The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1878-07-06
From Saturdays Daily.
CO NM ZEN { MEN
TINE UNIVERSITIES GREAT DAY,
Ornttsrs Delivered and Degrees
Conferred.

Conferred.
West Nrginia's sons, young and
old, Alumni and under graduates,
With the woman kind to them be-
longing, gathered at the University
on Thursday, to celebrate with due
eclat the ninth annual Commence
ment of that Institution. Stately
matrons and fair maids wore many
kinds of summer costumes that gave
a charming variety to the scene. At
8 o'clock kramer's orchestra began
to play, to the music of which the
Regents and other dignitaries fled
upon the stage.
Everything opened auspiciously.
The morning was bright and pleas
ant. Long before the hour announced
for beginning, the crowd began to
pour in from every direction, until
the immense auditorium of the new
building was literally packed and
damned. The people came from
every direction, and in every conceiv
able way. All classes were repre-
sented. The merchant and profess
ional man, the farmer and mechanic,
left for time their stores and offices,
the farmer his fields, and the mechan-
ic his shop, and all attended this, the
most interesting day in the year for
Morgantown.
After an eloquent prayer offered by
Rev. Dr. Willis, of Broaddus Female
College, of Clarksburg,
MIR. A. F. COURTNEY,
of Monongalia county, read am essay
ON Lynch VS.. Civil law" This
question, which is of interest to West
Virginians, was discussed, showing
the facts with regard to the preva-
lence of Lynch Law, and the ineffi-
cieacy of Civil Courts in many parts
of the State Mr.. Courtney eonsid-
cred the causes of this state of affairs
in West Virginia. 1t was shown
that prominent among the causes of
Lynching in West Virginia was the
failure to dispense justice in our
Civil Courts. The circumstance that
occurred in our neighboring county
of Wet ell last winter, was referred to
in a manner that could not be misun-
derstood. The inhumanity of Lynch
ing was eloquently plead, in addition
to giving the stigma that unayoidably
is attached to acts of this kind, not
withstanding any extenuating cir
cumstanccs that may be connected
with it. The former goes forth in
the world, while the latter is seldom
considered The material injury done
Commonwealth is very damaging,
not to mentioH its effects morally.
Not many of the vast assemblage Of
intelligent West Nirginians present,
had considered that within four wears
one dozen persons had suffered death
at the hands of Judge Lynch, in this
State. We were glad to see our young
men on this occasion give us practic-
al performances. 1t shows the thor
oughness of their education, and the
practical views of life that they al
ready have. We were glad to see
that this was the case. The advant-
age that these young gentlemen will
have of many other graduates, is that
they will not have to serve an appren-
ticeship in the world before having
acquired knowledge of its ways.
MIR. A. G. DAYTON
was the second speaker. His subject
was ''Unsolvable Mysteries" He OPP
ened by referring to great unsolvablc
mysteries. The greatest phenomenon
of nature is man. Mans capabilities
under certain circumstances, and his
helplessness under certain other cir
cumstances were strikingly compar-
ed. The advances made by men in
literature, science and art. AS com
pared with the various implements of
science now in use, those formerly in
use certainly indicated wonderful
intellectual advance. The Grafton
teemed throughout with valuable sug-
gestions, and provided abundant food
for thought and speculation. Fur
ther on the speaker gave utterancc
to some beautiful thoughts on the
possibilities of man. The Theory of
evolution was attacked, and with eff
feet. The inquiry as to the survival
of the fittest was noticed. The speak
er's position was very acceptable. To
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