The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1871-07-06
For tie anderson htelHgencer.
,eommencement Exercises of the Kentucky
Military Institute.

Commencement Exercises OF the KENTUCKY
Military Institute.
Mr.. EDITOR: Having recently tried to give
sketch of the Examination of the Kentucky
Military Institute, which place it was my for
tune to attend, the writer will proceed to give
an account of Commencement Day at this In
stltute; and as sort of preface, it may be
said that in every college Commencement Day
is by far the most important day. 1t Is an era
It is important because it is the focus to which
all the interest, hopes, excitement and talk has
for some timetended, and because it-closes up
shesold year and commences new one. 1t Is
an era, because on this day number of young
men cross the threshold of manhood life, leay-
ing in the past their school-boy days and all
that belongs 70 college-ife and college-boy
character. On this day the endearing relation
of pupil and teacher is dissolved and on this
day another relation, said, of all formed du-
ring life, to be the strongest-that of class
mats-is practically ended. Young men and
women who, perhaps, for FIVE years have play
ed, talked, rejoiced, grieyed, studied, and In
every way associated together as brothers, must
now separate and return each one to his distant
home. No wonder. that this is day of the
highest interest. This is the day in which the
graduating speeches must be delivered and
diplomas conferred
Commencement Day at this Institute was no
less day Of excitement than similar days
usually are. Early III the morning OF the
Sth of June, crowds from the city of Frank
fort and the surrounding vicinity began TO-
ssfssthcr in beautiful grove near the Institute
bUiEsing, prepared for the occasion. After
PRAYER, the exercises of the day were opened
by q speechSfrom one Of the society represen-
tatives, young man from Mississippi. Then
began the graduates speeches, intespersed with
music by an excellent band 81 the y. .. army. ny
There were nine graduates, from as many diff
fsrent Southern States. These speeches mani
tested Southern culture and character for IN
nearly every one sentiments indicative OF
Southern honor, aspirations and feelings could
! be detected. During the exercises, We noticed
that Col. VIM. P. Breckenridge, who was one OF
the orators of the day, and Rev. VIM. Martin,
( of South Carolina, had stepped upon the
stage.
The speeches of graduates over, the annua!
address to thetLiterary Societies was delivered
by Rev. Mr.. Matthews, of Indiana. his
theme was eTrue Manhood" 1t was good
Subiect, and was treated in mastery manner.
Ee first showed what @true manhood" is, deal
Ing with thesubiect so sopractically, and at the
saliA time phiiosophi as tosindicate pro-
found stud elaborate preparation. LIZ
doing this he considered man as threcfOid,
compound being-physical, intellectual or
spiritual, and moraE He showed that That
system of education is best which develops each
one of these, and that man is nearest perfec-
tion whose powers of body, mind, conscience,
are thus developed. In treating of the devei.-
Opnnent of the intellect, he earnestly exhorted
&he young men to remember the difference be.
tween development of mind and acquisition OF
knowledge. The object of the college course
was to teach the mind hoac to shiaE, and not to
cram with knowledge He then dwelt at
length upon the development of the moral
man, making Jesus Christ, and the principles
embodied in the Gospel, the true basis of NOR
al DEVELOPMENT, and insisting that all yirtuous
actions had respect to the viii of God as
prompting motive With such training, the
mind soon comprehends the dignity of being.
Duty stands guard on the habits of the physi-
cal man. guides and directs the intellect, and
thus, with proper physical, mental and moral
ytraining, the man grows mp into symmetrical
manhood The whole discourse was replete,
with thought.
Col. Allen; the Superintendent, next intro
duced Col VIM. 2. Breckinridge, of Lexing-
ton. KY, cousin of Gen. John G. Breckin-
ridge. who delivered an eloquent and instruc-
tive address Some of your readers have, per-
haps, heard Gen. J. @. Breckenridge, and
remember his powerful eloquence, but Col. VIM.
p. is scarcely whit behind. In pleasing
manner he introduced the graduating class
ssho the world of to-day" He introduced these
yo,S,g naen about to enter the contest OF re-
sDonsible life, to world of progress, of ad-
yancement, into an heroic age. His thoughts
!. we're broad and high, not founded upon narrow
views of, things, but upon general survey OF
: the Interests and doings of the world. The
speaker deprecated the idea of retrogression In
the world. Said the world was becoming no
bier, and wiser, and better, and that he did not
fear the materialism charged against the pres
eEt age.S The future was bright with promises
of rica faYards to all who would enIer upon
1 and reap the golden harvest. This brought
him to speak of personal individuality of be-
8 ina. personal activity and personal responsible
itS. He urged most fuently the necessity OF
vigorous, and persevering labor. To-day"
"to-day," was the day given to work out the
design of their being in the world and their
future existence. He closed up by alluding to
the present condition of society, and the state
of our government, making stirring appeal
to the young men to go into the world and
work-work for themselves, for man and for
God.
Mr.. Editor, we wish every young man in the
South could have heard the addresses of these
After the address of COL B. the presentation
of diplomas to the graduating class followed.
This over, and medals for good conduct were
awarded. To those who had no dement's
against them for three years, golden medals
were bestowed. Out of the nine graduates,
Eve received medals. To those who had served
rs cadets two years without demerit, silver
medals were given. There were nine of these.
To those who had no demerit for one year,
white metal medals were given. There were
twenty-three white medals. You may be as
sured it is hard for cadet to get medal, even
white one; and to get golden one is still