The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1873-08-07
@respondence of the anderson latelligencsr.
University of the South.
sEwXNEE, TENN, July 2srd, 1873.

none are fraught with greater interest and ex-
citement than those pertaining to Commence
ment Week." With this -festal season close
the exercises of the scholastic year, and for the
nonce the students are permitted respite from
their duties, that they may yield themselves to
the enjoyment Of the occasion. The Com
mencement Exercises which have recently been
concluded form en- interesting event in the.
history of the institution, and will not soon be
forgotten by the many who participated in
them. The term examinations closed on the
18th inst, and from thence until the 21st was
the July holidays. During this interim the
annual meeting of the Board of Trustees was
held. The attendance of this venerable body
was not as large as during its preceding ses-
sion, but all the ten Southern Dioceses were
represented by the clergy and laity.
The Board met on the 18th, and at IL a. M,
the following procession was formed /. The
Choir in full vestments; 2. The Faculty in
scholastic gowns; 8. The Vice Chancellor in
robes of Office; T. Lay Trustees; s.. Clerical
Trustees vested; 6. Bishops vested. Proceed
ing up the nave until the procession reached the
choir, the ranks were opened and the order re-
versed, the Bishops entering the sacrarium,
while the remaining orders took their appoint
ed seats in the body of the choir. The admin
istration of the Holy Eucharist was then
performed the Bishops of South CaEoina,
Texas, Tennessee, Mississippi and Louisiana
officiating in this solemn and impressive rite.
| Instead of the usual sermon, the Chancellor,
Rt Rev. w. NJ. Greene, of Miss, delivered
graceful address of welcome to the Board, in
which he especially recounted the growth of
the University as very fattering evidence of
the favor with which it is esteemed not only
| by the South, but also by our Northern breth-
rem. After the services were concluded, the
Board repaired to the University Library, or
ganized and proceeded to business.
The night of the 18th, the "Fourth Annual
Hop of the Sewanee Social Club" was held.
Twas said by the knowing ones to eclipse any
thing of the kind ever witnessed here, and if
we may be permitted to judge from the brilliant
assemblage of beauty and chiualry, the happy
exchange of gratulations, and the soul-inspir-
ing music. there can be little question of the
assertion.
The 17th inst. was Commencement Day.
Long before the exercises began, the avenues
leading to the chapel, were thronged with visi-
tors and-residents alike all seeking TO gain an
early admission. AT 11.3O, the same process
sion-with the addition of the graduates, who
Immediately followed the choir-was formed
as on the day previous. When the last peal of
the organ died away upon the morning air,
Rt. Rev. j. P. B. Wilmer, of La, delivered the
| Commencement Sermon from the text, "Unsta-
BILE as water, thou shalt not excel" Would
that every youth in our Southern land could
| have heard this impassioned appeal. The.
students of this University have been highly
favored, in that they have listened to much OF
the first talent, secular as well as clerical, in
which this country abounds; but it is doubtful
whether they have heretofore enjoyed such an
eloquent chaste and intellectual discourse as
fell from the lips of this eminent divine. APP
plying the fearful denunciation of Sculpture to
the students, he showed the necessity of stabiE-
ity of purpose in all the duties and relations
of life; and how essential in this age of ,skep-
ticism, when even the ablest talent of the:
world is arming to crush the truths of revealed
Religion; for the youth of this land to be true
to themselves and their country, and to found
their education upon the Rock which bids de-,
fiance to the mad waves of infdelity. The.
sermon being ended, the graduates in the re-
spective schools were announced, and on COM
ing forward were presented by the Vice Chan
cellor. to the Chancellor. The latter, in
appropriate addresses, awcrded these distinc-
tions, which were twenty-nine in number, VIZ:
School of Mathematics, 10; School of Meta
physics and English Literature, s.; School of
Latin, 6; School of.Moral Science, 3; School
of Chemistry, 2. Next in order was the be-
stowal of the numerous rewards and prizes
| which were won by the more cumulative stu
dents-the presentation being made by mem
bers of the Board Of Trustees. When all were
distributed the occasional was formed, and the
order of departure was the same as that of
entering.
On the night of the 18th, the annual contest
between the Literary societies-the Pi Omega
and the Sigma Epsilon-for the two Prize
Cups, transpired This occasion is one not only
of the greatest interest to the Societies, and
their respective friends and sympathizers, but
also to the visitors of the University. The
prizes-the "DeBow Cup for oratory" and the
browne Cup for English Composition
been presented to the University by the gen.
tlemen whose names they bear, and their ten
ure of possession extends only to that Society
which is able to hold them. The contest for
the Cup for Oratory is between two chosen
orators from each Society, and the Committees
of Judges is chosen from among the Trustees
and visitors. The Cup for English Compost
tion is contended for by an equal number OF