The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1878-06-06
ERoM mEppuE rENNEssEE.
SToNER's CREEK, Tenn,
JUNE 1st, 1878.


JUNE 1st, 1878.
Editor Exchange:
We left Milan Friday morning,
May IL, and next day, at II o'clock,
found US seated in the grand audience
room of Caruthers Hall, Lebanon,
witnessing with great interest the ded-
ication of that beautiful building re-
Gently added to the property of Guns
berland University. This was an oc-
casion Of extraordinary interest in the
history of Lebanon. Its beautiful
college building went down in flames
during the war, and now from twenty
four states her children and her friends
are gathered on this great day to share
the triumph of her new born glory.
EcileTiJus resuTre1i" now takes the
place of " T. cineribus resuvgaaa," writ
ten as motto by returning alumnus
upon one of the lonely columns that
marked the spot where stood in years
gone by, the glory and the pride of
Lebanon. At the conclusion of the
able addresses delivered OH the occa>
sion, the chancellor, Judge Nathan
Green, requested ali the alumni pres
ent to rise to their feet, when quite
number of us stood up, representing
nearly all the classes for period of
thirty-four years. The dedication oc-
Cured in connection with the sittings
of the General Assembly of the e. p.
Church, the largest body of the kind
ever convened in the history of that
church. 1t consisted Of delegates,
both ministers and laymen, from over
a hundred Presbyteries, comprising
an area of country extending from
Pennsylvania to California and to
Mexico on the south. All there was
of this denomination sxtyeight years
ago, was Revs. FINS Ewing, Samuel
King and Samuel Meadow, who,
Withdrawing from the fellowship Of
the Presbyterian church, constituted
Cumberland Presbytery in February,
1910, in an old log house in Dickson
comfy, in this state. Out of this or,
ganization have grown ore hundred
and eleven presbyteries and twenty
six synods. An interesting feature of
the occasion was the ordination Of a
missionary to Japan, who, with two
others previously sent out, will organ
ize the first presbytery Of that denom-
nation on foreign soil, Eioquentand
interesting addresses were made by
fraternal delegates from the different
denominations. This interchange Of
Christian greeting among the religious
bodies of the world, shows a growing
spirit Of unity that gives promise Of
grand results in the future. Saluta-
tions were received either by delegates
in person or by letter from Presbyter-
ians, Methodists and Congregation
alists in this country and by two del |
egates in person from the Evangelical
Union of Scotland. The addresses of /
the latter were peculiarly interesting,
and gave evidence of great minds and |
great hearts among the people Of that |
little country. During the week the |
Assembly remained in session, Leba-
non most Hospitality entertained not !
less than FIVE hundred people from a
distance, with a princely liberality and /
whole>souled generosity that Nashville /
or Memphis have never surpassed.
All the people, irrespective Of denomi-
nation, heartily wed with each other
in their efforts to make the strangers
feel at home in their midst.
Lebanon has improved in appear
ance most wonderfully in the last four
years. 1t has been blessed with two
or three splendid fires during that
time, and now in place of the dilapi>
dated, crumtling buildings consumed,
there stands number Of elegant and
imposing structures that would be an
honor to any city in the state.
The wheat crop in this division of
the state is in about the same condi-
ton as that in West Tenn. There
are some crops that will make ten to
fifteen bushels per acre; but the great
er part will not average five bushels,
We find there is as much life rs ev-
err in the old land. The spirit and en-
terprise of the people have not given
a say under the pressure Of hard times,
but with characteristic ardor they Ia
Dor on, looking to the good time
ahead. We spent day or two this
week at Big Spring Seminary, in at
tendance at its closing exercises. A
large crowd was present from Leba~
non and its vicinity. The occasion
was indeed an enjoyable one. This
school has been a most fourishing one
from the beginning. Nature seems
to have designed this spot for this
very purpose. Healthfulness Of loca-
ton, beauty of scenery, agreeable and
delightful surroundings, its retired
situation, remote from all petty an
ard hindrances of the towns,
all combine to render it one of the
most desirable places for school to
be found anywhere in the south. The
buildings are beautiful in appearance,
conveniently constructed, and are sit
uated about one hundred yards from
the celebrated spring from which it
takes Its name, and in the centre cf
a fine blue grass farm of over six hun,
dred acres, all in the very highest
state Of cultivation. The music de
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