New-York tribune., 1869-06-26
COLLEGE CoMMENCEMENTS.
WILLIAMS COLLEGE,.

WILLIAMsTOwN, June A.-Yesterday was
Alumni Day, and the first thing the programme wac
the annual meeting OF the Society OF Alumni which
nued during the whole OF the forenoon The President
Major Charles ~ Emerson, having died since the last
meeting and the Vice President Y Paige OF Albany,
not being present. William Cullen Bryant OF New.York
was elected temporary Chairman The election OF officers
for the ensuing resulted the choice Of Bryant
for President VicePresden the Rev. Dr. DoTns Clarke
Of Waltham, Mass; Secretary Prof. n. II. Griffin. To
succeed the Rev. Dr. Absaom Peters OF New York. de-
ceased, on the Board Of Trustees, Judge Thomas
Nelson OF New-York was chosen the Rev. Dr.
Prime OF The Obserper being only one vote behind
report the general financial condition Of the Col
ege presented by the Treasurer which showed that
the present funds amount to ss2s3 last years income
was S3OOO and the expenditure $4,000 The Massaehu
setts Legislature Of 1868 appropriated TO Williams College
S6OOO to be paid in three equal yearly nstalments,
condition that much should each year be raised
by the friends Of the institution In the last collegiate
year $4,000 raised among the Alumni and the first
s25OO nsallment drawn from the State; but yet only
$4,000 Of the next $4,000 had been secured and to raise
the remainder the financial problem to be solved
yesterday Speeches were made by President Hopkins
David Dudley Field, esq, of New.Y York, Judge
James d. Colt OF Pittsneld Martin I. Townsend OF
Troy, and Others on the subject, and various
schemes proposed and suggestions profered. No
definite action however was taken, but without doubt
the necessary aid will be forthcoming In good season
President Hopkins said that from single gift OF $780,
made 90 years $4,000 had been realized for the
help of INDECENT students. Twenty years ago he had
publicly made the in Boston that when the col
lege should have 100000 it would be rich enough but
since then II mas grown so rapidly and its expenses nave
so increased that what at that time seemed abundance
BascOm also made earnest speech in behalf Of an In
creased endowment Students he sad cannot be fed or
educated on the beautiful Berkshire scenery" alone.
After some further business the meeting adjourned until
o'clock this morning, when DIR. Charles Hawley OF
Auburn n " was chosen orator before the Alumni at
the next commencement with S. w Bowerman OF Pitts,
field, Mass, as substitute. aud George l.. Raymond OF
Chicago, of the class of 'e2, the poet.
Last night ten picked speakers, five from the sopho
more and five from the Junior class declamed original
OF all TO be awarded prize OF $50 and the best two In
each class $25 and SIS respectively This contest drew
throughout was unusually excellent. The following Is
Soplomorei Progress" George 4 Benton Of Toand Con9'
Light out Of Darkness" Allen DeCamP Of Moruown n j.
Tbs Vat in the Minute" Claude l. Smith Of East Orange L The
sanity Of States Arthur H. Foster Of Boston Mas Croatnf
Holser Of CoIsaee " Courage and Scholarship Arthur Rob
Immediately after the alumni meeting, this morning,
the graduating class marched to the church and before
receiving their "sheepskns delivered their commence
ment parts There was nothing especially different either
IN tone power OF the majority OF these oratous from
the results Of four years discipline and fair amount OF
The class has had - connected with It during It's
college course but sent out to-day TO swell the alumni
list OF old Williams only 49, the others having left before
the time for their graduation.
The honorary degrees conferred by williams College
at this commencement and which read after the
exercises OF the class finished were the following
Doctors LdrsCsrles L. BeEeJ Judge Of the United States
District New York; Charles w Eliot President oi Harvard
College, MaoIGsn John Wool Of Troy and CongremaH Henry
Dawes Of Ptts6ed. Mass
Doctors OF Dirny John W Bailey Blackburn Uni
VetI Carinye H. snd the Rev Lueius X smith o Nesier
MdstTs oJ TtD Benjamin Howard II Nerlork; Jeremiah Col
born Of Boston; William kyerett Of Boston A. Walton Of
WeSt6ed Mass Samuel Mcclellan Of wheeling Va; G. W. Ben
amn Of SewYork and the Rev Daniel Eodma u wliamsiev9
The prizes for the past year tj each awarded as
follows For the best Grafton In the Senior Class A. c.
Chaplin OF Keene n II IN the Junior Class for excel
lence in French W. g. Mitchell Of Crmmlngton Mass for
excellence in German; H. T. JudsOn OF Saltwater n. "
in the Sophomore Class for excellence in Latin j. l.
SOddard OF Boston; for excellence In mathematics T.
StrattOn OF AhOl, Mass; the Freshman Class for eX
celence In Latin. Greek and mathematics three prizesl
Frederick W. Fiske OF HammOnt0n, n j.
After tho valedicOry had been pronounced tho alumni
adjourned the discussion OF their annual dinner, aud
after the cloth removed many speeches, good and
bad made. This evening the President j. holding
brilliant reception az his house, and later tonight tho
Seniors their turkey and champagne. Will listen 20
the predictions OF their prophet, G. d. HOwk Of lndauap
Oils Ind and then this 18th commencement at old VII
lams Will be