Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1871-08-11
From the Lutheran Visitor.
commandments at Roanoke Col
lcgc, Virginia.

AlIGI IL DlciStiHl, though somewhat
tiresOme ride of ten hours on the +. II.
and Va. Railroad, and sleepless night,
Sunday morning, June Is, found me
safely and comfortably quartered in
the quiet town of Salem, Va. | had
repaired to this place for the purpose
of attending the annual Commence
ment of Roanoke College, located here,
and other exercises usually connected
with similar occasions. | was so fa-
vOrably impressed with all that / saw
and heard, that / have thought that
brief account of the most important
exercises of the occasion, together
with such reflections as may suggest
themselves to my mind, as | proceed,
might not be unacceptable to your nu
meTous readers.
By the special request of the Presi-
dent of the College, Rev. J. A. Seiss,
ID. D., of Philadelphia, preached the
Baccafaureate sermon Sunday morn
ing, the 18th ult 1t was the first time
| had ever enjoyed the pleasure of see
ing and hearing this brother, so eXten-
sively and favOrably known in the
Church as an author and the editOr-in-
chief of one of our best religious pc
riodicals. Ny expectations were high,
appointed. Time and space will not
permit me to give even brief synOp-
sis his sermon. Suffice It to say that
the discussion of the theme, "Person-
al Greatness and Success" was q mas
terly effort, fully sustaining the repu-
tatiOn of it's distinguished author. 1t
was well adapted to the occasion, and
held the large and appreciatlve audi
ence in almost death-like silence du-
ring its delivery.
In the evening DIR. SeiSs addressed
the Young Mems Chistian AssOcia-
ton. He was equally felicitous i'm this
address. II was replete with momen-
| tous truths, wholesome advice and pa
| thetic appeals, all clothed in highly
| ornate language, eloquently and inn
pressively delivered. The Doctors
visit to Salem was timely, and produ-
ccd n favorable impression, and did
much to remove unfOunded prejudices,
which existed in the minds of some
| against our Northern brethren gener-
ally, and DIR. $. in particular. He
| made many warm friends, by whom
| his memory will be long and affection
ately cherished.
Monday evening the contest for the
| y
| is always an interesting and exciting
rime-not only with the contestants
| themselves, and their particular friends
and admirers, but with others gener-
| ally, For some reason unknown to
| the writer, there were but three candi-
l. dates for that honor on this occasion.
| The efforts of all were not only credit
able, but reflected great honor on the
| young gentlemen themselves, as well
as their alma Mater. The Medal was
| given, by the committee selected to
award it, to Mr.. J, ID. Dreher, of South
| Carolina. AS usual there was not en-
tire unanimity in the committee, as
to the merits of the respective candi-
dates, and their chief regret was the
necessity of discriminating where all
did so well.
Tuesday morning Rev. G. r. Hol-
land delivered the address before the
Alumni. To say that his theme, ''True
Manhood - was lucidly. fOrcibly and
eloquently presented and enforced,
would be but to give utterance to the
Judgment universally expressed by the
intelligent audience whose privilege
and pleasure it was to hear the rever-
end speaker.
In the evening of the same day, the
Literary Societies were addressed by
Gen. Il. &. Darlington, of Atlanta
Ga, The General is a member of the
bar, man of decided ability and q
; bright ornament to his profession. He
won for himself golden opinions. The
matter of his speech was good, hi:
, style chaste and even elegant, and his
: oratOry far above mediocrity; but il
1 l. hot II nfCc cI1l. f,,.
ciously chosen because not adapted t.
the occasion and the peculiar condi
ton of the country. Ii is, however
but due to the orator to say that othe n
r whose opinions are entitled to hisi
consideration, differed with me in my
/ Judgment in this respect.
5 Wednesday, the 2lst, was the grea
= day of the occasion-the Commence
e nept, proper. Every thing shove,
that something unusual was on hand
. Long before the appointed hour, tn,
e intelligence and the refinement, tn
}, beauty and the fashion of the stat,
a old town of Salem, together with Wis
: i;ors from q distance, crowded th
o | spacious church to overfiowing. Their
: ! are occasions in life in which all, with
t out distinction of age or social eondi
5 ton. seem to become happy, and thi
e is one of them. Whether it be by tn
n law of sympathetic imitation, or som
e other great law of our nature, it ma
II be difficult to determine. But howey
e er we may account for it, such is tn
k fact. The graduating class eonsistc
& of seven members, and is said by th
" Faculty TO be one of the best ever turT
v ed out from the College. Without a
{. tempting to draw indidual distin,
Ie tions, particularly where so Iittl
l. ground of distinction exists, suffice
At to say that all acquitted themselv,