Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-06-21

Second Annual commencement at the
Theatre Last Night-Awarding the
Cadet Honors-Address by Hon. A. 7.
Adams.
The second annual commencement OF
the Georgia Military Academy took place
at the theatre last night. The occasion
had been for weeks anticipated by the
cadets and their friends. and the audience
that filed the Theatre last night,
crowding from the stage to
tho walls ana filling the aisles and gal
leries and the vestibule so that many
were unable 70 obtain more than a spot 70
stand, was an,evidence OF the puohc H.
terest in the Institution and its corps OF
cadets. The street in front Of the Theatre
and the square were filed with people
awaiting admission, ard when, at
O'Clock the doors were opened
there was rush by those
who held tickets OF admission,
and the parquette and front rows Of the
dress circle were quickly filled. The
audience was a brilliant one. composed
Of the patrons and friends OF the
academy. The exercises were preluded
with selections by the orchestra until
the opening hour, when the faculty,
with its military and civil stan. preceded
bv Major Burgess. Superintendent Of the
Academy. appeared upon the stage With
the Board Of Trustees, Mayor Lester and
Hon. A. p. Adams, who was to deliver
the annual address. and took seats. The
officers Of the Cadet corps followed, and
occupied a row Of chairs in front OF the
stage on each side OF the speakers stand.
After the opening overture Professor
| Crowther presented the superintendent
report showing the number OF cadets and
referring 10 the record Of their scholsr-
ship and department and the general con-
| ditiOn OF the academy during the year.
Col. Edward Cantwell, Professor of
| Law and History, here rose and said
The pleasing duty devolves on me, Of an
| nOuucing the result Of the examinations IN
/ stituted at the Academy, to discover the pro-
| gress made by the several classes during the
| mast wear in the branches Of science we teach
| there and to determine which individual
| Cadet. in each class, is entitled to lead IN the
/ further prosecution Of their respective courses
i Of study.
| OF presenting to the most distinguished Cadet
| in each class gold medal as testimonial OF
superior merit. No more agreeable once
/ could be conferred on me than that OF acting
| as the organ OF the Academy IN the deliver
| ing Of these testimonials. They are conferred
| by the unanimous voice Of the military ana
| civil staff after a full and satisfactory analysis
| Of the reports submitted to the Superlntend-
| ent during the whole year, and OF course
| meet our Unanimous concurrence.
The Cadets designated for hOnOrs as
| medallists were then announced, and took
their places on the stage. Col. Cantwell
| addressed them, congratulating them upon
| their fortune IN the attainment of the hon.
Ors which the Faculty had bestowed upon
them as a token of honorable distinction
| in reward of their Jealous labOrs, and
| pointed out to them the course to follow
in life so that the hOnors now obtained
might award them still more honorable
distinction in future years.
The medallists were announced as fol-
lows:
Cadet ]. NJ. Rogers, for excellence in
special course.
Cadets H. NJ. Conner and J. T. Deese
won equal hOnors in the third class, and
by request the medal was awarded to
Cadet Deese, to be duplicated for Cadet
Conner.
Cadet L. J. Fleming for excellence in
fourth class.
Cadet Walter Friedenberg for superb
Ority in first class Introductory.
Cadet Willie Winn for supriOrity in Sec
ond class Introductory.
The medals were then presented to the
successful contestants in behalf OF the
Superintendent, Trustees and Faculty, and
| the medallists retired to their places. Col.
Cantwell continued his address to the
audience. concluding with a reference TO
Georgia and the learned men of history
which she has sent out to the world.
Major Burgess then introduced Hon. A.
p. Adams, who delivered the annual adj
dress.
Judge Adams in his opening words re-
ferred to the civilization and advanced
education of Greece in the early days,
finding in Socrates the Great-the man OF
philosophy and morality-an exam
pie to the world. He impressed upon
the young gentlemen comprising the
Cadets their great duty first TO learn truth
and morality, and with these foundation
elements and the principles which build
upon them, their lives would be the lives
of honorable men. He referred to the pro-
LESSONS, among that of the law, which he
regarded next to the ministry, or the
greatest of all professions, and the noble
examples it contains of men whose fame
and honor have been built upon the great
foundations of truth and morality.
Among examples of men fit above all
others for a position high in the scale OF
eminence and fortune, and worthy to be
at the head Of a nation, he cited Thomas
+. Bayard. The address occupied nearly
an hour in its delivery, and was an able
and scholarly effort.
The exercises concluded with music,
and the second commencement of the
Georgia Military Academy passed into
| hietOr-v