University anniversaries

Jubilee celebrations 1902

Speech by Sir Samuel Griffith, 30 September 1902

The official reception of guests and presentation of addresses was held at 3.00pm on 30 September 1902 in the Great Hall.

Considerable interest attached to the speech of Sir Samuel Griffith, GCMG, MA, Chief Justice and Lieutenant-Governor of Queensland, who spoke, as a successful man-of-affairs, of the value of an University training as a preparation for an active interest in the affairs of life. He said: -

Speech

I desire first of all to thank the governing body of the University for inviting me to be present on this occasion. I thank them for remembering me. I have been living now for many years in a part of Australia which is unfortunately almost a terra incognita for many people in New South Wales, though we there pride ourselves on knowing a good deal about you. I have felt some difficulty in considering from what point of view I should presume to address such an audience on such an occasion. I cannot exactly speak from the academic point of view, for, though I have the honour of being one of the oldest graduates of this University, I have never taken any part in its academical affaire, and have never even had the privilege of being present at a meeting of convocation. It occurs to me that I am better fitted to say a word or two on University affairs regarded from a somewhat different standpoint, not from the inside of the University regarding it subjectively, but from the point of view of one who has had the advantage of a University education, and has been in the world a not unobservant person, seeing what has been going on around him in the States of Australia.

I should like to say a word or two on the Universities of the States, and how they are regarded by a large number of people in Australia. And, first, let me say, there is not a man in this building, or in Australia, who is more deeply indebted to a University training for any success he may have attained than myself. Whatever I have been able to do in the world I attribute almost entirely to the good fortune that brought me within these walls in the days when Dr. Woolley was Principal of the University. There are many people outside who ask what is the good of a University, and particularly from the point of view of the humanities, or the classical side. The notion is that young men, or young women, as it is now, go to a University, where they learn a certain number of facts, which they retain in their memory long enough to pass the necessary examination - or fail at it: They then go away and, to a great extent, forget all these facts. And people say, 'What is the use of his learning a little Latin, perhaps some Greek; he has forgotten it all. How much better is he to the community than if he had never been there?' That is a way of regarding the matter which is very common. I know it, because I come from a State where there is no University, and I know all the arguments that have been used about the expenditure of money to give a higher education, as it is said, to a few persons. There is a great deal of truth in that criticism. After all, what a man learns at the University is comparatively little. I myself must have learned a great number of facts when I was here, because I passed a great many examinations, and I am certain that of all those facts I scarcely retain any. Yet I say there is no man who went through these halls who is more indebted to the University than I am. Why? I will tell you why. It is not the learning of the facts, and the committing of them to memory, that is the real good. That is to say, they are merely a means to an end, as in the case of the training of the athlete. No man when he leaves the University is a properly-educated man. When Dr. Woolley was here we were all expected to know a certain amount of Greek. There was one word which was a favourite with him. It was the Greek word oirou&uo which means 'earnest' and 'thorough'; and if I usefully learned any lesson here, it was mot the Greek and Latin words, or mathematics, or science; but I had this very firmly impressed on my mind, that the duty of a man in the world is to be earnest and thorough in all he does. I claim to have learned that lesson, though I do not profess to be able to practise it. It is said that you can learn that just as well without going to a University. I am not so sure that you can. You can read it in books, and hear it preached in churches, but the daily influence of men like Woolley and Badham is the great benefit, to my mind, of a University as a national institution, as an element in national life, entirely apart from the mere scientific or practical side of it. In those days the University was not so richly endowed as it is now - though it might do with some more money even, now - but still I have been surprised to see the amount of work done with the limited means; and it has no need to be ashamed of the men it turned out. Of the men on the scientific side there is no need to speak. We know their value in the northern parts of Australia at any rate.

There is another aspect of University affairs as they affect the public. The late Dr. Creighton (Bishop of London), one of the most distinguished prelates who has adorned the bench for many years, lately said: 'The great defect in English life at the present time is the failure to apprehend the importance of knowledge in itself, and as an element in the national life.' If that is true of England, with all its Universities, all its culture, and with all the culture that is expected from every man who attempts to take any prominent part in the affairs of the country, I venture to say from some observation of the affairs of Australia - and I have had many opportunities - that if the criticism is applicable to England, it is twofold more applicable to Australia. The great defect in Australian life is the want of apprehension of the value of knowledge in itself. When it comes to the exact sciences, everyone admits the importance of knowledge. You would not employ a surgeon unless you thought he had a competent knowledge of anatomy. You would not employ a metallurgist - or they would not in Queensland - unless they were sure he had a knowledge of the subject. Even in what may be called the more material and less scientific branches of affairs, such as commerce, knowledge is appreciated. Who is the successful merchant? The man who makes himself acquainted with all the material facts, and applies his mind thoroughly to them. When you turn to the more abstract arts, shall I say to the highest art of all, the art of governing - for the art of governing is the highest art of all, and affects the welfare of more human beings than any other - is it a matter of fact or not that the public expects to find competent knowledge on the part of persons who undertake the duty, a knowledge of the nature of the duty they have undertaken, and of the necessary facts. I fear not. But, after all, knowledge is not enough of itself, without an intelligent application of it.

There is throughout Australia a want of accuracy in thought, a carelessness of expression. That is one of the great defects of the people; the work is done, but it is done after a fashion, and no one seems to think it is his duty to do his very best, and not be satisfied until he has done his best. Each thinks, 'Oh, that is near enough, it is as good as the other fellow did it, and no one ought to be dissatisfied.' Those are the lessons I used to learn - earnestness and thoroughness in the great duties of life. I believe these great lessons can only be taught effectually in a University, and by the men engaged there in teaching. It is because I believe in the importance of recognising the truth of the words which I have just quoted from the mouth of Dr. Creighton - the importance of knowledge, of an intelligent, thorough, and exact application of knowledge in all branches of human affairs - that I have said these few words. I speak from the standpoint of one who, having himself had the inestimable privilege of education in this University, has since had the opportunity of observing how public affairs are carried on. It may be that what I have said is not applicable to New South Wales; I fear it is. It is applicable to most parts of Australia at any rate. We see men who with the best intentions, but with an imperfect knowledge, try to perform their duty. They are inadequately equipped for the purpose because of their imperfect knowledge. It appears to me they are undertaking a task very much like that of making mortar without lime.

I believe the greatest and most useful lesson that can be taught in any University is the lesson of thoroughness and earnestness, thoroughness in the acquisition of knowledge and earnestness in its application. If the public understood that the probable effect of a University education would be to equip men in that way for the great duties of life, there would be very little said against the establishment of the University or its liberal endowment. It is all very well to say, as some people do, that a democracy prefers to be governed by the ignorant. It does not prefer to be governed by the ignorant any more than does anyone else. It desires to be led by its best men. We are a democracy here, if ever there was a democracy in the world, and we are likely to be one. Let the leaders be the best men. Although there have been many distinguished men on the rolls of this University, there are not so many in public life as I should like to see. You have had some here; we have had some in the north. You have supplied two Supreme Court Judges to New South Wales, three to Queensland, a Premier to Australia, more than one to Queensland, but in the Legislature the number of graduates of the University is fewer than I should wish. May I suggest to the graduates that they should endeavour by their conduct in life to lead the public to believe that, whether they have devoted themselves to the arts or the sciences at this University, the effect of University training has been to make them fitter men for conducting the affairs of the country, and for leading their fellows. Then they will be doing good service, both to the University and to their country.

I desire heartily to join in the congratulations which have been offered to you by so many Universities throughout the world.