The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1875-07-27
Commencement.

with the usual commencement exercises.
The weather was especially favorable and
the number Of alumni present was un.
usually large These exercises opened, on
Sunday. with the baccalaureatc sermon,
by Rev. Dr. George N. Boardman, Of
Chicago Theological Seminary, and the
Philadelphia anniversary in the evening,
when Rev. DIR. George l.. Walker, Of
New Haven, Conn, was the orator Of the
occasion. Reports Of these meeting were
given in our issue of last week.
During Monday there were no exercis-
es and it was devoted to the receiving Of
friends and preparation.
ASSOCIATED ALUMNI.
Tuesday morning the Associated AL
umni held their FIRST business meeting at
the College chapel, Vice President Il. p.
Hooker in the chair After the usual re-
ports committee on nominations was ap.
pointed, consisting of r. G. Flagg, l.. e.
Knapp, w. w, Winchester, Brainerd
Kellogg, Henry s, Foote.
The report of the committee appointed
last year to confer with the corporation
in reference to a participation by the
Alumni in the selection Of persons to gil
vacancies occurring in the board of trus-
tees was given by Prof. Kellogg.
LITERARY EXERCISES.
At 11:30 O'Clock a procession was
formed at the College headed by the
Middlebury cornet band, and under the
direction Of i. Il. Knapp as marshal, pro-
sary exercises were held. After music
by Hatch's orchestra, who furnished
music in the house for the day, Prayer
was offered by Rev. j. W. Chiekering,
D. D., class of 1926. Rev. DR.. Board
man, president Of the association, intro
duced Rev. Prof. William H. Shipman,
class of 1859, as the orator of the day,
who proceeded to discuss Evolution.
The following brief abstract may serve to
give an idea Of this very able and instruct
i've as well as interesting address
The theory Of evolution. whatever may
be its phase, may be credited with no in.
considerable degree of the intellectual
activity of the present age. Darwinism
is said to degrade man, but it does not
tend to exalt the lower animals in the
scale Of being. There are two ways Of
looking at the series Of progression. OAR
winism is a satire on humanity. 1t is not
SO much the theory which degrades as the
manner. The truly reverent spirit will
find nothing too humble for its considera-
ton The irreverence of this period is
not the differentiation Of religion or man.
A certain differentiation has been the
necessary accompaniment Of our progress.
In our careless haste, have we not fail
ed to clothe objects in their proper form ?
He spoke Of ignorance as being danger.
Gus stage in acquiring knowledge. Men
know too much and too little. The light
of advancing faith has its shades. The
old and the new combine at last A
troubled period comes when men magnify
the truth Sound thinking has always
brought on combats between individuals
The only remedy for little learning is
more learning. The aim Of such a
triumph is afforded in the theory of evo-
luton. Is the oak less grand because it
comes from little seed? Is the human
mind less wonderful because it comes of
varied particles of matter?
The want of reverence tends to restrain
action. The speaker proceeded to speak
os the irreverence in language, CONVERSE
ton in the pulpit and the press, and in
literature and all our social life. The
peroration was fine plea for men who
can see the grandeur Of the present age,
who are inspired by holy purposes and
do the work at hand,
The poem followed the address, given
by +, D.Mussey, class Of 1869. This poem
was received with enthusiasm by the
audience, and is highly complimented by
the press. 1t may be found in full upon
our fourth page. At the close Of the
literary exercises, on the nomination Of
the orator and poet, according to the
usual custom, Prof. Fisher, of Canton,
N. Y, and Hon, George II. Pondleton.
of Ohio, were elected honorary members
of the Associated Alumni.