The weekly Mississippian. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1859-1864, 1860-07-11
Fw the Mss:sagpsan.
The State University.--Commencemsn
Exercises.

an account of the exercises at the late com
mencement of our State University yet q
nothing on the subject has appeared in you
journal and knowing the deep interest you fee
as-should every Mississippian, in that Institu
ton, l hope the following, though imperfect,
and hastily written, will not be altogethe
unacceptable.
In company with several clever gentlemen
and interesting ladies' from this section, W,
arrived at Oxford, on Sunday evening" the 24tl
ultimo.
SUNDAY-Co COMMENCEMENT SERMON.
Arriving in the evening, we of course, wer
deprived of the pleasure Of hearing the sermon
We heard it spoken Of however, as admirable
for its pure rhetoric and the christian truth
itinculcated. The Baccalaureate Sermon wa
delivered by the Rev. R. B. WHITE, of Tusca
loosa, Alabama, after singing and prayer. H
selected as his text, the ninth verse of tn
10th Psalm, to-wit:
WHEREIN shall young man cleanse his way?
By taking heed thereto according to thy word"
After the delivery of the sermon, which
occupied one hour and eight minutes, the Rev
Mr.. QUA1TE, Of Arkansas, offered up the con
Guiding prayer, hymn was sung and the bene
diction pronounced.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. DEcLAMATIoN.
On Monday morning we repaired early tt
the College grounds, about mile west of Ok
ford, and we would stop here to speak Of thu
beautiful campus, the extensive buildings, &c.
but we must pass on. We entered the Chape
and found that the audience, though quits
numerous, was not as large as we expected
A fine brass band appeared in the gallery
which had been specially procured for the &C.
casion from Memphis, which discoursed most
excellent music.
About 10 o'clock, the Sophomore speakers
marched in and took their position on the LEFT
side Of the stage. Prayer was offered up to
the Most High, by the Rev. S. G. BURrEY.-
Professor MOORE, acting President, in the alb.
sence of President BARNARD, introduced the
speakers. We copy from the programme, the
following list of the speakers and titles of their
speeches
L. Griffin. p s. 81 Holmes county
Address in behalf Of the Greeks Lacey J. NJ.
Harley, H. So Chchasaw county-Mark An
thony over Caesars Dead Body Shakespeare.
j. D. Terrell, H. s, Covington countrywide
gy on Henry Clay hcClung, David McCaleb
| H. S, Claiborne cOunty--Eulogy on LAFAYETTE;
). s. Prentice D. NJ Ballard, p. s. S,
Kinds county-America. Her Glory and Her
Shame j. P. Garland. H.Q. Bridges, H. s.,
Pike Countrywide for the Union O. P. Bald
win. p s. Myers, P. S. s., DeSoto county
the Missing Ship; Sargent J. F. Brown,
| P. S. s., San Jacinto, Texas-Battle of Ma
varre. C. Evans, r. s., Oxford-Sparta-
Gus to the Gladiators at Capua; Kellogg. E.
! H McCaleb, H. s., Claiborne county-Treason;
Emmett. L. N. Bisland, II. s., New Orleans,
La-Spartacus to the Roman ENJOYS KEEL
logg Fountain Barksdale, P. S. s., Yazoo
City-The South Keitt VIM. w. Moore,
H. s., Madison county-The American Trio;
A. G. Brown.
NoTE.-H s and p. s. s. are the initials Of tho
Hsrmean and Phil Sigma Societies.
Most of the speeches were delivered in a
creditable manner. The Trustees offered two
medals to the best declaimers, to be awarded
by disinterested judges. Messrs. W. R. Barks-
dale, T. D. Stockdale, G. T. Stainback, F. D.
Witherspoon and F. W Reyes were the judges.
ION Wednesday, the judges awarded the
first prize to Mr.. J. c. Evans. of Oxford, and
the second to Mr.. J. r. Brown. Mr.. Barks-
dale delivered the medals to the two successful
aspirants, in neat, chaste and appropriate
little speech which was loudly applauded.
After the benediction, by Prof. MOORE, the
audience dispersed.
TUEsDAY-SoC1ETY ADDRESSES.
The exercises consisted, mainly, in an ad-
dress before the law class, and speeches before
the literary societies. After prayer by the
Rev. r. j: SsEaFgzs; the address of Judge
A. NJ. CLAYTON was read to the law class by
Prof STEARNs--Judge C. being unable to attend
in person. TWAS cursory review Of the COM
mon law-which has been termed "the perfec-
ton of human misunderstanding some Of
its leading principles, in clear and forcible
style, and closing with sound advice to the
young gentleman who were soon to enter
upon the practice of the laborious, but most
honorable profession of law.
Mr.. VIM. A. LUsE, of Yazoo County, was
then introduced as the annual orator Of the
Phi Sigma Society. His speech though short,
was elegantly written and well delivered. He
at times rose to the region Of the beautiful
and eloquent He spoke to an interested and
highly appreciative audience.
EUGENE CowAN delivered the yaledictory
address to the Phi Sigma Society, and JAMES
G. WILSON appeared as junior responser.
Diplomas were then given to three mem
bers Of this Society who belonged to the grad
uating class, as follows Nicely, Goodloe,
Thompson, Hamilton, Mister, Falconer, Mey
ers Boggan, Gage, Lane, Smith, Sutherland,
Wade, and West.
Hon. L. V. TERRELL, of Covington County,
then appeared as the annual orator for the
Hermean Society. His address did honor
both to himself and the Society he represented.
Terrell is certainly man Of ability and his
eloquent, beautiful speech, showed him to be
an orator of no mean stamp. He was frequent
ly greeted with bursts of applause.
The Hermean valedictory address was
by WILEY P. JOHNSON, of Madi-
son County, and JERRIE L. TALBEaT, Of Yallo-
busha, appeared as junior responser.
The benediction was then offered up, and
the audience dismissed.
WEDNEsDAY-JUNIoR EXHIBITION.
A larger audience appeared in the Chapel
on Wednesday than had attended on any pre-
vious day. The floor and gallery was crowded.
The junior orators were introduced by Prof
MOORE. The following was the programme /:
ELECTED BY THE SOCIETIES.
Cuba Should be Annezed to the United States. |
&C. B. McCalebb, P. s. S., Kemper county,
Mississippi.
The Emerald Bk.-R. T. Pollard, II. 8. |
Pamela county, Miss.
The Puritan aadthe Cavahier.-F. A. Pope |
P. s. S., Holmes county, Miss.
A,aerica-Past, Present and Futare-T. |
A. Moore, Ii. S., Issaquena county, Miss.
Cation Manufacturing in the South.-J. F.
Walton, P. S. s., Homes county, Miss.
Thought nnipotent and Ete,nGi.-W. B.
Brack, II. S., Lowndes county. Miss.
ELECTED BY THE FACULTY.
Tsnnessee.-T NJ. Peters, P. S. S., Bolivar,
Tennessee.
The Texas Reuolution.-A. S. Harris, II. s.,
Scott county, Miss.
aaron Busr.-S D. Gwin, P. S. s., Holmes
county, Miss.
The old Parties.-G Berkely Green, P. S.
J., Jackson, Miss.
The Women of the Revolution. y. L. Nc
jaskill, d. s., Simpson county. Miss.
alexander Hansifton.-A. I. McNeal, T.
]. s., Bolivar, Tenn.
The Progress Of Civil Liberty.-J. c. Ro-
ertson, Oktibbeha county, Miss Il
All the young orators did themselves great
redit both in the composition and delivery of
heir speeches. Bet we were particularly
leased with the efforts of Messrs. McCalebb,
'ope, Gwin, Green, and Robertson. The