Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1880-07-28

0''iO"9 4" oo'h "ele nlSHly GeSpectaDle.
The entire programme closed with II re-
ception given in the parlors of the acade-
my by Prof. and Mrs. Dunton on Wednes-
day evening. Former pupils, with the
many friends of those now in school were
present in considerable numbers. The
evening passed pleasantly, but no one
scene interested me so much as the stu
dents prayer meeting, held from 5 to
Sunday afternoon. 1t was so much like
those of years long passed that the inter
vening time seemed bridgcd, and | was
again youthful student. The illusion
was only momentary, but it was truly
vivid. | could not call names rs of class.
mates, but the Christian spirit of the meet
ing was the same, and the testimonies un-
changed. A large proportion of the pu-
pills, the principal Informed me, were pro-
fessed Christians; class and prayer meet.
ings had been well sustained and good
religious interest maintained.
After Il few days attendance at Round
Lake camp meeting, rs mentioned in the
last number of the MESSENGER, | found
myself just on the eve of Union college
commencement, my Alma Mater, and
only few miles dis ant; so l hastened to
Schenectady, n. Y, and was present dur
ing part of its anniversary exercises. 1t
is an old institution, and was held in an
ancient church, if by any construction of
language modern structure can be called
an ancient church. 1t was the eighty-third
commencement, and was held in the First
Reformed Church, Dutch, which church
cele brated its two hundredlh anniversary
the Sunday previous. This church was
organized in 1850, and has occupied five
different buildings. The last was erected
in 1861, and is quite II modern structure.
Records and relics, some of them more
than two hundred years old. were on ex-
hibition in the consistory. Lists of pas
tois and their time of service were dis.
played in large letters. Paintings anu
portraits saved from the fire of 1890, when
the city of Schenectady was sacked by
the Indians, were on exhibition. All
these and many more things too numer-
GUS to mention remained during the serv-
ices, and were inspected by the numerous
visitors in attendance.
Union college is now presided over by
Eliphalet Mott Potter, LII. d., grand
son of the late venerable DR.. Mott, who
for more than fifty years was its president.
can remember its present president as
the youngest son of IL family of six or
seven boys, children of Bishop Alonzo
Potter, who at the time l was II member
of college, was its vice president. The
eldest, Clarkson Potter, somewhat noted
as member of congress, was probably
not over sixteen years of age, and the
present president very young. Such ave
lfe's changes.
The present graduating class numbers
twenty. five, and the exercises of COM
mencoment day were good, marked by
unusual brevity-a fact not to be overlook.
ed on a hot summer day.
The medical and law schools of Albany
are now connected with Union college,
that was, and the whole is called Union
university, but like the old name better.
lion. John Welsh, late minister to the
court of st. James, has been elected
chancellor of the university, and gave Il
brief address on commencement day.
Since my last visit memorial hall has
been finished midway between north and
south college halls, and some other i'm
| provemcnts are visible.
met only one classmate of the class Of
1871, and felt much as u stranger among
familiar scenes. Glasses of 1910, go, 80,
no. 80. go and 20 had reunions, and a
large number of alumni were in attend
ance.
If | carry out my purpose of attending
the commencement of the Vermont uni
versity at Burlington next week, shall
have done my share of visiting literary
institutions this year
Schenectady, N. Y, June 81, 80.