Feliciana sentinel. [volume] (St. Francisville, La.) 1877-1892, 1878-07-13
COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES AT
CENTENARY COLLEGE.
EFrom Our Special Correspondent
Jackson La, July 9th 1879.

! From Our Special Correspondent
Jackson La, Jnly 9th 1873.
Maj. J. D. Austen,
Edr. FEL1CIANA SENTl MEL:
We will endeavor to give your many
readers Mt least an outline of the late
commencement exercises of Centenary
College.
The examinations commenced on Mon
| day June Gath. and were continued
through the following Tuesday, Wednes-
day and Thursday, and were conducted
in writing, each pupil seated with paper
and pencil under The eye of the Professor.
All satisfactory except four who failed to
pass. On Sunday June 3Oth. Rev. L. Par
ker, D. D., editor of the Y. o. Christian
Aacocate, preached commencement SER
mon. A larger number of trustees than
usual were present at the board at 8 a m,
on Monday July l, rs, presided over by
the venerable President, Bishop J. G.
Keener, looking we'll, and trimming
with interest for the college.
At 1880 p. M, Monday July 1, the ex-
hibitioh Of the preparatory department
was presided over gracefully by the tai
ented Professor Isaac D. Wall, himself an
| AlunsnNs of the college.
Prayer by Rev. H. F. johnson, Presi-
dent of Whitworth College, Brookhaven,
Miss.,-Music by New Orleans band:
Benediction by Row, c. B. Galloway, of
Miss. Want of space deprives us of the
pleasure of producing the brilliant pro-
pramme of this evening in full, or of ma
king that special mention which we so
much desire to accord to tho nefitori-
! Gus.
| Good judges pronounce this the highest
toned exhibition which has been held at
Centenary for many years. You may be
proud Of your little townsman, J. F. IT.
vine Jr., who, dressed as al old woman,
feclingly related her trials in raising her
large family, none of whom had any
room, for h and sent her off, in her old
age, cover the hills to the Poor House,"
Jackson boasts of the orator, J. c.
King; but we must not discriminate
where all did 80 we'll.
Tuesday July 2nd., at 10 a. m, came
off the most enjoyable of all the exercis-
es of the commencement occasion. The
meeting at the Society Hall, (Which was
freshly and neatly fitted up.) The PI EST
dent, Mr.. Z. r. Lyons, of New Orleans,
discha1g ed the duties of his Office very
gracefully. Mr.. w. A. Sehwing, of Plaq-
uemine, secretary, made an impressive
address to the graduates, and delivered.
the pins and diplomas in a very felicitous
manner. Mr.. w. H. Pacl<wood, of Clin-
ton La, responded on behalf of the grad
yates. His speech was appropriate to
the occasion and was we'll rec eived.
Next came the impromptu speeches, OPEN
ed by Rev. II. +. Johnson, whose valua-
bic speech last year p7asterea the hal,
(and his money helped do it.) DR.. Par
ker had little to say" but said it we'll.
Bishop Keener put in a few practical re-
marks. Professor w. H. N. Magru er,
of Baton Rouge, one of the original trus-
tees "was still a young man." full Of life
! and vigor. Professor Fay, of Silliman
Institute, Clinton La, and Rev. NJ. Shaw,
Presbyterian minister, Col. D. c. Hardee,
T. J. Herman Esq, Rev. Mr. McLaurin of
Clinton, La, and others gave bits of So
Der thought or sparkling wit. Rev. J. A.
Godfrey spoke affectionately to the grad
yates and referred to the time he knew
them as vely little boys.
AS the crowded audier ce was about to
| retire, the President reminded them that
it was q bylaw of the society never to
close their exercises without a benedic-
| ton, and requested Bishop Keener to dis
miss them with benediction.
The meeting of the -4lumni was held
Immediately after, and reported the re-
suit of their deliberations in the main
audience hall. In the temporary absence
of Col. D. c. Hardee, president of the AS
ISOLATION, it was presided over by Hon.
H. L. Pond. Rev. G. w. Carter, of La.
conference, was elected to deliver the
next annual grafton; Mr.. S. T.. Pack
wood; of Magnolia, Miss, alternate.
Judge J. G. Kilbourne, of Clinton, was
appointed to procure some one to write a
poem or an essay for next commence
ment. !
K.A. Cross Esqr., of Clinton, was in
troduced, and delivered n brilliant adj |
dress ;-re,y good. Then followed an in
cident rarely to be met with on similar
occasions-the delivery of an original
poem, sparkling with wit, beauty and
pathos, by Judge J. G. Kilbourne, of
Clinton.
Tuesday evening July Cd, the aniver-
sary exercises of Union Franklin Litera-
ry Society of Centenary College were
opened with prayer by Rev. j. Il. Saw
yer of Baton Rou g. The annual address
by Rev. c. 3. Galloway, of Mississippi,
was very fine. Benedicion by Rev. Thos.