The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1876-07-12

Animal Address before the Literary So
cietics by Col. Wm. S. Mullins, of Ma
rion. which was all able, earnest and
eloquent effort, setting forth the du--
ties and responsibilities of educated
men," The Colonel is a prominent
lawyer of his section, and ready and
eloquent tspeaker, and his address well
sustained his past reputation and dld
fhonor to the occasion
The address presented striking ana
truthful picture of the degcneracy OF
modern times, and especially of the
disintcsration of society at the South,
as contrasted with the pure public
spirit, and we'll ordered governments
of the sages of 1776. The Grants, and
Belknaps, and chencks who now dis
grace high official station were shown
| to he the natural progeny Of the dete-
rioration Of public and private morals
which form q striking contrast to that
heroic era of our national life, which
found expression in Washington,
Madison, Jefferson and the other lead
ers of the Revolution. The causes as
signed by the speaker for this retro
gression in national development,
were Ist the growth of unmiXed De-
mocracy, in the establishment OF uni
versal suffrage-2d in the materialistlc
tendencies of modern thought as 1t
finds expression in the works of the
school Of Tyndall and Huxley, and Sd
in the defective teaching OF the pub
lie school system. These have all con-
travencd the laws of natural develop
ment as impressed by the God of ma
ture upon the framework of society,
and led to that degeneracy of thought,
morals and institutions, which have
corrupted the national life. The
sneaker quoted the testimony of Pla-
to and Cicero to the fact that the Crea-
ator las established certain divine
laws, upon the observance of which
depend the prosperity and life of q
people. AS q student of history he
found the utmost harmony between
the teachings of experience and OF re-
vcaled truth in corroboratiOn OF the
fact and pointed out the necessary and
natural consequence of the violation
of natural laws in the degeneracy OF
modern society. We are unable to
give even q synopsis of this excellent
address, and are forced to content our
selves with these few suggestions as to
| its scope.
Next followed the
BACCALAUREATE ADDRESS
of President Grier; to the graduating
class, which we thought one of the
finest of the many admirable addresses
which we have heard from the able
and eloquent speaker-characterized
by the same clear, vigorous and ear
nest thought, couched in graceful Ian
guage and delivered in an easy and
impressive style. The due subordina-
ton of the intellect to the moral ma
ture formed the keynote of the Ad-
dress; and the due cultivation OF the
moral and emotional nature was
shown to lie at the basis of individual
characterand of all true developemeht::
The love of pleasure, OF wealth, ana
of fame, was shown to be delusive and
unsatisfying, and the student was dl-
rectcd to the source Of all true JOY;
the love of the Divine Being as the
source of the highest aspirations and
nOblest impulses Of our nature-nerv-
ing him for the conflicts Of life, and
furnishing rs well the best incentive
to the performance of duty and the
most perfect recompcnse in this life,
and in that to come.
ALUMNI MEETING.
At the close Of the Address q meet
ing of the Alumni of the College was
held in the Eaphemian Hall, when a
committee was appointed to make ar
rangements for giving increased inter
EST to the annual reunions of the AS
sociation. DR.. Grier was elected
President, and Mr.. John Cochran, Sec
retary, for the ensuing year. John ].
Darlington, Esq, of Washington city,
was elected the next Annual orator,
and the Rev. D. G. Phillips, of Louis
vile, Ga, the alternate.
REV. r. F. BRADLEY's ADDRESS.
A large audience assembled at night
in Lindsay Hall to hear the Annual
Address before the Alumni Associa-
ton, by Rev. r. f. Bradley, of An
derson. where a well-written and
we'll delivered address furnished food
for thought and reflection. The sub
ject of ''Hate" was discoursed upon in
all its phases, and invoked both argu-
ment and invective, as the speaker
commented upon current topics, social
and political. There was much in the
address to provoke criticism, as well
as much to commend.
PRIZES AND MEDALS AWARDED.
After the Address, Prof. Hood on
behalf of the Faculty of Erskine Col
lege, awarded the following prizes
and medals:
Prize in defamation to H. w. Har-
ris, of the Sophomore class.
Prize for essay to j. a. Johnson, OF
the Junior class.
Medal for Scholarship to J. G. Nc
Queen, of the Freshman class.
Medal to II. w. Harris, of the
Sophomore class.
Medal to w. L. Philips, of the Jun
ior class.
Five medals to J. r. Bingham, of
the Senior class.
THURSDAY.
Thursday was Commencement Day
of the Female College, and Lindsay
Hall presented its usual bright array
the sea of upturncd faces-tilling seat
and aisle, platform and gallery, with
its tErong of eager and eXpectant visi-
tors. Upon the stage sat the class of
of youthful graduates with their COL
lege mates, all arrayed in snowy white,
now about to bear part in the closing
drama of college life. About them
sat beloved instructors and sympathi-
zing friends, whilst above and around
on the columns and walls Of the beau
tifully decorated stage were the mot
toes and emblcms of Society and Col
lege. Such scenes form the bright ep-
isodes of every day life.
After prayer from the Rev. Mr.. Lat
inner, of Atlanta, the exercises of the
day followed accor(ing.to the annex
ed programme:
| Anthcnl-PraiSe yc the Lord.
Salutatory-MisS Georgia Z. II cnncdy, Long
| Cane, s. {.
Duo, Piano.-"Fandango." ."-Nlisscs Maggie
Yonguc and Belle McLurkin.
| Essay: sour golden moments are passing
laway."-MiSS Lula a. Derlin, AbbcVilir, ;. Z.
Trio. Nocal.-"Ah! Sc II Fratc1."-Misscs
Gussic Rooney and Mary Shaw and
DR.. Edwards.
| Essay Gall is mystcry."-Miss Kittie /.
HaddOn, Due West, S. C..
Solo, Piano.-"Old Hundred. Mary
Shaw.
Duo, Vocal-"Chccrfulncs Rooney
! and Minnie Bonner.
Essay: "Eow sweet it is to shopc. Miss
Mary j. Kennedy, Due West. S. Z.
Chorus-Frcnch Class.-''Ic Concert dies Ros-
! signos.''
Solos-By Misses Annie Lowry and Carrie
! Solo, Piano.-"1lome, Sweet Homc.'-MisS
| Minnie Bonner.