The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-06-22

DrIi-htful Gathering OF FrienGS-A
Pleasant Time for AiI-The Col.
Icmcs are Abbeviile'S Greatest
JcwcIS-Eud Of u Most Successful
Year.
Yesterday morning at half past seven
o'clock the editor OF the Press and hammer
left home 10 attend III" COMMENCEMENT IN
ErSkinr College at Due West. The rains o'
the day and night previous had made lhe
road muddIcr than we have ever Sccii lnrli' ln
at this time of the year. ihe water was was
standing in many places. The crops along
the way seemed u little late, hut they never
looked better. \ large area is IN corn.
We proceeded without stop or hotane lnc!'
dent until we reached the spring ABOUT ,Mu
miles this side of Due West, when we called
a halt. Stopping beneath the dciishliul
shade of the uvcrhanglns trees. we drank re-
freshing draughIs OF coo wafer. ,,,, ,,,,
Feeling that we had rtdhrsS OF eEeS-hol
that kind however of which mention is made
i'm a GOOD old book-and remembering Inc
great benefit which u certain man received
from washing his eyes IN the pool OF Slloa'il'
we wet SOME paper and applied 1t 10 our own
ievprcd eyes. Tie water seemed ice-cold Ill
FIRST. and we soon realized great good from
the bath. The salty feeling having dlSiIp'
pt AIRED. and otherwise experiencing beheiiS'
we resumed our journey. and were soon III
the city OF classic groves and cchSecr'le''
halls. 49,, .,.,
The crowd was already assembling around
the stand and occupying seats in the grove OF
were grouped together beneath thc trceS
pleasantly chatting. Soon DR.. Grler lii'
nounced the beginning OF the exercises WHICH
was opened by prayer from ErSkineS lie
long friend, the Rev. II. i: sloan. ID. ID. me
appearance of the venerable DOCTOR SET oui
Thoughts TO running,-not on his prayer, pul
on some incidents or facts oi the !onG heo'
According to our recollection, IN the earl
fifiieS, Due West looked TO DIR. Sloan ana IL u
charge as their chief pillar and nam supl,oll,
No matter what improvement or Wihl'
amount OF money might be needed lor Tue
College it was always expected that DIR. SLOAN
would head the list and lead all others In the
cheeriulueSS with which they gave treir SiiI>'
That was some forty years ago. ,,
In the recent adoption OF resolution Nh'.''
was proposed in furthcrance of the scheme 10
remove the College from the nome Oh lts Ia,
iivily and TO take 1t from lne PreSencn W W
those who helped To build II ana wh" Always
loved it, the Synod dropped him from inc ro,
Of the Board of TruStee>-a position whlcn
he held tor nearly forty years, ,..,.,o,
When DIR. Sloan's prayer hau oecn nhiSaeu ,a
President Grier made statements IN relcr'
ence TO the graduating class-only three he'hS
expected to speak--but all were gwen liie Ccl'
tticuleS and diplomas TO which Their aniiitS
aud application TO their siudleS emu. 81 'u' |,
Them, When he had introduced the hI:i
speaker, we went for Il minute 10 see our "lu
friends Mr.. and Mrs. Kennedy VINO are "a
such deep distress. ana Iheh chile't on Mi. III ~;
:. Galloway, who has been qu'ie SICK oi J"i.i ..
and fever. lie is on the mehu huW' anu We
hope will soon be well again. ,,,,r
Returning, we accepted Il klhd lnEItal!ni'
TO OCCUPY Il seat on the stand rom WhlGh til.
speakers addressed ihe audlemce. lrIt", ~, n,,r
(;rier soon introduced Mr.. McGowan oi our
village to whom had been assigned the cile,
and highest honor OF the occasi"n-lhitt oi
anniversary orator. Mr.. Mc'ioWah ni''uw :,
Splendid speech and, though ms aualence VIZ
mt to the sevcrest test, he held them loSciI-
rr through two showers which fell during tnt
delivery of his speech. Many iauieS re,
manned under their umbrellas ana heiru nun
TO the end. The covering oi tne SpenMrIh pSan"ih. ;
stand was made of boards running iehSIn-
wise across the rafters and OF course pr"ttGt-
ed those on the stand only as lohS as llit Z
blank absorbed or held the wafer, ana lheii u
came through in Eoou Sty'v; sorc r,iurI ni S "n'
When Mr.. McGowan had nnlsiisl nis
snr.ch DR.. Grer delivered short address 10
the graduating class before presenting tneu'
with their dlplomas; rtor Everyoouy ony line bu,
ihev always particularly desire TO hear ms
commencement speeches. HIS woruS oI VIE
dom were presented with great lorce lit @ Mniu.'
he urged upon all the Importance oi 'e'inS
con nSclpntiously, and emr haSiZed collSclehcs'
snuuesting the idea that the conscience hecu'
rI careful training, and that strong reiiSlouS
and moral character could oniy eNlsI ny an an
observance OF those principles Wilcn VIE
founded on an intelligent conviction oi i'Sh'
and wrong. =, , ,,,n,.
Dr. Cirier expressed his thanks in u happ!
manner for the heroic attention when hau
bccn paid TO the words of the eloquent speak
er, and give us all a most CORDIAL lhF't".ioii
to- come back next year, when he h"peu lnai
they would be enabled TO sit IN Il ht" anu
eloquent hall which is being bultt lor theii
comiur;. And so it happened that me ram
was the occasion OF one oi the most peasant
incidents OF the day.
There is but one Due West, ana there IS on'
one Ersk inc College.
No other community of people com pares
with this people, ana there is no place !"
which IL former sou may return Win SO III uch
genuine pleasure. ,oor,
All that any one could hope to find III learn
ing and morals may be found there; .,.
For high principle and sincere friendship
no place eXcelS IT, , r,t,.
For warm-hcarted hospitality and Chris
tian spirit II has no equal. , ,o
Tie influence of these good men extend 10
all the youths who come within the range "i
their acquaintance and whether as students
AS printer boys or as mechanics or lhhorers'
their godly walk and their noble ilHcS lurnlsl
an example and an incentive to noolcr aims
and higher achievements.
Owing to the bad weather Abbeville did not
send up as many representatives as mas pech
her custom.