The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1875-07-08
Commencement week ut Western.

J
were brought to halt upon the banks of
Salt Creek, it being SO high that 1t was
dangerous to attempt to cross. We,crcSt-
fallen, retraccd our steps to Toledo We
arrived there in time to take the hack for
Tama, where we arrived shortly in safety
We boarded the morning train and were
soon permitted to step off at Cedar Rapids.
Friday afternoon we put in an appearance
at Western. This place is quiet vilkge
of some 600 or 100 inhabitants. The prin
cipal attraction ut Western is tie College,
which was located here in the year 1886,
and has been since and is under the
auspices of the L. B. Church. But the
place is not devoid of other attractions.
There is located here one of the finest
Touring mills in the State, owned and
controlled by the Western Mill Company.
There are here, also, many kind citizens
who have the facility of making every one
feel wonderfully at home among them,
and this, of course lends to the attractive
ness of the place. The examination
of the College classes commenced on
Thursday and passed off believe crcdita-
bly, to the Students and the Institution.
On Saturday evening came the AnHlYcr.
sary exercises of the Literary Societies of
which there are three connected with the
school. The exercises were very good,
perhaps equal to any similar exercises
.ol I
presented from two of the societies
to one gentleman and three ladies. On
Sabbath morning although it was raining
and very disagrceable, the chapel was
crowded to listen to the Baccalaurcate
sermon delivered by Rev. Z. B. Kephart.
lie chose as his text, Go work to-day in
my vineyard" The speaker first called
our attention to the considerations of the
vineyard, which he understood to refer
especially to the ministerial offices, but in
Il broader sense TO all legitimate profess
ions The Lawyer, the Physician, and
the Uusbandman, each have Il noble plo-
fession, and can only be true to the same
when they work according TO the doctrines
of Christ. Work is needed. The world has
ever been cursed with oilers. Men arc
wanted who are willing to 1O0rL TO work
perscvcringly with unity Of purpose and
integrity of heart. This work is needed
now, go work to.day," says the word.
The man who always works in the future
never works at all. The good sermons,
the good defenccs at the bar, and the
good orations, that were to be prepared
t0-ns3Troiy, far out-numbCr those that the
world has ever heard,
Ii the evening we were treated TO an
excellent discourse from Rev. y. D..
Adams, Pastor of Z. 8. Church at COun-
Gil Bluffs, and. Editor of the "Christian EX-
positor" His text was Romans, 1:2O,
The theme of his discourse was ''The
Concordance between God in Nature, and
God in the Bible" Rev. Adams is q man
with clear head and a good mind. l
heard many speak his discourse as a
rich treat, and l think they spoke properly.
Oh Monday evening large and atten-
tive audience was entertained in the
chapel with lecture by Prof. Knapp,
formerly Principal of Iowa Asylum for
the Blind. His subject was Common
Sense" and his lecture certainly cvinced
the fact that the possesses 4 large share Of
that very rare commodity, to say that his
lecture was very interesting and highly
al I,p,
bounds.
On Tuesday evening large audience
assembled to listen to lecture by Rev
Ellsworth, Pastor Of CongrcgatonalChurch
at Waterloo. lie gave his lecture three
different titles, thinking that from these
the most fastidious might make selection.
His titles were 1st Practical Patriotism;
End, Civil Virtue 3rd, Prince of Peace.
This lecture as the preceding was both
interesting and instructive. 1t contained
ideas well worth the thought of the prl-
vatc citizen, and the statesman.
Wednesday the last and greatest day of
the feast, that day for which all other
college days arc made came at last. In the
early morning dark clouds DER spread the
sky which made the hearts of all inter-
ested tremble, lest we might be visited
with one of those gentle showers, for
which this spring has been so noted, and
the audience be forced to retreat to the
chapel. But all fears were shortly dis
PEELED, and at an early hour the crowd
commenced to assemble in the grove in the
College Campus, and by ten o'clock one
of the largest audiences that we have seen
here was gathered to listen to the mellow
strains of music discussed by the Marion
Cornet Band, and the eloquence of the
speakers of the occasion. Space will not
permit an extended account of these ex-
ercises, so we will merely pronounce it
very good. Some mistakes were commit
ted in the delivering, but the quality of
the productions was such as to secure the
praise of the crowd. Some of the produc-
tions were certainly excellent both in
matter and manner, and should say to
the officers of the College, you need not
be ashamed to own those persons as stu
dents of your institution.
The graduating class consisted of two
ladies and one gentleman, Miss Lou Hop
wood, and Mile Gambrel, of Western, and
and Mr.. j. II. Albert, of Woodland Pa.
In the evening a large crowd assembled
in the chapel, for general sociable. A
few toasts were announced and responses
given after which each had the liberty TO
enjoy the evening after his own mind.
This may be said to have been "feast of
! eason, and flow of soul, more especial
ly the latter At the meetings of the
Board Of Trustees, some very important
measures were adopted, looking to the
future prosperity Of the College. Miss
Lou Hopwood was elected to the chair OF
Lady Principal.
Upon the whole, we should say that
commencement week at Western, was
grand success. Western College although
not so pretentious as some others, is
nevertheless doing great work in fittinQ
young men and women for the duties Of |
life.
To young persons insuiring as 10 where
they shall attend school, let me suggest |
that you send to President E. b. Kephart,
Western, Iowa, for catalogue OF that
school before deciding.
Yours,
G. J. KErHART, !