(The following is a publication of the Archives of Phi Kappa Psi, May 5, 2013.

All footnotes are added for this version. Underlining is by the author. We acknowledge with much thanks the assistance of Anna Mae Moore of the Washington & Jefferson Colleges U. Grant Miller Library and James T. Herron of the Jefferson College Historical Society in Canonsburg, Pa.) By Samuel C. T. Dodd, Jefferson, 1857, Phi Kappa Psi initiate, 1854. VALIDICTORY Delivered before the Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity Jefferson College, Pa., Aug. 1857 As we sweep down the gulf of time many changes come upon us. Forever and ever in the eddies of Fate and Accident we whirl away. Friends must be torn asunder and swept along in the current of events, to see each other seldom and, perchance, no more. But rarely more than once in a lifetime are we forced to leave friends so well known, so truly tried, as we now part from. Connected by a mystic tie, we have lived as Brothers, ever ready to sacrifice our private interests for each others good. No one has ever joined our number who was considered unworthy to be the friend of us all, and, once admitted, he finds us always true. It is hard to part from old associates, even though our connection has not been pleasant. Then, when we look around on this circle of true hearts, the firmest friends of our college days when we look back at the many hours we have spent together and consider the mystic tie that has rendered us worthy of that sacred name Brothers then think that we are to leave this fraternal band that we are looking upon many now whom we shall see no more, our feelings cannot be spoken. We have been impatient to reach the close of our college life. We have been wearied with its sameness and inactivity, and reached forward into the future with unsatisfied longings and aimless desires that were never still. But now that the time has come, although we would not retrace our steps, yet the hours spent here are already clothed in enchantment, and a golden radiance plays around them. We look back at what may now be termed old times at what we would call rich times, but which some, not so romantic as we, may sigh over as wild times and we feel that they are to be laid up in the memory to be dreamed over through life never to be re-enacted. And as we travel on our time-journey and distance dwarfs into invisibility the scenes that once encompassed us, there will remain here, a towering landmark which can never be hidden from our sight. Besides you, Brothers, whom we shall always love, we have found many friends whom we can never forget. Even though differing from us in opinion, their hearts were true, and we shall cherish their memories and think with pride of the happy hours we have spent together in pursuit of the same noble object. Among those with whom we have lived, too, we have found many who could excuse our follies, and reading the deeper feelings of our hearts, endeavor to render attractive 1

our short stay among them. The best and the fairest of them are here, and we are glad to be able to thank them for their kindness to assure them of our affection, and with heartfelt sadness we bid them our last farewell. Brothers who are meeting for the last time in this Fraternity, the present is the beginning of a new life and in our history as distinct as if marked on the dial of the horolage1 of time. We go to see Existence in a comparatively new light to grapple with those giant world-facts the Sphinxes and Dragons of Life, which those who have met them, tell such wonderous stories of. Perhaps we shall not be able to expound their riddles and shall be devoured the Future is mysterious. We are about to separate. Some of us may meet in the worlds paths many of us never more. Different scenes will be around us different objects before us, but memory will often recur to these times, and our names will be cherished in each others hearts. Let us each go bravely forth to accomplish our destiny. Let us live, not conditionally in the Plausible, the Half; but resolutely in the Whole, the Good, the True. Look not mournfully into the Past, it comes not back again. Wisely improve the Present, it is Thine. Go forth to meet the shadowy future without fear and with a manly heart. Endeavor to meet the demands of the age to do all that Duty requires. You have the power strive to wield correctly. The burning thunderbolt of human thought That sends the living light of Truth abroad, And dashes down the towers of force and fraud, And awes the trembling world like oracle of God. Let us not look upon life as a great river that goes seathing2 and roaring by into which we are about to plunge, to struggle unaided, with its billows. We have long been launched on its stream much of our journey is completed. Perhaps its billows are becoming rougher, the prospect more dark. The tide is sweeping us away from our best friends, but we will find others, and the voices of these will come up from the distance in tones of encouragement. The bright drama of our youth may end in disappointment fondly cherished hopes may fade away, but new and unexpected pleasures will arise. Even the strife with difficulties is glorious, and he who acts the Heroes part in life, will be happy in the consciousness of his own independence and resoluteness. We do not leave all our brothers here. Many have gone from this place before us, Yearly from the best institutions of our land, a band of our brothers go into the world to take high stations there. We meet them wherever we journey. They are in our Legislative Halls in the Courts in the sacred desk.3 Their names are known among the learned and the powerful, and wherever we meet one who knows our watchword or wears our badge, we will meet a Brother, ready to aid and encourage us.
1 2 3

An instrument indicating the time of day. Seething could be intended. The reference is unclear.

Farewell, then. Cherish our fraternity, and in pursuance of its glorious aims, so live that Humanity may be drawn nearer in fraternal bonds, and that world-wide Philanthropy, which we all fondly dream, may dawn upon mankind. Brothers who still remain behind us to you we commit the care of our loved Fraternity. In parting from you there is nothing of more importance on which we can speak. We are proud of our organization of her past success and future prospects. We are proud of its objects and shall ever be eager to hear in what manner they are carried out. We have high hopes let us not be disappointed. In the pursuit of literature the affections are apt to be disregarded. Wrapped in solitary contemplation or in wild dreams of ambitions, the student forgets the first great element of true manhood, human love. Our object is to guard against this. While the intellect is being cultivated while the mind is being developed and expanded, we endeavor to cultivate the finer feelings to call forth and preserve in all their purity the fountains of the heart. Cherish well this aim. Never forget the glorious words which Phi Kappa Psi brings to memory, and the meaning we attach to them. Let that word Brotherhood be stamped upon your hearts; and while you cannot admit all into our mystic circle, have friendship for all. Oh, if there is one law above the rest Written in wisdom if there is a word That should be traced as with a pen of fire If there is anything that keeps the mind Open to Angel visits and repels The mninistry of ill tis human love. Let not ambition as Selfishness cause you to lose sight of this principle. Endeavor to gain an eminence that shall command respect But your striving, bet with loving, And your living bet in deed. Let conjugate amicitia, vindicati honore et ducti vero,4 continue to be your motto, not as a mere idle praise, but conform your conduct to it while you reach towards that deeper motto known but to ourselves. Thus shall our fraternity become what its founders designed it and command the respect of all, while each of you shall become greater, better, nobler. But it is time our farewell were spoken. Not with neat phrases and petty sentiments can we express our feelings. There are emotions that cannot be uttered there are thoughts that should not be spoken. Gladly would we part in silence with only a grasp of the hand to show our affection.

The first three lines of the Motto of Phi Kappa Psi United by friendship, sustained by honor, and led by truth, We live and we flourish.

We all cherish a hope of meeting you again. You soon will have this place and may encounter us on lifes devious ways. Be it soon or late, you will find us as fervent as now. There are feelings time cannot destroy. Let us all, took, look upon this place as a Mecca, and to this shrine let us frequently come from the turmoil of busy life, to give the hand of welcome to our new brothers, and the grasp of long and ardent affections to our old associates. Thus shall our hearts renew their youth, and the fraternal bonds will be kept strong and bright. But that sad word nevermore solemn as the moaning night wind knells in our ears, and tells us we cannot all be together again. Ere another occasion like the present has arrived we will be scattered like leaves before the wind. Some of One who, one year ago today mingled with us, binding our hearts to his a talented, learned, and beautiful one has left us forever. 5 Our acquaintance with him was brief our remembrance and love will be lifelong. He sleeps in his own sunny south. May the winds breathe softly oer his grave, and many a tear of sympathy be shed there by those who loved him. Another, known to but few of us here, has gone6, but he was our Brother, and every heart beats sadly when it thinks of him. May it be long before another shall join them in that far off land. We know not the future. Time is encroaching on all of us. We stand amid the roar Of a surf tormented shore And hold within our hand Grains of the golden sand; How few yet how they creep Through our fingers to the deep. Oh God! Can we not grasp Them with a tighter clasp Oh God! We cannot save One from the pittiless wave! Let us then work bravely in the present ere the last sand be run each as Duty directs him. For you, Brothers as well as we that are leaving you have a work to perform. You, too, are struggling in the Life-stream sweeping towards the unknown future. Press onward, undaunted, Would that we might remain together. But Providence directs our course, and we leave you; glad amid the sadness of parting that we ever met. Farewell.

5 6

Identity unknown. Identity unknown