The age-herald., 1898-05-24
a N<4 COMMENCEMENT DAY AT TUSCALOOSA 
  College For Females Has Made Another Fine Record. LARGE AUDIENCE PRESENT Able Sermons Delivered by Revs. Melton and Simpson Artistic PrOgram-Fine Mu- sic-AGeneral interesting and
 Intellectual Occasion.
Special Dispatch to The Age-Herald.

Special Dispatch to The Age-Herald.
 Tuscaloosa, May 2S-The Tuscaloosa Fe- male college commencement exercises were opened Saturday night at the academy of music by concert given by the primary and academic departments. The pro- gramme was very artistically and beauti- fully executed. The exercises showed signs of much hard work and displayed an un- usual amount of talent on the part of the teachers of these departments, the Misses Cary and Eloise Hemphill. There was a very large and select audience present.
 The awarding if gold medals for schol- arship, attendance and department by Dr. B. F. Meek was interesting and was great ly enjoyed by the audience The medal was awarded to little Miss Julia Searcy, of the primary department, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. J. T. Searcy, of this city, her average in attendance and department being the highest.
 The awarding of Bible and spelling prizes was conducted by Rev. John D. Simpson, presiding elder of the Methodist church of this district, and a former president Of this college. He gave a very interesting talk and some sound and good advice to lttle Miss Eddie May Hester of the pri- mary department. daughter of Dr. and Mrs. w. M. Hester, of this city. The prize, a beautiful and interesting book of "Elsies Holidays"
 The other prize a handsome, morocco bound New Testament was awarded to lit tie Miss Winnefred Aston for repeating all the verses of the Bible she had learned during the year. A chorus by the primary and academic departments closed the ex= ercises of the evening.
 Sunday morning at II o'clock the annual commencement sermon of the college was preached in the Methodist church by Rev. Dr. I. Q. Melton of the North Alabama conference. The services were made very interesting by the sermon and the brilliant musical programme rendered by the Metho- dist choir, assisted by the musical faculty and pupils of the college.
 The musical programme was an unusually brilliant one, perfectly rendered. Miss Margaret Fitzpatrick was at the organ and played the accompaniment with the skill and sweetness as only this talented mu- sician can. Miss Herbert's rendition of Peases' Remember Thy Creator,' was in the best style of any of her previous ap- pearances, bringing into full play the full range and tenderness of her wonderfully sweet voice. The rendition of the Lost Chord" was perfect. and the entire pro- gramme was credit to the talent and taste of the presiding vocal teacher, Miss Anna B. Herbert.
 Dr. Melton's text was the eighth verse of the 14th chapter of St. Mark, "She Hath Done What She Could" The sermon was beautifully comparisoned to the occasion of a gathering of so many of the sweetest flowers of the city and state, gem of oratory, containing splendid advice melting the young ladies of the college to a deeper insight into nature and a nobler ambition for a pure, Christian life of much useful ness by doing what she could. Dr. Melton took a progressive and up-to-date view that young women should not only learn to serve as ornaments to society, but should also capacitate themselves to meet the battles of life successfully. His sermon was received with utmost attention, and its praises were very general
 The baccalaureate sermon was delivered by Rev. John D. Simpson, ex-presdent be- fore the graduating class. Dr Simpsons sermon was one of the most interesting ever heard on a like occasion. He was eloquent and his delivery was free and easy. His pronunciation was clear and dis tinct, and the sermon was full of good advice and was received with the strict est attention.