Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-06-18
CONFER ENcE ACADEMY.
Opening Exercises of the Eighteenth An
nuII Commencement Sunday.

Special Corresprndence d Gazette and journal
DOVER June 15-The eighteenth an
mud commencement Of the Conference
Academy opened yesterday in the NJ. Il.
church The exercises We're of the most
interesting nature, The church was taste
fully decorated with flowers. The choir
was composed Of students, conducted by
the music teacher, Miss j.. l.. Bryan.
The pdncipaL w, L, Gooding Phi. D.,
preached the morning sermon before the
graduating class, He took his text from
Mathew XIV, %: For unto every one
that hath shall be given hut from him
that ha9lt not shall be taken even that
which be ia'n,' He began by showing
the difference between reputation and
character and the need Of both, He stated
that his declaration Of Christ was social
ngical law Of universal application and
that il was the same rs the biological law
Of the survival Of the iittest" lie then
considered the application Of the law
under the headings Of ~ reputation (2)
knowledge l3l character and az religion,
He ended his sermon With much feeling,
eNhoriing the members Of the graduating
class 10 make the nest of whatever should
be the profession they selected to be loyal
to their calling and loyal to their God.
The evening sermon, which was before
the school, WAS preached hy the Rev. j i,
p. otis Of Bridgeville, from job, q; 10
ana Matt, XVI, ~,
Dover, June l6--Many friends Of the
members of the middle class are being en-
tertamed at the Conference Academy
Among the visitors ara the Key j f. Otis
Of Bfilgcrille, the Rev w. s. Wilcot Of
Georgetown, Mr.. ] Hall and DR.. Crouch
Of Philadelphia. The morning was spent
in examination of classes. The seniors
have crossed the last river with full sail
and are now enjoying their well earned
rest,
During the afternoon the young ladies
and gentlemen decorated the academy
hall with vines, various kinds Of flowers
aud many very beautiful works Of art. At
; o'clock in the evening the spacious hall
was filled to its utmost The two recitation
rooms adjoining the hall were likewise
filled, Or W. i. .iapdng presided With
his usual pleasing and graceful manner.
The exercises opened with PIANO solo by
Miss Elizabeth collins. The music WAS
difficult although She played with great
ease. Following this was an oratien by
Daniel J. Given on Immigration Then
came an essay "Anglo-Mania by Miss
Maggie Landon in which She pictured
American life. to he the ideal life, It was
especially well received by all. Harry T.
Hammond delivered an Grafton entitled
the Power of the Press He showed
what a great educator the press had been
and how vast its present work is.
Prof. ]. K. Todd with his low, sweet
voice, sang a solo called .The Queen Of the
Earth Miss Bessie Price read her essay
on .Life's Atoms Next came an ora
ton, Farmers Alliance, by II p. Sped
den. Mr.. Spedden spoke with much force,
giving evidence Of having well studied his
subject. lie was not conservative in his
views, but clearly stated its advantages and
its disadvantages Miss AcGa a Vandyke
followed and read her interesting essay,
The Mill Never Cirinds with the Water
That is Past, which was received BY the
large audie ace with repeated plandits.
Then came a solo upon the piano by Miss
Mary Hobson. She kept the whole all-
dience interested. Miss Sallie Hall then
read her essay Joan Of Are Following
this was an Grafton by j. S. Wilcox.
entitled Natural Monnanlies.n He
showed the many reformsfthat might be
made in business engagements, and the
good results that would likely follow
Then Miss Marvel in the most pleasing
manner, read her interesting essay, "Go
Ie Forth and Teach All Nations,h after
which came the final feature of the pro
gramme. which was piano duet by
Misses Mamie Baker and Clara BRYAN. it
was beautifully rendered