Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-07-15
DEGREES COKFERREn
BENEDICTION.


OF these orations, we heard none previous to
that Of Life in Earnest" by Mr.. Wright This
was a fine GRAFTON, it's only fault being that the
speaker could not be heard throughout the tont
The Spirit that Scholar should cherish, !" by
Henry NJ Day, was worthy the attention Of every
scholar. He spoke the " words Of truth aud so
berness," inculcating principles Of application, in-
dependence and originality With a fine figure,
easiest possible utteranoe and tones which told
that he was IN earnest in all he said, his oration
was highly interesting.
The next piece-a coloquy on The Powers
that Be was a humorous discussion on the pres
ent political excitement on the Fugitive Slave
Law. The Dominic being in the act of preaching
up submission to the powers that he, (meaning the
President, Congress- &c } according TO st. Paul,
is interrupted by the Captain, who, by his logic
aud common sense, meets all the biblical argu-
ments which the Dominic brings in support Of the
doctrine Of submission TO the saveholding masters
and shows their falsity. Dominic argues a resort
to the ballOtbOx, and law and gospel" &c, but
the Captain shows the absurdty of his position, as
for instance il burglar cautiously creeps into the
house for theft be would probably seize hE, and
say law is good and gospel is better, but man,
ual exercise ON the head aud hair is the thing
now" The Captains timely hits were received
with apparent hearty appreciation by the audience.
He silenced the South Carolina Squire with home
thrusts and arguments which could not be well
met. All the speakers carried their parts admira-
bly-in tone, gesture and sentiment The coloquy
was founded upon and written in reference to the
recent transactons;with the " Rescuers."
The Philosophical oraton-" The Future Hero"
by Mr.. Hgley, was an essay upon the distinct.
i've characteristics of the hero in the past and fu-
ture In ancient times the hero must have been a
valiant warrior, and known for his deeds Of valor
on the fields of battle. He said that popular opin.
lou determines the character of the hero OF any
age, and as, in the past heroes were warlike, be
cause popular opinion was warlike, so in the
future, if heroes are to be of different class, it
will be because popular opinion demands another
grade.
Tho day OF warlike heroism was passed, and the
present demands heroes skilled with the pen in-
stead of the sword. lux, not blood, is now the
liquid demanded of hero We begin to appIe.
ciate and demand moral heroism and that a man
know how to govern himself Men of noble indie
heroes The couhict before US is not of blood, but
that conflict between the dispensers of the Gospel
and the world.
William W. Andrews Grafton, on Right Sow
ing" set forth the points to be considered, and the
care and watchfulness needed in sowing good seed
In our hearts and minds careful study Of the
nature of the soil TO be sOwn, Of the seed 10 be Sc
lected the proper time for sowing, the necessary
physical culture, aud aftr cultivation, were all ar
gued with much ability. If the proper moral sen
timent is cultivated, we must needs pay special
regard to the proper and judicous mental sowing
But the mind is not all which we must consider
There Is a portion Of our nature which points more
unerrngly than the intellect to what is right and
what is wrong, and this moral nature we must
| guard aud carefully SOW with the seeds OF truth
and virtue. We should aim at absolute and moi
comparative wisdom but not look impatiently ioI
results-we are TO DO the sowing--the harvest il IN
better hands.
This address was a most admirable one, full O.
earnest, hearty words of advice and counsel, and
was delivered In bold, energetic and truthful
tone.
OF the fine Valedctory Poem, by Mr. Hitchcock
on IDOLS" we shall not now npeak save in wore
OF most cordial praise II was a most beauliiu
poem throughout and especially the closing ad
dress to the Faculty and to his classmates, as ou
readers shall have 40 opportunity OF judging To-
themselves tomorrow.
The degrees were then presented by Presiden
Hitchcock, in Latin, after which the Faculty
graduates and guests adjourned to the dinner table
in an orchard Here the commencement dinn'
was disposed Of by the Company
At the close Of the dinner, President Hitchcoel
welcomed the friends present TO the exercises
the day. He announced that the affairs Of the In
stiuuton were in prosperous state, aud expresses
the hope and irust that tho future years would Sc
il ever increase in interest aud numbers
Prof DAY being called for, remarked that he ha
once made a speech, but il vas now somewha
more difficult task 10 keep Others from speaking
lie gave a closing sentiment to 1.-The Faculty {
Western Reserve College"
Judge HITcHcocK was called for and announce
that he did not know what motive he could hay
for making a speech, as there was no prospect {
a compensation for It, and lawyers did not usual
speak without some such stimulus. lie express
ed his high qualification at the evident success
the College.
Prof DAZZLING, In response to cali said thi
he was a'graduats Of Botany Bay, as Williams Co
lege wGs sometimes called, but that lnstitutio
numbered some eminent names among ila gradu
ates, among whom was WIN. II. Seward The
old President there used 10 tell them not to Hlo
when they got to speaking extemporsneously' bI
when they had nothing more TO say, to shout Ne
d sopatania." He could do bat little more ths
Q that. We are all graduates Of something besd'
colleges, for We are all alumni Of Providence au
we should all go according 10 the dictates OF th'
Alma Mater
a Dr. CLARK, Of Cuyaboga Falls, said be did NJ
exactly like the position Of the Dominic in the &C
!, loquy Of the morning But that was wandeTin
d lie was glad to be there, 70 hear OF the eyidens
Il that the ,llego was going TO live and prosp
a until il became the honor and glory OF the Wes
e em Reserve for Il should each year turn outa ella
ia Of young men who should confidently go forth
"a their hfe.work, but be not Of the opinion Of q
N Domioie Of the morning and he hoped that sa'
le class would lift the College peg higher, until q
"a day Of grace should come.
,t Rev. Mr. PHELPs, Of PainssyilI0, remarked th
al students ofWeSteTn Reserve College could lo'