Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1873-07-03
Correspondence of the Yorkville Enquirer.

Correspondence of the Yorkville Enquirer.
COMMENCEMENT AT ERsK1NE COLLEGE.
Commencement Sabbath was good day in
Erskine College. Rev. w. J. Lowry, Of
Selma, Alabama, delivered the annual sermon,
selecting for his text-"Because We thus judge
that if one died for all, then were all dead"
&c. A fine day, large and attentive audi.
ence, splendid sacred music and the new YER
sion of David's psalms, with good anthem
to begin with, caused me to feel that I was
among the favored ones, and that it was
privilege to be at Due West at commencement
times. '''
Rev. w. j. Lowry was educated at Erskine,
and the institution is proud Of her sou, as she
we'll may be- The benefits are reciprocal. It
is neither true that colleges make men, nor
that men make colleges but reciprocally,
they aid each other, and that is all. No COL
lege can make q man out of q dolt or slug
gard, nor can the most distinguished son in
fuse life into dead or dying institution Of
learning
Personally, Mr.. Lowry is commanding;
his broad and massive front, his ease, grace
and Manner at once bring the largest congre.
CATION down to the stiffness Of earnest expec.
tation; while his strong but mellow voice
breaks out over the sea Of up-turned faces like
zephyr upon the bosom Of afsilvery noun
tain lake sleeping in the sun. He command
ed the breathless attention of his hearers for
an hour or more. .t''.'.
Monday, various exercises in all the insti-
tutions-male and female colleges, and the
theological seminary occupied the day. The
committees were hard at work on the written
examinations" preparing to award the medals
of distinction in the various branches of learn
ing. With this mode I was favorably i'm
pressed. I will explain the system. Profas-
sor Hood, for example, will ask his class in
history the question, "What was the condition
of France at the time of the revolution under
Louis XVII" Every boy closes his book and
writes the answer, handing it to tho Professor
to be filed away and placed before the COM
mittee on commencement day. This is &C.
we're test of proficiency, admitting of no pos
sible chance for the pupil to pass for more
than his true worth.
Monday night the Sophomore contest in
defamation took place, the contestants being
two from each literary society. w. T. Wal
ler, of Selma, Alabama, carried the highest
honors.
Tuesdays proceedings were a repetition of
the exercises of the DAY previous, except dec
lamations by members of the junior class.
On these occasions custom prevails here,
which, while it may be charming to some, may
not be so agreeable to others. When the
speaker has finished his exercises, dashing
boy may be seen moving from the crowd be-
low and mounting the rostrum, display gor.
geous bouquet sent by some fair hand, and
place it in the hands of the blushing recipient,
who feels that one heart, at least, beats for him
in that vast throng. But if the presentation
of one bouquet is supposed to have bewild-
ering effect upon the young men, what shall
we expect of the poor, confused boy who is
the modest recipient of four, as was young
Lowry, of York?
On Wednesday, Col. McMaster, of Colum-
bia, the anniversary speaker, did his part we'll,
his effort being highly commended by all who
heard it. President Grier also acquitted him
self we'll. He is truly the right man in the
right place. The highest encomiums come