The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-07-14
DAVIDSON COLLEGE, N. C.
Commencement Exercises - Sermon by
Rev. Donald Mcqueen - Address by
tntIon OF the TIVE observation-disclosures
of che Graduates, &c.
.rRoa AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT

SdAhLoITE, N. u, odiy lVs
As large nunber of the citizens of your
State, and the patrons Of Davidson College,
located about twenty miles from our city,
have thought that brief account II the recent
commencement exercises that took place June
20 and 80, would not be uninteresting to your
numerous readers.
Notwithstanding the weather was intensely
hot, I do not think that ever witnessed be-.
fore 50 large number of visitors, drawn to
gether By an occasion Of the kind. The gene
ral ideaeeemed to be we were to have "a good
tine,n and in this particular we were not dis
appointed. The exercises of the first day
were opened with q sermon from the Rev.
Donald Mcqueen, Of Sumter, s. c., before the
'|Williemss Inquiry Association" Of uhe oei-
iege Mr. McQueen's reputation as preacher
is toowell established to require any osmmen-
reverend gentleman secured the eDttre atten.
ition of his audience IN an admirable discourse
on MANS Agency in the Work ct Redemp-
tion." In the afternoon of this dag, the spa.
cious chapel was ,again crowded to hear the
address Of the Hon. a. P. Aldrtch, before the
two college societies The reputation
ordinary share Of interest in his address on
ttte occasion, and most enthuslss:scallywa he
greeted when presented to his sudtors from
the rostrum. !Ehe subject Of the address was
no labored disqutsition either upon ancient OF
modern literature, but most lifting review OF
the Professionalism of our OWE sunny
South, and what was expected ofithe rising
generatioe ,sorestore her to heupreVioRs state ol
prosperity. 1t would be folly dor me to attempt
any description Of this well-ttme ed and eloquent
address dtfstruck chord shat .pibrated in
every heart. The frequent and enthusiastic
applause ofshe audience showed!how entirely
1t was In sympathy with the speaker. We no
ticed upon.the rostrum some ot. the most dis
tingutshedec!tizen OF our StateS and among
this number, Hon 2. B. Vance, land DR.. Ram
say, the historian. These :gentlBmen seemed
no lees enthused by the address than were the
rest OF the audience. Indeed, have heard
but one opinion expressed, and uthat is, 1t was
test Of the literary trimming Of the students of
this college, In the addresses of the represen-
tatives of its two societies-'Philanth
and "Eamenean." Candor .oOmpels me to
speak In high praise of the performances of
these young gentlemen, who certainly re-
fected much credit upon those who have had
the care of their literary training. Without
intending to detract in the least from the mer-
its Of the other speakers, would observe that
the addresses Of Mr.. j. Harvey HammeIt, of
your State, aHd Of Mr.. JamesA. Smith, Jr.. of
this, were above the ordinary class of college
addresses, and would have done credit even
to more advanced speakers.
TheseXercises OF the last day were confined
to the graduating class andthe conferrtng of
degrees. The Latin salutatory was assigned
to Mr.. VIM. Mckay, Hamett County, N. c.,
and the valedctory addresses to Mr. James B.
Smith, Anderson County, s. c.. OF the thlr-
teen who were graduated the following receiv-
ed first honor distinctions ". j. Mckay and
George Summey, Of this State, and j. B. Smith
and ]. H. McClintock, of south Carolina. On
the whole, do not think.I ever attended q
commencement that was more creditable to
the speakers or more satisfactory to the audi
tors A noticeable feature In all the speeches
was the absence of high,soundiug phrases
the young gentlemen seemed, in preparing
their speeches, to have aimed more ut mental
than ornamental display, aud certainly sue
ceeded If the applause Of the hundreds assem-
bled on the occasion is any evidence OF the
fact.
The Faculty of Davidson College is quite an
able one, several of the chairs being filled by
gentlemen of high distinction In the literary
world. am glad to be able to say that the
number Of students in this institution is an
nually increasing. Last session there were
students from nearly all of the Southern
States, among whom South Carolina was large
-ly represented. In few months the railroad
that passes the college will be again In running
order, which will remove the only obstacle to
It's success. Yours, de-, VISITOR.