Morning journal and courier., 1882-05-19
Yale Theological Seminary.


 The anniversary exercises of Yale Theolog ical Seminary were held yesterday. The ad dresses Of the graduating class were given in the morning at 10 o'clock in Battell chapel. The beautiful chapel was well filled with prominent friends of the institution, towns people and visiting friends and relatives of members of the seminary. The exercises were very creditable to the seminary.
 The graduation exercises were continued in the Marquand chapel at 2:3O o'clock.
 The meeting was called to order by Prof, Day, and on his suggestion President Porter was called upon to preside.
 Prayer was offered by Rev. MT. Park.
 Rev. MT. Penny, of Wallingford, was ap- pointed secretary.
 Professor Day made a brief statement re- garding the prosperity of the school during the past year. He said that the faculty had adopted the revised version of the New Tes- lament.
 The Dakota band, which was organ ized year ago, has been very much blessed in it's labors. The number of stu dents during the year had been ninety y-seyen in all the classes. These come from a very large number of colleges. The number this year came from forty four different colleges. Ten different denominations have been rep resented in the graduating class, During the year the new library building has been con- pleted. This was accomplished through the munifcence of Mir. Frederick Marquand, of Southport, who kindly advanced S1O, 800 for this purpose. The library room is one of the best arranged in the country. tablet will soon be placed against the wall in honor of the donor Referring to the munifcence of Governor Buckingham the speaker said a very fine portrait of the late Governor had been placed in the library, which was painted by Miss Rebecca Porter, daughter of Presi- dent Porter Other additions to the library have been made which all will enjoy. The new hall was to be called the Bacon Memo rial hall.
 Professor Day then read neurological ac- count of the school and referred to Rev. Dr. Leonard Bacon. a former professor ln the school The whole number of alumni that have died during the past year is seventeen, the average age of which was seventy years. Professor Day thought this very remarka- ble, so far as the longevity of the deceased was concerned.
 Ex President Woolsey was then introduced and delivered very eloquent address on the life and services of Rev. Dr. Leonard Bacon, a synopsis of which follows. He said that on the occasion of Dr. Bacon's death in No vember last, I was requested to prepare 8 paper in reference to his life. I am aware that I will have to go over some of the ground to day that have gone over before. Leonard Bacon entered the class of which I Loo1. 4lac Nhoo tnd I recolect that we were peculiarly struck with his brightness. He had keen percep- ton of the ludcrous and had a fund of an ecdote. Another characteristic of Bacon vas his quickness and facility of expressing his thoughts.
 In public meetings when he was interested in the subject he spoke with the utmost ease and earnestness. His style Of composition
 vas referred to by the speaker and he said that his style was better than any of his class and this also appeared when he entered into the ministry and in his every day life. His re- views were exceedingly able and his instruc- tions to his people were very edifylng. His tastes, in whatever production of his pen, were pure and simple. his mind and quick ness of movement was remarkable, and with bis quckness discernment was united To this was joined power of lucid exposition. He was born to be a practical man rather
 
 intended as a practical man on large scale. lie was fair man, but not partisan in any sense of the word, and as he grew older he was awake to the advantages of other church politics. He took strong ground against slavery, although taking medium ground between abolitionism and pro-slave- ry. He was brave and fearless man and was not always on the popular side, yet he had no fear in the expression of his opinion or asserting his cause He had no exagger- ated self conceit and applause did not seem shown in his prayer especially when his people were in at1liction His qualities tC everyone who could judge his various vir tues were token of success. The speak, CT referred to the beginning of Dr. Bacon's pastorate at Center church in 1895, and said that he found his powers tax ed to the utmost in writing sermons, store of which he did not have to begin with. His work as editor of the Neao Highlander waf referred to, and the speaker said that Dr. Bacon's writings were most important. Dur ing the last two years his most valuable arti cles were probably written, and all that he has written for that period would make fivt ! or six volumes ot six hundred pages each ! Although moderate on the question of slavery before the war broke out, yet when the crisi 1 came he was one of the foremost in asserting ! that the institution should be wiped out as wrong and curse. In 1866 Dr. Bacon re ! tired from his active pastorate ant was acting professor in this semin ary. The last fifteen years of his life wa ! full of earthly blessings. He retired iron the pulpit, but not fully, and he worked unti l he died His faculties were unimpaired tt the last, so far as I could discern. Durin! the last period of his life the respect ane ! nonor for him increased. He who held hi place so long drew the respect of all denom nations toward him. In closing Presiden Woolsey read in an affecting way verse o
 poem by Dr. Bacon, and on concluding tn I speaker was greeted with applause.