The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1899-05-03
CLOSING SCENES.
Commencement Exercises of Fergu.
son Academy.


son Academy.
Commencement exercises OF Ferguson Acad.
emy began on Friday night, April 2l. with
concert by the Primary Department under
the instruction OF Miss Estelle G. Bomar, OF
Spartanburg. On this particular occasion
tory of the school on any primary exercises.
The pupils reflected credit on themselves and
teacher alike.
On Sunday morning, April %, at 1l:9O, the
annual sermon was preached by the princi-
pal, Rev. Thos. b: Amos. A. NJ, to large and
appreciative audience. Rev. Amos seemed
at bis best and, OF course, preached an excel.
lent sermon.
On Thursday evening, April q, the annual
contestants were: Jos. G. Long, Green wood |;
Christopher c. Munday, Green wood ; Jos. 81.
Donaldson, Abbeville; Alphonso P. Dawkins,
Carlisle; Leonard Jones, Mountville: Chas.
S. Trapp, Austin. The oratory on this even
Ing eclipsed that OF any former similar occa-
sion, and justly so, for the prize contested for
was the most substantial ever offered In this
ins1itution Instead Of the usual gold medal, n,
guson Academy. including board, tuition
books. and neat little surplus for the cloth.
Ing OF the victor. Miss Mamie l. CAN'T, Prof.
the judges Prot. H. H. Lomax reported for
the judges In favor Of Leonard Jones on Fri
day evening, mentioning favorably Jos. H.
Donaldson and Charles s. Trapp.
day evening, April 2stb, at $50 o'clock. The
class graduating this term was composed Of
two young ladies aud four young men. They
came In the following order: Sol. S. Morton.
form. .Aboeville; Henry Can't. Abbevllle /;
Miss Jessie Gaines, Due West; Homer Y.
Kennedy, Due West Miss Henrietta L: Muir
ray. Tobago, w. l.; Thos. A. Jones, Mount
Vile, first honor. The speeches and essays
we're creditable. The graduates acquitted
themselves satisfactorily to the faculty and
friends.
After the presentation of the certificates by
the principal, Prof. H. II. Cardwell Jr., B. s.,
delivered the valedictory address to the class
In behalf Of the faculty with eloquence and
pathos. Prot. Caldwell received many COM
plments from all sides.
on this occasion Dr. ID. ]. Sanders, president
of Biddle University, Charlotte, N. c., and
other distinguished visitors. D. Sanders en-
instructive address. as did also Revs Leak. of
Calhoun Falls, c. r. Goodwin. Green wood,
and our own Rev. F. L. Brodie, Due West.
No commencement at Ferguson, II seems,
would be complete without the presence of
say" but whose wit, wisdom and hunlor al
ways bring down the house In rounded en-
cores.
Ferguson Is an institution for colored
youths, maintained by the Northern Presby-
terian Board of Home Missions for Freedmen.
Rev. Thos. b. Amos, as principal, Is doing
grand work for Christian education among
the colored people OF the Piedmont section.
He has as his assistants Mrs. Ida B. Amos,
lady principal, philadelphia Miss Estelle e.
Bomar. Spartanburg; Mrs. Eliza A. PIndle,
Columbia; Miss Mary Richie, matron, Abbe-
Vile; Prof. II. H. Caldwell, Jr., B. S., Char
lotte. N. G.; Jos. w. Lee, Abbeville.
Ferguson Academy is destined to be the
Mecca for the youths of African descent OF
the sand hills and Piedmont section of Sout b
Carolina. She will be TO them what Erskine
Wofford, Furman and Converse are to the
white youths.
The above exercises took place In the Sec
ond Presbyterian church. Jos. w. Lee.