The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1881-07-07
COMMENCEMENT AT OXFORD.

ESPECIAL CoRREsPoNDENcE OF The CLARION. ]
The annual commencement of the State
University at Oxford began with a compet-
tive defamation on Friday evening, June
% The participants were eight Fres-
men. members of the Hermealn Literary
society A large and attentive audience
filled the chapel. The judges awarded the
first and second medals to Louis NJ. South
worth, of Lehore county, and Crawford
Jackson, of DeSoto
Saturday evening fourteen members of
the Phi Sigma society ventilated their ora
torical powers. The average merit was gen
orally considered higher than that shown
by the speakers of the preceding evening
and there were five or six whose chances
for the prizes could not be bought. But
there were only two medals, and the judges
decided that David NJ. Watkins, of Smith
county, and Spencer :. Hudson, of GaZOo
county deserved them.
These declarations are rather introduce
tory to the regular Commencement eXer-
cises, which begin in the orthodox style
with Commencement Sermon. This was
preached on Sunday morning, by Rt. Rev.
K. ". b. Elliot, of the Diocese of Western
Texas. He was assisted in the service by
Rev. DIR. +. 4. Shoup, of Jackson, Tenn.
The sermon was of rare excellence, abound
ing in deep and original thought, and elo-
quently spoken.
Sunday evening, by request, Rev. DR.
Shoup preached to large and appreciatlve
congregation in the Chapel.
THE SOPHOMORE DISCLAIMERS.
Monday morning the chapel was filed
with au eager crowd to bear the defamation
of the selected members of the Sophomore
class, The number of speakers was small,
only seven, but the interest was the more
concentrated The first and second medals
were awarded, respectively, to Chas. \. Rig
gan, of Arkansas, and Sam. T. Rucks, of
Greenville, Miss. w. ID. Heddleston was
favorite with a large number of the audi
ence, and, it is said Ae lacked only one vote
of winning with the Judges. Senator Ben
Hill, Of Georgia, furnished the ammunition
of the two successful disclaimers, and
Shakspere's Mark Antony that of the third
mentioned.
PHI SIGMA SOCIETY.
Monday evening the annual meeting of
the Phi Sigma society was held III the
Chapel, II. NJ. Sullivan, Esq, presiding
This society has had over one hundred mem
bers during the past session. Its work for
the session has been successful, but ike the
/ L. ;. Senate, and the = Y. Legislature, 1t
was the scene of a deadlock at the time of
the election of Anniversarian. An imProV-
/ ed method of making choice has been de
/ vised for the future.
The speakers selected for Monday evening
we're w. II. Clark, of Brandon, who made
the salutatory address. B. A. Stockard, of
/ West Point who delivered the valedictory
to the graduating members; and VIM u.
Sears, of the University of Mississippi, who
! responded on behalf of the society. MI.
Stockard's valedictory was peculiarly fine,
and Mr.. Sears response was equally happy.
The President awarded the medals for
defamation and presented the diplomas
after a very handsome and humorous speech
: of ten minutes
THE JUNIORS.
Tuesday morning eleven members of the
Junior Glass delivered original orations
/ Where tbeFs were so many creditable per
foFmances, it would be useless to make fine
,''sStinctions; but viii rfention as showing
each sonle special merit Of as Own, the
addresses OF Leo "a: AImstead, OF !, n S,
Tennessee, ON Las, Sculpture" Gerard
Rrsn,,on az Natcbez. SUBJECT: "BeyonC
the Alps lies Italy;" J. ID. Marshali, Q
Vicksburg, on "Eloquence" and :. r
Hampton, of Lafayette county, on tn'
New South" IL has been long tlm'
since the University had better Junio
, exhibition.
t THE ALUMNI SOCIETY
; held its annual meeting Tuesday evening
ION the rostrum were many faces once IA
miliar to these scenes. Chief Justlc'
Chalmers is President of the Society, an'
, Prof. J. w. johnson, Secretary Am0nl
} the older alumni on the rostrum were udg
, Arnold. Of Columbus, orator for the even
ing: Prof. Edward Mayes, essayist; Hon
n. L. Nuldrow, NJ. c.; Hons. j. L. Mc
} Caskill, A. J. Baker, -- Brown, Esq
E of Camden, Arkansas. who graduated II
, 1857: Prof j. w. Fitzpatrick, Of Centra
College. Missouri; Prof. L. L. McInnis, q
: the Texas Agricultural and Mechanic
, | College: Prof. Geo. w. Smith, L D. Dia
Esq, DIR. c. G. Cooper, and many others
This meeting Of the Alumni was NOR
largely attended than has been usual 70
many years.
JUDGE AKNoLD's ADDRESS.
Judge Arnold delivered splendid &c
dress On public school education, rePiet
e with facts and arguments showing us IN
vi portanee.