Smyrna times., 1900-06-27
GRADUATES RECEIVE REWARD.
CLASS OF SIX GRADUATE FROM THE
SMYRNA HIGH SCHOOL.
Rev. Henry Thomas Delivers BaccaIaureate
Sermon; ex-Principal LeFevre, Annual
Address Exercises OF the Week.

Address-ExerciseS of the Week.
Commencement 19OOof the Smyrna
High School opened Sunday morning
with typical commencement weather.
hot, close and Sultry. Old Sol has
made his presence felt and to a more
or less degree interfered with the large
attendances which would otherwise
have gathered at the Opera House.
Despite this fact the exercises were
greeted with interest, and the program
each night was enjoyed by large class
of people. An unfortunate circum.
stance in connection with the week of
commencement exercises, was that
Principal F. r. Place could not be
here to conduct the exercises, and to
deliver the diplomas to the class that
graduated under his instruction. Prin-
cipal Place notified the School Board
on Saturday that the critical illness of
his mother would necessitate his leav-
ing at once. He left Saturday after
noon, but before he went, arrange
ments were made for Rev. Charles A.
Hill to take charge of the exercises.
Baccalaureate Sermon.
The first feature of the program was
the Baccalaureate Sermon, and when
the hour had arrived Sunday morning,
st. Peters Church was filled nearly to
its capacity. The class occupied seats
in the front of the church as follows
Miss Phida Janney, Miss Edna Earle
Ewell, Miss Helen Parrot Start, Miss
Minnie Russell McConaughy, Miss
Flora August Hollet, Mr.. J. Ofley
Winford. The sermon was delivered
by the Rev. Henry Thomas, rector of
st. Peters, and he took his text from
Matthew, the 18th chapter and the 18th
verse: "How much is a man better
than a Sheep" The thought conveyed
was to show the mechanism and struc-
ture of man; his superiority over the
animal and the destiny which God has
placed him here to fulfill. In the
course of his scholarly sermon, he
pointed out the exalted position man
occupies in the world; his superiority
over the animal in his divine makeup,
his superiority in mental capacity, his
superiority in his moral nature, and
his superiority in his spiritual nature
The subject was one in which he could
bring out the achievements of man in
the progress of the world, and it served
beautiful object lesson for the grad
yates who had their lives before
them.
Ex.PrncipaI LeFevre's Address.
BY Monday evening the weather had
increased much in intensity, and be-
tween the torrid heat and the pesky
mosquito, those who gathered to heal
the lecture, had an uncomfortable
time However, the house was more
than half filled. w. P. Garratt opened
with piano selection and Rev. Charles
A. Hill presided and introduced the
former principal of our schools. Ex
Principal Charles Howell LeFevre
was greeted with a round of ap
plause. Friends, old students and tn,
pupils of the Smyrna Public Schools
gave him a cordial greeting back t,
his Smyrna home, and it was severa
minutes before the ovation subsideC
and he was allowed to speak. Prof
LeFevre took for his subject: "Powel
and it's Mission, and applied it to tn
acquisition of knowledge and to tn,
use it should be put in the world. H,
gave scholastic treatise of the subject
and closed with some happy thoughts
to the graduating class and the pupil
of the Smyrna High School.
Class Day Exercises.
An enjoyable occasion incident t.
the Commencement Week exercise
can always be found in the Glass Da.
Exercises. This year the Opera Hous
was fairly we'll filed with young peo
pie, who gathered there to hear tn
past and present history and the fat
of the individual members of the class
The Opera House stage had received
few simple decorations in field daise
and asparagus branches, and festoone,
above were the class colors. Mis-
Edna Ewell was president of the clas
of 1900, and it fell to her happy lot t.
conduct the exercises. Mr.. J. Offle
Winford was the orator of the oc
casion. His was followed by duet
by Misses Phida Janney and Mimi
McConaughy. Miss Helen P. Start wa
the historian; Miss Flora Hollet
prophesied the future of the clas
members, and when Miss Edna Ewel
had given a piano solo, Miss McCon
aughy brought forth considerabl
laughter in her presentation of gifts,
'take off" on the individual members
j. Offiey Winford played piano solo
Another feature of the program wa
the passing Of the mantel Of the clas