The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-03-29
CHARLESTON COLLEGE.
commencement Exercises Address OF
President Middleton, &c.

Hibernian Hall was crowded last evening tt
its utmost capacity to witness the annual com
| mencement exercises Of the College OF Charles
| ton. 1t was difficult to find even standing room
| for the immense audience which gathered to tes
tfy their honor for the institution and the inter
est In its graduates.
After prayer by the Rev. C. S. Vedder, the salu
tatory address to the public was delivered with
admirable emphasis and effect by Mr.. Thomas
Wright Bacot, who appealed to all the different
classes Of his auditors to listen with favor and
kindly criticism to the efforts of the youthful
orators who were to follow him-an invitation to
which they were not slow to respond. The ad-
dress, which was marked by much hamor and
pathos, was frequently interrupted with ap-
plause. The president stated that Mr.. John B.
Haskell to whose lot it had fallen to deliver
the Latin salutatories 10 the trustees and
faculty, had been excused on account
Of ill-health in spite OF which obstacle,
existing throughout the whole OF his col
lege course, he had gained oil OF the highest
places in his class. Orations on Napoleon J." by
Mt. Daniel C. Webb; on "The Ruins OF Time, " by
Mr.. D. Huger Bacot, and on TRUTH" by Mr.. Sam
uel S. Buist, followed, along with pleasant and
suggestive essay on "Old Books" by Mr.. George
Smith Holmes. Mr.. James G. Porter then delly-
cred striking and thoughtful plea for the clas.
sizes, gracefully written, and spoken with much
spirit. The valedictory addresses or Mr.. Hendcr-
son closed the exercises on the part OF the gradu
atcs, after which the president, Hon. N. r. Mid
dleton conferred the diplomas and degrees as
follows D. S. Henderson, first honor; T. W. Ba-
cot and ]. B. Haskell, second honor; u. C. Webb,
first appointment; D. II. Bacot, second appoint
ment; G. S. Holmes, third appointment; T. S.
Bulst, fourth appointment;J. @. Porter, fifth ap-
pointment.
The following named gentlemen received the
title of A. B.: L. D. B. McCrady, W. Il. WAGNER,
T. R. TIghe, 7. d. StrohecEer.
The title OF NJ A. was conferred upon Mr.. John
A. Moroso, OF the Courier, and that of D. D. upon
Revs. W. c. Dana and F. A. Mood.
In comforting the degrees, the president made
the usual Latin address, concluding In English as
follows:
And now, gentlemen. 1t only remains to bid
you farewell. We have done what in US lay t.
prepare you for life and its responsibilities, look.
ing upon 1t not as anallty, but as given TO you
In the interest OF a fat higher and nobler exis-
tence. You are we'll aware that we have only
furnished you with the elements OF knowledge,
and we now transfer you to another teacher,
wiser and better, more just, more faithful, more
patient, more benign. You remember that when
Socrates first appeared as teacher In Athens,
Antisthenes dismissed his disciples, saying to
them, 81 have found an instructor, 20, each OF
you, and seek one for yourself" we say the
same to you; there is but one nfalibe Instructor,
90 each OF you and sit at his feet, and learn there
the significance OF life and the dignity OF
duty, so that, strenthened and enriched by
that high discipline, you may construct your
life upon so perfect model that 1t will
present nothing to mar the beauty or to
dsappoInt the promise OF this eventful hour.
You have been drawn to duty by noble as
pirations; do not suffer them to subsidc iRto the
satisfactlons OF a narrow circle OF ephemeral sue
cess; do not allow the dark shadow OF Worldli-
ness to obscure your mental vision, or to crcum-
scribe your infinite horizon. do not shrink from
the burden Of responsible existence. The dlfllcul.
ties which lie In your way are not Intended TO
crush, but only to test and to correct you, and
you owe 1t to yourselves, you owe 1t to the might
which Is pledged to sustain you, not to falter In
the inevitable encounter.
Can you doubt a faithful instinct. which has
taught you to presage.
That your longings shall be answered In the 1ul-
ness OF the age;
That the springs OF your existence, which are
gathering at the root
Shall course along Its branches yet, and burgeon
into fruit,
That the glories of your visions are but sketches
fantlJ drawn
or revealingS which await you when the day AZ
length shall dawn.
We are glad to note that the deep interest which
Is felt In the college by the community seems
fully justified by the very gratifying character
and elevated tone OF the commencement eXer-
cises.