Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1836-09-01
CFrom the N. York Commercial Advertiser.
WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY.

The annual CONNIE ncement OF this lnstltu-
ton was celebrated at the Methodist Episco-
pal church in Mddlctown, Conn, on Wednes-
day last. At 10 o'clock, A. Nj. the process
sion was formed Mt the College building,
preceded by band Of music, whence they
marched to the church. On arriving at the
door, the students who headed the procession,
divided to the right aud left, and the faculty,
trustees. visitors, and patrons of the college
passed through the ranks, all uncovered, and
took their seats upon the platform. The
ladies who were in attendance, and to whom
The privilege of access to the church had been
exclusively granted almost filled the bull
ding, with the exception of the seats reserved
for the students; and the doors being thrown
open, the aisles and every part of the house
became thronged by deeply interested null
titude. After prayer by the Rev. professor
Holdich, the exercises proceeded, and were
concluded with prayer by the Rev. Mr.. Rich
ey, of Canada.
The young gentlemen, fifteen in number,
who obtained the bachelors degree, acquitted
themselves in manner highly honorable to
the institution and their own industry. This
is true of them all, though especial gratiiica-
ton was visible in every countenance, and
strong expressions of commentator were
Justly heard at the close of the exercises, in
relation to the addresses of Mr.. Thorpe, o
New York, Mr.. Bannister, of Canton, N. Y.
Mr.. Youngs, of New York, and Mr.. Clarke
! of Maine. The composition, sentiments, anf
, delivery of those several orations gave cvi
dcncc of more than ordinary mrd and schol
arship. But of the valedictory address by
! Mr.. Burrus, of Louisiana, we are constrained
to say that it exceeded in tenderness and
pathos, in simplicity and power, any similar
effort to which we ever listened. Every
heart responded to the emotions which the
speaker felt, and scarcely an eye withheld
the tribute of tears which his pathetic appeal
rrosistbly drew forth.
In the absence of president Fisk, who is
still in Europe, the degrees were conferred
by the acting president, professor Smith.
|, In the announcement of the honorary de-
grees, we were gratifed to learn that no
doctorate had been conferred, the indiscrimi-
nate distribution of that degree of late, as we
aitcrward learned, having called forth gen.
eral objection to making any more ID. DIS for
! the present. The degree of A. Nj. was hon.
orarily and worthily conferred on DIR. A
! Means, Of Georgia, and Rev. Matthew Rich
i Icy, of Coburg, U. c., and number of the
I alumni Of the institution were also created
/ masters of arts, according to the usage of col
! leges.
i We were much pleased with the genera
i appearance of the class, and still more wher
we learned that this university is rapidly in
creasng in the number Of its pupils, as wei
as in its facilities for thorough Instruction.
/ The truly magnificent telescope recently i'm
ported, as well as the extensive and costl,
electric, electromagnetic, and other phlo
sophcal and chemical apparatus, and the val
liable additions to the library Of the college
i of foreign learned publications, and the yer,
large and growing cabinets of minerals
shells, aud rare specimens ofthc works of ma
ture, must very much augment the attractions
to students which this institution has Away
4 presented.
j The return Of the Rev. Dr. Fisk in expect
ed in October, when the strength of the fac
uty will be increased by his valuable labors
and it mus: be gratifying 10 the friends Of tb
institution to learn, that though the universit.
has been deprived of his presence and influ
ence during the last year, the excellent dis
! ciplne of the college, and the thorough train
/ ing Of the classes are alike honorable to tn
acting president and faculty, and 10 the instl
tuition itself.