The Portland daily press., 1896-06-26
WEsTBROOK SEMINARY.
Graduating Exercis es in the Church
and Alumni Banquet.
The Glass of 'oe Joins the A1nmni-Twenty
Young Men and Women Receive Dipio-
mas-speeches at the BANQUET.

mas-Speeches at the Banquet.
| Yesterday morning in the All Souls
church of Deering, which has Witnessed
many similar scenes, occurred the nnal
graduation exercises of the class of '96
of the Westbrook Seminary. In the
vicinity of Portland there live many of
the alumni of this seminary and these
mover let com mencement day pass
without assembling in the old church
and witnessing the graduation exercises,
Besides these, there came from all parts
Of New England many of the old stu
dents of Westbrook to renew old friend.
ships and pledge anew their loyalty to
the alma mater. of their youth. And SO
yesterday when tho chapel bell tolled it's
peal to the members Of the dying year,
the chapel began to fill with the alumni
end friends of the seminary until, at the
hour for the commencement of the ex-
ercises. there was not vacant seat and
hardly standing room in the church.
The DECORATIONS of the church were not
elaborate, but were very pretty. On the
platform of the chancel there was back
ground of green, formed by mass of
potted plants, ferns and palms. Beneath
the appropriate class motto of "Certum
Pete Finem, on the wall at the rear OF
the chancel stood out in relief the figures
st96, "the appellation of class long to be
remem bered at the Westbrook Seminary
as one of the brightest that ever entered
that institution.
The efficient corps of ushers was COM
posed of the members of the school. The
reserved seats in the front OF the church
were designated by large bow of ribbon
composed of the GLASS colors, violet and
| yellow, AMI here sat the senior and
| junior classes.
| After the friends of the class and of
the seminary were seated, the graduates,
90 in number, entered the church and
Dr. Blanchard.of Portland opened uhe
exercises by prayer, and then came more
music by Gilbert's orchestra.
Miss Minnie Ella Swasey of Canton,
in Latin salutatory, welcomed the
| friends of the school. Although the
alumni in the seats of the church sadly
shock their heads when the euphonious
| language of Caesar and Cicero was rolled
out by Miss SWasey's ready tongue, yet
The pronunciation was clear and distinct
and her knowledge of the language evil
IDENTITY far better than that of many of
! the college graduates who had listened to
| her.
| Mr. G1131 Ky i.
Paris a young gentleman Of good voice,
delivered an Grafton with much oratori-
cal effect ON the subject of "Immigra-
tion." His ideas seemed to be that the
United States has been benefited by the
immigration of foreigners to this coun-
try about as much as it can be and that
from now out those oppressed by foreign
despots should seek some other asylum
than America.
Miss Annie Louise Booker of Phillips,
read an essay on the Influence of
Home" which contained many original
views gracefully expressed.
Mr.. John Barber of Falmouth, had an
Grafton on the 'Homerio Writings" but
was excused from delivering it.
On the subject of Hidden Pearls, -
Miss Jennie Matilda Cilley of Deering
gracefully enlarged and showed that
in the world AS we'll as in the sea many
pearls of great value and beauty may be
| found if but on Q seeks them. (.
Mr.. Robert Hubbard jackson of Paris
had an Grafton on the tRoentgen Rays"
but was excused from delivering it.
| Miss Charlotte Edith Crowsll of Orono
had weN-written essay on "Our Pres
| ent Fashion in Literature, in which
she scathingly condemned the modern
| novel, and advocated the reading only
Of those works of fiction which are called
| standard, with the addition of yery
| few of those written in recent years.
The tendency of the modern novel, Miss
| Crowsl believes, is to corrupt rather
than to improve the morals of the pub
| lie.
| In choosing subject for his grafton,
Warren Elliott Searles of Wests Falmouth,
was particularly fortunate. The Repub.
| llcan party, its achievements glories.
history and leaders. including it's present
| position on national questions, were
dwelt upon at some length, and Mr..
Searles, who has an excellence voice and
fine presence, handled his subject in q
manner most oreditable to himself. In
mentioning T. B. Reed as the beloved
leader of q beloved party, Mir. Searles
was interrupted by applause, long con-
tinued and enthusiastic.
The essays of Miss Helen Maria Hoyt
of Pleasantfiale, and Of Miss Geneva
Knight of West Falmouth, were finely
delivered and we'll written.
Miss HoYt chose. for her subject IAN
Emblem" while Miss knights essay on
"a Scottish Singer" being the life Of
Bobby Burns,' was of keen. interest
and of considerable literary merit.
Mr.. John Philip Smith of Portland
deli Vered al Grafton on the "Use of His
tory" and the essay on Dreams Of
Miss Ida Leora leighton of Deering. was
one of the best written and finest de-
liyered of those heard during the exer.
cises.
Mary Ral1e ShaDard of Ron NH. -,