Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-06-19
BETHANY COMMENCEMENT.
One of the Most Successful in the His
tory Of the College.

A Large Class and Splendid Per
formances--The College Will Not
be Removed-Some Changes in
the Faculty-Other Exercises OF
Commencement Week.
If the loyalty of the alumni and students
and a host of friends in and out of Beth
any may be regarded as indicative OF the
future success OF Bethany College. tnen tue
outlook for that famed institution is bright
indeed. They gave urmistskable evidence
OF their devotion yesterday. when protest
against the projected removal OF the col
lege called forth Il spontaneous outoarsl
of applause, which was renewed every
time reference was again made 10 the SUD
jet. The best orator in the class selected
Bethany College as his theme, and he
wrought his hearers up to such pitch OF
enthusiasm that he was several times un-
able to proceed or account OF the acc!a-
nations His impassioned declaration
that ne. would prefer 10 see the college
closed, rather than removed 10 another To-
cation. was a sentiment which touched
responsive chord in the audience. and the
cheers and hand clapping continued Cor
full minute The applause was renewed
when the venerable president, Mr. Pendle-
ton. indorsed what has been said and
added his own opirion in the matter
President II. McDIarmid was also cheered
when he vehemently denied that he nad
been lacking in loyalty to the college, and
predicted a successful future for il.
The college will not be removed There
was never more interest manifested in the
institution than at present.. The talk OF
removal stirred up the alumni, and they
unhesitatingly expressed their disapproval.
1t IS likely that the agitation of the subject
will bear good fruit. The Board of
Trustees has elected Rev. Alexander
Campbell McKeever, of Nebraska. grand
nephew of the founder of the college, as
chancellor, and he will undertake TO col
lect 100000 TO serve as a permanent en-
dowment fund, thereby ensuring the per
petuity of the institution. II will be
work of love for the Chancellor, and his
determination, energy and zeal will win
the battle
THE COMMENCEMENT
was the fifty-fifth in the history Of the
college, and was one of the most success
full. There were twenty-seven graduates,
representing eight States and Prince Ed
ward Island. In point of ability the class
is one of the best ever turned out by the
institution. The crowd was a record
breaker and the performances were of an
unusually high order Of merit. The eX-
ercises commenced at ten o'clock.
The members OF the class formed in line
at Pendletop Heights and marched to
Commencement Hall. headed by the Wells
burg Opara House band and the college
faculty. The hall filled rapidly. When the
exercises opened there was not vacant
seat, and many stood in the rear. The
stage presented a very pleasing appear
ance. 1t was tastefully adorned with
palms and ferns. and draped in blue and
white cloth. In the rear was suspended the
class motto in Greek. The graduates and
faculty occupied seats upon the stage
The exercises were diversified with selec-
tions by the orchestra.
After fervent prayer by Prof. J. W.
McGarvey, of Lexington, Ky. the saluta-
tory was spoken by Mss Gertrude Frew.
OF this city. When she advanced TO the
front of the platform she was warmly ap-
plauded by the members of the class. The
greetings to friends alumni and students
were warm and cordial, tersely and beau
tifully expressed. She considered the in
struction received at college as the foun-
dation Of future character, and said the
great life work of all should be character
building. "Our minds are given us: our
characters we live" Miss Frew's effort
was exceptionally good. and she merited
the enthusiastic applause which followed.
As an evidence of the work done at the
college, the Greek Grafton of Mr. J. w.
Stewart. Of West Virginia, was interest
ing; it Garnet be said that it was enter
tanning 10 the audience. Some of the sentl-
ments were appauded by the students.
Mr.. Stwart's delivery was forci6e and
earnest.
Evolution Of Sentiment" was the theme
discussed by J. \. Candy, of West Vir-
GINA. He found the grandest. best men of
all the ages, living a present, and a con-
slant bettermeut of social conditions. His
views were decidedly optimistic, they
were framed in excellent language, and ex-
pressed with the fire of conviction and the
grace and force of trae oratory.
Mr.. e. E. Crawford. of Prince Edward
Island, discussed the significance of the
dying and living words of Prentiss. II
want to know" lie smoke Of the longing
OF the human heart for knowledge. tenn
poral and spirtual,-human wisdom and
immortality. He commended the decision
of 4 great philosopher. who preferred the
pursuit Of knowledge to its possession.
The true glory and greatness Of wisdom is
that II lifts cur minds to the Infinite God.
Suuderts then sang selection from
Rossini's Stabat Mater. with a solo by
Mrs Dr. Ridge. of Kansas City. wife OF one
of the trustees Of the college. Mrs. DR..
Ridge possesses a sympathetic soprano
voice Of remarkable purity and scope. and
she has contributed in no mean degree to
the success Of the musical feature of the
exercises OF commencement Week.
Personality was the subject discussed
by Nir c. i. Groom, Of Kentucky. Gcd
sives to every man. he SAID, personality,
out II iuuSt pc ue'FiSpcd li4tO pS4leOt man
hood by tlrelesS and Intelligent effort. To
develop those personal characteristics
which ere given us, IS duty.
Mr.. Y Il. Merryman, Of Missouri, G.s-
played an affection for his Alma Mater by
selecting rBetEauy College as the subject
for his Grafton. lie is natural orator,
ard bis theme afforded him exceptional
Onr>o-tu,i.ias Th.-e has proAal,lv Ssnn
no graduating effort in the history of the