The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1877-06-23
Commencement Week, Western Nd, College


The Season OF College commandments IS
dawniug iull upon us, and commencement
weol &c our own College-which always has
SO much interest for our people, aud brings
so many strangers to our little city-whleh
throws pleasan, smile over all our hearts,
| that fingers till the Autumn gives SIS back OUT
students once again began ON Sunday, the
| l1th instant, with the Bacealaareate Sermon
by Rev. DR.. Ward, the President OF the Col
loge, at the Methodist Protestant Church,
! The congregation, as usual, was large, and
the SERMON, from Hebrews 18th chap, lbtt
verse, Was one of the Drs. most telicitous
efforts. In bis address TO the graduating
class his allusion to their deceased member
| b. Franklin Harris, Of North Carolina, was
touchingly pathetic. In the evening at th,
same place, Rev DR.. l.. W. Bates, of Balu'
more, preached q very powerful sermon to the
Literary Societies Of the College from Pro
verbs 10Th chapter, 81 verse
Tho first literary exercises Of the week were
given in the College Chapel on Monday even
ing June 18th, by the Browning Literary So
eicty, This society, Us perhaps many OF yonI
readers already know, is composed OF great
| number ofyoung ladies' representing all part'
Of our State and surrounding country. Long
before the curtains OF night were drawn the
capacious hall hud been denscly packed with
the good people of Westminster, nterspersed
with not few unfamiliar faces. The stage
was handsomely decorated with cyergreens
and flowers, and hanging couspicuously N
front of the audience was their beautiful motto
ia sine hiaris mors est. The exercises
were opened with prayer by DR.. Ward, i'm
mcdiatcly after which Misses Starr, Gehr,
Nicholson and fiemmiug assumed position
and entertained the audience with beautiful
polka. The first cssayist OF the evening, Miss
Lula Fiemming, Of Baltimore city, a young
lady OF fine mental qualities, spoke briefly
but beautifully and acceptaby Of The
Achievements of Woman. Miss Susie Rob
ertson, of Crisiield, Md, followed with re.
hcarsal entitled "Pauls been OFF with the
Show, and acquitted herself with much
credit, showing fully the merits Of the piece,
and receiving ut the conclusion rounds Of ap.
plausc, Miss Swormstcdt, with her essay
entitled "a Silver Lining to Every Cloud,
was listened to with marked attention. Her
thoughts were original and CARRIED in beauti.
tul language, The sweet liulc College song
stress, Miss A, Wilson, Of townsville, Nd,
preceded and followed this essay with two
line selections, entitled "The Last HYMN
and FAIRY Bowers. Little Gretchin. Il
rehearsal, by Miss Dallas Wood, was pathet.
icaly rendered, aud she left the rostrum with
outspukeu and numerous praises of her gen.
eral style on the part of the audience. Miss
Oracle St0ulIer, OF New Windsor. with char.
acteristic reading THE Day of Judgment,
forced everybody TO obey the old adagc,
Laugh and Grow Fat whether desiring to
do so or not The last, but in no wise the
least ESSAYS! Of the evening, was Miss Trump,
OF Manchester. In considering " Little
Things, she made an essay in point Of cX-
cctcnco certainly not little Her audience
at the conclusion seemed as if refreshed with
no incousiderablc mental inhalation, aud
surely such was the case Her well mOdula
ted voice was clear aud distinct aud every
word enunciated was heard and appreciated
by the entire audience. Little Sweetheart,
a vocal solo, by Miss Dallas Wood, was loudly
encored, but the beautiful s1ngstrcss deemed
1t best no more TO make her appearance. The
rehearsal entitled "Papa Letter, BIZ Miss
Jennie Smith, was very good, her gcsticula-
ton unusually excellent Prayers and Pc.
tatocs' by Miss Emma Nicholson was an
excellent selection aud the reading fine A
quavtcttc by the Misses Starr, Miss A. Ear,
nest and Miss Stouiicr closed very delight.
fully the exercises OF the evening. Just as
the audience was about To retire the curtain
was raised and the entire Society was disclos,
ed to view. Tastei1ly nantled in beautiful
white the young ladies very naturally caused
the younger portion of the audience To linger.
All, however, were dispersed by the ringing
OF the college bell u half hour after the close
of the exercises. To conclude, we can only
say, these are worthy followers OF the greatest
English poctess, in speaking of whose similes
a great man once said, swords have not
kerner edge nor flash better lights.
On Tuesday morning the Glass Day cxer.
cises were held under the pavilion in the
grove There was u most amusing history of
the class 5y Mr.. Berry Cushing, and q proph.
ecy equally as good, and equally a. tpaG I
doubt not by Miss Jennie Starr. The Part.
ing Ode, which was composed by Miss Lillian
Young, the lady valedicloriau Of the class.
was pretty in itself, and beautifully sung by
the class The annals Of the class were trans.
milted to the class OF - by Mr.. Wilson
Gushing.
The annual oUtorical couias, between the
Irving aud Webster Literary Societies was
held on Tuesday evening. The speakers and
their subjects re;--Wubster Society. Clar-
eence Seabrook, Of Westminster, ON Earth
untortunates;' Lewis y. Jarman, of Greens
boro', Nd. Responsibilities of the Present."
George O. Gary, Of Egstou, Md, "The Bean
ties OF Mythology" Irving Society. B. d.
Downcy, Of New London, Md, "'lhe Two
Safeguards OF tue Repubic;' De VIII c. In.
gle' OF Lpperyiile, Va, Changes" Frank IL
Peterson, OF Baltimore, "Walter Scott.
Opinion was much divided as to tho merit,
oil the respective CLASSES, both rejecting HIGH
houors upon the institution.
AZ ~ clock Wednesday morning the pa.
HIion was Filed with an anxious throng
awaiting The coming Of the College Secretary,
who IN little while was to make public the
standing otcach student in his class, and the
honors which had been dgoreed by the Facul
w. Inc hrst honor, the Nuledictory, was
given 70 Winfield S, Amos, of Baltimore,
Inc second honor, the Salutatory, was given
TO wilson X. Gushing, Of Westminster. The
hrst Grafton 10 O. Berry Cushing Of West
Minister, aud the second Grafton 10 Thomas i
Wilson, of townsville, Nd.
Ia the female department the first honor
the valed'e!ory-was given to Miss Lillian
Dung, OF Newton, Md; the second honor
me salnIatory--to Miss Virginia Starr, of
Westminster the first essgy, to Florence Nav
DeNlpss, OF Frederick county, Nd; the
second essay, TO Miss Ada NJ. Starr, of West.
minister; the third essay, to Miss Alice r,
Earnest OF estniuster, and the fourth essay.
to Miss Maggie h. Woods, Of Carroltou, nd.
All these announcements were greeted with
applause.
Inc regular commencement exercises took
place on Thursday morning, President Ward
conieuing the Degrees on the following Ia
DIES aud gentlemen :-i'lOrcnce Nav Devil.
hiss, Liberty, Md, Alien Emm, Earnas,