The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-07-14


Ths niatA aaaaal cssnsaesneat q 81 John's.
College. FsrdAan. tesk place q Wednesday, sad
W. attended By bstwesa two and three thousand
pesssas. Never dnoe this excellent inskitston was
rst opesed for theinsructiea II YOUTH has N ami
vessAy d that event ben attended With ssch graft
flying results q theae which marked the celebration
yesterday. at present nnnbes over two hundred
pupils, among whom ere 70 be found natives, mot
oaly Of this country, but u Mexico, various parts
Of South America. and Europe. The admirable.
thoeoash and comprehensive system Of instruction
pursued BY the faculty has already obtained for II
awide spread celebrity, and II now enjoys reputa-
ton which might well excite the envy Of some ofeur
oldest installations. The exercises yesterday were
more than usually interesting. and although they
dienoe never appeared TO dag The sky, which In
the early part q the day wore threatening aspect,
Frightened Up about noon, and everything appeared
anspicious for the occasion. The company were
end Of which temporary stage was erected Tor tho
students and the professors. Among the crowd
You could recognise the relatives By their earnest
attention as son or brother appeared upon the
the hands Of bis teacher the reward OF his industry
and talent. We noticed several who fairly stagger.
ed under their load Of premiums, but who would not
have wished 1t less on that account. happy day
1t was Tor them, and they will often, amid the cares
and turnoi Of life, look back upon it with mingled
emotions Of pleasure and regrc<
Among the company We noticed Archbishop
QUARTERS, Donnelly, and many other cergymen:
The exercise commenced witha debate on Law,
It's existence, origin and sanction" In which the
following graduates participated: Joseph Kerrgan,
Richard brennan. John Manning, F. Plowden Nor.
rough, Charles Duncan, and William Donnelly, who
acted as chairman. It would be next to impossible
to give, In our brief report even ON abstract Of
debate which consumed nearly two hours In
may say that consider II ono Of the abest, most
learned and philosophical which We have listened
TO on any similar occasion Il displayed not only an
saen bas an n & osu.
character Of men far beyond that which we would
give young men just graduating from college credit
for possessing The object of the discussion was to
and unrestrained liberty; that even the boasted
equality which Is claimed for all men, has really
existence, and never can have In this world; that
authority, when 1t 10 swaycd with justice, shall bo
liberty, and that the principle that should govern
the conduct Of men Is that set forth In the great
command Of the Saviour, "Do unto others as you
would have others do unto you." Although we are
summing up or decision of the Chairman, Mr.. DON.
nelly which, we have no doubt, viii be read with
Interest,"
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN-Our task Ia brought
to close. Many are the useful and wholesome
lessor we shall derive from the strange wander
ings, the humiliating alterations Of the human
mind, of which he have endeavored to sketch asad
and sickeniDg picture. The words liberty, progress,
equaiity-which have rung IN our ears-have served
in their principles they are baneful in their con-
sequences. Some seem TO delight in the cruel plea
sure Of stripping human liberty Of its most subGme
guided BY reason. Others, in the name Of progress,
boast of having it in their power to rear temple
to humanity, the foundations Of which they under
mine beforehand; while others, by entirely con-
some level BY merely swapping al the ties Of justice
which can check the spread of progress aud
freedom not rightly understood. Eresches that
they are; they prepare nanght but The equality Of
e. with the Same censure. She forhds the sacrile-
gious worship which they would fain pay TO these
fantastic divinities. In csnsidering the drst law
claims rights which man cannot rensunce without
steady and unwinking eye on the extent Of tho
field Of our free dominion, authority marks out TO
the second the sacred limits which they could not
overleap without folly and without crime In point
ably strike who are bent on calling without the
guidance Of an experienced pilot-in revealing the
fearfulnequality which may await ~ at the end Of
our rsce-justice, like beacon light, inspiring ..
the law and settles forever the problem fright and
authority. Give ear, Q man. Y tie lessons Of wis
dom. Knowest thou what zeal hath been set on
that reason which enlightens thee concerning the
With thy life stamped upon thy brow the image and
likeness Of thy Maker. Oh! be not crael against
thyself tear not away the diadem with which It Is
crowned; do not in the name Of 2 false freedom
universe But while thou respectsst the Sublime
faculties with which thou art adorned, beware of
concentrating within thysef an admiration which
should be referred TO higher sphere. Beware1est
10 <ha - ~l< - L.
Creator, while thou losest the consciousness Of thy
dependence. Wo to the proud, who in the vain con-
temptation Of his own dignity and hi. strength nurses
false confidence and promises Of chimerical happi
ness. While Wishing TO be free and to too high,
he hovers abyss and his daring fight becomes
the most certain presage of an approaching fall and
Of inevitable ruin. Gentlemen, may the truth in
behalf Of which we have raised our voice; may the
law 30 well characterized by the angel Of the
schools in these three words"A dictate Of reason,
the aim Of which is the common good, and pr0mul-
gated by him who has the care Of a0ciety;" may
She find faithful echo through the length and
these United States will learn at the school Of wis
dom that law cannot be violated, that authority can
not be Get at naught, nor justice braved, without
aiming blow al society ITSELF To procure the tri-
trophy to the glory Of religion and Of our country.
After the debate, an eloquent and affecting vale
dictory address was made by Mr.. JOSEPH KERRIGAN,
in the name Of himself and Bis undergraduates, he
bid farewell to his respected teachers and beloved
alma mater.
An address to the graduates was next made by
the Rev. Father LAgKIS, s. in the course of which
he spoke of the great necessity that existed for col
eeiate institutions, and higher system of education
than that taught in our public schools. He referred
in happy strain Of humor. to the college lite OF
those who were now leaving the institution, and con-
cludea by urging upon the Catholic community the
great importance Of sustaining educational estab-
lishments like that Of st. Johns College.
A few remarks were also made by Mr.. MORRoGH,
whose son distinguished himself In the debate TO
which we have alluded.
When the speaking was finished Father Larkin
conferred degrees on the following graduates:--
b. AVN. Donnelly, Of New York; Richard
Brennan, do; John Manning, do; Il. Plowden
MoTogh, do; Charles Duncan, Montgomery, Ala;
George Rmsal, New York; Andrew J. Rodiguc,
Holliaaysburg, Pa; Michael Kerrigan, New York;
Philip Hayeny, Hogansburg, New York; and Alc5e
A. Atocha.
NJ. A.-John Young, Brooklyn, l. l.; Amedee
yatAbe. New York, John y. McQuade, Washing