Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-06-21
pELawAnE coLnEa z.
An Interesting Programme of Commence
Inent Exercises.

NEWARK, Junelo,-N NOTWITHSTANDING
the sultriness of last evening there was
quite large attendance of the towns
people and commencement visitors on
the occasion OF the delivery of the an
nual baccalaureate sermon before the
class Of Delaware College
by the Rev. DR.. S. A. Mutchmore of
Philadelphia. The sermon was preached
in the auditorium which is in the third
and top floor Of the new recitation hall
Although room OF handsome dimen-
sions IL is like an oven after the rays of
a hot sun have beaten all day upon It's
tin roof. But DIR. Mutchmore has an
established reputation rs leading
thinker and writer in Presbyterian
circles and this doubtless was the mag
net which drew SO many up long stair
way last night. DIR. Mutchmore, besides
being the editor of the Presbyterian,
was elected moderator of the last Pres
byterian Assembly in Saratoga and
Judging from his massive frame and
commanding manner and voice he must
have made an ideal moderator.
The services were opened with the
singing Of the hymn "All Hail the
Power of Jesus Name" by the choir Of
the Presbyterian Church, somewhat
augmented for the occasion. The XIV
Psalm was read by the REV. Mr..
Vincent of Glasgow, and the opening
prayer was made by the Rev. w. j. Du
Halfway. After the singing of another
hymn Dr. Matchmore arose and adj
dressing the president and members of
the faculty thanked them for the honor
of addressing the graduating class and
to the graduates who sat before him he
spoke few words of personal advice
as an exordium, trusting that he might
say something to do them good and to
impress them with the responsibilities
that q wider life outside the college halls
would open to them.
His text was ii Samuel X, 10.
The sermon abounded in broad gem
civilizations and strong figures, and was
occasionally interspersed with illustra-
tons which appealed very strongly TO
the sense of humor in his audience and
always awakened a quick response.
NEWARK, June 19.-After period of
desuetude covering number of years
the ceremonies attending class day
were revived by the present graduating
class yesterday afternoon. The eSer-
cises were held in the auditorium al 8
o'clock and tempted many of the friends
of the seniors and underclassmen as
well. This is the one event of com.
mencement week from which dignity
and seriousness are notably and pleas
antly absent and to which people come
for the "laughs" they can get out of it
their opportunities in this way being in
proportion to their knowledge of student
life and character Among the seniors
themselves it is distinctly u time for re-
calling the faults and forgetting tine
virtues one of another and quito sue.
cessfully they measured up to the occa.
sion.
The nine seniors, one being absent,
were seated upon the stage somewhat
after the fashion of Ministries, the centre
being occupied by II. NJ. Sypherd oil
the Junior class who served as master oil
ceremonies. The class history which
recounted, not too modestly, by any
means, the signal achievements Of this
altogether brilliant and phenomenal
class was read by Thomas s. Holt
generally matter-of-fact young man
In the prophecy Clarence Il. McVey
succeeded in becoming for the novice d
very flattering and optomistic astrologer
The funniest thing, however, was
that which was meant to be most serious
and impressive and the palm for un.
Willingly turning tragedy into comedy
should certainly be awarded to George
Firebrand Townsend, Jr 1t fell to Mr.
Townsend's lot to write the class history
but history making was not his forte
and he gave his audience stump speech
of the dancing, gesticulating, spread
eagle sort. 1t was devoted mainly tt
sounding, in high key, the praises o.
the president Of the college whose
efficiency!was recently the subject Of al
Investigation by the trustees Of the in
stitution, and was pitched to such key
Of extravagance that even the subjec
of 1t would have cried: "Deliver MT
from my friends" After this cannoniza
ton of the head of the college, which
| should add new saint TO the Roman
cult, the young man proceeded will
whitening scorn" to read a lesson Il
those trustees, alumni and newspaper
which sought an Improvement in the
standard OF the college. The "oration,
| it turns ont, was one written for de
livery before the trustee investigator.
committee, the latter declining to hea
1t, so that but for Yesterdays reviyeC
class day it would have been born onl,
10 "blush unseen" The exercises closes
with the presentation of gifts and othe
smoking of the pipe Of peace.
In the evening the auditorium wa
filled by large gathering of young ant
old people, the attraction being tn
Evolutionary contest for the prize
offered by the Alumni Association
Music was furnished by the colleg
orchestra. George B. Hynson, the in
structor in elocution, was the chairma
of the evening and the judges Of tn
contest were j. Harvey Whiieman @
Wilmington, l.. Irving Handy of Newark
and DR.. Gcorge-W w. Marshall OF Milford
The eight contestants for the prize an
the titles of their Rotations were q
follows
Ebay Billy" by William Ellis; eth
Ancient Miners Story" by Ira |
Pierce; "Battle of Morgastcn," b
Samuel l.. Conner; 1.-THE Revolutionar
Rising" by George McIntire; "Fort
Years Ago" by Clarence A. Shor
"Black Horse and His Rider" by Et
ward w. Cooch; "Abraham Lincoln,
by Horace G. Eastburn; 1.-The Victor {
Marcngo," by Glenn N. Litsinger.
The judges, contrary TO custom, 81
lected the prize winners on the spt
after short consultation together GU
side the hall, while the audience waite
for the verdict The first prize, 81!
was awarded unanimously to Mr.. Ii
singer and the second and third prize
to George McIntirc and Horace {
Eastburn, respectively.
NEWARK, June 20.-The Athenea
Literary Society held forth last evenin
in the auditorium and furnished II
townspeople and commencement visito