The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1875-07-14
ghe Press and Banner.
". A.. LEE, EDITOR.
Wednesday, July Il, 1878.

Wednesday, July L. 1910.
TIE COMMENCEMENT At DUE
WEST.
1hr Annual Commencement OF lhr
Male and Female Colleges at Due West
cor,coir on Wednesday and Thurs'iay
Of the past week, and rs usual attracted
. Iar..c and brilliant attendance, ana
furnished a varied and interesting pro-
"ramuc of exercises. Perhaps the no.
t,|s nj thc town were less crowded than
usual, but the tEroEg of visitors from
the country made amends for amy deli
cheney here, and Che bustling streets,
and the drnscIy packed halls showed
that there was no lack in the interest
whicl, is always manifested on these.
occasions. The exercises furnished all
their usual attractive features, and re- :,
0ectei the highest credit alike upon pu-s
nils and instructors. The speeches OF
the young men. we thought, exhibited
more than the usual maturity and vlgor
of thought, and the essays of the young
ladies more than the usual graces of
thought and expression. Music lent its
charms to give variety and interest to
the occasion, aud the eloquent speeches
and the graceful essays awakened pro-
per response among all who had ears to
listen or souls to appreciate. Amid so
LARGE crowd there was as a matter OF
course the usual proportion OF those
who came to talk not to listen, and who
carried on q byc-pIay of Irritation on
back seats, and kept up 4 busy hum OF
conversation as running accompahl-
mcnt to the exercises proper OF tho oc-
ca>;ion.
EXAMINATION.
The examination commenced on
Wednesday of the preceding week
and closed Oh Tuesday, the day before
Commencement, and was conducted
before separate committees of the two
colleges. The students passed the re-
spec,ive ordeals very creditably, aud
made very gratifying exhibition ol
proficiency in the various departments.
The Theological students were also cN-
amincd, and passed the ordeal safely.
BACCALAUREATE SERMON.
The Baccaaurate sermon OIL Sunday
morning was delivered by the Rev. W.
NJ. Grier, ID. d., President OF Ersklne
College from Matthew 6: 33, 'Scell yc
first the kingdom of God and his right
eousncss. and all these things shall be
added unto you," and was one Of lis
finest efforts, though prepared in the
short space Of three days. The preach
er elect, DR.. Irvine, of Augusta, was
unavoidably detained at the last mo-
ment, and the youthful President was
called upon to supply his place. The
sermon was Il grand exposition of the
pre-emncnt claims of the Gospel upon
the general acceptance Of mankind, and
OF its distinguishing excellcnces, as the
primal source lof all blessings tempo
lnl and spiritual. 1t was peculiarly
jappropriate to the occasion, and cHm-
manded the undivided attention Of q
large audience.
SOCIETY DIPLOMAS.
On Monday evening the society di-
nlomas were delivered to the members
OF the Senior class of Erskine College,
in the respective Society Halls. In the
Eu,ilem;.n Society Mr.. Horace Rabb,
of Due West, appeared for the society,
aud Mr.. J. NJ. McNeel, Of Chester, for
the class in the Philomathcan Society
Mr.. w. w. Orr, of Due West, appeared
for the society and Mr.. Il. II. Clink-
scales, of Anderson, forthe class. These
speeches were all good and well re-
ceved.
JUNIOR AND SOPHOMORE EXHIBITION.
On Thursday evening large audi
euce assembled in Lindsay Hall to
hcar'the contests in Declamation and
Essay reading, between members of the
Sophomore and Junior classes. The
following was the programme of cXer-
ciscs:
Cicero against Cataline-J. G. Bell,
Charlotte, Nc
Patrick Henry to the Convention Of
Nirginia-John n. Johnson, Due West,
S. &.
Grattan's Reply.-D. II. McGill, Due
West, 5. &.
The Crisis.-Neill E. Pressly, Coddle
Creek, \. Z.
Our Obligations and Incentives to
Usefulness.-J. II. Bigham, Blackstock,
$. &.
History, It's Plcasures-W. 7. Cook,
Anderson, >. &.
Politics Unfriendly to Purity and In
tegrity Of Character-W. IL. Millcn,
Chester, 5. G.
Life is What we Make it j. w. She
rard, Anderson, S. G.
The speeches were all well delivered
and the essays were all good, but We
fully endorse the judgment Of the Com
mittee in the awards rendered Which
we publish below.
WEDNESDAY
was Commencement Day Of Erskine
College, and rs usual attracted Il bright
array of both sexes. The body OF the
Hall was filled with youth and beauty
of this and the adjoining counties,
whilst upon the elevated platform sat
representatives from all the learned pro-
fessions, who had all come to lend aid
and sympathy to this charming festival
of letters. The stage was most bcauti-
f,l1v tlocorotel with \yrp1ths of ever