Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1882-06-10

lTdl0 THIS InOuSHb were beautifully
apt. He deprecated the acquisition
of anything without labor, and said
if there were a royal road to knowl-
edge, the knowledge would be little
worth, compared with that which
costs industry, perseverance and
thought" lie dwelt upon the hap
Ply fact that it was one of the most
prominent characteristics of the age
thst it is, in every field of inquiry,
asserting the right to think for it
self; he spoke of finite truth, and
how it leads to a firm be-
lief in Infinite Truths. The truest
of all truths to the young mind and
heart was man. He elaborated
and learnedIy discussed this idea.
He argued that the existence of
mans moral nature was among the
first and best items of the catalogue
of ascertained truths. Skepticism
would never obliterate 1.-THE re-
garded it as the paramount wisdom
of life.
III touched upon the great incen-
tives to acquisition and the poverty
of the masses. "Want," said he,
sis the great motive power that inn
pels the greater part of the worlds
machinery" Poverty of intellect
is also the rule among the masses,
neither wealth nor knowledge is
power, but the uses to which they
are put.
In concluding his eloquent, logical
speech, the attempt to give synop-
sis of which must necessarily be a
failure, so closely was each brilliant
thought and idea interviewer with
the whole, he electrified his atten-
tive listeners with grand apostrO-
phe to autonomy and self-reliance
both in individuals and govern
ments. "Duty to yourself and re-
sponsibility to yourself and govern
ment sums up what you ought to
do. Every human heart is its own
battle field" His peroration was
fervent and inspiring. "There was
no creature so grand as young
man. His strength, his vigor, his
possibilities make him grand. The
future, a priceless heritage is his.
o, young man, has if ever entered
into your head to conceive what
a glorious thing young man is,
with his strong hand upon the inn
pulses that move the world; with
a vast horizon stretched around him
a thousand paths, from which he
may choose, leading into the roseate
landscape before him; with count
less combinations of incentive and
endeayor, of solace and reward
with men around him to be effected
and with the Golden City, ON the
Eternal hills that lie beyond the
Lethean, inviting to final security
and peace, whatever of ill, or sor-
row or disappointment may betide
him on the journey thIther-"
COMMENCEMENT DAY PROPER.
Wednesday, June 18th, was the
day proper, and by
10 o'clock, the hour named for the
exercises to begin, the largest and
most eXpectant audience of the
week had gathered in the hall. A
large number of our most prOmi-
nent and influential citizens were
on hand, attracted by the knowl-
edge that this was the day for the
of the Alumni Grafton be-
fore that society by Mr.. II. M.
Doail, of Nashville. The exercises
were opened with prayer by the
Rev. j. ID. Barbee. Next followed
Orations by the young gentlemen
who had graduated as Masters of
Art. The first speaker was Mr..
John NJ. Dortch, of this city, who
chose as his subject, "rhe Music of
the Spheres" His subject was
well chosen and was handled with
an ease of delivery and grace of
lIctiOn that reflected much credit
on the young gentleman. bespoke
in beautiful language of natures
unity as exhibited by the heavenly
bodies, the whole system of the
Universe was one of revolution and
in its ceaseless, but harmonious rev.
buttons how many grand lessons
for the study of man might be
found. There was a sermon written
in every star. He elaborated in a
very felicitous and happy address
he grand lessons taught us by
astronomy, and deserved the spon-
aneous burst of applause which he
often received from the audience.
The next speaker was Mr.. j. r.
whose subject was ''Pa-
yanism." lie handled it with a
of thought and soundness
If reasoning that would have done |
,redit to a far older head, and show
ID the depth of research and thor
,ugh process of study through
which he had come to attain his
high degree in the University. He
poke in a clear and logical
manner of the influences of Pagan
SIN on the world, and showed how
high state of intelligence cannot
,e reached in a period of intellectual
nd moral depravity and how away
Jack in the dark ages man yearned
or a higher being, gave evidence
# a disposition to worship some
hing, even an unknown God"
lie touched upon the influence of
eligion on man and society and
Drcibly delineated how men are
and lifted up by the
Dve of God. His close was fer
emily eloquent and his address
gave splendid promise
future success and distinction in
ne sacred calling to which, we un-
erstand, he intends to devote him
elf,