doing evil with greater energy, subtlety, and success. Animate yourselves with a passion for the public good. Resist deceit and covetousness. Be firm and frank but respectful and dutiful to those who are in power. Be long-suffering to the poor and weak. The cause of the higher European learning is entrusted to your keeping. You might bring it to disgrace. But I doubt not that you will carry it to higher honour.
THIRTEENTH CONVOCATION.
(By George Smith, M.D., L.R.C.S.E.)
"But chiefly the mould of a Man's Fortune
is in his own hands."—Lord Bacon.
Graduates in Arts and Law,—Gentlemen, it is said that in the practice of some ancient Continental Universities, Practice of Continental Universities. it was at one time the custom to present the Medical Graduate, on the day in which he took his degree, with a ring, a barette, an open and a shut book. The ring typified the solemn espousals of the young Graduate to his profession. The barette or cap indicated his consecration as a priest of science. The open book symbolised the things already taught him, and the closed volume was the significant emblem of that larger extent of knowledge which, thenceforward, it was to be the business and labour of his life to acquire.
Not in types and symbols, however significant, but by solemn promises have you this day accepted the responsibilities of your present position; promises which espouse you to your profession; which consecrate you priests of science; and which pledge you to a "daily life and conversation" befitting your position as the members of this University.
To each of the questions put to you by the noble Chancellor of this University you have replied, this assembly being witness, "I do promise." May I entreat of you to realise the extent of the obligations you have taken upon you, and often in after-life to pause and reconsider their terms of solemn import.
The position which you have now attained as members of this University is one, which, with distinguished honors carries correlative duties and responsibilities, and I stand here before you this day as the representative of the Senate of the University, to impress that fact upon your minds, and to encourage as well as advise you to conduct yourselves henceforward
