The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-07-07

We should be glad to quote his whole
discourse, but must forbear. Enough
that it speaks out decidedly, emphasizing
the absolute need of Divine agency, not
only to start but to keep in harmonious
motion the entire machinery of nature,
all inferences and imperious assertions of
the ultra rationalistic evolutionist, Hack
ell, to the contrary notwithstanding.
The subject thus boldly introduced,
and SO ably discussed in President Port
er's sermon, is tempting. We would fain
llnger upon it; but we are writing i'm
pressions of Commencement, and must
therefore refer more directly to it and its
associations The main attractive feature
OF Commencement week to the Alumni is
the Alumni meeting. This occurred yes
terday, under unusually favorable cir
cumstances. President R. B. Hayes and
Secretary of State, Hon. VIM. M. Evarts,
were both present, and both made brief
addresses. Loud applause welcomed the
President as he entered the Alumni Hall,
conducted by President Porter, and pro-
eeeded to the seat reserved for him on
the platform by the side of the venerable
chairman, Rev. Leonard Bacon, D. D.
The class of 1920, of which DR.. Bacon
and ex-president Woolsey are still surviv-
ing members, rallied six in number, all
taking their seats conspicuously on the
platform on the right hand of the chair
man, President Hayes and Secretary
Evarts being directly on his left.
The addresses were all charactised by
freshness and earnest loyalty to Yale
save perhaps that of President Hayes,
which was so admirably conceived and so
cogently expressed, that we cannot re-
frain quoting it in full. Rising amid a
perfect storm of applause and, waiting a
moment till it had subsidized, he said: "Mr
President, Ladies, and Gentlemen The
sentence slightly modified which l heard
from the lips of DR.. Bacon as came into
the room, l may adopt, and say that it is
the privilege of the young not to he gar
ulous. After seeing so much admiration
among you for your lima Mater, say
with emphasis, and it is always well to
speak with emphasis, for it shows determ-
nation, that if | was not a graduate of
Kenyon College, Ohio, would want to
be of-some other college" The greet
ing which this brief yet eminently appro-
pirate speech elected as the President re-
sumed his seat, was ample testimony to
its appreciated point. Representative OF
classes holding reunions this year occu-
pied most of the time; and yet we there
reIoiced to listen to the stirring and
warmly welcomed addresses of two noble
representatives of Yale from Virginia
At the Commencement to-day the ex-
ercis es were every way creditable, we
thought, showing even more than ordi-
nary breadth of thought, and an intelli-
gent acquaintance with. the topics dis
cpssed. The address of the valedictorian
on Professionalism VS. Atheism and Catho-
licism was an admirable one, echoing de-
cidedly President Porter's Sunday sermon
In its strong and earnest plea for attach
ment to intelligent Christianity,
The honorary degrees conferred were
LII. D. on President Rutherford B. Hayes,
and on Hon Hugh w. Sheffey of Vir-
glnla, who was present on the platform
d. D. on Rev. Henry M Dexter, of Bos-
ton; and Rev. Joseph Emerson; and DR..
OF Music on Theodore Thomas, the re-
nowned musician. At the Alumni din
ner, the great speech of the occasion
was that of President Hayes, giving
expression to the basis of the policy
OF his administration, and the value OF
the aid he received therein from Yale
and other high institutions. Pacifcation
was the keynote of his earnest and emf
nently judicious address. Seldom have
we listened to an address on such an oc-
caslon more SO. Secretary of State, w.
M. Evarts, also made characteristic
speech. O. G.