Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1854-06-07

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The week just past witnessed the graduation of
the fty-seyenth and largest class that has left the
halls of our University. The weather was very re-
markable considering the of the year. 1t is
very thing to find visitors at Chaper Hill dur
ing Commencement week covering over fire ; but
for cold north-easterly storm presented a
striking contrast to the bright and swetering days
that usually mark the beginning OF June Taimas
and Cloaks might be where iaces and fans have
hitherto been most common We are glad that the
storm did not begin soon enough to prevent large
attendance of strangers from distance. Those who
live near to Chapel Hill may not have attended the
exercises in their usual numbers but this untmely
visit of chilling Boreas secured the ladies present
more room for the display of their charms in the
Chapel and added elasticity to their movements In
the dance.
The exercises appropriate to the week began with
the sermon of the graduating class. 1t was preach
cd on Monday night by the Rev. Thomas G. Lowe,
of the Methodist Episcopal Church. South. The
subject proffered to the meditation of graduates
derived from Ecclesiastes, CHI. IL: v. 1, Remember
now thy Creator in the days of thy youth" The
duty here enjoined was recommended both as rea-
sonable in creatures and suitable to the young by
consideration of the majesty and attractiveness of
God in all the manifestations of himself, both as
Creator and as Preserver In illustrating his subject
the Rev. Orator fully sustained his reputation of pos
sessing an imagination capable of flights far above
the empyrean in common The weaving of this
into the final exercises of the Senior Glass
at Collegiate Institutions is appropriate trib
ute of respect to the Religion which is the real
strength OF our country. DuC lneu, u DC VI proper
effect it should be managed with great tact and deli
cacy. When as in the present case, this sermon is
preached by minister well known to the audience
before him. when there peculiarities between
him and any considerable portion of the Graduating
Glass; the circumstances attending the delivery may
add much to its tenderness and efficacy. But when
the preacher comes from afar-is known only by
newspaper reputaton-and is selected because of his
oratorical powers, the sermon is degraded into
religious grafton. The audience is collected by
riosity mainly, and is defended from those solemn
and sauary impressions which it should be the ain
of every preacher to leave behind him.
The day of Tuesday chiefly occupied in the
examination of the Senior Class on International
and Constitutional Law, before visiting Committee
of the Trustees. The literary and scientific exami
nations of the other Glasses were held during the
week previous And there is no exercise in our
country which parents, guardians and trustees
should more assiduously attend. There is no man
of ordinary intelligence in our land, unfamiliar as he
may be with the details of the subject of examina-
ton, but what make very correct decision
to the proficiency of the pupils before him. The
students themselves know this, and were they eX
pectng to pass through such ordeal, doubtless
their industry and generous emulation would be
stimulated during the whole session, so that their
proficiency in their studies would be increased, great
ly to the advantage of themselves and Of their
country.
Tuesday evening was occupied by competitors in
defamation selected from the Freshman Glass. The
selections for defamation and the names of the
petitorS follows:
l. Transportation Of 1NitcheA-JouN E. WHAR-
TON, Guilford County.
2 Observation-Disclosures C. THOMPSON, Chapel
Hin.
3 Eulogy on Clay.-ASDREw j. FLANNER, Will
mington.
4 French Aggression.-GEoRGE H. GREGORY,
Washington.
s. Political 4spirants-JonS ANTHONY, Scotland
Neck.
6. Spiritual Rappings-JoHN H. TnL1sGnAsT
l. Irish Aliens and English Observation-Disclosures
ii. HAYLEr, Alabama.
g. The Prospects Of american Literature-NA-
THAN p. WARD, Franklin County.
8. Reform In Gsisti6lc.-HESRY MULLENs, Fayet-
tevle.
These subjects were not all well chosen They had
not heat enough in them to iname the speakers and
of course the audience remained cold. The young
gentlemen acquitted themselves with propriety-
their articulation, sometimes too faint, still al
ways distinct and their gesculaton generally easy.
This exercise must be- peculiarly trying to any
who attempts it, The speeches themselves have Meth
er beginning middle end-they are but quotations.
To suit the delivery to the passage thus quoted
qures no little taste and tact. In general, it too
must be quotation-it must appear if it had
been preceded by something which had wound up
both speakers and hearers to appropriate of
excitement In our country graceful and appropri-
ate defamation is powerful aid to any speech
whether from the stump, the forum, or the pulpit.
10 listen to good thoughts well spoken is of the
greatest luxurcs of the age and to supply this lux
ury should fire the ambition of every generous youth
the competitors of Tuesday, it may be noticed that
Messrs. Gregory Hayley, and Tillinghast attracted
most attention by the hfe-earnestncss and suitable
ness of their delivery. They seemed to feel what
they uttered and to be entirely given up the
munication of their emotions to their audience
Attitudinizng, unnatural Infections of their voice
and STUDIED graceuness of gestures entirely lost
sight of when men are in earnest
On Wednesday morning large audience assem-
bled with expectations much excited to hear the an
nual address to be delivered by the Hon. Aaron v
Brown, lately Governor of Tennessee. Those ex-
pectations have doubtless been realised. The ope-
ming of the address particularly happy and sug-
gestive of profound reflections. Gov. Brown first |
alluded to the fact that it now just forty years
since he had graduated at the University. Then, |
after paying graceful compliment to his Alma |
Mater because of her influence for good upon so |
large portion Of country he called attention |
to the fact that influential men have been edu-
Gated men-men of sterny disciplined faculties If |
denied the benefits of College course still the men,
bowed, had supplied their own necessities they had
educated themselves So it was with Franklin, Ark
wright, Whitney, &c. &c. This part of the address |
was very fine. These remarks introduced the main |
subject of the Orator, viz: the happy and prosper
Gus condition to which whole country has been |
advanced by the labors of its educated men. This
he illustrated at large by referring to its territory,
government, agriculture manufactures, internal inn
provements, and jurisprudence. An affectionate ex-
hortation to the Students before him to pursue the
honorable course brightly marked before them,
closed this interesting address. We hope that the