The Wilson times. [volume] (Wilson, N.C.) 1896-19??, 1897-06-04
CHAPEL HILL COMMENCEMENT.
An Interesting Occasion to the Almuni.

An Interesting Occasion to the Almuni.
CHAPEL HILL June The College
year of '97 is nearing its close, the
work is over and early this morning
on the campus could be seen Seniors
in the caps and gowns going to and
fro speaking their words of good will
toward men, and at 8 o'clock in the
front of that sacred Memorial Hall
the class of '97 formed in line and mark
ed to the Chapel there to humbly
bow in prayer.
At II O'Clock sharp the regular class
day exercises began in Gerard Hall.
On the rostrum were seated the
class officers.
|. David Baird Smith-Prsident.
William Donald Carmichael-Vice-
President.
William Starr Myers-Poet,
Ralph Henry Graves Historian.
Henry Groves Connor-Prophet.
McKessick's band played popular
music and the crowd prepared them
selves for bright, breezy papers to be
read by the young men.
Mr.. Ralph Henry Graves, the class
historian, read his history and statis-
tics of the class of '97, a paper filled
with the noble accomplishments of
youth and the stronger deeds of
valorous manhood, carefully prepar-
ed, forcefully expressed and interest
ing in the extreme.
The poem by MI. William Starr
Myers presented the class in another
light, the love of alma mater, the
trueness of it's purpose and the shun-
ming of other than the true, all in the
best of form, not only proving Mr.
Myers poet of the first order, but
rejecting great credit upon the class
of '97, opened the way for the Pro-
phecy Of Mr.. Henry Groves Connor.
To say that it was up to annual pro-
phecies is sighting it, filled with
breezy thoughts, with bright words
foretelling the future of his fellow
classmates, with, moreover, pictures
not over colored of the seriousness of
the future of some, it was an ideal
Prophecy and it's commission of any
flippancy raised it above the ordinary
and impressed it upon the minds of
many who will long remember it.
Yelled from the view of the audi
ence there was upon the rostrum the
present to their alma mater from the
class of '97.
The class president, Mr. David
Baird Smith, arose and addressed
the president of the university.
Pressing button, the veil was drawn
aside and there in the open view of
all was the gift of his class, one to be
greatly priced.
The present was a beautifully
sculptured bust of Robert E. Lee,
the work of the famous Volck, of
Baltimore.
DR.. Alderman then arose and in a
few appropriate words accepted the
present and took occasion to speak
word of the greatness of the man, the
wisdom of the choice of the class and
eloquently paid his respects to the
leader of the fallen heroes.
At $50 this evening every one was
present to hear the speeches of the
representative orators from the
Philanthropic and Dialectric Socie-
ties, as follows:
James McEntire Carson (DD,
Rutherfordton, N. c., Education
and Nature
Paul Cameron Whitlock DD, Rock
lngham, N: C., "The Truce of Cod"
Willis James Brogden (PhD, Colds
boro, N. c., Revolution and Life"
Pleasant Daniel Gold, Jr., (PhD, Will
son, N. c., "Social Discomfort"
James Daniel Parker (Ph), Bens on,
N. g., Liberty and Law"
= Paul Tinsley Cheek (Di), Mebane,
N. c., "The Poet of Democracy
A committee composed of Prof. G,
d. McIver; w. D. Pender, and DR..
Felix unanimously awarded the re-
preventative medal to p. ID. Gold Jr.,
of Wilson N. c.