Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1884-06-07
:. w. P.U.
THE COMMENCEMENT.
INTERESTING EXERCISES = SER
MONS AND SPEECHES-THE
AWARDING OF d.
PLOMAS AND
PRIZES.

The greater portion of the present
week has been occupied by the COM
mencement exercises at the South
Western Presbyterian University. The
occasion has attracted quite number
of visitors to the city, including several
distinguished divines from various
portions OF the South, who are inter-
ested in the welfare and prosperity of
this distinguished institution of learn
ing.
The commencement day proper
was Wednesday, when diplomas, pri-
yes, &c, were awarded, but the pre-
liminary exercises had been going on
for several days previous. The Board
of Directors held their annual meeting
Saturday. Sunday Rev. B. M. Palmer,
D. D., of New Orleans, preached the
Commencement Sermon. This work
had been assigned to Rev. S. A. King,
d. d., of Waco, Texas, and he had ac-
cepted it. but was prevented from be-
ing present by sickness. No substi-
tute could have been more agreeable
to the GAINESVILLE public and we opine,
to the students, than DR.. Palmer. The,
Presbyterian church was crowded to
overlooking to hear him and he held
the close attention of his congregation
for one hour and ten minutes. His
text was @Howbeit we speak wisdom
among them that are perfect: yet not
the wisdom of this world, nor of the
princes of this world that come to
nought.-I Cor. II 6: The sermon
was learned and logical exposition of
the text and its object was to impress
ON the young gentlemen OF the Uni
versity the wisdom of the gospel.
Science and philosophy could grasp
and grapple with everything from the
modest violet to the far away planets,
but the gospel alone told man of the
higher wisdom beyond the stars. Rev.
d. K. McFarlan, d. D., of Oxford, Miss,
preached the sermon before the Y. M.
c. A. of the University Sunday night.
The church was again filled with q
large audience that was very much
entertained.
MONDAY NIGHT
the anniversary celebration of the
Was -lngton Irving and Stewart Liter
airy Societies took place in Stewart
Cabinet Hall. Four young gentlemen
made orations and the medals of the
two societies were presented to their
fortunate recipients.
The Hall was very tastefully and
appropriately decorated. The rostrum
was ornamented with beautiful flow
ers and festoons of evergreens. The
motto of the w. I. Society, "Surgam,"
was ON the right side of the wall in
large letters and that of the Stewart
Society, "Per Adua ad Alta" on the
left. The banners of the two societies
were pendant from an arch that over
hung the front of the rostrum.
The music for the occasion, which
was really very good, was furnished by
the students. Messrs. Kennedy, Jones,
Anderson, Patton and Colmery con-
stituted band who with guitars, vio-
Inns and bass viol very much delight
ed the audience. They, with the
| addition of Messrs Richardson, Macrae
and Wilson also gave some fine vocal
performances.
The ushers, who were very polite,
efficient and good-looking, were Mes
sers G. P. Colmery, of Mississippi, w.
o. Cutliff, of Louisiana and ]. L. Story
of Texas, for the W. I. Society. They
wore blue ,sashes with blue and buff
badges. Messrs. Harry M. Johnson, of
Mississippi, Arthur w. Darrogh, lately
of Nova Scotia, and w. A. Harris of
Miss, for the Stewart Society. They
wore crimson sashes and crimson
badges. The members of each So
ciety were distinguishable by tthe
badges they wore.
The exercises were opened with
prayer by Rev. ]. B. Mack, of Column
bia, S. c., after which there was vocal
music. The first speaker was
R. NJ. KENNEDY, OF TENNESSEE.
His subject was Prohibition" He
begun by asking that he be
pardoned for leaving the fields of his
tory and literature and taking for his
theme practical question. He con-
fessed his subject an old one, but said
it was always appropriate. He then
proceeded in straightforward way to
make very fair temperance speech.
He presented the evils of intemper-
ance and argued earnestly for prohi-
bition. He said there were many
people who favored prohibition who
were slow to aid in the work because
they doubted its success. The prohi-
bition cause was growing stronger
daily, and history will speak of itas the
great reformation of the 10Th century.
Mr.. Kennedy possesses fair average
ability as a speaker. He spoke in a
good voice without materially violat-
ing any of the rules of elocution and
there was substance in what he said.
We were particularly struck with his
remark that men should be Christians
at the ballot box as we'll as elsewhere
and should be willing to sacrifice love
of party for temperance principles.
JIG. PATTON, OF TENNESSEE.
was the next speaker. His subject
was Happiness the Goal of Mans
Activities" Mr.. Patton scared so high
that the reporter was not able to fol-
low him and after an Intellectual at
tempt to jot down some of his highly
adorned sentences, or catch on to their
practical purport, if they had any, the
man laid down his pencil |
and listened with quiet submission to
the flow of eloquence. Mr.. Patton has
a good voice and speaks with admira-
BILE ease and composure He needs to |