Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1858-07-30
From the Western Democrat.
Davtdz on College Commencement.
18th July, 1858.

DIR. Editor: A brief notice of the late commence
ment at Davidson College may crafty many who were
not present that highly interesting occasion The
writer arrived the ground early in the afternoon
Tuesday. An unusually large number OF persons had
already assembled from various and distant parts of this
and adjacent States. AT o'clock in the. evening OF
the same day, DIR. Thornwel, Of Columbia, S. c.,
preached powerful and eloquent sermon before the
graduating class and very large and attentive audience
from Psalm ll9, verse l42 Thy law is the TRUTH
1t does not become to dwell at any length the eff
fort of the reverend Doctor All is sad when is said
that DIR. 1hOrnWell preached.
On Wednesday morning, the ceremonies attending the
laying of the Corner Stone of the College edfce,
took place The ceremony naugurated with prayer
by the President Of the College, after which he read
list of the articles deposited in the box to be laid under
the stone. Here of them A history of the
College from its foundation to the present time prepared
by the Rev. A. Baker of Salisbury copy of the Will
of the late Maxwell Chambers Esq; Catalogue of the
Institution for 1851 and another for l855-containng
the amended charter of the College; copy of the n
G. Presbyterian, and also of the Western Democrat a
hree-cent postage stamp and envelope. The box was
then deposited in the place prepared for it, and the
ner stone laid by D. A. Davis Esq. of Salisbury. The
crowd generally then adjourned to the Chapel where
neat and pertinent address delivered by v c. Bar
ringer ESQ., of Concord giving brief sketch of the his
tory of the College, and of the circumstances which led
to its RISE &c.
At IL o'clock, the anniversary of the Eumenean So
R. Il. Johnston of Rowan, n. c.. delivered valedcto-
y address before the members o. that Society," in behalf
Of the graduating Glass; and followed by response
from Mr.. j. P Graham of Rowan, representing the
ciety Both these speeches reflected great credit upon
the speakers well upon the society which had Sc
lected them. The annual orator. the Rev. E. D. Frier-
son, of Marion, S. c., then introduced His SUBJ
Iject, the Bible considered work of literary merit
ably handled and his style and turn of address drew
the attention OF an approaching auditory.
A ftoco Of onC tho
again filed and the audience entertained with the an
niversary exercises of the Phlanhropic Society. The
vaedctory was delivered by NJ. Fl. McBryde Of Rich
mond n. c., and the response by A. Burwel of Char
otte The society then addressed by B. T. Little,
Esq, of Richmond n c., in neat and sensible speech.
Wednesday evening, usual, was given up to beaux
and bellies.
Thursday Commencement day. AT 1917 o'clock
the commencement exercises were begun. Prof W. G.
Kerr delivered inaugural Adjustable interesting,
and appropriate to the department in which he is in
structor-that OF Chemistry and Geology Five young
gentlemen of the graduating class then occupied
svey the attention of the audience. Mr.. R. T. John
ston, of Rowan, delivered chaste Sautatory in Latin
Mr.. M. Fl. McRryde, Of Richmond, delivered the Pho
sophca Grafton Messrs. A. Montgomery of Tallade-
ga, Ala, and III. X. Reid, of Meckenburg, each deiv-
cred grafton.
The President of the College then awarded diplomas
and conferred the degree of A. B. upon the following
nine young gentlemen in the order given: D. A. Town
send, Marion S. c.; r. z. Johnston, Rowan, n. Co. NJ.
II. McBryde, Richmond n. c. A. Montgomery Tale
gado, Ala; H. K. Reid Mecklenburg, n. c.; M.
Moore, Chester S. c.. L. Kirkpatrick Pontotoe, Miss
VIM. White Sumpter, S. G.; R. L. Douglas, Fairfield,
IS
The vaedctory addresses were then delivered by Mr.
D. A. Townsend, of Marion, S. c., after which the
President made short Baccalaureae address to the
graduating class The exercises of commencement were
then closed with prayer and the assembled multitude
refreshed by another literary treat invgoraed by an
other draught from the nexhaustibe fountain of TRUTH
dispersed to their several homes