The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-04-06


the preference, was then taken up, and it deci
ded that the narratives should be read. and the
free conversation dispensed wth-af the reading
of which Presbytery adjourned.
AFTERNOON SEssloN.-The Presbvtery re-assem-
bled at O'Clock and was opened by religious ser
vices.--Revds. 7. S. c. Smith and s. A. B. Cross
were appointed to preach at Franklinville on next
Sabbath, and the following ministers to preach at
the same place each succeeding Sabbath in
April May, June, July and August, in the order in
which their several names recorded, Revs.
Hammer j. Cross DR.. Smith, G. Owen, Carneehan
Huntington, Brauns, Simpson, DR.. Dickson, Tur
ner, Grafton, Sprague and Braun.--On motion,
the Presbytery resolved to- hold adjourned meet
ing on the second Tuesday in June next, in the
Lecture room of the Central Presbyterian Church,
after which the members of the Presbytery eng aged
in the relation of their individual religious ex-
perlences.-Ihe young negro, VIM. Carr, to
whose case reference was made yesterday,
placed in the hands of several members of the Pres
bytery for instruction, with view to his entering
the ministry.-0n motion, resolved, that the
Presbytery of Baltimore disdpproUe of the modi-
| icatiOn of the Constitution of the Board and
Church Extension Committee as proposed at the
last General Assembly, page 539 of the minutes.
The resolution after considerable debate was adopt
ed. Presbytery then adjourned SINE die.
ANNUAL COMMENCEMENT OF THE MALE
DEPARTMENT SCHOOL OF DESIGN
ADDRESS OF GEO. WI. BROWN, ESQ.
The twelfth annual commencement of the Male
Department School of Design took place last
night in the large hall of the Maryland Institute,
the walls of which were thickly hung with speci-
mems of the skill of the pupils, consisting of draw
ings and paintings of all kinds, some of them of
high degree of merit A very large audience of la
dies and gentlemen, the friends and parents of the
scholars, present, and the exercises were of the
most interesting character. The Blues Band, un-
der Professor Holland, at intervals during the eve
~, ALI IL
pieces of music At eight o'clock the several class
preceded by the Managers and Professors of the
School, walked into the hall and took their allot-
ted seats upon the stage, the Band playing ap-
propriate march, An impressive prayer was then
offered by the Rev. j. A. Leevre. hen followed
the reading of the report of Professor d. A. Wood
ward, the Principal of the School, by John Jones'
Esq, of the Managers of the Institute. The re-
port gives gratifying account of the progress and
good work doing among the pupils the number of
whom in the different classes is stated to be three
hundred and seventy one.
Geo VIM. Brown, Esq, then came forward amid
applause, and spoke as follows:
Fifty years ago, we had scarcely any literature in
America worthy of the name, and only about 35 years
ago the Rev and witty Sidney Smith offended nation
al vanity deeply by the inquiry in article which
he for the Edinburgh Reuielo 'who reads an Anne
rcan book2 But notable change has taken place since
then observable by all who travel in England as did
some nine years ago. l landed i'll Liverpool and soon
afterwards my way up to London noticed in the
road carriage that out of five passengers
ing. One proved to be member of Parliament who
occupied with the New York Herald and the other was
lady from London who was reading volume of the
works of Washington Irving So said to myself there
are now some people in England who read only Anne
| ricau books, but even American newspapers. And
noticed in England everywhere in the book stores rail
road stations and wherever books sold american
authors had prominent and honored place. And so too
the continent at every little town where there was on
sale shelf full of books in the English language Amer
authors literally sprinkled among them. And
Irving, Longellow Prescott, Charming, Motley and
Hawthorne read and admired wherever the English
language is spoken. Our literature indeed is still in its
youth and in originality in depth and in power, and
peciay in learning there is doubtless much to he ac
complshed. We have had no Shakespeare, Milton
Bacon nor Locke, Newton, Burke nor Burns
But much has been DONE And here to-day in this land
of America is the most apprecatve, extensive and
gent reading community that exists has existed
the earth We have, it is true royal noble pa
| irons of learning, but we have need of them
for noble patrons like Lord Chesterfield royal pa
Louis XIV only degrade literature to their
own low level But when author of true genius ap-
in America whose words and thoughts reach and
stir the great heart of the people, is hailed with
delight and what is his books in every
CITY, town and village in the republic onward even
the golden pacers of California the astnesses
| of Oregon. What sublime audience is this Such an
author needs patron He is a true king of of men
| and we honor and crown him as such So it is with
| literature in America.
In the history of nation, literature comes
| always first and the fine arts, three lovely sis
ters music sculpture and painting hahd hand follow
close in her train. have said that the literature
America is not fifty old and may add that the
of America is not one generation old OF original music
we have as yet next to none but of sculpture and paint
ings have most credtabe specimens had the honor
and pleasure of personal acquaintance with the
of American sculpture, true and true genius,
| Horao Greenough, and if he were living to-day, he
would not now be an old man. Already have Powers
Palmer, Bartholomew, and greatest of ALL Craw-
ford whose early death the whole nation mourns re-
joce in the thought that the fathers of republic
whose mortal forms have passed from eyes, live not
only in the noble pages of historians but in the
ring marble and bronze of our sculpors And paint
ing behind sculpture seems almost nvidious to
name among the many; but, already has an Ameri-
artist been found with genius sufficient transfer to
his canvas the great cataract of Niagara and the
| he mann nf Chy,rcI cfop pds
beside the great of Pousn of Salvador Rosa and
Claude Lorraine the immortal masters of landscape paint
! ing.
For progress in art the essential requisites are
education and freedom and we have BOTH The love of
the beautiful, which is the foundation of Art, is
instructive in the human SOUL and springs up every
where, where there is free development of hu
manity. Nothing truly great in ever achieved
except under the impulse of freedom. 1t was in
publican Greece which the cradle and afterwards
came the highest school of art 1t in the Italian
republics of the middle ages and under its inspiration
Leonardo da Vnc Michael Angelo and Raphael achieved
their wonderful triumphs. Its now. In Italy in Ger
many and in France artists the apostles of freedom
and they express in their works, the aspirations which
they dare not utter in words. The free thought
| NAV not be printed, but the scuptors chisel
it in pure marble, the painters spread it on their
glowing and above all, the great composers
defy the power of censorship. do wonder that the
despots of Italy trembe before the operas of Verdi
And so believe that there is day dawnng for art
in this country A few years ago only small number
thought of cared for pictures statues
in years past been in many saloons gorgeous with gd
ing, upholstery, with fine furniture and splendid mirrors
where the beautiful still wanting because engrav
ngs pictures except perhaps amiy portraits
ed down from the bare walls statue
on mich pedestal. But it is different now-and dwell
ing without pictures engravngs is hardly thought
be properly furnished We have it is true many that
are bad but We have not few that good,
still better will come with time. had the pleasure
seeing yesterday beautiful collection paintings in
this citythe private property of gentleman of wealth
and taste which is from time to time thrown open ber
ally to his friends and acquaintances and which does
honor not only to the proprietor but to the country The
collection contains copies and is unique in its charac
having the individual taste Of its owner stamped upon
it, and consists chiefly, it should of American pictures
And here let that art America must be American
limitations always poor and feeble Grecian is
beautiful and is Italian art but neither will bear trans
planting into foreign soil Our artists must draw the
inspiration from mountains and valleys our
lakes and rivers, woods and fields from our ow1
social life, national traditions, and political inst
tutions. Art is real as well as beautiful and is only
beautiful far is true and unless expresses truth
and reality in its highest and ideal
is worthess-it does not move nor delight instruct
is great truth which must be lost sight Of that
only every nation but every age, do its
mainly for itself must write its books its
speeches. sing its paint its pictures,
chise its statues None others fully express the
living feelings, proclaim the present wants and helT
upward and onward the sow but steps OF ad
vancing humanity.
Here let me say, in conclusion few words
having more immediate reference to the Schoo
of Design. l know that it deals mainly, as II
should with the useful arts, and thus it begins in the
right place The good God clothes all things beauty
and Art which is his handmade, should far as
possible initiate his example. Many of you my
young friends, destined labor in the mechanical
arts and here you have, trust, learned be
ss and not mere workmen Beauty and utility should
always go together. The cheapest clothng-the com
monest utensils-the humbest dwellings. may have and
should have the beauty of form and adaptation and
the highest efforts of human skill for just in pro
portion to their excellence do they become beau
ful, and as they elegant they approach
er to perfection. We look with pleasure at the clas
sic forms which the Greeks and Romans gave t
the familiar objects, and why the educa
ted people of America should emulate and surpas
the classic models. No nation endowed by ma
ture with keeDer appreciation of the beautiful thar
ours, and none should have higher standard.
Gentlemen of the Institute, and teachers and pupils
the School of the Design, you entitled not only tC
in your noble efforts in the great cause Of
eevating to their true position the useful and
beautiful arts in beloved country
During the delivery and at the close of Mr.
Browns address, he was loudly applauded. Ther
followed the announcement of the following award
and certificates of advancement, by the committed
of the school,
List of pupils to whom medals have been awarded:
In Mechanical Class-C. P. X. Kahler, Philip W
Thomas Edwin D. Weems, Thomas Neill Julius johnson
W. P. Reese.
Architectural Cass-Thomas ". Jenkins, Henry Koff
enbinger Henry Hail. Henry Deering John D. Ford Geo
X. Purcell, Geo. W lStauffer Chas Mehgarden, Thoma
McKittrick, William Allen, Jr
Artistic Class-Harry A. McArdle, Herman Henning
John NJ. Coulter, Louis Dietrich.
Perspective Class-C. NJ. Kinks, Samuel r. Copper,
"A. Barton
Second Preparatory Class-Allen Wilson, Washington
Hands, John Cole Frederick Wild, George Brown, Georg
| W. Bucher.
Elementary Cass-Henry Vokman, George Albrecht
| William VOlkman Thomas r. Henninp Eipen