The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1882-1884, 1883-06-21

quite a large audience the annual
Alumni Address. His address was
full of sound, practical seose-free
from the dry and monotonous style
of historical references. All who
know the college know also that Mr..
Dixon is one Of her most talented
sons and it is enough for Us to say
that If his reputation as an orator
had not already been made, he would
have made it on this occasion.
WEDNESDAY.
At IL O'Clock, q. M, Rev. W. B.
Royal, Chairman Of the Faculty. in.
troduced, as the orator before the
Philomathesian and Euzelian Litera.
ry Societies, Rev. DR.. H. A. Melon
aid, of Atlanta, Ga.
1t has not been our privilege and
pleasure to listen to a more graceful
and sweeter speaker thanDr. Melon
aid. "Have Faith in yourselves was
his theme. Only six years ago DIR.
Mcdonald delivered q similar address
at this institution, and his words of
wisdom to the young men were all
the more appreciated, for they knew
too we'll his ability not to expect an
addreas elevatlng and enobling.
His words we cannot give and his
eloquence we cannot describe. His
style was simple and easy, and his
manner was graceful to perfection.
He said: The time had been when
men could think Of nothing in heaven
above or in the earth beneath that
was not controlled by ecclesiastical
authority. Some men think it smart
to exhibit disposition of universal
skepticism. Have faith in your own
Consciousness Of an independent. per.
sonal existence. We know we have
a personal by knowing that we are
not the sun above US, the stars of the
heavens and the music of the oceans
roar. Have faith in yourselves by
having faith in testimonies outside
Have faith in the testimony of the
moral consciousness within you.
There is principle in every mans
being that saws you ought and you
ought not If man had no moral
consciousness within, legislation it.
self would be q crime and farce.
Il would rather be pine tree than to
be a man with nothing in me but ma
terialism.' Fine clothes are not OBJ.
|jectionable particularly, hut dress
poorly and get an education rather
than wear fine clothes and not be cul.
tivated. Have faith in what you d.
and have faith that you can do some.
thing. Do something. Believe in
yourselves that you may honor your
own nature. Lastly, have faith in
yourselves that you may have faith
in God.''
| We have given but few of the many
good things that the speaker said. To
appreciate this great and good man
properly one must hear him.
j The medals Of the college won BY
the students during the year were
awarded as follows: The Phi. I'm
provement medal was awarded tx
Mr.. j. Watson. of Chatham county,
presented by Rev. j. L. Carroll, o
Virginia. Defamation medal was
awarded to Mr.. Frank Dixon, present.
ed by Rev. G. w. Sanderlin, o
Goldsboro.
The Silcox Greek medal vas award
ed to Mr.. w. H. S. Kornegay, pre-
sented by Rev. H. F. Jeffries, o
Chapel Hill.
The Phi. Essay medal Was award
ed to Mr.. H. B. Folk, of Brownsville
Tenn, presented by Rev. A. C. Dix
lon, Of Baltimore. The Whitfield
; Latin medal was awarded to Mr.. j
L. White, of Cleavcland county. pre-
santed by Rev. E. E. Folk, of Tenn
Eu. Improvement medal was
awarded to Mr.. Thos. H. Hanie, pre-
scented by W. E. Daniel Esqr., Wei
! don.
The Montague French medal wa.
, awarded TO Mr.. H. p. Markham, o
Durham, presented by w. J. Peelc
Esqr., Of Raleigh.
At 8 O'Clock, p m, Rev. DR.. r. C
Lorimer preached the sermon to thu
graduating class. For more than al
hour he held the attention of his au-
. dience with unusual interest. Hi
sermon was all that young men jus
stepping out into life could wish t
have-a warning and guide for tn
future.
81 THURSDAY.
The Wingate Memorial Hall wa
p entirely filed. At 10 o'clock the ez
- ercises we're opened with prayer b.
Rev. DR.. Mundy of Warrenton. Tn
s Salutatory address was delivered b.
;. Mr.. Thos. Dixon, of Shelby. MI
Dixon distinguished himself as a