AT 10 o'clock, A. M., the Board of Trustees, the members of the College Faculty, and invited guests, assembled on a platform at the east front of ANTIOCH HALL, while an immense concourse of spectators gathered in a semicircle below. After music, by the Springfield band, and a prayer by Rev. WM. LANE, the Rev. JOHN PHILLIPS, having three costly-bound Bibles on the table before him, addressed the President elect, as follows:

MR. PRESIDENT;

      I speak in behalf of the donors of these Bibles. In the name of the Great God, I present them to you as the Constitution of the World. I pray that you, and those under your care, may be guided by their heavenly teaching, and made better by their counsels.

      This book is presented by the ladies of Bethany Church, Warren county, Ohio; [3]

      This book, by the ladies of Fellowship Church, Warren county, Ohio;

      This book, by Messrs. J. & E. Syfers of Jamestown, Ohio.

      These you will please to accept for the benefit of the Institution over which you are about to preside.

      REVEREND SIR;

      I have been deputed by the authorities of Antioch College to accept these Bibles in their behalf, and to request you to convey their warm and hearty thanks, to the several donors, for a gift so beautiful and appropriate.

      Did time and the occasion permit, I might give myself free scope to enumerate and enlarge upon the grand characteristics and prerogatives of this volume of the Sacred Scriptures; I might speak of the venerableness of its antiquity; of the sublimity of its eloquence; of the splendor of its poetry, whose words shine out as though precious stones had been scattered over the page; of its touching pathos; of its precepts and examples of wisdom and truth, and its [4] inspirations of devotion and love; but in this pressure and urgency of the hour, it seems more fitting that I should, so far as I am able, accumulate all excellences in one phrase, concentrate all eulogiums into a single expression; ay, sweep the horizon of time, and of eternity too, gathering their glories into one refulgent blaze, and say, that it is a book which contains the truths that are able to make men wise unto salvation.

      This book has been subjected by men to many diverse interpretations, and made to speak with most discordant tongues. Rightly interpreted, rightly understood, rightly received, it is confessedly the most precious book ever put into the hands of man. It imparts guidance for life and consolation in death, wisdom for time and hope for eternity. But, falsely interpreted, falsely understood, and falsely received, it has been perverted into the means of inflicting the direst calamities upon the human race,--civil wars, ecclesiastical tyrannies, bloody persecutions, the hatred of Cain, and the cruelty of Herod, and such darkness of the human soul as is blacker than total blindness of the human eye.

      For the true interpretation of by far the greater and more essential part of this book, we need only a common degree of intelligence, a [5] conscience void of offence, and that fear of the Lord which is the beginning of wisdom. But for the interpretation of some other parts, all forms of knowledge become needed auxiliaries,--scientific, literary, historical, ethical,--philology, philosophy, mathematics, metaphysics, biography, chronology, jurisprudence, government; in fine, a knowledge of all those departments of the universe, including our own bodies and minds, which illustrate and exemplify the power, wisdom, and goodness of God.

      Now, sir, no one knows better than yourself, that a single institution cannot compass all purposes. As our College is not to be a theological or divinity school, we do not propose to inculcate creeds, articles, or confessions of faith; but we do intend, and, with the blessing of God, we do hope, to train our pupils to a practical Christian life, and to make divine thoughts and contemplations become to them, as it were, their daily bread. We mean to administer this College as a literary and Christian Institution, where the mind is to be replenished with knowledge; where the affections are to be trained to duty; where all the faculties of the soul are to be devoted and urged on to the acquisition of truth,--knowing that Truth and God are one,--and where hands shall be made strong and hearts [6] brave, not only in contending for the right. but in contending against the wrong.

      To aid us in this great work, we accept your gift, and may the good providence of God so strengthen and illumine our hands and hearts, that in all our administration of the College, we may be guided by His just and righteous laws, and may never fail to hold before our eyes, for imitation, the pure and spotless example of Jesus Christ. [7]

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