The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-07-07
Prayer by DIR. Wilson.

Rev. ]. Lowrc Wilson, d. D., thon rose from
among the guests on the rostrum. Going TO
the front, the audience standing, he said:
almighty God, our Heavenly Father, the
givCr of every gOod and perfect gift, we ap-
proach Thy throne through thy Son. the only
mediator In our bekalf, to hnmbly invoke thy
blessing on tho exercises of this day, and TO
pray that thy Holy Light may shine on every
person in this audience and that their love of
thee may be revived, and that they may
pledge anew their hearts in devotion to
thy service. . Lord our God, we would
ask thy blessing on this institution. We
pray thee to bless it in tho future as thOn hast
seen tit To favor 1t in the past. GrantU Lord,
we brScrch thee. that The students of this Col
lcgc may 20 forth To work for Thy glory, even
as "lhc streams whereof shall make glad the
city of God" Grant we bcsccch thee, that
each one OF! these students may go into the
battle of life, with cultivated minds, with
pure hearts, and AN earnest desire TO Siori!S
thy name, and to be Il blessing TO the corn
mun!ty in which they may live. We pray
thee o Lord, to bless and preserve the lives Of
the President and Faculty Of this institution,
and 50 to guide them that they may be as
shining lights to the yonng men who 20 out
from these halls, Let this institution prosper
more and more, and let its influence and USE
tulneSs increase Ms the years are added. Bless
all who have come here to-day, and let their
presence Oh courage the teachers and students
OF this institution to greater effort to useful
ness. And we viii a-crihc all the praise to
Father, Sun and Holy Chest. Amen
After tie prayer of DR.. Wilson had been
concluded, the young men of the graduating
class, began their graduating speeches.
Mr.. J. :. Stribllng of RichIand, S. c.; spoke
Of "CharIc, Stewart Parncll," the uncrowncd
King of Ireland, who spoke first OF thS great
! Irish leader as an orator. lie speaks to thc
head rather than TO the heart. His state.
mcnts are all s0lnd and absolutely free from
error. lie has gone Into the ground causes of
his peoples wrongs. and hy the organization
of The land league attempted their relief. Mr..
! rarncll has never advised any violence, as hiS
speeches clearly show. lie Is devoted TO his
country and To his constituents. His schemes
of obstruction are only the means bS which
he proposes 10 snow to the English people the
meiat of which his party is composed and the
balance OF power they could give To either
party OF the House of Commons.
This speech WAS followed by musicC, "Lilly
Polka" rendered in fine style by The band.
"Amcrioa un Asylum. not II lcndeZuus,r by
Mr.. W. Castles of Chester. s. &. The speaker
at some length and in an admirable pnpcr ell
tcrcl Il strong plea against the crntinull
landing Of the lower, drifting and degrading
people Of Europe upon our shores. Against
the making OF this beautiful land Of ours Il
rendrzOus instead of an asylum.
The band linen played "l,la Waltz"
Mr.. VI. y. Cox. OF Laur"nS, :. G., spoke Of
"Lonsfrllow," Of his youthful character, OF
his influence in this aye Of our literature, and
compared him with some of the other diStn'
"uished poets CT he nincicenth ccutuiy; his
cd in the proper channels.
LihuSsa Polka NlaZurka was thcn played
with great expression and was well received,
after which
Dr. Gricr Introduced the Anniversary
Orator.
AS usual on Commencement day In Erskine
College, the chief attraction on Wednesday
was the anniversary address.
DR.. Gricr advanced to the front OF tie ros-
trun and spoke In substance as follows:
"IIorc tnan thirty years ago there came to
this little hamlet from the rugged hills of
Tennessee, II young lawyer, who on that osca.
sion, with much power and cloqncncc played
upon the harp OF Il thousand stringS--the hn-
man heart. Since then, thirty years have
crowded upon us with events of the most an
tense and most absorbing interest. We have
gone through the scenes of war, and wc have
experienced the rcHlitics OF Z civil rrvoltion.
But cvcntful as has been the time since this
young oi;,tor first presented HIMSELF he re-
turns to delight this audience. II there arc
any present who have listened Mt his match
less 0ratoly, l know they still cherish in their
memories pleasant rccullrctions. He comes
again. He Is glad To- know that Ersl;inc Col
lcgr still lives, and We are gra;incd that the
young orator still lives. He Is now oder in
years. but he is still fresh in his power over
an audience. IT, gives me unfcigied pleasure
tu introduce the Hon. J. VI. Bright, OF TGnnes-
Sec
For moro than an hour Mr.. Bright enter.
tanned his audience by a learned address, In
which he showed great familiarity with liter
AIRY subjects, and cvinccd u great love for the
refined in letters.
Annie Laurie was tIen played by The band
with good effect.