The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-07-19

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CoMMEN CEMENT EXERCISES or THE
| CuURCu-llILL FEMALE SEMINARY The
commencement exercises of the Church.
Hill Female Seminary took place on Tues
lav last. This institution is under the di-
rcction of Mr.. J. Leigh Jones, and its
exhibition on Tuesday was highly credit
able to him and his assistants. 1t is great
advantage to the residents of that portion
of Richmond that such school should be
located amongst them.
. A large and intelligent audience as
scmblcd to witness the interesting ccrc-
monies, including the usual proportion of
( ladies, who are ever present to cheer, with
| their sweet smiles, all laudable proceed
I ngs. The young ladies Of the school,
arrayed very tastefully, and their bcaming
and lovely faces rejecting their JOY on the
( happy occasion, gave to the asSemblagc
that brightness and beauty which is cha
I racterstic OF such events.
/ The exercises were conducted with hnc
Spirit.s Tie several songs that intersperscd
the speeches, recitationS, &C., were exceed
ingly well sung. The poetry and the music
were original. The poetry composed i'll
the school, and the music arranged by
Professor BoZZaotra, teacher in the school.
The following is the order in which they
were presented
PRAYER by the Rev. A. F. Dickinson.
Commencement Ode," sung by the
school.
The reading of the names Of the young
ladies, who during the session of the school
have been distinguished in the several de-
partmcntS.
Next came the reading of the Essays OF
the Young ladies who graduated. Only
two, owing to the latencss of the hour,
were read, namely: Theme, "Give it
! Away" by Miss Hester A. Mitchell, of
Richmond and theme, The River" by
Miss Helen n. Boyle, of Hampton.
Melody: " Hearts and Homes" sung by
the school.
The Rev. II. III. Pritchard then addressed
the young ladies on the subject of "tle BIZ
bic as Il school book" lie discussed this
subject in manner suited to the occasion.
The speaker presented the claims of the
scriptures under the four heads Of" llsto-
rv,"" Law" Science" and "Poctry," in
which light lie contcndcd they hadnot been
properly appreciated in the education OF
the land. He enlarged upon the COM
prchensivc character and literary attrac.
tons of the Bible. He asked-Where is
the college or university which embraces
this topic in its curriculum? Where the
Professor whose scheme of lectures com
prchcnds the Holy Book as 4 Bellies Lett,'es
volume? The reverend gentleman did not
depreciate the classics, but contcndcd that
the Bible not only contained the philoso-
ply of the plan of salvation, but history
philosophy, law, science, and specimens OF
cloquence and poetry which make it the
most interesting OF all books to the lover OF
literature. In conclusion, he contendcd
that much of the influence Of the sacred
volume was lost, and some of its glory
clouded by the failing to recognise and
exalt properly its literary cXccllencics.
Melody: "Youthiul Aspirations"
Then followed the valedictory address
by Mr.. Jones, the principal of the school.
He accorded much praise to the young la
dies for their devotion to study, and for
their admirable conduct during the Scs-
sion. He had never seen pupils more
eager to learn, nor had he known better re-
suits attained in the same length of time.
Abiding to the misfortuncs of the war,
and remarling that little was left us save
head. hand, and heart to revive and re-
store the country, he spoke of the young
ladies' as having imbibcd the spirit of the
times and devoted themselves with more
than ordinary diligence to their studies.
Their success implied their determination,
as il was that of the nation, to convert the
seeming present mistortunes into lasting
good.
Mr.. Jones glanced at the mode OF cdu-
cation i'm the past and the habit of trusting
to text books manufactured at the north,
containing grave errors and prejudicial
morality. He commented on this subject
with earnest depreciation, and urged his
pupils to diligcnt study, in order that they
might aid in the needed reformation, and
at a future day some of them might sup
ply, with credit to themselves and bene-
fit to the country, the places that have
been filled by those unfortunately intro
duced from distance, who had so little
sympathy with our views and sentiments,
aud were so illy-suited to train up our
youth.
The speaker, alluding to the Seminary,
commended it to support and encourage
ment, that it might realize the hopes of the
trustees by whose laudable enterprise it
was established. He called upon the
young ladies to sustain it, and upon those
! who returned to continue to reflect credit
upon it by their zeal and devotion to their
studies. Urging them all to emulate the
noble virtues of their sex, that they might
become ornaments Of society and discharge
successfully the responsible duties of life,
he concluded by feeling expression OF his
desire for their happy meetings at home,
his good wishes for their welfare, and fare
well.
The exercises were terminated by the
"closing song," in which the whole school
Joined with much animation.
Then followed the scene Of parting,
which was, as are all such scenes of the
display of the pure and innocent affections
of youth-unaifected and unrestrained, ,
while bright eyes glistened with the tear
that was as pure as the dew drop that hangs
from Dian's temple.
The following is o list of the names OF
yonng ladies to whom were awarded honors
for proficiency in their different studies:
Junior Mathematics.-Mary E. Alley,