Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1857-08-15

Reported for the Spy.
Amherst College Commencement
On Tuesday evening, Rev. E. B. Foster of
Lowell addressed the Society of Inquiry" his
subject being "The Hope of the Christian
Scholar"
The address before the alumni was delivered on
Wednesday forenoon by Hon. Galusha A. Grow
ofPenusylvana. His subject was, THE Forma-
ton Of National Character" Mr. Crows address
had the uncommon merit of brevity, merit never
more appreciable than during the season of Com
mencement.
In the afternoon, Hon. Arson Burlingame ad.
dressed the public literary societies. Seats aisles
and standing privileges, were quickly taken, and
and the house was filed to OVERLOOKING with those
anxious to see and hear. The orator com nenced
BY most graceful sllusion to the college and its
attractions Of scenery, its distinguished alumni
and its instructors Some Of his personal allu-
sions were very fine. He had, since he had come
to Amherst, changed his inten tipns. as to the
subject OF his address. and would give, 1.-THE
Past and the Present." He would follow the
closing thought Of the speaker OF the morning, by.
endeavoring TO prove that the present was better
than the past, and hence to take the pleasant au-
curry of still better future. He spoke OF the
discovery, still recent, of the law of human pro-
gTess, and traced its development. That law de-
clares that, though nations define, hu-
manity keeps on its upward course that the de-
velopment in the direction Of perfection was as
sure and definite as the operation Of any other
law Of nature He spoke of the fulflment, in
practice, of this theory,and its emb diment in the
SOnmon uelIei and traced it through the age of
barbarism, of knighty war, of political economy,
down to the yet uncOmpleted age of equality
During this period, nations and systems had fall
en-, but humanity still developed its nobility
The orator then deliberately compared the past
with the present, as to their respective material
development the present condition Of England
with its stage of progress in 1855 the continent
with its barbarity in the middle ages, and the high
estate Of this country with its condition immed
atey after the Revolution. He then compared
the morality of the past with that of the present
the selfish Grecian and Roman liberty, with the
broad equality of man, In which there is now a
living faith !; the systems of ancient philosophy
and religion, with those of the present. He said,
that one single sigh had been heard from the
times of Hesion until now, and it had always
been, for the return Of the good old times but he
thought, that, il the manners, the customs, and
the men, Of those times, were returned upon us,
we should be disappointed in them. This steady
progress promised more than we had faith to be-
heve, or power of imagination 10 conceive.
Mr.. Burngame then addressed the gradua.
ting class, with great power. II there was Law
ofpFogress, there was work to be done. If they
were satisfied with the present, they might turn
monument-buiders. But they were to make
strong State, by making themselves strong men;
their country was to be reformed and humanity
glorifed.
2 The orator illustrated his parallel by we'll Sc
lected facts, and the whole was adorned by pleas
ing fancy and graceful rhetoric.
On Wednesday evening, the Germania Military
Band, Of Boston, which has enlivened the pro.
ceedings of the week, 'discoursed sweet music to
a crowded house"
The morning Of Commencement day, Thurs.
day, was just rainy enough to prevent an uncom-
fortably crowded church. There was, however a
full house. The following the order of ex-
ercises, after prayer BY the President -
l. ssIutatOry Grafton in Latin. By William Crawford
2 Grafton. American want Of Esthetic Culture Nv
Thomas 4. Grassie Bolton.
3. Grafton. The value Of Illustration, George L. Bis
-; Grafton. Elements of True Poetry. By sMatthew
Walker. Ware.
8. 0raton. Literature a Profession.
3. OraliOn. Moral Heroism. By James P. Lane Can
dia F.H.
I. Grafton. Tho Liberty Of Law By 4James Il.
8 Grafton. The relation Of the imagination IN the
Vine Arts, to Religion. By Joseph Kimbal, Plaisow,
N. H. - >
3. Grafton Every man in his Proper Sphere By
TO- Grafton. AlgerDOn Sidney.
ii. OfatiJn. Christian Poetry superior 10 that Of the
MYTH iOsies. Dy Dennis Workman, Jr., East Fishkili
l.. Grafton. Early New England Poetry. by Geo
10. The Entbusiasn Of thu Naturalist. By sJacob O.
Clapp, Alamanre, N. o.
H. oratI,p. Exanotian, the only reform Of the The
Atre. ~ Daniel q. hogan, Lockhsrf, Texas.
Is clssrneas Of Expression indispensable to the wr
ter By Vim. D. Herrick, Methueu. ~
u t. Grafton. Handel, BY George \. Aiken Derry,
II. or.sion. Spain in her Glory, By ~ Dewitt,
WseF !, Pended, N. Y, a.sit sss'',. s,-tr~r
Is, OEscu. The best measure Of Intellectual Power
By John W. Dodge Nesburyport
IT, oraIiou' John Milton. e g
= 20 os,tIou. The true idea Of Power. By Alvah L.
y. Grafton. Connection Of Commerce with Modern
Missions. BysRraneis Burt, West Hampton
? az. 0ration. Hugh Miller By Elisha d. Cobb Del
"a. Philosophical Grafton. Formation Of SaoD., oh.,
acleK by 0eofgeD y. Pepper Ware.
a. oraron: Athenlsn clIurs, with the valedicttrv
Adaresses. " Richard d. hAthsr, BnshantOn, n Z.
: Tzsuusd.
Prayer BY the President concluded the exe,.
cises Ja4la \
The salutatOry Grafton was very pleasing, ana
well adapted TO prepare for the tedious exercises
Of ACCOMPLISHMENT Day. Biscoe had good sem
sible Grafton, on good sensible subject. Wort.
mans defence Of Christianity, as an inspiration
oftrue poetry, was a very good presentation Of the
truth. As be said, those mythologies which ask
us 70 conceive Of winds shut up in bagsy OF OF the
grievous domestic troubles Of their Almighty
God, requires more than the genius Of Homer 70
conceal their sbsurdities, and cannot be compare
as the inspiration Of heart truly in love with the
good, the free. with the vital power Of Christian
Love, Hope, Joy. The Grafton on Huah Miller
~ Cgole. was aspleBdid production. More Gre
moeid nave improved the manner If It's presenta-
ZION, but u was written In a pure ana hean,irnl
style, with truthful thought The vslsd;c,oss ~.
dresses were given from tie heart n ths bosr,
and produced great eject they wara n,sr"dsS ~
me analysis Of Athenlan Culture ana 4 oIos:.
ing picture Of Demosthenes' ors,,os gov os
N IL