The Sumter watchman. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1855-1881, 1871-07-12
E1UoATtoNAL.

I ~
woaard eolIege Conanshcen1ents-
Larger Attendance-Deeply Anterest'
ing Occasion.-Pifteen Graduates.
Commencement at Woford has always
been an occasion of much interest, frem
the simple fact that it has always been
an educational seat Of high. grade, and
because there is, at spartauburg gather
ed, an amount Of appreciative inteni-
gence, social refinement, genial hospi.
tally, and moral and religious worth.
such as is rarely found, ina community
of similar size-[the detrsctions Of the
Tribune correspondent to the contrary
notwithstandiug.1 In fact, as au inssi-
tuition Of learning, thoroughly inter
woven with theielements Of moral and
religious strength, WoHord and ia
associations would stand >preeminent in
any country at any time.
With its handsome endowment swept
away, however, by the war, aud amidst
the genera wreck Of the county, the
attendance, since the war, upon its Com
mencewcuts, though not actually small
had not been large. On the recent
occasion, of which we write, the ante
Jelums audiences were closely approx
mated, ifnot fully equalled, whilst the
number of graduates (6fteen) equalled
that of any previous class.
The discipline at Woford, though or
an elevated plane, is seldom actually
enforced, because q high moral sense
restrains the student, while a manly;
yirtuous zeal, springing from the same
source, induces vigorous emulation. In
producing that sentiment, and exciting
that emulation, the Faculty is q unit
one in a pure and active christianity
and thorough scholastic attainments.-
And just here it is appropriate to state
that all of the recent graduates were
consistent members of the Church, and
four of them about to enter the ministry
THE COMMENCEMENT SERMON
by BISHOP WIoHrMAN (the first Presi
dent of Wofford, at the College Chapel
on Sabbath morning, Was attended by 8
great congregation Of people-the
Presbyterian and Baptist Churches oI
the town being closed at that hour
Time has dealt lightly with the we'll
rounded, manly, 1--WE had almost said
majestic form of the Bishop, while his
mental powers and impassioned delivery
have in nothing abated. He is still The
grandest preacher Of the Southern
Methodist Episcopacy. He found hi'
fitting theme, on this occssion, in tie in
terrogatory of the rich young man to the
Saviour: GOOD master, what good
thing shall l do that may have eternal
life ?" Although not one of his grandes'
and most complete efforts, it was never
theless of great beauty, point aud
power.
THE JUNIOR EXHIBITION.
Monday morning, brought large
audience, in which the ladies had the
advantage in majority. With fora
compliments in hand, they came iu
beyies, uutil the spacious floor Of the
chapel was transformed into we'll nigh a
solid mass of beauty. The extended
rostrum, too, was flled-the Faculty,
the Bishop, visiting clergy in considera-
bic number, aud the Merati, visiting and
local, presenting an imposing array oi
dignity and learning. Quite trial, We
thought, for a young man to appear
before such an assemblage.
The speakers we're ten in number,
who had been elected, by their fellows.
from an unusually promising class Of
twenty-five. There had evidently been
much emulation among these, judging
from the general success. Some Of them
attained a high degree Of oratorical
accomplishment, but there were no
really inferior speakers among them
As whole, We had never seen it ex-
celled.
The following we're the speakers and
their subjects:
l.-Christiani,y-Its Diffusion and EEects-by
Wm. II. Fork, OF EdgsGeld, S. C.
Gods Word, the True Instrument Of Moral
Regcueration-by T. A. Gilbert, Of Su1tr,
S. C.
3.-Twilisht q. Hollsyuood-by L. K.clyds, Of
Greenville, S. C.
4.-supposed Speech Of John Adans-by L. B.
Haynes, OF Spartanburg, 8. c.
Battle Of Mt Tabor-by J. z. Waansmaker,
Of 0rangeburg, S. c.
6.-Battlo Of Beal An Duine-by Vim. 4.
Eogers. Of Sumter, 8. C.
7.-colIege Clssses-by A Coke Saith, Of Sun.
ter, s. C.
s.-Commcncement Day-byy. ". Disksso, Of
Anderson, S. C.
a.-Extraet from the Fira Ho.sh;pperf-hY