The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-06-30
The ThirIy-fitth Commencement.
The Exercises OF The Week-The
Baccalaureate Class-day-The
Alumni-The Literary So
cieties- Exercises
of Commence
ment Day.

on Sunday under most auspicious circum-
stances.
Sundays Exercises.
The exercises of the week began with
the Baccalaureate address aud sermon on
Sunday morning. This was delivered 10 the
Brainerd Church, Easton, by Professor Charles
Elliott, of Chicago, to tigbtly-packed audience,
the thermometer indicating temperature of
about 100 degrees in the shade. At the conclu-
sion of the sermon, President Cattell, only lately
returned from an oriental tour, delivered the
charge to the graduating class the members
rising and remaining standing until its close. On
Sunday afternoon religious conference was
held in the chapel of tEe college, the topic being
"The b. ginning Of Wisdom" 10 the evening
sermon was delivered before the Brainerd Evan
geical Society in the First Presbyterian Church
by Professor Robert Watts. D. D., of Dublin,
Ireland
The BaccaIaureate.
In preaching tho Baccalaureate sermon, Pro-
fessor Elliott took a text, ''If any man
will do his will he shall know of the
doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether
l speak of myself" ."--John 7: II. He referred
to the early life of Christ as spent in acquaint-
ing his apostles with their duties The Gospel
they were to preach was from q source higher
and greater than the doctrines taught by the
most advanced schools of that age, and He and
the disciples could boldly await their time.
The will of God was their service, work which
each individual could acquant himself rea-
dily with, if he should inquire into the
doctrines announced They required
work and active service. The enquiring mind
if seeking after the truth of Gods word, never
failed in its attempts. Men who sought the doc
trines of Christ with what they called
biased mind were generally the most preiudiced.
The position strongly maintained was that the
Bible contained evidences OF its authenticity
within itself, but in the work of studying it men
allowed their faith to falter. The words of the
Bible seemed like thoughts from the "Great
Spirit to the savage; it brought tears to the
eyes of the poor and ignorant slave its words
were like rivers flood through which a lamb
might wade, but where the lion might drown.
the Ciass-Day Exercises.
On Monday the college examinations were
concluded. The studies left for the final day of
the examination were those embraced in the
Biblical course pursued during the year. At
P. NJ. the exercises of the senior-class day
began. This, as the first of the really interest
ing performances OF the week, drew together
quite crowd of visitors.
The college buildings of Lafayette are, as
every one knows who has ever visited the spot,
most beautiful for situation, but the situation is
anything but beautiful when regarded in certain
lights by visitors or dwellers in the town. Stu
ated as they are no one knows how many
thousand feet above the level of the sea, with
an almost perpendicular ascent, and with
roadway unprotected from the terrible beams of
an unbearable sun, the walk to them at an hour
like that set for the commencement of the class
day exercises is, to say the least, not exactly
such an one as a pair of lovers would chose for
their mutual qualification. But such as it was
there were not few who undertook the task,
and accomplished it. AS the time drew near an
almost continuous line streamed from the town
and toiled up the steep hillside. The view from
the top, when one had reached it, was certainly
delightful, embracing the country between the
ranges of hills, the two rivers, aud the town
itself, connected with the college by line of
people, many of whom ladies' dressed
not individually bnt collectively-in every
shade of the rainbow.
The band. Dodworth's from New York ar
rived upon the scene about two o'clock, per-
spring freely aud making free use Of every
expletive known in "Vaterland" on account of
the heat, the steepness of the hill, the weight of
their instruments while on il. and more espe-
cially because of scarcity of drinks. For this
most inseparable accompaniment Of all go0d
German music the seniors had most forgetfully
failed to provide, except by means of some
lukewarm spring water, which produced a cor
responding ellecI on al least eOHe PORTIONS Oh
tie music.
The platform was erected on the campus,
under grove of trees and Immediately in front
of the main college building. This arrangement
was doubly pleasant on account of the great
heat of the day. Two narshals were in attend
ance to show visitors to seats. Over the main
r. adway leading to the spot a banner OF
''welcome was erected. which device, as has
been we'll said, is very appropriate to many
occasions, but it is also much i'll use by fire
companies and other worthy organizations.
At about the time that the exercises com
menced, the sky, which had before been cloud
less, began to show signs of coming storm
Distant rumblings of thunder were heard whict
increased as the clouds drew nearer. 1t wa
thought advisable, however, to proceed with tn
programme, and the opening overture by tn
band was played to running ass-drum accom-
panment from the thunder cloud. As the banC
contained strings which sounded rather weak il
the open air, and as the real instrument haC
been very properly left out of the number tht
effect of the ertempOre drum part was rathe
pleasing than otherwise.
The class having taken their positions on tn
stage, the opening prayer was made by tn
Rev. DR.. Watts who was one of he earliest stu
dents at the college-a member of the class {
'49-and now professor in a theological sem
nary in Ireland.
After the prayer came the class poem, by NJ
Horace Roland.
While this able production was being read,
panic seized the lady portion of the audience
which was seated under the trees about th
al