Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1876-06-03
THURSDAY MORNING.

X
THURSDAY MORNING.
All the previous exercises were pre-
liminary to this and preparatory to
the main business of the season, the
conference of diplomas upon the COM
mencing students.
The mornings work was initiated by
the address of j. j. WEST, Esq, to the
Alumni Society. This was matter of
interest to all. John West is par &c
cellence a GAINESVILLE boy. No man
has ever established so kindly an in
terest in the hearts of our citizens of
all ages, ranks and denominations as
his excellent father so long cherished
among us as Teacher, Minister and
Friend; and John grew up from child
hood in the affections of the people so
naturally, that if Gas he promises) he
should live long enough among us to
rise to the head of his profession he
will still be reckoned with familiar re-
gard as one of our boys. He is also
known as typically a Stewart College
boy: we undertake to know something
of the interior affairs of the college and
we fearlessly affirm that the year
he graduated was the best year for
scholarship which it has ever known
and in that year he stood so nearly
first that there was only one third OF
mark out of one hundred to make
the difference between him and the
students who bore off the hOnors. The
Alumni therefore did well to make
him their spokesman on this occasion,
and John did we'll and more than well
in the way he responded to it. He
took for his subject the topic of true
greatness" and treated the theme in a
strain of thought we'll worth the
marked attention it met with. He de-
monstrated the momentous import
anee to nation of finding out who
are its really great men, and of accept
ing their.guidance; he showed how of
ten nations had been led into error and
ruin by men whom they had falsely es-
timated as great, but who only posses
sed those shining qualities which al
lure the multitude but are not based
on true moral worth and sound religi-
Gus principle-men who lack noble
aim and in whom self is the solitary
actuating principle -self-aggrandize-
ment, self-laudation. In unselfish de-
votion, on the other hand to the we'll
being of all was recognised the type of
of true greatness, in the self-sacrifce
which assimilates him in his degree to
the one sacrifice of the cross and stamps
him as truly made in Gods own image.
This is rather an exhibition of the
general idea of Mr.. Vests address
than an attempt to reproduce the effect
of the whole which can only be appre-
ciated by thosewho heard it: these were
many and every one of that many was
delighted-we only wish they had been
more.
The address of Mr.. West being con-
cluded, those of the commencing grad
yates commenced. These were Messrs.
John R. Allen, of Memphis, W. ?.
Coleman, of Murfreesboro, G. E. Gun
nipgham, of Aberdeen, Miss, E. G.
Hendrick, of Paducah, Ky, VIM. T.
Turley, of Franklin, J. II. Weaver, of
Atoka aud T. V. Moore Of Nashville.
OF these only Messrs. Cunningham,
Hendrick and Moore obtained the b.
A. degree which implies proficiency
in all the subjects of study, the rest
emitting one or more of the studies.
Mr.. j. r. Allen being excused on
account of protracted sickness, the
first address was by
Mr.. w. p. COLEMAN, CtjyaIrY.
The speaker gave a lucid account of
the origin and history of chivalry and
of the high principles of action which,
in itsideal character, gave it the high
esteem it so long enjoyed, and in doing
so exhibited singularly we'll regula-
ted taste aud lucid clearness in pre-
senting the facts and his thoughts upon
them Z; if we felt anything as deicien-
cy, it was the animation and enthusi-
asm which one expects from young
man upon so spirit stirring subject.
A few thoughts from Keats Dream of
chivalry would have given the needed
vivacity to the subject.
Mr.. c. E. CUNNINGHAM, Social
Responsibility.
Defining man as social being, Mr..
C. exhibited ably the dependency of
man upon his fellow-man and the
heavy responsibility attaching to that
influence which man necessarily ex-
erts on his fellow-man through the |
social affections. In regard to matter
or manner nothing was left to be de-
sired. 1t is true that Mr.. Cunning
hams manner was rather that of a
student than that of an orator; but it
the better suited his subject, which
was more adapted to philosophical
than declamatory treatment.
Mr.. WILLIAM 7. TURLEY, Edgar
A. Poe.
This was unquestionably the ablest
of the graduating addresses but for