men are but painted cloth or gilded clay. 
 
 23 
 
Beware thou character, for it is true we hav to giv 
 an account of everything said or done. This is all, 
 as it were, automatically registerd; no escape possible. 
 There is abroad a dangerous and misleading interpreta- 
 tion of the doctrin of forgivness, but true it is we weav a 
 web and no one ever can weav a perfect one. There will 
 be some "slips" in the best and these pass into the web 
 and mar perfection. Our web can never be as perfect 
 as if we had not errd, for every act, every word we 
 utter, every thot we harbor, affects character, as every 
 thred affects the web of life we all are weaving. 
 
 "The Eternal Law knows not wrath nor pardon; utter-true 
 Its mesures mete, its faultless balance weighs. 
 Do rite — it recompenseth; do one wrong — 
 The equal retribution must be made, 
 Though DHARMA tarry long. 
 
 Take not too seriously the solem view of life on erth 
 here presented. Webs are not rejected even if they are 
 not perfect; no web is so; let us all, however, resolve to 
 do our best to make the web we are weaving as nearly 
 perfect as we can and then rest in the sublime faith that 
 all is well since all grows better. 
 
 Students of Aberdeen University, I thank you for 
 the great honor you hav conferd by electing me your 
 Rector. My head and heart go out to you. Valuable, 
 honord, long and happy lives be yours, one and all. 
 
 24 
 
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