Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-06-27
INTELLIGENCE.


Baptist church, to witness the ceremonies con-
sequent upon the graduation of the senior class
OF Columbian College. The occasion was hon.
with the presence of his eXcelency the Presi-
dent OF the United States, who was an attentive
auditor.
After an appropriate prayer by the Rev. DIR. Ry-
land, President OF Richmond College, Virginia
Mr.. r. A. Christian, Jr, of Virginia, was in
tTOduced as the first sPeaker-subject: sEThe
Waste of Mind The orator after, in eloquent
terms. descanting upon the evil effects which g
suited from the continued disuse of the mental
faculties, and which were necessarily impaired,
referred 10 the sadness which accompanied a view
of the fallen productions Of genius that have been
Wondering in the dust of ages, when the lights
of the mind that produced them have long since
burnt out. Rejoicing that as ''despotism causes
u waste of mind by ensaving the lower classes"
we were signally blessed by Divine Providence
In the formation of our form of government; war;
with its attendant horrors, was next spoken of
one OF the causes Of the waste of mind, and
though Greece could boast of her Homer the lofty
flights of whose muse has never been outsoared,"
Of her Solon, who united in one system the scat
tered rays Of political wisdom and experience COL
lected from the wiseSt nations of her time of her
PeTicles, her Socrates, her Plato, her Demos
Themes, yet with all her renowned wisdom her
people were engaged in almost perpetual wars.
SeDsuality, by which the yigOr Of the mind is
ruined, when knowledge affords pleasure, ma
iure no charms, society no enjoyments,'' is also
another cause The orator then remarked upon
the effects which must ensue from the exercise of
improved mind and vigorous understanding, es-
Pecially when directed in proper channels. q The
labOrs Of hudson, Carey, Morrison aud Duff have
been fully repaid by the good which has been
effected through their instrumentality,
"And even China's peopled flood
Begin to know and fear their Godn
The next speaker was Giles +. Ewbank of Viz
ginic-subject - The Pride Of Ancestry" He
asserted that the pride Of ancestry was the growth
CT no particular country, confined TO age bat
was general in its character and effects. The
piTatiOnS OF ancestors whether for g heroic dis
play, for high moral purity, for literary excel
lence, or for the development of truth Invariably
causes our hearts to throb with joy cherish
their memory; Caesar, as he stood before TIE
majestic statue OF Alexander received 4 we'll
meIited share Of praise at the hands of the young
orator. He next branded tine charge without
reason, without Justice, that =. Virginia paid more
than due respect to her ancestry which charge
has been made by her sister states For, said
the SPEAKER. Virginia has 70 be proud of her
ancestry, when there sleep under her soil the re-
mains of - PateT Patriae'' and the father of the
Declaration of Independence. The peroration of
'h AS sPeFFc , was particularly appropriate.
Barnes, of North Carolina-subject: - The
character Of Sir Walter Raleigh" The orator
depicted in glowing terms the manner ia which
Sir Walter Raleigh gained the favor Of the reign
ing Queen, was elected To Parliament and
10y his gallaEtry, efficiency and wisdom diStin-
guiShed himself as Il statesman and won the eS-
TEEN OF all who knew him. But IL of short
duration, for by injudicious marriage as il
was thought, he incurred the displeasure of the
Queen and now wandering hero, distin-
for doubtful home on the deep. The orator re-
ferTed TO the first dawn of civilization upon this
continent, for upon Roanoke island he planted a
colony which was the first settlement within the
present limits of N.rth Carolina, where breathed
the first christian child born in America. With
the states pride peTvadng his bosom. he referred
10 Mecklenburg gaining the honor OF being the
cradle Of American liberty.
The next speaker was ChaStan c. Meader of
Virginia. Subject - The relation of Science
and Religion" The sentiments contained in
Mr. MeadeT's Grafton Were truly worthy of such
an occasion While many are busy scattering
1f~QE fhs4G Il liz
supposed incOmpatibility OF geology with reIi-
glOn, he whilst entering upon the stage of active
Hfe, hurled back the prevalent notion of incon-
SiStency as without foundation - in reason and
Justice He then showed many condolences
wherein the science of geology and religion in
stead OF conhlctlng. confirmed and cOrrObOrated
each other; and il IL only upon ii superficial view
OF the subject that the prevailing notion arises
But a more thorough examination renders il
manifest that the apparent confusion and violence
IN the strata are the necessary parts of grea, and
beautiful system by which the universe is S.Is-
tanned And this - apparent confusion and dis
order exists in our own limited understandings
rather than the result Of geological phenomena
AFTER having pointed out the many condolences
ne showed the relative effects Of the SCIENCE of
geology and religion upon our own convictions
and considered il disgraceful surrender of our
Ieilglon to acknowledge that she has ANYTHING TO
Tear from the inquiry Of her most accomplished
adveTsarieS.
Mr. 6. w. III Morgan. Of Virginia was Dex,
introduced. Subject: The Ages The i'm
perfection OF man, as compared with the works of
hdlult IN ltlSlT beauty and symmetry.
ca ana this imPerfectOn consists not in his
physical formation, for - the human FORM in rest
and motion, is the ideal Of loveliness that is his
PreSent-ia that he is complete; - but another
element enters into the composition of man. and
Possessed by him alone-ssan inextinguishable in
telleet" The mind in its various mutations has
"oik 10 eIfOrm, and the completeness Of the work
viii be in propo ton the correctness of the plan
Tor, as was asserted in the primary developme Mt
OF human knowledge, there was either no system
al all or one very frail and limited. The ciyiIi-
ZatiOn Of the present, next received the Speakers
attention; and, rs he said, assuming that the ac-
QUESTION Of human knowledge is in regular and
successive steps, the civilization of the present
will be so far behind the future the beauties of
the pa are sunk into Oblivion by the acuuiSi-
tons OF the present whence we may deduce that
at some time TO US unknown mans great destiny
VIII De fulfilled, namely: perfection. The close
and sententious style Of this speaker deserves
special attention.
- The Christian Statesman" by A ID Moore
of Washington city. The speaker in his exor-
dunn impressed the audience with the responSi-
biIltieS OF statesman; and nowhere are his re-
sPonSlDiLileS more onerous, nowhere they
more keenly felt, than in cur repub!ic''-the
situation OF the statesman when his country is
involved In trouble. wnere, perchance. her ma
tlOnal honor has been insulted, and the more i'm
Petuous are sounding the tocsin TO arms" a. he
= tnvOkes the aid OF CliO,r or endeavors to find
ON the past wi a course to pursue, and when
all human means fail him, and the exiyencies Of
the times require f-mness, decision but modeTa-
tion, he looks on high for that - wisdom which
l. profitable to direct, - in order to meet the de-
minds which are made upon him The Chris
tan statesman merits the approval OF his God
and success must crown the efforts of his people :
and when the hour Of parting comes, and the To-
strainlng voice and wise admOnitions Of the
statesman are being hushed by death. he passes
quietly into rest, hOnOred in life and Triumphant
IN death. such sentiments and especially COM
ing from those who will soon enter into the active
scenes of life, must ever receive the plaudits of
right-thinking men.
- The Fine Arts in America" by William r
Mattngly, OF Washington city The orator most
beautifully COntraSted the various advantage
possessed by Europe and our own country, r. =
spechvely; asserting the vast superiority in
scenery, in climate, &c, possessed by America
The time when the idea Of an American writing
poem, executing statue painting a land
Scape, was thought to be preposterouS-the time
when TIE walls OF wpalthiPSt citizens were
covered ''with thu smoked productions of inferior
artists, &c. while superior American talent has
been left To languish, and the fame Of genius TO
extinguiSh by false public opinion was hap
PLY past. The men Of ancient and modern times
Were severallY rOniraSied. and while We cnnIh