Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1886-06-12
5. W. p. U.


devoted " The annual commencement
Of The n, w. =. University. Commence
ment week Il always 4 gala occasion In
CIarksyilIe. The people Of this city
TAXA much pride in having ibis famed
institution of learning located In their
midst, and The excellent reputation II
bsau abroad draws many visitors 70 ib
closing exercises.
The commencement Of 1886 has been
In no way behind IL predecessors. The
University increases In prosperity. At
The beginning Of The past session three
new prolesaors we're added bits faculty.,
and Tho school Of theology, under the
management Of Dr. Joseph II. Wilson,
put In operation.
THE SERMONS.
II IA the custom 70 have The CON-
mencement sermon preached by . dis
tinguished divine from distance, but
this year u was delivered by the venera-
bic and reyered Chancellor Of the Uni
versity, DIR. J. n. Waddel, at the special
request Of the students. The selection
was n most excellent one and very grat-
flying 10 the largo congregation that
assembled In the Presbyterian church
Sunday. DIR. Waddell is widely known
throughout the Southern States and
held In very high esteem. He took his
text from Jer. III: 4: "Will thou not
from this time cry unto me, My father
thou art the guide OF my youth" The
sermon was an 3xhortation TO the young
gentlemen OF the University TO devote
themselves TO a religious life, particu-
larly 10 shun the rnaterializing inhuen-
ces OF modern science and walk in the
orthodox paths of Christianity. The
most wrapped attention was given by the
congregation and the words OF the
preacher more than ordinarily i'm
pressed the young minds that have
learned TO hold him in such high re-
gard.
Rev. DR.. Bryson OF Huntsville, Ala,
preached the sermon to the Young
Mems Christian Association o! the Uni
versity in the Presbyterian church Sun
day night His text was ] Peter, 8, Is;
Be ready Arrays 10 give an anssoer TO every
man that asketh you a reason Of the hope
that is in you Nth nleekness and fear.
The sermon was compact and logical
but none the less interesting on that
account IL was attentively listened tc
and created fine impression.
MONDAY NIGHT ,
was devoted to the oratorical contest
between the Washington Irving and
Stewart Societies, each society being
represented by two Of its members.
The following were the speakers and
their subjects: G.. A. Wood, OF the
Stewart Society, led off in scholarly
essay on the Development of Litera
ture."
w. F. Dowd, Washington Irving
Society, "The Eloquence OF Ruins"
w. l.. Frierson, Stewart Society
''The Monument"
g. w. Patterson, Washington Irving
Society, 1.-THE Mastery Of the West"
The CHRONICLE was not present ant
consequently can give no comments.
The medal for the best speaker wa!
given Mr.. Patterson. We have heard
Mr.. Dowds speach very highly compli.
mented.
The Stewart Society gave ]. K. Atley
its medal for the greatest improvement
in oratory, and that of the Washington
Irving Society was conferred on r. Y
Hicks.
TUESDAY NIGHT III
Nine young gentlemen matched -thei
oratorical powers in contest for the
speakers medal.
The speaking came off in the accus
toned place, Stewart Cabinet Hall
which was brilliantly illuminated ant
handsomely decorated for the occasion
An Italian band from Nashville opene,
the programme and enlivened the inter
walls between the speeches with excel
lent music. 5.e.rt ~ ivat
Five young gentlemen decorated il
the colors of the two literary societie
of the University acted as ushers. The
were Il. N. Parker, Texas; t. II
Scoville, La; A. H. Mccain, Miss; w
t. Palmer, Tex; w. NJ. Bunting
Tenn. u. ef .tre.fr#
The exercises were opened witt
prayer by Rev. DR.. King Q! Texas.
The orators were arranged in a ROY
on the platform. The CHRONICLE take
pleasure in congratulating them on tn
excellence of their speeches, as a whole
1t is not an empty platitude to say the
did themselves much honor and rehec
ted credit on their alma mater. The