The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1851-08-27
Commencement Week.

commencement week.
The exercises Of Tuesday and Welncs-
day passed Oft very sgreeably, and the occs.
sion was one of more than ordinary interest.
Fewer of the Alumni of the College we're
present, perhaps, than 10 some former years
and between this and the lsss, the contrast
was, Of course. very marked--yet the num.
Der in attendance was good and the house
was crowded, during the exercises, with an
unusually large audience,
On the afternoon of Tuesday, the usual
Addresses we're delivered before the Philo-
matheslSn ard Ph'lsdelphian Societies. I he
rhilomathesian Addre" was pronounced by
Rev. Henry N. HUDsos, widely known
as lecturer on Shakespeare, and now cler-
gyman in Boston, We have rarely seen a
more attentive audience than during tho dc,
livery Of this discourse. The subject, as
nearly as VIC can define it, was, Il Operation,
tho measure and test Of truth" MIR. Hun
SON remarked that the question What is
truth ?" was asked many years ago, BY one
who did not wish an answer, and cared little
to wait for one. The question has been con
saully repeated, BY men who were eager TO
get correc, reply, and were willing to stay
long for q response. lie proceeded to show
and illustrate the impossibiIity of arriving at
the essence and nature Of truth, and dis
claimed all attempts 10 answer the question,
in any sucl sense. Some Of the means of
arriving at knowledge Of truth, the paths
and the finger posts, were all that he aimed
to present. Truth could not be arrived at
by delving in ones own consciousness, or by
spinning fne.wrouaht systems from ones
BRAN, wi,hou, reference tie experience and
10 facts. He happily, and in an acute and
-'-;L;-r ---"-., ai-.''ain,l this point by the
examples Of the Schoolmen, and Of Lord
Bacon. What held true Of Natural Science,
wa. -l-n .-.,n NJ E,h;~. ond pL;i~--rL,
That alone was truth, which would bear the
test Of tdcts--of practical application and
experience. Thi, opinion be developed with
variety of forciblc and brilliant illustra-
tons, Characteristic Of the better efforts of
the speaker. lie spoke without dogms,ism
or conceit, hut in tone Of honest sincerity
and conviction, that added much to the eff
feet Of his firely written discourse. Our
hasty glance at its import and spirit gives NJ
adequate idea, we sre aware, of the style or
method Of this producton-if it does, indeed
Of its aim and scope. We hope to see it in
print, erelone, as we know it will he sought
after BY large numbers Of readers, beside,
those who heard it, and will add to the lite
rary reputation Of its author.
The Address before the Philadelpnian So.
eiety was delivered by Rev. JosArHAs
BLANCHARD, D. D., President Of Knox
College, Galesburg, III. 1t was production
of much depth and powet-showing ureat
analytical capabilities in the writer, and a
keen. vigorous mind. The subject wa,
" Principle" We find il difficult to give
any general idea Of its treatment, in man.
ner that would be at all just TO the speaker.
DR.. BLAscnARDs faculty Of illustration and
comparison is very great, and some Of tue
most striking parts Of his discourse belon :
under this head, and were not of nature
to bear transcription or abstract. Iii.
higher law" views, which we're briefly in.
iimated, and 10 no obtrusive manner. were
somewhat in contrast 10 doctrines laid 10 WI
in the discourse that preceded. In some
particulars, Or BLANCHARD las decided
procliyity to Radicslism, as has Mr.. IIuDsos
to Conservatism.
The graduating class nsmbered fifteen
Their exercises were Of more than average
merit, taken together, an Two of tho ora
: ms were among tho best we have evei
heard on similar occasion. We refer "a
that of Mr.. BoARBNAS, characterized b,
the most entire unity, and clearness ant
visor Of analysis and combination, that dc
serve special mention and also, to that O
Mr.. CHURCHILL, the biilliance and force O
which were not lost in some what too rapit
and nervous delivery. We might make hon
orable mention Of others. scarcely inferior Il
tho Last, and possibly superior, in the mind
OF better judges, but we forbear. The ordc
of tho exercises Of Commencement prOpe
was as follows:
/. CRATIC SALUTATORA
L. S. PEARsoS, Bdrfon
2. The Influence 81 Puritxnism in pro
noting the Cause Of Civil LiheFty.
s. ALBEE. Ldng'Icn, " IA
3. Concentration, ~ Principle OF Ac
ton. W. BIaELow, Cheste,
4. The Unity Of Truth.
s. w. BoARDMAS, Js., Cdsflsfo,
3. The Frenehman', Ideas Of Liberty.
@. p. CHlSIS, Ogiensburg, " J
6. Admiration. not Appreciation.
.-.,. r. Fl CHUHcHiLI, NOoers, ~ J
7. Policy.
d. DussxonE, Huntingdon, C. Z
8. Life.
.-.. P.s KEEP, Cranky. C. u
8. individual Economy.
A. j. Lose. Rmland
So POEM. The Transient and the Per
aaaSeat.
A!C. BAEER, Middle Granville. ". y
~. TIE Tendency 10 Equality. and ia
fleets Ia the United States.
L. LOWELL. Bristol
IL Loyalty.
AP NoRrHRoP, Cdsflekon