Morning herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1837-1840, 1837-07-21


buiding-whie the outside was balhed in the clear
mondays sum- and perfumed with the western
breezes from the orchards of New Jersey
At 10 o'clock the procession was formed IN wash
ingion Square, beneath The canopy Of bright heaven,
and surrounded with the young trees of that place of
beauty. In few minutes all were in their places, IN
the interior Of the beautiful Gothic Chapel OF the Uni
yersity, surrounded with all the beauty and fashion
now in town, besides several strangers of distinction,
among whom we saw the Attorney General of the
United States
II was an interesting and remarkable scene-in an
Interesting and remarkable place-before an interest
inc and remarkable audience. The Chapel of the
University is unique. Belonging TO the Presbyterian
order of pety the elegance and beauty of the apart
ment designed, partly from the mystic truths Of
Christianity, and partly from the classic mythology
OF ancient Greece. How beautiful are those coloured
windows! Here pairs of naked Cupds, sporting upon
golden clouds, beneath blue skyand there the mys-
tic dove that descended gpon the holy apostles the
great day of the ascension. What a striking emblem
of the peculiar character of the University! An in
slitulion which blends together the poetic religion OF
Christianity the ancient learning of Greece and the
deep philosophy Of the nineteenth century, is sngn-
arly exempifed in the very ornaments that shine in
blue and gold from its antique looking windows.
On the PLATFORM covered with green tea cloth,
the President the Chancellor and all the officers and
professors. Around above, and below, large and
intellectual audience The ladies were extremely
beautiful, and highly pleased.
The services began with prayer, and portion of
the Holy Scriptures. II is an excellent practice-but
unfortunately l could not join it. When looking
round those halls and seeing many pure spirits of
love and Of beauty my heart was nsensby lifted up
with alteration The Holy Virgin, and although the
Rev. Chancellor Matthews may be horror struck at
such an idea, am sure my prayers were heard more
clearly than his, by the pure female spirit that
lodgedx stable at Bethlehem, and fed to Egypt to
avoid the rudeness of Jewish barbarism When sur
rounded by lovely Woman, always adore the Bles-
sed Virgin
The two first orations were excellent and appro-
pirate Master w. F.. Baker spoke the one, Master
John Sheffield, the other. Master Rob. c. Mills, of
NY, then got up and spoke on the " Rich and Poor"
Il was pungent political speech, and some OF the
hits on the present times made the United States At
orney General cover his face with his hands, while
several other political gentlemen looked down to see
if their handkerchiefs were not on the floor.
AT the close the music struck up lively ar-the
pretty girls shook their fragrant rlngets-the old
gentlemen changed leg for the other-and the as
sembled spirits Of the past whispered during the
changes OF the harmony-"ve good"
Mr. w. A. Martin spoke a speech on the "Dtfu-
sion Of knowledge" II seemed to us as if the Attor
ny General sitting in the corner thought that such
thing was unnecessary during the regime of the me-
talc currency One Of these old spirits Of democra
cy, who was sleeping in Iadys tresses walked up,
shook himself and said il a whisper which alone
heard-"the diffusion Of BENTON mint drops is only
wanted"
The music again sweed over the building-the
Cupids on the great southern window appeared TO ut
ter with livelier air-and the Dove descending
shed radiance around.
Mr.. T.. II. Howard spoke poem on "Our Native
Land" What gush Of feeling that woke up in the
soul! "Our Native Landr' Its hills its dales its
rivers its vales its heights its towns lis picturesque
spots.
After this followed Grafton by Mr. II. Frazer, on
the Literature of the Bible" another by George r.
Bacon on EARLY English Writer'S another by George
w. Schuyler on the Poetry Of the Hebrews"-all
well thought, well imagined, and toerably well ex-
pressed. At each interval the beautiful music of the
choir or orchestra relieved the attention and refreshed
the soul.
The whole exhibition appeared 10 be an interesting
singular beautiful and nslloctual affair. The FORMS
emblems, signs, customs, manners languages, ideas,
thoughts feelings, were a strange mixture, collected
from all creeds, tongues and natisns under heaven.
To tho inspired eye Of the imagination, there the
spirits of Socrates and Simeon mixing with those Of
John Knox and John Calvin. Here were the thoughts
of the ancient Hebrews, and there the forms of the
Scottish Prcsbyterians-herc the ideas of classic
Greece, and there the imaginngs Of miserable Judah
On the great southern window as have already de
scrbed is singular mixture # the mysteries of Chris
,ianly, and the mythology of Greece. Yet how often
do these forms and memorials Of past times, escape
attenon1 The orations were nothng-the prayers
no,hing-the forms nothing-the Rev. Chancellor
nothng-the students nothing -nothng-nothing at
all. / felt nothing for them. Had they been sepa-
rated from the beautiful females with their rosy
checks and enthusiastic faces, l could only have
looked upon them with the eye Of CENSOR of a mo
rast, of satlrist, keen the SIMEON Of the DESERT
and cutting the pestience Of the To the beau
,ifu naked Cupids making love in the window-,o the
emblem Of Philosophy putting the devil to death
with broad sword-to the sweet music from tn,
sublime orgap-and above all, TO the sweeter looks
and interesting appearance Of the many beautiful
very beautiful ladies there assembled-s the Univer
sity Of New York indebted, for saving them from on
of the severest cuttings up they have ever imagined