The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1896-06-24
CLINTON.S SCHOOL.

Dy DOt0 faculty ana students, the SeS-
sion of 1856 came to a close. For
over week the students had been
undergoing the most rigid examina
tions, such as these professors know
how to give. The work we'll done,
the college and citizens of the town
and surrounding country came out to
the presbyterian church to hear the
Baccalaureate sermon by Rev. Rob-
ert Adams, of Laurens. S. c. It was
at II o'clock on Sunday morning,
June I.
Mr. Adams entered the pulpit and
selected his text from Acts 20, 35:
1T is more blessed to give than re-
ceive." He preached an excellent
sermon before graduating class OF
two fair young ladies and three
young men.
Monday evening at 9 o'clock the
exercises began in the hall. The
program consisted Of a debate be-
tween four young men from the Eu-
casmian Society. The query dis
cussed was, "Resolved, That Arbitra-
ton should and can be substituted
fer War in settling international
Disputes"
As the debaters were ushered to
the stage the band played familiar
selection. When it stopped Profes-
sor Murray introduced the first de-
bator on the affirmative, Mr.. B. G..
Bell, OF University Station, N. G..
He spoke for fifteen minutes without
notes snd was followed by music
from the band.
Then the first debator on the mega
tive. Mr.. A. V. Russell, of Thomas
vile, Ga, was introduced. He spoke
about fourteen minutes from his
manuscript. Music again.
Then the second on the affirmative,
Mr.. r. P. Walker, of McClellansville,
He spoke about fifteen minutes and
was followed by music.
Mr.. S. r. Bass closed the debate.
4 gold medal was offered but was
postponed until Commencement Day.
Tuesday evening at 8 o'clock the
audience again assembled in the hall.
This evening, too, music was inter-
mingled with the speeches.
First speaker, the Alumni orator,
Mr.. K. McCaskill. His subject was,
the future of our Alma Mater" The
people do not know of the good of
the young men
He was followed by Mr. Cornwell
Jennings, who had been elected an
nual oratorfrom the Eucasmian So
ciety. His subject was, "rhe Glory
of Young Men," Every young man
should have such glory in view.
Then followed the declamers' con-
test by six young men from the Eu-
casmian Society. The declamers
spoke in the following order: j. j.
Murray, L. D. Bray, F. c. Ferguson,
G. L. Pitts, ". L. McPheeters, and
>. II. thompson.
Wednesday, at 1870 o'clock, the
graduating class entertained the au-
dience. 1t was a very pleasant hour.
First was heard the history of
the class by Mr.. R. ". Humphries.
A noble history they have. After the
history of the class we heard the
prophesy of the class by Miss E.
Fronde Kennedy. Then Miss Ma
mie Humphries presented gift to
each member of the class, but alas +!
for Mamie no gift was found. The
class surely should make her pres
ent. Mr. J. C. Scott was class poet.
His eulogies on lis class mates were
certainly appropriate. The audience
was then dismissed until evening
when the young ladies of the Aletbe-
sophian Society took charge Of the
exercises. Miss Simpson, the presi-
dent, introduced many young ladies
who reflected honor and credit both
on their society aid on the institu
ton in which they had been trained.
The last Of their program was a de-
bate on query regarding the fash
ions of the to-day. On the afirma-
tive were Mrs. Ducket and Gourley
and on the negative were Misses
Humphries and Vance. The decis-
ion was deferred until Thursday.
Thursday morning was the centre
around which clustered every inter-
est of the week and toward which
everything pointed. Several OF the
class delivered speeches which were
short but spicy.
After the graduating speeches,
Professor Murray delivered the most
beautiful and touching address that
the writer ever heard, to the class as
he presented the diplomas. Prof.
Murray loves bis students and hates
to see them leave.
Mr.. Jennings, with very appropri-
ate remarks, then delivered diplomas
to those OF the class who were mem
bers of the Eucasmian Society.
Then the center of interest! You
could almost hear pin fall as Mr.:
Adams arose to deliver the medals.
The decisions were as follows: De-
baters' medal, Mr.. R. P. Walker;
declamers' medal, Nj. &. L. Pitts;
debaters' medal from the young la
dies society, Miss Ira Vance.
President Murray then announced
the honor roll, and commencement,
one OF the grandest the ?. G. OF
S. c. has ever known, and one of the
greatest occasions ever witnessed IN
Clinton was at close.
\ striking feature that pervaded
the commencement was the activity