New-York tribune., 1874-07-07
AMHERST COLLEGE.
PRESIDENT sTEARN's Observation-Disclosures BE
FORE THE SOCIETY OF NQUIRY-THE ART GAIL

PRESIDENT sTEARN's Observation-Disclosures DE
FORE THE SOCIETY OF NQUIRY-THE ART GAIL
LERY-GYMNAsTICS.
rPRoM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRiBOsE'I
AMHERST, July 8, ISAIAH the auspices
for the ffty-third commencement OF Ainnoi''
are favorable The baccaaureate sermon In tne co'es
chapel this morning by President stearns WAS on' "
the very best OF the long series, making almost s0
which he has preached tho classes about to near LIS
vo,ce for the last time Since the college ehapel was
only year ago. Its principal donor the eueSs
son OF President Stearns has died. ana the sdue'eh' a
personal loss the college gave an adued ~
seryces Dr. Searns selected the fourteenth verso VI ~
seventh chapter OF Daniel as his text, ana rom '"'
preached strong and eloquent defense OF the UNIVERSAL
ty aud Pormanence OF the Christian Religion Inc
prophecy: And there was given him dominion anu
glory and a kingdom, that all people, nations ana lan'
guage should serve him his dominion is an everlasting
dominion which shall not pass away, and MS NnEuon
that which shall destroyed was enolded ana IL
ustrated its application to Christianity enforced anu
the future Of the Christian religion outlined oy ITO
promise.
Thi ovenino the annual address before the religious
and missionary Society Of Inquiry delivered by
tho Rev Justin L. Twitchel OF Cleveland, o., ana
graduate This discourse was In some sense sup
Elemental and additional to that OF Dr. Stearns IN the
morning. Its theme Gods care Tor tue truth anu
Mans relation It, each branch of the subject being
truth was defined in its revelation preservation ana
promug gation and mans relation to IL IN MS uuJ "
seek, proclaim and trust 1t.
The feature OF the week, anticipated with the most
interest and pleasure is the opening OF the new aI
gallery which is now fixed for Tuesday and without
formality The old Alumni Hall, remembered Dy All
graduates OF the last years the scene OF those
searching and exhausting anuuals has been trans
formed into place attractive and inviting as IL used
to be dismal aud repeng The art gallery Is the nrS'
OF the name Ia any American college, and Is certain 10
add much TO fame and credit Of Amherst among her
sister institutions. The enterprise originated three
years ago with the Chicago graduates who were az
tending the semcentnnal OF college but the disas
trous fire which devastated their city after npped
in the bud their good intentions, and the project le
into the competent and energetic hands OF frof' t. H.
Mather to whom, far than to any other its uIl
mate success due. After thorough financial prepara
ton. Prof Maher sailed for Europe last July, and
devoted the folio wing six months 10 thorough anu
iudicous research among all the art centers aud ga
leres of Europe from Copenhagen to Florence. Last
Spring his purchases began to arrive; workmen were
employed remodeng and rearranging the hall for their
reception and to-day nearly 5000 works OF art statuay
Sta reefs and photographs, are arranged IN exce
lent order almost ready for the inspection Of the pub
lc ceiling Of the hall has been raised two feet to
give admission full sized castiof the famous Ghbert
doors from Florence which occupy central position
on the east end the room. while just below the cor
NICE encrclng the entire hall, is copy in plaster OF
the Elgn marbles the frieze OF the Athens Par
thenon The collection OF satuary comprises many OF
the best known and woTldfamOus works. or the gOod
which is expected from 1t and the growth whlch Is
hoped for it, there is no space to speak aaeq1atey III
this letter. The entire expenditure thus TAR mas Deeh
about $4,000 OF which all but $4,000 Is provided lor Dy
subscriptions from the friends OF the college aIa @
patrons OF art. Among the principal contributors are
the following: Alexander Strong OF Boston, 5000; j:
Holyoke. $50; c. c. Waite of New-York f. H. sawyer
of Eastnampton. Rufus Kellogg $500 each; ii. IT, De
Senator William Il. WashDurn of Greenfield, Mass $50.
During the recent session OF the Legislature the act
OF two three years since by which the election OF i've
trustees from and by the Alumni Is authorized was
modified in several important details, ana IL Will DO sub
mtted TO the graduates at their meeting during the
coming week for acceptance. Among the class re-
unions which to be held during the week are those
OF 3i OF which Henry Ward Beecher was member; OF
"a which includes ex Speaker Grow OF Pennsylvana
OF 40 in which Profs. Julius III. Seelye and Ed
sasSs IL is not Known whether M Beecher purposes
his classmates IN Amherst this year though his
graduate and trustee, the Rev. Dr. storrs has sig
nhed his intention 10 be present
Edward Hitchcock, to whom the success Of the phys-
during the year careful record of the work OF the
students IN tue gymnasium their physical condition,
this body OF young men. or the whole number OF 3O3
students. only Go have been III at ALL and the amount OF
lost during the account or sickness aver
SeSr5ed y, which 20 were of colds and pneumonia of
physical injury not OF the latter, however occur
ing in the Iesuiarscourse or prescribed exercise Two
students have died during the year. one by drowning
and three have left college on account OF impaired
health. Since the record the gymnasium has been APP
Piled on the rank OF the students the attend
OF the students perceptbly improved Out OF the
present senior class OF 63 81 received no mark for ABB
during the last term and the average gain in rank
all the class for the has been so per cent Compe
flor the Wash0urn prize OF soO TO the class most
faithfully attending 10 the exercises OF the year. and
giving the best exhibition In light gymnastics, has been
very active, aud stimulated healtnful and earnest
rivalry among the students. Probably the successful
will the present juniors, their record OF attend
being the most favorable, and their performance at
the exhibition last Fall most credaDe. The prize Will
be announced during the coming week.
Nineteen graduates OF Amherst have died during the
past year, average age Of 666S years. The roll,
though longer than usual bears notable number OF
distinguished or the class OF 1922 one-haf died
during the past year, the remainder, Prof. f. 5. Sne
still continues at the post which he has for more than
half "a century adorned at Amherst.
On Monday the Hyde and Kellogg prize speakings,
two events OF the most interesting To the under
graduates occur The former prize Is OF $780, gwen by
Henry d. Hyde of Boston for the best original English
Grafton from the senior class aud Is 10 the Amherst
students what the De Forest medal Is to Yale.
Among the prizes for the year just closing the follow
ing already announced:
Woods prize, S60 Tor general culture ana improve
ment, Jesse y. Forbes OK Cromwell. Conn.
Porter prize $685. Tor scholarship natural philosophy
during junior year. George r. Forbes OF Cromwell Conn
Strong Greek prizes, $50 each +. 5. Adams OF West
boro, j. B. Kingsley, Pittsburgh, Peun.