Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1870-07-03
aeon Masonic College

Editors Appeal. Attendance upon
the "f..lmencement exercises OF the
Macoii dasonic Male College, on the
24tht1 !, assured me that there was
life in iJold land yet" did not
reach erein time for similar exercl-
ses of re Female College, the prevl-
Gus day, but was assured by those
who were present that the young la
dies displayed the finest scholastic at
tainments. The President of the Fe-
male ColIege-Mr. Pettis, finished
scholar-and the accomplished music
instructress, Miss Turner, with their
assistants, certainly deserve the high
est praise. Their concert, on the eve
ming of the 23d inst, was a grand sue
cess, and pupils only six years old ex-
hibited wonderful proficiency In mu-
sic
The Male College being under the
auspices Of the Masonic fraternity, the
9th June, est. Johns day." was Sc
lecJed for its commencement exercises
that both celebrations might be had
the same day, and one Grafton answer
for both. AT about 10 O'Clock a. m. the
capacious Baptist church at Macon
was crowded to its utmost capacity
aisles, doors and windows. The eX-
ercises commenced with prayer by
the Chaplain of the Macon Lodge of
MasOns, after which orations were de-
livered by the graduating class and
the orator of the day. ] do not re-
men ber the names of all the speakers,
and will not, therefore, mention the
names of any. But desire to say
that all acquitted themselves hand
somely. In beauty of sentiment,
purity of style, and breadth and com
prehension Of thought, the oratiOns
would do credit to any institution in
the land. They manifested an exact
and thorough scholarship. The vale
dictory, pronounced by the young
gentleman bearing off the highest
honors, was chaste, beautiful and elO-
quent.
After the valedictory, Prof. G. w.
Johnston, the learned and accom-
plished President OF the Male College,
delivered diplomas to each of the
graduates with appropriate remarks.
That concluded, and the day being
the anniversary of st. John the Bap-
tist, and the Macon and neighboring
Lodges having met and marched in
commencement exercises, the ora
tor of the day, our tOwnsman,
Major R. p. Duncan, was then intro
duced. / have often participated on |
such occasions, and have in my time |
heard a good many Orations, but l |
have met with nothing of the kind su- |
periOr to the speech of Major j. His |
subject was the dignity OF labor, and |
he handled it like a philosopher and |
an orator. The whole speech was |
conceived in fine order, clothed in |
chaste and beautiful language, and |
delivered with an ease and grace that |
would reflect credit upon much abler |
men. 1t held the audience like a
spell during its delivery, and upon its
close the speaker was Immediately |
by a crowd of the lis
teners and heartily congratulated upon
the noble effort which they had just |
AT the conclusion Of the |
speech the large crowd repaired to
the beautiful grove near by, on the
lot of Mr.. Johnson, and partook of
a bountissl dinner, prepared by the
hospitality Of Macon and vicinity.
The pleasures of the day passed off
with a dance by the young people.
All seemed happy, and nothing Oc-
,uEred to mar the peace and harmony
If the crowd. May we live to be at
Macon again on the 24th of June,
1871. S.
"Brick" POmeroy, in his New York
DeDtdcT,af, threatens to bolt Hoffman