Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1854-08-25
DEFERRED ARTICLES.
Commencement

AND .SEMI-CENTENNIAL CELEBRATloN or
THE UNIVERSITY OF BURLINGTON.
The following account of it is by cores
pondent of the New York Tribune:
BuRLINGroN, Aug. 2, 1854.
The occasion was more than usually in
teresting from the fact of. being celebra-
ton e the Fiftieth Anniversary Of Com
mcncrment, and a half century having elaps
cd since the first class graduated. The ex-
ere SEES of the week commenced with Bac-
calaurcale sermon from the President of the
University, in the Unitarian church, Sabbath
afternoon. President Smith always says
something good when he speaks. He is a
very sound man and excellent scholar, and
his sermon ON this occasion was character
lied by deep thought, fervent pety and
much feeling for the young men who were
about to take their diplomas and go out into
the world to seek their fortunes. The ad.
dress was listened TO with much interest by
a very large and intelligent audience.
On the evening Of the same day dis
course was delivered before the society fol
Religions Inquiry, in the Congregational
Church, by the Rev ID. J. Moves, ID. d., Of
Dartmouth College. His subject was the
Gospel of Christ, and most adrol,ly and elo-
uuNHtil utot IT. tiuhl UuDuDut nt
confined the Gospel within limits altogether
too narrow, but it must be confessed he ad-
yocssed his own peculiar views with much
ability, and made an eloquent argument upon
his side Of the question. recollect reading
several years ago some sermons upon the
same subject written by DIR. Claiming, who
gave much more scope TO the gospel than
this speaker seemed willing to allow it, but
1oarnoI noat1ra do g., 4
this is not the time, nor the columns of The
Tribune the place, 10 discuss the question.
Tuesday forenoon, Aug. I, the Alumni
and Literary Societies celebrated the fifti-
eth anniversary Of Commencement in the
Unitarian Church. A very large coDpreea.
ton assembled and crowded the church "a
OVERLOOKING Doctor Wheeler. formerly
President Of the University, gave a history
of the College for the last half century. Il,
early and humble beginning among the pin,
trees and stumps upon the hill !; its sever,
struggles for an existence, is successes an,
misfortunes and its present prosperity. Tn
learned doctor made his discourse exceed
ingly interesting with some occasional flash
ings OF true eloquence.g
lie was followed by ]. r. Spalding, ESQ
of your city, lson of DIR. James Spaldine
@Nss~f~~sf~'f ~ "htot cuuItBb was Italll
mastery performance, such a one as is no
often heard before any literary society.-
He discussed variety of topicr, and adyo
Gated true and not sham democratic princi
Piles, walking square up 10 The mark an,
showing boldness and irankness not at al
characteristic Of the demsgogue. Square
toed aud fat-footed. he marched boldly ;
the work. and utterly repudiated the doc
Urine Of the divine right of kings. Althoug
be hated revolutions, he hated still NOR
intensely the causes of revolution -gyin
demsgogues and trading politicians mos
severe dressing, and fully recognizing III
rights Of conscience and the higher law.
was powerful discourse, admirably write
and eIoqaently delivered. In the closip
part he paid beautiful tribute to Christian
ity--showiEg her divine form in her tru
robes, and portraving her power and lowell
ness IL simple but most eloquent language
confess have never heard the spirit Of tn
New Testament more beautifully and elc
quen,ly described in any public discourse
= wss lovely picture and III To be printe