Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1878-06-25

! clSeS were OpeuSJ al II ~ III "a
ter the delivery Of the Latin Salutato-
ry, by E. c. De Jarnett, of Texas, the
audience were afforded q surprise by
the announcement that, In obedience
to a request from competent source,
Dr.. Deems had decided to deliver the
Literary Address prior TO those from
the graduating class. thus sending the
expectant A. BIS. to the usual post
prandial hour, which the chief speaker
of the day had been expected to use.
The Brass Band from Newbern, Va,
was present and made fair beginning
with music, but their stage broke down
at an early hour and there was little
more heard from them.
DIR. DEEMS ADDRESS
was a very fine thing, beirg pitched
Into the higher levels of Scientific do
main denOminated metaphysics, and
though it was as sharply and clearly
cut as a polished diamond, it soon set
q select few to nursing their eyelids
and making that painful pilgrimage
between the borders Of absolute wake
fulness and absolute oblivion. The
Doctors wit was of the sharpest sort
and was furnished in very liberal
amounts and kept far the greater por-
ton OF the audience in the upper re-
giOns Of delight and strung to the
highest tension OF expectation. His
subject was 1.-The SuperstitiOns of
Science" and was intended to place
the scientific aggressions of the age
against the authenticity OF the Chris
tian Religion on the defensive. The
very basis Of all scientific structure.
such as Logic, the Atomic theory of
matter, the order of Nature, Ether,
the undulatory theory of Light, &c,
de-, were. at their several sterling
points, as much above and beyond
the mental comprehension of man as
unsusceptibIe of proof, if true, and of
disproOf, if untrue. as are the teach
ings of revealed religion. Yet, we be-
lieve them, ana such belief is merely
an act of faith as much so OF neces-
sity az our belief in Religious Science.
The address was very compact, It's pro-
cess and conclusions both delightful
and irresistible, occupying II minutes.
OF the fourteen senior oratious on
the programme only seven were de-
livered. the beet OF them being on
True Character" by /. J. Daven-
port, cf this county. Some excuse is
due the young gentlemen on account !
Of the lAteness of the hour at which |
they spoke, but we do not think their |
efforts came up 10 the usual standard |
ut Emory. 1t may be true, as We hear
stated by some persons, That there is =
general tendency of The students to
make their best effnrts for the oratori-
cal medal, aud We nre told their speech-
- on Tuesday, which we did not hesr,
were much better. The Vaiedictory
Was hardly up 10 the occasion.
After the degree o! A. B. had been
on the class, the audience |
was surprised 10y LID. for Prof.
John L. Buchanan, as recognition
Of his lahors and development for
some 20 years war included, at Emo
ry and Henry and by way Of merited
decoration for the great Vanderbilt
University. Many of the audience re-
ceived the announcement with cheers.
MEDALS.
A medal given 10y Prof. Willoughby
Reade, for reading, and contended for
by number of the students on Mon
day evening, before committee. was
awarded by Prof. Jordan, of Miller
Inst. Ky, te Mr.. James Kyle GibbO-
ney of WytheviIle, Va. and We heard
very high authorities endorse the cor
rectness Of the award. His reading
was said to have been the most natu-
raj. though delivered with less dra-
matte attempt than that of the other
,OEtestants.
The Byars Science Medal was
awarded by Mr.. T. A. S. Adams To
Mr.. E. G. Hufiaker, son OF the Meth
)dist minister, of Tenn.
Rev. A G. Bledsoe, of Lynchburg.
awarded the Mathematical medal to
Mr. JnO. S. Mooriug, af La.
Lastly DR.. Deems awarded the Rob
ertsOn, 0ratoricaI Medal TO Nr. Il. J.
Davenport, of Saltville District. in
his county.
In the evening. the exhibition of
he barmisian Society WAS held. but
We heard so little of the proceedings
rs to make report of them impracti.
,ahle. The Calliopeau Society held
heir exhibition the previous evening.