Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1859-07-19
For tho Spectator.
"wesIeyan Female Institute"

For the Spectator.
"Wesleyan Female Institute"
Messrs. Editors The Commencement exer-
cises of the above named Institute were brought
to close June 30th at 10 o'clock at night. The
entire week preceding the Commencement prop
er, was one of unusual interest to the friends Of
the Institute.
On Sunday the 26th of June, Baccalaureate
Sermon was preached before the Graduating
Glass, by the Rev. James A. McCauley, A. NJ,
formerly Principal of the Institute, and now
pastor OF the Methodist Episcopal Church in the
town OF Fredericksburg, Va. This gentleman
popularity in Stanton, where he is so well
known, secured large and intelligent audience,
and his mastery treatment of the subject
"Ihe relation of Christianity to woman, what
1t mas done for her, what it IS doing for her, and
what it is yet destined to do for her, as well as
the bearing of Christian education upon the
whole subject, 80 captivated his hearers as to
leave nothing necessary to be said in this place
IN commentator of his merit as chaste, pure,
and Impressive speaker. We do most cordially
commend his purity of style and elegant diction
to those who wish to attain to mastery of our
mother tongue.
On June 9th, 28th and 29th the Examination
OF the several classes was conducted in the pres.
ence OF an Intelligent Committee, and high CON-
pllments were passed upon a number of the pu-
pills for the critical and thorough acquaintance
with their text books which they evnced.
The graduating class, especially, acquitted
themselves with great credit; just at this point
we may be allowed to say, high as has been from
the beginning of this educational enterprise, the
grade. of scholarship here demanded, a more
completely trained class of young ladies has
never gone forth from this CLASSIC enclosure to
reflect honor upon their instructors and the cause
of truth.
On Wednesday night, June 29th, at O'Clock
Literary Address was delivered before the en-
tire school by the Rev. B. F. Brooke, A. NJ, Of
Baltimore. The accomplished lecturer gave
proof not only of an enviable mental culture, but
a wise appreciation of what he fifty named the
"ercslsor age" in which we live, and urged the
claims of solid learning strongly upon his audi.
tors.
The Commencement exercises proper, took
place on Thursday night June 80b, and in which
all the young ladies having part therein acquit-
ted themselves with great satisfaction.
Composition has always engaged marked at
tention in this school, and the evidences of very
careful training in this acknowledgedly impor-
tant department were manifest In many of the
highly finished essays of the evening.
The rich musical entertainment of the evening
was presided over by Professor Turner, and the
mere mention of this gifted gentleman's name in
such connection is sufficient guarantee for ele
gance in the performance OF music.
Prof Turner has a wide fame-a deservedly
high reputation as an instructor in this refining
ennobling, purifying art, and the skill OF his pu.
pills as exhibited on this occasion, evinced the
faithfulness and ability with which they had
been taught, and showed how justly he is emit
tied to the estimate in which he is held
During this festive week large number of the
graduates Of former years, nearly score of min
listers, and more than that number, perhaps, OF
parents and other patrons from distant points
were in attendance these with the fast friends
of the Institute here resident, gave universal ex
preston of satisfaction.
The "Weseyan Female Institute, be it known
is no longer an experiment; its infancy has beer
passed through 1t has encountered and over
come difficulties potent enough to have crushed
an ordinary enterprise. To the indefatigable la
bors of former Principal-Rev. James A. Nc
Oauley, A. M-let it be said in oil justice, il
owes its present we'll defined character as 6
Church enterprise Others and not few, have
given of their money, labor, talent and zeal foi
the promotion of its welfare; and, now under
the management OF the present scholarly ant
energetic Principal, Rev. Benjamin Arbogast, A
NJ, native Virginian, and a member of the
Baltimore Conference, assisted by such boart
of teachers as the Catalogue sets FORTH much
may be reasonably hoped for; already, it Seems
to be lifting itself above difficulty, and we haz
ard little in predicting that its future history ii
destined to be as bright and prosperous as 1t:
past has been full of difficulty and discourage
ment.
Its finances are at last in healthy condi-
ton. The Trustees, relieved from embarrass-
ment in this direction, have turned their atten
ton to such repairs and improvements as seen
to be required by the increasing prosperity o
the school,
Nearly five hundred dollars have been this
year expended for repairs, Chemical and Phlo
sophical Apparatus, new musical instruments
and furnishing the entire building with gas light
so that no convenience shall be wanting to make
the school all that its most sanguine friends
could desire.
We call upon friends of this cherished Church
enterprise, to rally still more warmly to its sup
port that no proper effort may be wanting t.
to make it the equal, if not the superior of an.
school of similar grade in the land.