Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1866-06-20
commencement at Hiram
HIRAM. June 7th, 1866.

HIRAM, June fth, 1900.
EDITOR CHRONICLE To-day occurred
the sixteenth commencement of the Ec-
lectic Institute. There is no stronger
proof ofthe popularity of this Institution
than the immense crowds which attend
its commencements from year to year
The day was peculiarly favorable for ex-
ercises of this character; the air cooled
and the dust settled by the rains of the
previous days. At ten O'Clock, with an
appreciatiYe audience of some thousands
assembled under the tent, the exercises
were opened by prayer by the Rev. A..
S. Hayden. -
While all the exercises were creditable
to those presenting them and to the In
stitution, many of them were fine. The
orations of Mr.. Sanford and Mr. johnson
were the works of scholarly minds and
cultivated tastes. The discussion was
quite an interesting one and the question
was well handled on both sides. The es-
say, Shades Constitute the Picture" was
an effort worthy of its gifted author. The
Grafton of Mr.. Sessions was one showing
much originality of thought and consid-
cradle research. The music was quite a
feature of the occasion. The Solon Band
and the Eclectic Glee Club, assisted by
Mrs. Pres. Thompson, presented many
pieces in beautiful manner. The exer-
cises of the morning were closed with 8
benediction and the audience repaired to
the basement of the Institution where
the ladies had prepared an excellent din
ner; the proceeds of which were to be ap-
piled in repairing the building. The
amount which was raised was taken by
the young ladies for the benefit of the In
stitution, and the receipts from the din
ner amounting in all to over $500, viii
be used by the Trustees in putting the
Institution in ship shape for the coming
year.
At O'Clock, the audience doubled in
numbers reassembled, and the exercises
began. The essays of Miss Fannie Apple
gate and Miss Minnie Packer were beau
tifully written and finely presented The
original dialogueD North and South, I"
was great success. The characters were
very happily personated and many of the
points were well taken. The three last
exercises in the programme were very
fine indeed. The Valedictory address of
Mr.. Henry was repeated with beauty and
in many of his fights of eloquence he
reached almost the sublime. A benedic-
ton closed the exercises of the day.
The concert of Miss Treat and her class
gave very fine evenings entertainment.
We may remark in general that the ex-
ercises of both day and evening passed
off with spirit and the best of feeling.
The year through which the Eclectic
has just passed, has been very successful
one. Freed from the burden of debt un-
der which it has labored for SO many years
and with its fnaf8ial affairs in highly
satisfactory condition, it is about'to open
on a broader career Of usefulness. The
Theological Department is already under
successful operation under the guidance
of able men. With the ReY. EIrett, ed
itor Of the Christian Standard, at its head,
assisted by such men as R. Milligan, 81.
T. Anderson, D. S. Burnett, and other
distinguished diVines, it cannot fail of
being a success.
The Fall term of the Institution will
begin Sept. 4th. So long as education is
desirable let the Eclectic be in the future
as it has been in the past, in the front
rank of our preparatory schools. B.