The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-07-27

ffr0m the DudAfo Couriox, July 81
The. commencement Exercises Of Hobart Free
College took place yesterday and to-day. The oc-
casion has been one Of great interest," and the exer
cises were Of character highly creditabae to this
g e .us AZ s oessi
the Horace White prize essay was read in thu Col
iege chapel. andithe prize-a gold medAl--awarded
to Thomas W. Miner, of Detroit for an essay upon
the influence Of the 2hSsSphiS theories Of an eye
the Rev. VIM. A. Masson. Of Utica, addressed the
House Of Conyocation in Trinity Church. The sub
iec* Of the address which exceedingly interest
ing and able, was tho relaaion of educated men TO
society and the duties springng from that relation.
At o'clock numerous audience assembled in
Trinity church. to listen to an address delivered be-
fore The Hermean Society, BY the Rev. h N. Hud-
son, Of New York: HIS subject was literature, it's
character and Office. The speaker drew distinc-
ton between literature and science-the latter
being the neans Of civilization, the former Of cui-
ture-the one working for us, the other in Us. The
mental activity Of the age was exhausted in scien,
ture the fountain from which al the sciences ever
must be nournished and supplied. We were in great
danger Of becoming an over-civilized and very I'M
cultivated people. The address, though long, was
listened to throughout by the audience with eager
and delighted attention.
At ten o'clock this morning, procession com.
posed Of the officers, under graduates and alumni
of the institution, formed at the college, and led
:
church. where the proper commencement exercises
were performed. The pieces Of the members OF
the graduating class were generally Of very re-
epectabie and gratifying character, and some Of
mon to such occasions. The Grafton, BY Stephen
II. Hammond, entitled /" The Basis OF Civil An.
thofsty, y was an eloquent and mastery argument
against the social contract theory Of society," and
authority Of government and the laws must have
higher eource than the mere consent Of the
governed" It is worthy Of remark. as Illustrating
the conservative spirit and teaching Of this cot
iege, that the young man, when he entered 1t, was
imbaed with the most radical and socialistic ideas
OF society.
Architecture a. q Fine Art by Henry Il.
Bates. was beautiful and artistic production, and
received with more general favor. perhaps, than
any other. The Masters Grafton" by Albert S.
Wheeler, Of Geneva was chaste and classic effort.
devoted to the consideration Of history as the great
exemplar and instructor of the present and closing
with the truthful and beautiful sentiment that all
true progress is return back towards the high
didon humanity has fallen from-a restoration Of
the harmony which once existed unbroken between
man and his God. The degree Of B. A. was then
conferred upon Henry H. Bates, Frederic @. Good
Thomas W. Miner. Nicholas D. Randall, Charles P.
Remington, and Truman Fl. Strong. The degree Of
a. A. was conferred regularly in course upon Robert
Burns, De Witt G. Backus Lyman H. Sherwood,
end Albert s. Wheeler. No honorary degrees were
conferred.
About o'clock In the afternoon, delightful
steamboat excursion, under the auspices Of the
college students. and at which some two hundred
invited guests were present took place on that most
beautiful sheet of water, Seneca Lake, The fest-
vtties OF the day closing with the usual levee, at
the Presidents mansion, in the evening.
On the whole, the commencement has been an I'M.
usually pleasant one, sffording an earnest to the
friends Of Hobart Free College, that the proper
scope and objects Of collegiate edHcstion are here
thoroughly appreciated and understood, and that,
under her present comparatively happy auspices,
the institution will answer fully to the high expec
tations entertained of her, in sendiug forth purer