Beale, Dorothea, 1831-1906; Cheltenham Ladies' College -- History; Teachers -- England -- Biography
‘With no feeling of exultation should we meet to-day, my
children. Those of us who have long laboured at the work
are indeed grateful that we have been permitted to see its
accomplishment, but we are also deeply sensible that every
increase of influence means an increase of responsibility;—that
he who had five talents was required to bring other five.
With larger numbers there is a stronger sense that we are a
collective power for good or evil. And shall we doubt which is
stronger? We dare not be so faithless. There is such a mighty
prevailing power in the spirit of earnest devotion, that when
only two or three are gathered together in His Name, for work
as well as for prayer, His power is felt. What a power might we
be for good if we were His disciples _indeed_.
‘Some say our school is Church-like. I am glad, for Churches
are built to remind us that God is not far away, but very
near to us, and this is the thought which should keep us from
evil and fill us with gladness. May His Presence be seen in
this house, seen in the lives and hearts of His children: May
they remember that they, too, form one spiritual building.
As each stone stands here in its appointed place, resting on
one stone, supporting others; so are we a little community, a
spiritual building; each is placed in her own niche, each has
her appointed place, appointed by the Spiritual Architect; each
is needful for the perfection of His design.
‘May we ever form part of that spiritual building, whose
foundations are laid in faith and obedience. “Whoso heareth
these sayings of mine and doeth them, he is like a man who
laid the foundation and digged deep, and built his house upon
a rock.” St. John wished for one of his converts that he
might “prosper even as his soul prospered.” Let us desire only
such prosperity. Let us ask for true wisdom, for lowliness of
heart, that we may esteem others better than ourselves. Let
us ask, above all, for that most excellent gift of charity,
without which all else is as sounding brass, or a tinkling
cymbal. Something of this spirit of love for one another does
live among us, as we see by those who have come to join their
prayers with ours to-day. I would ask them not to forget us
afterwards, but to remember us when they return to their homes;
and I would fain hope that this bond will last through coming
years, and that the College, though transplanted to a new
place, will always be to you “_the old College_.”’
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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