Bulletin of Catholic University of Peking

CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF PEKING : 25

including the Rector, Dr. O'Toole, the Vice-Rector, Mr. Ch’en Yiian, as well as Messrs. Chang Hsing-lang, Kuo

Ch’ing-shih, and Shen Chien-shih. The -

number of students present exceeded one hundred and sixty.

“At 11:10 A.M., the Rector, Dr. O'Toole, opened the meeting by inviting those assembled to bow three times to the National Flag, after which he requested His Excellency the Minister of Education to address the students. The following is a summary of His Excellency’s speech:

“On this day of the Formal Opening of the Catholic University, I consider myself fortunate in being privileged to attend this memorable meeting as one of the least among so many distinguished guests. Both from what I have heard and from what I have seen, I feel that I can confidently say that this institution can be justly proud of its capable administration and its excellent course of studies. [Cheers.] From the day that I became Minister of Education, my chief desire has been to visit all the Private Universities in the Capital, and to-day marks the first instance of the gratification of this, my long-entertained desire.

“Your Rector, Dr. O’Toole, has done me the courtesy of requesting me to address a few words to you. I fear, however, that you are due to be disappointed in me. For being a man of limited learning, I have no views, either scientific or social, to expound for your instruction. Hence the only advice that I shall venture to give you regarding your academic career is summed up in the homely saying: Do what you are doing! So long as you are students, your one duty is tostudy. Let no other thought than that of self-improvement and the acquisition of knowledge ever occupy your minds. Above all things, you must eschew politics of any description and under any guise.

“On the other hand, you must concentrate your attention upon your duties as students, which are summed up in these three virtues: (1) diligence and application; (2) modesty and economy; (3) reverence and obedience. Some, perhaps, will re-

gard such views as commonplace and oldfashioned, but it is my personal conviction that the key to human perfection and happiness is nearly always found in what is commonplace and old-fashioned.

“T urge you all, therefore, to remember constantly that the students of to-day will be the leaders of tomorrow. Great is your future, and great, too, is your responsibility; for the day shall come when the salvation and regeneration of China will rest largely with you. Spare no effort, therefore, to become worthy of your great vocation and to measure up to the high expectations of your elders.” [dpp/ause.]

‘‘ After His Excellency the Minister of Education, His Excellency, Archbishop Costantini, Delegate Apostolic to China, ascended the platform and spoke at some length on the moral duties of the students. His address, cited in full, appears elsewhere in this issue.

“The Vice-Rector, Mr. Ch’en Yitian, was the next to address the students, the following being a summary of his speech:

“On behalf of the Faculty and the Stu-

dents, I desire to express our sincere grati-

-tude to their Excellencies, The Rt. Hon. Mr.

Liu Chéh and the Most Rev. Archbishop Costantini, for the earnest and valuable advice which they have given to the Students. I am happy, moreover, to note a perfect agreement of ideas between Their Excellencies. Our University, being the youngest educational institution in Peking, has as yet no achievement to its credit either in in the line of scholarship or in that of research. I should like, however, to draw Their Excellencies’ attention to the fact that the various Departments of this University are devoted to the teaching of Philosophy, Literature, and History, subjects which only attract those who seek knowledge for its own sake. Hence I make bold to assure Their Excellencies that our Curriculum is of itself a sufficient guarantee that no budding politicians or self-appointed social reformers will seek to enter this Institution.” [4pplause.]