The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1877-07-20
st. Johns College.

EXERCISES OF THE CLOSING WEEK GRADUATES,
&c.
While we look with pride and sclf-gratulation
to our young Johns Hopkins, we should not for
get our old st. Johns, and the claims which she
has to our gratitude for having trained to life
of usefulness SO many of Marylands noblest
sons. Let the people of Maryland turn their at
tentlon to the advantages which she offers them,
and then decide where to send their sons to be
educated. The commencement exercises of the
present year were of an unusually interes ting
character. The commencement week was
ushered in on Monday, July I'd, by the class day
of the Senior Glass. The class history was read,
the mock-diplomas presented and the shield,
containing the names of the graduates and
draped with the class color, was raised to its
allotted place among those of the previously
graduating classes. After which Mr.. Herbert
Harlan, the President of the class, made the
closing address. On the evening of the same
day the annual address before the Literary So
ciey was delivered by Prof Henry T.. Shepherd, ,
of Baltimore. Subject, education, its Dangers
and its Requirements" 1t was principally in
tended TO combat the utiltarian system of Edu-
cation. The following day the usual boat race
took place. Owing to an accident to the rudder
of the shell, the barge won easily. On the night
of the same day the annual hop, given to the
graduating class, took place, On the 4th of
July, the commencement exercises proper oc-
cured. They were held in Mcdowell Hall, the
fine old building that forms the centre of the
college group. The attendance was large, COM
prlsing bcsiues the friends of the students from
different parts of the State, II number of the
alumni and distinguished friends of the college,
On the platform were Prof James NJ Garnett,
LII. D., President of the college, the members
of the faculty and board Admiral e. K. p.
Rogers, U. y. N, Right Rev. Bishop Pmkney, an
| alumnus of the college, and others Bishop
Pinkncy opened the exercises with prayer. The
graduates, who were seated on the PLATFORM were
N. Walter Dixon of Princess Anne, Md; Burton
A. Randall, Annapolis, Md; Herbert Harlan,
Churchville, Md; Munroe Mitchell, s.. Dennis,
Md. The efficiency of the college course NAV
be tested by the fact that out of large classes at
| the beginning of the college course only very
| few graduate. Mr.. Burton A. Randall, who OBJ
tanned the second honor, delivered the salutatory
| address, and an essay on "MagaZine Literature"
| in which he traced the rise of the magazine to q
| place of prominence in the literary world, and
| marked out the power which it wields in the
| political world. He was followed by Mr.. Her.
bert Harlan, who delivered an essay on "Thc
| Study of the Engigh Language" The essays st
| showed the wide extent of the lands where
English is spoken, gave short sketch of its rise
and growth, reasons why it had come to be
| studied only at so recent date, urged greater
attention 10 its claims and pointed out the
| boundlcss field to which it calls us. Mr..
MitchelPs essay on the "School and the World'
was discussion of the practical benefits con-
fcrred by the college curriculum and the relation
each study has to the after life of the individual.
Mr.. N. w. Dixon, who obtained the first honor,
read an essay on "the Study of Mathematics"
in which he set forth the claims of mathematics
in scholarly way, and showed himself a
| thorough master of his subject. He then de-
| livered the valedictory Grafton, which was Que
of the best ever delivered at the college. The
Principal then conferred the "Certfcates of
Distinction" the prizes and degrees. The degree
| of LII. ID. was conferred upon Prof. Hiram
Carson, formerly of st. Johns College, now of
Cornell University. The first A. NJ. degree
taken by any of the young alumni was conferred
upon T. Barton Bruno, of Baltimore, member
of the class of 10. The prizes offered by the
new Shakespeare Society, of London, were award
ed to j. Harry Krebs, of Baltimore, and G. A..
| Harter, of Washington county, for proficiency
in the study of Shakespeare. These gentlemen
were both members of the Junior class. The
EarlyEnglsh Text Society's Prize for proficiency
in English of or before the time of Chauccr, was
awarded to N. Walter Dixon of the Senior Glass
| Through the kindness of +. j. Furnivall, Esq,
of London, this college has been added to the
| list of Institutions authorized to award the
above prizes After comforting the degree of A
B. upon each of the graduates, the Principal ad-
dressed them in a short speech of advice and
adeu, bidding them in the name of the "Alma
Mater" an earnest God-speed wherever they
| should go. The exercises of the day closed with
prayer by the Ri. Rev. VIM. Rnkney, and,
| while the graduates were pressed with the con-
CALCULATIONS of friends and fellow students, the
audience dispersed. The commencement excr.
cses were finished and the students have depart
ed to their homes for the summer vacation.
Enrolled among the alumni of ST. Johns
College will be found the names of many men
who have been particularly distinguished in the
annals of the United States. There is no end Of
Judges, Governors, Senators and Representa-.
tives Francis S. Key, the author of the "Stal
Spangled Banner" was in the class of 1916, L
S. Senator John Lee Kerr in that of 1897, with
John Tayloe LomaX, Of Virginia, Judge T. b
Dorsey, Governors Martin, Thomas, Grason
Brewer, David Hoffman, Admiral Latimcr
Rcvcrdy johnson, Thos. s. Alexander AeXun
der Randall, Bishop Pinkney, Judge Tuck
Henry S. Goldsborough, Judge Grason, General
| Windcr and a hundred other prominent persons
are found named in the old catalogues. These
reflect credit on their "AIma Matcr' and viii
willingly confess what they owe To her early
training and motherly discipline.
e4g"Dubin NJ. E. Church South, l0H A. NJ.