Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1894-06-01
AT THE COLLEGE.
Conclusion Of the Exercises at
Augustana.
THE SEMINARY COMMENCEMENT.

Entertaining Exercises Yesterday After
noon-The Conservatory Concert In the
Evenfng-Important Meeting of the
Alumni Association.
The annual commencement of the
Augustana Theological seminary oc-
Cured yesterday afternoon ut 2:30
O'Clock. The exercises were opened
with music by the A. S. C. band,
which was followed by choral by
the congregation. Rev. p. A. Ceder-
STAN, of Knoxville. then read part
of the scriptures and offered PRAYER,
after which the grand chorus-about
one hundred voices-rendered the
beautiful anthem, "Behold the Lamb
of God" Then followed a well pre-
pared address to the graduates by
Rev. NJ. c. Ranseen, of Chicago.
This was followed by song by the
Swedish chapel choir, after which
Rev. Revere F. Weidner, d. d. L. L.
D., mounted the rostrum and deliv-
cred one of the most eloquent adj
dresses ever heard here. The doctor
outlined the great work of the Luth-
eran church in this country. it's edu-
cational institutions, ETC., in most
glowing manner. His address was
listened to with the kecnest interest
by all. Concluding, the speaker
feelingly alluded to the fact that he
was now about to sever his connec-
ton with the grand institution to
which he had devoted II happy
years. 1t was while connected with
Augustana that the doctor had writ
ten most of his literary productions,
many OF which are now introduced as
standard text books upon their re-
spective subjects in more than three
hundred and fifty colleges and theo-
logical seminaries in this country
and India. AS the reverend spe aker
drew to close with his eloquent adj
dress, he paid a most glowing tribute
to the Augustana synod and the
Lutheran church in this country and
said that even in politics Lutherans
were sought after, as politicians had
come to know that in no other de-
nomination were truer and more pa
triotlc citizens TO be found.
After the conclusion of DR.. Weld
l.
dered an excellent organ solo, after
which President OLSON presented the
% graduates with their diplomas.
Before doing so the president ad-
dressed DIR. Weidner with a few
touching words of affectionate fare
well, and extended to him the graft
tude of the institution for the great
service he had rendered during his
y years connection with it. The
benediction was then pronounced by
Rev. Hemborg, of Moline, after which
the conservatory chorus rendered the
grand halleluJah chorus.
The Conservatory Concert.
Early in the evening the college
chapel was again filled to its utmost
capacity with music-loving audi
ence. The program, which was in
charge of the professors and instruc-
tors of the conservatory. was an ex-
cellent one throughout. The college
orchestra, in charge of Prof. Schil-
linger, rendered three excellent num-
bers. The entire program was
treat of the highest musical order.
and reflects great credit upon the
able faculty of the conservatory.
The Alumni.
AT O'Clock in the afternoon, the
Alumni association held a very in
teresting business meeting. A mat
ter which evoked a very pleasant and
spirited discussion was that of the
the associations publication, the
Alumnus. From the treasurer's re.
port it was learned that the past year
had been one of financial distress
even to the associations publication.
The proposition of widening the
scope of the little excellent journal
was next discussed. From the dis
cussion, which this phase of the
matter brought out. it was apparent
that the publication. as it is now
conducted. does not fully meet the
needs of the institution. The cues
ton of charging the journal. and
making it young peoples paper. was
left to the publication committee.