The Portland daily press., 1881-06-30

Never was fairer summer day than yester-
day on which occasion Westbrook Seminary,
one of Names oldest and most valued institu-
tons of learning celebrated its fiftieth ami
versary. Never was the foliage greener, and
never did the charming trees of Deering look
lovelier The Universalist church was
crowded with the friends of the graduating
class, who assembled in very large numbers,
SO large in fact that the aisies were filled with
cha irs, and the entries with ladies and gentle
men standing. The pulpit recess was prettily
decorated with boquets, plants, and trailing
vines Over the recess was the class motto
Ne IenteS ait Perfce. The front rows of
seats were occupied by tho graduating class,
eighteen in number, all clad in gay apparel.
The ushers were Messrs. G. w. LOWS, f. W.
Palmer, d. G. Stevens, and E. P. Morgan of
the Junior class.
The following was the programme
Oraton-Latn sautatory,
Fred Allan Taylor, Stevens Plains
Essay-What shall we reap?
Minnie Stevens Ballard, Stevens Plains
Oration-National characteristics,
Harry Allison DeCoster, Buckf1eld
Oraton-Infuence of customs and laws,
Eugene Wilbur Hall, Gray
Essay-Kings and captains,
Ella Frances Cox, Stevens Plains
Charles Avery Moulton, North New Portland
Essay-Looking over the hills;
Emily Whipple Hawkes., Windham
Grafton Evidences Of design,
Horace Bradbury Mountfort Falmouth
Oration-Destiny OF mankind,
Wilder Pettengill, Livermore Falls
Charlotte Weber Montgomery, Deering
Greek essay,
Alice May Parker, Stevens Plains
Oration-The ''level best,'
Herbert Edgar Taylor, Stevens Plains
Essay-Problems,
Eva May Pennell, Westbrook
Fanny Revere Stevens, Stevens Plains
Oration-Progress,
Henry Percy Walker, Westbrook
Carrie Blake Watts, New Gloucester
Essay and valedctory- Moods and lenses,
Helen Hester Hume, Bridgewater
The class song which was sung at the close
was composed by Miss Fanny r. Stevens of
Stevens Plains.
Diplomas were awarded to the following
graduates
Higher English Course-Eugene Wilbur
Hall, Gray: Charles Avery Moulton, North
New Portland.
Scienti fic Course-Horace Bradbury Mount
more Falls; Henry Percy Walker, West
brook
College Preparatory Course-Harry Allison
Decoster, Buckfeld; William Hilton Gould,
Turner Fred Allan Taylor, Stevens Palms,
Herbert Edgar Taylor, Stevens Plains
Laureate of Science-Minnie Stevens Bal
lard, Stevens Plains; Alice May Parker,
Stevens Plains; Carrie Blake Watts, New
Gloucester.
Laureate of Arts-Ella Frances Cox, Stevens
Plains; Emily Whipple Hawkes., Windham;
He len Hester Hume, Bridgewater; Charlotte
We bier Montgomery, Deering: Eva May Pen
nell, Westbrook; Fanny Revere Stevens,
Stevens Plains.
The parts were well delivered and we'll
written. The yaledictory was not only poati-
cal but was advanced in thought
They were well-committed to memory, and
if the elocution of some of the scholars could
be easily criticised, there was no instance
where they could not be distinctly heard in
every part of the church. Comparisons would
be unjust, for several of the graduates took
the full courses of study, while others had
been in the seminary but for short time.
At the close of these exercises, the President
conferred the degrees and gave diplomas to
those who had acquitted themselves SO we'll,
y
rising in body.
The dinner was served at precisely 1 o'clock,
the proce ss;on having been marshalled from
the chu rich by Mr.. Varney. Grace was said
by Rev. Mr.. Thompson.
After the dinner eDr Weston briefly spoke
of the hopeful prospects of the school, and was
glad to welcome SO many of the former stu
dents to the festivities of the occasion. He
called upon Mr.. David Torrey to act as toast
master, who gave as the first sentiment "The
trustees of Westbrook Seminary; nonored and
honorable"
Ex-Gov. Perham responded in behalf of the
trustees. He gave statement OF what had
been accom- plished during the past three years,
and predicted that the plans to secure an en-
dowment fund would succeed.
DIR. E. M. Fuller of Bath, president of the
alumni association, responded to a sentiment
complimentary to the loyalty OF the alumni.
1t was expected that ex-Gov. Conner and
older students. They sent letters of
regret. The financial agent, Rev. H.
A. Philbrook read an interesting letter from
Mr.. CHM of Boston and telegram from Mr.
Otis of the same city and q former law partner
of Gov. Andrew.
The fourth sentiment was ''Our colleges and
Summaries; one in aim, mutually dependent"
to by Rev. DR.. E. FL. Capen,
president of Tufts College.
DIR. Capen began by expressing the great
pleasure he experienced in being present for
the first time at Commencement of West
friends-men who had risen to distinction in
the various walks of professional life-were
graduates of this school, and, though stran-
ger, he felt himself at home. He had some
misgivings on learning that the whole number
(eighteen) of the graduating class were to
fln LOTT
But he had felt his interest growing from the
to the end and was actually sorry
when the exercises of the morning were con-
cluded. He had attended many college COM
mencements in which the literary exercises
were inferior to this and had never attended
an academy commencement that equalled this
in quality of parts rendered. 1t was an evil
dence both of the character of the material
and of the thoroughness of the training. The
speaker had further proof that the work
done here was of the most satisfactory k ind
He had been engaged during the past two
mission to college of those young men who
were to enter Tufts (six in number) this fall.
He had rarely seen men better prepared.
Since his connection with Tufts College he
had been in constant receipt OF men from this
seminary and they were among the best pre-
pared of any of the candidates coming to that
Institution. He did not hesitate to
say that the college preparatory work
done in this academy was equal aud even
superior to that of nine-tenths of the High
schools of New England. Abiding to the
sentiment to which he was asked to speak, DIR.
Capen said that the aim of the Seminary and
College was indeed one. They had the work
to do,-to train men, to bring out their powers
and fit them for the responsibilities of life;
they might be under different administrations,
but they were working for the same cause and
for the same great end lie congratulated DIR.
Weston on his long connection with this and
similar institutions. There were no rewards
so satisfactory as those which come to the
faithful teacher as he goes on towards the end
of life. 1t is the teachers mission to mould
the men who are to be the props OF tho future
generation. He congratulated the friends of
the school on the good work that had been
done hero in the past-the many Distinguish
men whom it had trained and sent out into the
world. He congratulated them upon the i'm.
proved outlook for the future, both in regard
to finances and patronage. He felt that he
could rejoice with them because, among other
good things which the prospective improve
ments would bring, would be a constant in
crease of the students for Tufts College,
Hon. Sullivan G, Andrews was introduced
as a newly elected Trustee. He made an
earnest and forcible speech which was we'll re-
ceived.
In response to a call for Dr. Irving, he made
one of the brightest and wittiest after dinner
speeches ever given at the Seminary He
kept the audience in a continuous roar of
laughter
AT o'clock ex-Gov. Washburn gave "a semi
or ioI ad6 in, fha oh, ~.