The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1861-07-09
CITY NEWS.

ST. PRASCIs XAvMR's CoLLEOE.-BLE-
vBSTH ANNUAL CoMMHs CEMvNT st "r''..
els xpvisr'e College. g,retsd 81 NJ. 20 Ne.
Fi'tstnth STRAIT I'D its ,llra..A -aa-AI COM
.-.ncone nt yesterday, at the institution. Thi'
Is the frat year Of 81. Xavier's az University.
Its pupils this year number 26S, sixty OF whom
arc in the university course, and the others in
the preparatory and classical cl asses. Rev. j.
DuKrHAIIm is President and Pref'c. OF
Studies, and the RIv. ii. GIACKMErER IL Vics.
Pr, sidsnt, Chief Difeiplinarian, Professor Of
Logic, Meta hys'cS aud Ethics. The Other
members q the fsculty are eminent In their
several Professions. With but q few excop-
lions tho faculty are members Of thu Society OF
Jesus.
The commencement exercises were hdd In
the play ground OF the college. Seats ware
placed for al, n thousand spectators, but be-
| fore the exercises began these were crowded,
ar even the sislss between them aud the yard
beyond, were fllsd with spectators. Facing
| the spectators, a large slipping platform had
besn erected for the speakers, a portion Of tho
classes ard ths faculty, at ths back OF which,
on the wall OF the building, crimson hanginSs
we're arranged In the form Of an arch. Over
the centre Of the arch appeared the coat Of
arms Of the Pope, on one side those Of the
Archbishop, and the Othar the cyphsr, l. H..
Is; while in the centre, on a white shield,
bound with a wreath Of leaves, was emblazon-
cd the seal Of the college, cross supported
tya scroll and pen and surrounded by laur-
Ell wreath. Most Rev. Archbishop HUGHEs,
Rev. Bishop SFNosA, Rev. Fathers STARR
and CUMMINGS, and a number Of other i'm
portAnt functlonariss In the Catholic Church,
occupied seats before the platform.
At half-past three o'clock, exercises cons
msne,d with the performance by Knowles
l Band Of the overture to "SemirAulds.
Mr. JAMES J. MoRIARrY then delivered al
able diseourss on ''Ths Influence Of ths PapaeJ
on Civil Liberty"
At tho Close Of the discourse, a singing elias
Of the college gave, very effectively, tn
chorus "LJuno della Vittoria," from B'llza
rio, Mr.. BKRoE singing the solo.
Mr.. ID. Z. McSwkKSEY next spoke, On 9Th
Indsbtsdn,ss OF the Orator to History"
second chorus from "Lucrszia BorgiA" wa
even better performed than the first.
Mr.. JANIS IL. McGHAN delivered the vale
dictoiy address, taking for his subject, "R'
ligion the S Safeguard Cf a Nation" Thi
YVES decidedly the beat of the day. He a.
sumsd the greatest ago Of any nation to b
that IA which religion was most frml
fixed in the hearts Of its people, an
as proof he cited the nations OF ar
tiquity, which, having rifen to great Soomin
power ard wealth rapidly declined until nos
: they exit only In name, simply because the
were without thI elements OF psrmAnenO "
virtue, morality and religion. At later dA
? the Frsneh revolution Is another instance. 1
2 II, nation was in few years frou' being |
! tho first rank Of European powers plunge
into civil war ard ruin where the innocent an
aoSle were doomed and msrtyrsd by thou
SANDS aud the nation degraded, bee iuss the
had no religion, no faith In ought higher tina
political eIpedienoy. Tue closing portion
| the address wa directed fnths gradaatin