The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-08-16
Wlulamstewn College Commenoemsnt.
WILLIAMSBURG Mass. August g. 1853.

WLLIAMsrOwN, Mass, August s, 1885,
Commencement Preliminary Erecises---
Hosc the Students Acquitted Inemseives -Distri-
button Of the Prizes Conferring Degrees &C., &c
The exercises of commencement week began ON
Sunday p. NJ, by the Baccalaureate sermon from
President Hopkins, mastery effort worthy Of tho
man. In the evening Rev. DR.. Tying, of New York.
addressed the Mills Theological Society in an able
and powerful manner upon the religious condition
of the nations of the earth On Monday evening
the Mendelssohn Quintette Club, of Boston, gave
concert in the Congregational church. At ten o'clock
on Tuesday morning the regular annual meeting
OF the alumni was held in the chapel. The public
library exercises in connection with the convention
of the Alpha Delta Phi Fraternity occurred an hour
later. with an address from Geo. W. Curtis of
New York, and poem by r. w. Williamson, of
Troy, New York. The marked attention of large
and appreciative assembage was the greatest COM
plment to the eoquence and ability of the distin
guished orator. The poem upon Beauty was pro.
duction worthy of the occasion At three o'clock
Pref. Morgan, of Oberlin College, addressed the
Society of Alumni upon the Bible as the Especial
Study of Literary Men,"
The prize rhetorical exhibition in the evening,
with Wendell Phillips, ESQ.,, Of Boston, Immediately
following, brought together large number of peo-
pie Notwithstanding the inclemency of the weather.
The three prizes were awarded to G. E. K Royce,
of New Lebanon, N. Y; j. Fl. Knox, Of Rock Island,
ILL.,, and Geo. F. Mills, of Wilamstown Mass, of
the Junior, sophomore and freshman classes respec-
lively. To say that Wendell Phillips gave US the
Lost Arts" in that style of which he alone is
ter is our greatest praise.
The regular exercises of the graduating class were
ushered in by the forming of the procession at A.
M. of Wednesday, and a march to the church
through drenching rain and bottomless mud
10 attn USalutafOrv " nv .IOhn q Anas ria
steal production of great merit, contained much of
compliment to the ladies and good advice to the
gentlemen; the speaker retired amid shouts of
laughter and applause.
r. H. Ward, Of Bloomfield, N. j., had many good
hits at college life and customs and throughout
witty and humorous. The English Reformation"
by stephen H, Tying Jr:, of New. York city. was
effective manner.
W. p Strickland, of Sandisfeld, Mass, had the
classical grafton upon the "Tusculan Disputations;"
q well written thing, delivered in an impulsive and
nervous, yet pleasing manner
The " Golden Tongue" by A. B. Graves, of Brook
Ign, N. Y, containing many good thoughts and
poetica ideas, added to graceful and pleasing ad
DRESS with enough of life and fire to hold the aten
ton, became one of the most popular speeches of
the day. Harry Hopkins of Williamstown, Mass,
treated with thought and skill the Limits of the
Supernatural" speaking in peculiarly elegant and
The honorary Grafton: by J. NJ Alexander, of
glapalakua, Hawaiian Islands, upon the True
Principles OF Progress was SOUND and true.
B. F. Lee, Jr, of New York city, gave us some
good ideas on the " Universally of Conscience =
well expressed and well delivered.
A poem on College Life" by j. III. Doughty, of
Cornwall Hollow, Conn, was a good specimen of
second rate doggerel, containing some good g hits
and some very poor ones.
Justin Dewey, Jr., of Great Darlington, Mass pro.
nounced the philosophical GRAFTON, with Organic
Life as q subject in a powerful and elegant pro-
duction: the speaker gave evidence Of a strong
mind well cultivated, and remarkable familiarity
with the subject.
At this point In the proceedings the alumni
dinner was announced in accordance with the
usual custom. AS the first speaker of note
in the afternoon we notice s. M. cleveland,
Of Philadelphia, whose pleasing dicton aud
great orat0rical powers made q good general
impression, the matter doubtless being more fully
appreciated by the "savans' who surrounded the
speaker than by the multitude.
II. NJ Lyman, OF Hilo, Hawaiian Islands. delivered
the valedictoy grafton. The speaker, after having
alluded to the many joys and sorrows Of college life,
in the name of the class bade adieu TO its officers
while the moistened eye and quivering lip. as the
long. last farewell said, told Of strong and ar
dent feelings Of mutual friendship and regard.
Fiftysix members Of the class then came forward
and received the degree of Bachelor Of Arts Seven.
teen members Of the class Of 1856 took the degree
grees conferred The levee at the house of the
tended by strangers and citizens, Notwithstanding
the severity Of the storm. Thus closed the gradu-
ating exercises Of the class of 1885,
An unusually large number were examined for adj
mission, giving promise Of larger freshman class.
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