The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1886-06-23
Commencement Exercises at Yer.
mont Methodist Seminary.


mont Methodist Seminary began last Sun
day week with baccalaureate sermon be-
fore the graduating class at Trinity church
by Principal E. A. Bishop. The following
is q brief outline of the sermon, which was
heard by good-sized audience in spite of
the extreme unfavorableness of the weather.
His text was Matthew tx: 81" The harvest
truly is plenteous, but the laborers are
few" By harvest the Savior meant the in
gathering of souls into the kingdom of Gods
grace. According to the best authorities,
there are one thousand millions of souls out
of the Christian Church. If we would fully
comprehend the Savior's meaning, we must
know the worth of an immortal soul. The
Bible suggests its value Q) by direct state
ment and (2) by showing what was given
for it. This is the harvest, but the laborers
are few. There are nearly three thousand
Protestants in the town of Montpelier and
seven hundred eighty church members. But
is one person in four labOrer for Christ?
The great burden of the worlds salvation is
to-day resting upon few. Is this the nor
NAL condition of the church? God calls us
to this work, and l may say Q) that it de-
mands the broadcast preparation of mind
and heart (2) it demands our immediate at
tention-ffty persons die every minute, to
all human probability unsaved; (9 it is
| Gods work, and therefore is worthy of our
| highest ambition. He that winneth souls
is wise," and they that turn many to right
eousneSS shall shine as the stars forever and
ever" The class was congratulated on the
completion of their work and on having the
opportunity to enter life at this age of scien-
tific and religious progress. Two words
were. given them as motto, " "consecra-
ton and " concentration"
On Monday and Tuesday occurred the
regular examinations, the evening of the
first-named day being given to the forty
second musical recital of the school, under
the direction of Mr.. A. A. Hadley, the
teacher in this department. The following
evening the Esthetic Society listened to an
address by Rev. Mark Trafton, DID.
| On Wednesday the meetings of the Alumni
Association and trustees were held, together
with the class-day exercises, which took
! place under the clasS-tree on the campus.
The following is the programme: Prayer by
Rev. T. F. Frost; music (duet Welcome
Summer" Grafton, Herbert j. Bickford;
class history, j. Wesley Spencer; music,
Down where the bluebells grow" poem,
Herbert S. Eaton; prophecy, Grace Royce;
presentation of class-key, Dewey A. Graves;
music, The holiday"
The most important event of commence
ment, especially to the contestants, was the
prize speaking contest, which occurred in
the chapel in the evening, large number
being present. There were ten participants,
five ladies and five gentlemen. George
III. Bickford of Montpelier appeared first
and delivered an Eulogy on Grant," by
Beecher, the others following in this order:
Miss Rosa M. Cooper of Springfield, 80
Second Trial" j. Wesley Spencer of Ran
dolph, "The Tower of Bouverie;" Hattie
F. Elliot Of Waterbury, :" The Bobolnk;
Herbert j. Bickford of Montpelier, The
Battle" Miss Carrie A. Whitney of West
Fairlee, " Searching for the Slain; Dewey
A. Graves of Mechanicsville, "Toussaint
LOuverture; Miss Ida M. Norris of Mont
pelier, ." Fall of the Pemberton Mills; Lola
A. 4. Bixby Of Poult,ney, " A Ride Through
landau N. H., "The Black Horse and His
Rider" All OF the selections were well
rendered, and all of the contestants were de-
serving of the encores and floral offerings
they received at the close of their respective
recitals. At the close Principal Bishop
made few remarks and the benediction
was pronounced by Rev. j. f. Knapp.
Another large audience filed the chapel
on Thursday morning to listen to the gradu-
ating exercises. The stage was beautifully
decorated with flowers and foliage and the
motto, " Valet AnchOrd VirtuS," beautifully
formed with white blossoms in background
of green, hung suspended over the key
board of the organ. Seated on the stage
were the president, trustees, principal, pre-
ceptress and assistant teachers, while the
class occupied chairs below the stage. The
exercises began with piano quartette by
Misses Whitney, Puffer, Graves and Ed
wards, followed with prayer by Rev. II. A.
Spencer. The Latin salutatory was deliv-
cred by Winfield S. Goss of ST. Johnsbury
Center and was a fine production. " The
Spirit of American Progress" scholarly
production, was the subject of an Grafton by
J. Wesley Spencer of Randolph, and was de-
livered in good style. Miss Emily A. Glover
of Ryegate had for the subject of her essay
What Shall l Do?" 1t was admirably
written and quite well delivered. " The
Old Faith" the subject of the Grafton by
Dewey "A, Graves of Mechanicsville, dealt
with the tariff question and showed that
the author had made his subject one of deep
study. Old Black Joe, piano solo was
well given by Miss Ella Amy Mayo. The
Duty of American Citizens" by N Miller
Pratt of Plainfeld, was well delivered, but
with the ineXcusable fault of too rapid de-
livery at times. Mabel NJ. Taylor of Hollis
ton, Mass, had for her subject " An Athe-
istic Chapter in the Worlds History" She
compared a country in which the religion of
the Bible is followed and one where its in
fluence is not felt, citing France as one ex-
ample where war had been made on the
Bible, and the result produced. Some Re-
suits of the Last Political Campaign" by
Edward III. Bushnell of Cambridge was a
timely production and very interesting, and
did not fail to please the audience. " The
Child is Woman, the Book may Close Over,
for All the Lessons are Said" by Ida NJ
Norris of Montpelier, was a subject dealing
with periods in school life and pointing out
the path to be followed after graduation. A
piano duet by Miss Mayo and Mr.. Luce was
credtably given. " Perseverance" the sub
ject taken by Edwin p. Currier of Barton,