The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1858-07-20
For the Western Democrat.
COMMENCEMENT AT DAVIDSON.

of the readers of the Democrat who were not pres
ent on that highly interesting occasion. The wri-
ter arrived the ground early in the afternoon
on Tuesday. An unusually large number of persons
had already assembled from various and distant
parts of this and adjacent States, attracted no
doubt by the promising array of talent which the
published programme of proceedings notified them
would act very prominent part At 8 O'Clock in
the evening of the same day, DIR. Thornwell of
Columbia, S. c., preached powerful and eloquent
sermon before the graduating class, and a very
large and attentive audience, from Psalm 119,
verse l42: "Thy law is the truth 1t does not
become to dwell at any length on the effort of
the reverend Doctor All is said, when it is said
that Doctor Thornwell preached All
say is that We were sorry the time did not permit
him to carry out the lines of deeply interesting
thought evolved in this discourse.
On Wednesday morning, at 81 O'Clock, the
ceremonies attending the laying of the Corner
Stone of the new College ediice, took place. A
procession was formed in front of the Chapel con-
ssuing of the Trustees, Faculty, Students, and dis
tlngulshed strangers present, and marched to the
excellent music of Columbia Band. The cere-
mOny of laying the corner stone inaugurated
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 As we did not
note down these articles, our memory probably
fails in their complete enumeration. Here
some 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 1857, and another for 1866
containing the amended charter of the College; a
copy of the N. c. Presbyterian, and also of the
Western Democrat a three-cent postage stamp
and envelope. The box then deposited in the
place prepared for it, and the corner stone laid by
d. A. Davis, Esq, of Salisbury. The crowd gen.
orally, then adjourned to the Chapel where a neat
and pertinent address was delivered by V. c. Bar
ringer, Esq, of Concord, giving brief sketch of
the history of the College, and of the circun-
stances which led to its rise, &c. We are gratifed
to learn that this address will appear in print
At / l o'clock, A. NJ, Wednesday, the anniver
sary of the Eumenean Society was celebrated with
appropriate exercises. Mr. R. z. Johnston, of
Rowan, N. c., delivered vaedictory address be-
fore the members of that society, in behalf of the
graduating class, and was followed by response
from Mr. j. p Graham, of Rowan, representing
the society. Both these speeches reflected great
credit upon the speakers, well upon the socie
ty which had selected them. The annual orator,
the Rev. E. D. Frierson, of Marion, S. c., was
then introduced. His subject, ''the Bible con-
sidered as a work of literary merit" was ably
handled, and his style and turn of address drew
the attention of an approaching auditory.
After a recess of about two hours, the Chapel
was again filed and the audience entertained with
the anniversary exercises of the Phianthropic
Society. The valedctory was delivered by NJ. H.
McBryde of Richmond, n. c. and the response by
4. Burwell, of Charlotte. Mr. Burwells effort was
one of marked ability, and elected the earnest at
tention of the audience we'll as its plaudlts.
The society was then addressed by B. F. Little,
Esq, of Richmond, N. c., in neat and sensible
speech. Wednesday evening, as usual, was given
up to beaux and to bellies Unfortunately for us
the literary features of the evening could not be
distinctly traced in the medley of sounds which
filled the ear, in the diversity Of sights which
filed the eye. Perhaps, however, some will be
disposed to regard the exercises of the evening
literary enough. There was speaking belou as
we'll as aboUe. There acting in the boreS as
we'll the STAGE the audience had vanished,
the spectators were fown nevertheless the writer,
from his favorable position, was enabled to dis
cover and to hear in some measure the speakers
representatives fronl the two Literary Societies.
From what we saw and heard, the young gentle
reflected honor upon themselves and their
societies We cannot criticize their efforts be-
cause it is not fair to do so. We might mention
Messrs Gaddy, of Arson, Lowre, of Charlotte,
and Lacy of Davidson College, promising young
orators. Af,er the speaking was over those who
had speeches to make had abundant opportunity of
doing so.
Thursday was commencement day. At s o'clock,
A. NJ the Society of Alumni met and organized.
From some reason unknown to the writer, the ora
tor elect did not appear. The society proceeded
to dispatch important business brought be-
fore it. A new Constitution was presented, dis
cussed and adopted, and officers elected for the
ensuing year. J. c. Chambers elected to de-
liver the next annual address before the Associa-
ton.
At 104 o'clock the commencement exercises
were begun. Prof W. c. Kerr delivered in
augural address,-able, interesting, and appropri-
ate to the department in which he is instructor:
that of Chemistry and Geology. Five young gen.
tlemen of the graduating class then occupied sue
cessively the attention of the audience. Mr. X. q.
Johnston, of Rowan, delivered chaste Salutatory
in Latin. Mr. M. H. McBryde, of Richmond, de-
Ivered the Philosophical Grafton. Messrs A.
Montgomery of Talladega, Ala, and H. K. Reid,
of Mecklenburg, each delivered an 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 4 Townsend, Marion, S. c.; r John
ston, Rowan, n. c.; N Fl McBryde, Richmond,
n. c.; \ Montgomery, Talladega, Ala. II K Reid
Mecklenburg, n. c.; VI Moore, Chester, s. G; L
Kirkpatrick Pontotoc, Miss; VIM White, Stump
ter, S. c.; r L Douglass, Fairfield, S. c.
The degree of A. NJ. conferred by the Sena-
tus Academicus upon several gentlemen whose
names We cannot now recall but among which We
noticed that of Prof J. II. Hill, of Concord Fe-
II IL oop4l ,1,J e