Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1869-06-18
Commencement Exercises at Trinity
College.

az TRINITY COLLEGE,, june 10, SO.
Dear JouY-nal:-The Annual Commence.
ment Exercises of the Trinity College have
just closed and before departing we desire
to drop you short sketch of the occa-
sion.
The usual preliminary exercises OF Ser
mons, Declarations by the Freshmen and
Sophomore classes had passed before we
arrived.
On Wednesday the annual Sermon to
the graduating class was preached by
Bishop Wightman, of South Carolina. OF
this mastery effort but one opinion could
be expressed. United to sound religious
Iinstructio was that burning eloquence
which fires the heart to noble deeds, cloth
ed in the purest language which "our no.
BILE English tongue" could afford. The
close packed audience in the Chapel
scarcely moved during its delivery. So
earnest was the desire to lose no part of
the rich feast, that there was almost breath
less attention.
At O'Clock Col. W. Il. Steele delivered
the literary address before the Literary
Societies. Of this We do not think (if we
were to attempt it we could do Justice
It is enough to speak of the manner in
which it was received by refined and in
telligent audience. His subject was taken
from the 9Th verse of the 18th Psalm, ''If
forget thee, Oh Jerusalem, let my right
hand forget her cunning" and enforced
the duty of all North Carolinians to stand
| by the homes of their fathers, and firmly
do every duty required by the exigencies
Of the times. There was none of the poll
tician or partizan in the speech, but the
patriot shone out in diamond word
and jewelled sentiment. We find
we have been hearing so much about
blazing suns" starry ornaments, :"
"ieweled crowns &C., that we have fallen
somewhat into the style. But to return to
the speech, it was received by the immense
audience with great applause. Some parts
were particularly feeling, and there was
refined sentiment of love for country that
breathed from it at times, burdened with
such tenderness anC love that tears started
unbidden from many an eye, and flowed
not only over the tair cheeks of ladies but
the bronzed veterans of many bloody
| field paid their tribute to it's power. You
have heard the Colonel on the hastings,
but perhaps never when the wide field of
| literature invited him to wander forth and
tread its grassy carpet, plucking here and
! there its brightest flowers.
The exercises OF the day were closed
with speaking by the Junior Glass. which
was done in manner highly creditable,
and showing careful teaching. To-day the
regular graduating exercises were conduc-
| ted in the following order
1. Vocal Music-Anthem, "Glory to God in the
Highest
Music, by the Band.
| I'LL Latin OratiOn--SalutatOry-b Thomas Rich
ard Parne Wilmington.
Music.
". Old Paths are Dangerously Richard Gwyn
Franklin. Mississippi.
Music.
" The World of Mind is Open to All-Blind Man
Beautifully john Alexander Simpson, Raleigh.
VI. Unwritten Literature-by Eugene Thomas
Jones, Kittrells.
Music.
VII. Dare be Rightly Joseph Lewis Keene, Will
mingtor.
Music.
VIII. 90 dare do all that may become man, Who
dares do more is none by William Abner
Webster, Madison.
Music.
IN. The NObest knows no M iOnalitv-bY Column
bus Franklin Siler. Franklirsville.
Music
Y. Full Growsh-by Willism Kelly Gibbs, Davie
county.
Music.
xI Report OF the President and Degrees Con-
ferred.
XII. "reminiscences and Adleus-by John Richard
Webster. Madison.
Music.
XIII. Presentation OF Bibles.
XIV. Representatives from the Literary Societies
r. 3. Swami, Caswel county w. A. Flynt, For
sythe county.
XIV. Medals Presented-by Bishop Wightman.
XVI. Benedictop.
An immense audience had packed the
Chapel at an early hour, and vehicles of
all description, from four-horse stages to
" sulkys," came rolling in. By count, the
assemblage amounted to about two thou |
sand two hundred. Four lines of stages !
Salem lines came in loaded to their utmost. |
dred miles were there, loaded with grace, |
fashion and beauty.
At the appointed hour the speaking be- |
gan, and, if you will not consider it invidi- |
Gus, we must be permitted to say that Will |
mington's reputation lost nothing in the |
hands of Purnell and Keene. All the |
speeches were excellent. You will notice
among the graduates, Jno. Alex. Simpson,
of Raleigh. This young man, though |
totally blind, stood most thorough exami-
nation on the whole course, and delivered
his Grafton in firm and intrepid manner.
At its conclusion his classmates gathered
round him and placed in his hands offer
ings Of flowers, with such an exhibition of
manly sympathy as drew tears from many
eyes.
After the orations Bishop Wightman in
a few words of noble counsel delivered to
each Of the graduates gold medal, as
present from their societies. In it's pro-
per place we did not mention that Will
mington is represented in nearly all the
classes of the College, and we had the
pleasure OF hearing our young friends
Geo. 81. West, and Alex. Greene, who are
rising young men, and we hear that gener-
ally the speaking of all the classes was
fine. Let me now say few words of the
plans for the future of Trinity. The curri-
culum embraces full University course
and is fully up to the progress of the age.