The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1869-06-17

dc.
Reported for the Evansville Journal
The exercises Of the second COM
mencement of the Rockport Collegiate
Institute, so excellently we'll begun on
Sunday forenoon. by the finished SER
mon of Rev. r. L. Cushman, pastor of
Grace NJ. E. Church of Rockport, and
the polished lecture of Rev. Stephen
Bowers, of Vineennes, were concluded
yesterday morning at the College
Chapel, by the graduating exercises OF
the Senior Glass Of 80.
SUNDAYS EXERCISES.
The baccalaureate sermon on Sun
day morning, by the Rev. r. L. Cush-
man, was creation of character pc
euliar to the mind which originated
it, and carried sympathy with it from
beginning to close. Mr.. Cushman is
an eloquent and iorcible speaker, and
in the short time he has been at the
head of Grace Church at Rockport, he
has won host of warm friends, and a
reputation which will glow for an age
after his poor clay has mingled with
mother EARTH" when "old things
have passed away and all things be-
come new"
The address at half-past three in
the afternoon by the Rev. Stephen
Bowers. of Vineennes, despite the in
elemency Of the weather, was listened
to by a large audience The subject
of his discourse was the harmony be-
tween the Mosaic Record and the
truths of science. 1t was an grafton
that abounded in practical thoughts
Of great interest, and was given in a
manner that showed plainly the noble
character of the man, aud the power
he welded over his listeners. His
address was heard with great interest
and evident satisfaction, not only by
the mass of students in attendance at
the College. but by very large audi
ence of citizens, who bravcd the cold
and wet afternoon to hear him. His
address was the thoughtful produc-
ton of thoughtful man, one too ex-
perienced to sacrifice strength to
rhetoric. His address, though a little
lengthy, was well received, aud GER
sinly gives him just claim to a high
position among the orators Of the age
MONDAYS EXERCISES.
The day was taken up in class ex-
aminations A. eight o'clock IN the
evening Curran A. DeBruler, Esq,
delivered the address before the two
Literary Societies. Grace Church
was densely packed long before the
hour announced, to hear the address
of one who was known to be a guilt
waited scholar The subject Of his
discourse, as near as we could judge
from the thoughts suggested, was the
responsibilities Of our age, which was
a general review Of the advancement
of the human race from an ignorant
and barbarous to a civilized state, and
the increased responsibilities deyOlv-
ing upon the man of the day over
him who lived century ago, for the
doings of himself aud his fellows on
account of more thorough lznowl-
edge of the ways of wickedness in the
world; and the admirable manner in
which he discharged the heavy duty
assigned him, displayed fully the
wisdom of the selection. The lecture
was one of deep research, and full of
many rich and practical thoughts, and
we feel confident we but express the
wish of every one who heard him, In
asking the young men and young
ladies to whom it was. addressed, to
secure the MSS. for publication.
This, with the lecture of Mr. Bowers
would make an interesting and valu-
able pamphlet, both for reference and
distribution. Add to the excellency
of the subject matter, a purity of
diction rarely attained, and a very
manner of delivery, and
you have the means whereby Mr.. De-
Bruler captivated his listeners.
TUESDAYS EXERCISES,
The forenoon Iandsa portion of the
afternoon was taken up in class ex-
aminations. At three o'clock in the
afternoon the Board of Trustees of
the University met for the transaction
of important business. At eight
O'clock in the evening, in the pres
ence of an audience literally packing
the College Chapel, the joint exhibi-
ton of the Philomathean and Plato
mean Literary Societies took place.
Our limited space will not permit US
to speak in other than general terms
of the performance, and we are not
sorry that such is the case, for it
would be exceedingly hard to dis
eriminate between a whole catalogue
of good things. Ladies and gentle
men alike acquitted themselves with
honor. The Grafton delivered by G..
L. Bullock, of Rockport, was
a creditable effort, unostentatious
in delivery, well written aud cogent.
The society should be proud of such
members. The startling question,
q Should religious sentiment be a test
to political preferment ?" furnished
the theme for two handsome youths,
Posstfice. Spencer County, to deliver
of fatulent orations, IN
tended to support respectively the
sides of the question each represent