The Weekly Tallahasseean., 1901-06-06
Commencement Exercises for
19OO-1 j
The SUCCESSFUL YEAR
Ever Experienced by this Institution
The Deba es.

The West Florida Seminary
(Seminary West of the Suwannee)
commencement exercises this year
mark the close of the most success
full term in the history of this in
stitution, and the exercises have been
correspondngly interesting and in
structive. We regret, therefore, that
they came at a time when. it was
impossible for US to do them Justice
in these columns, crowded with wind
ing up he work for the Legislature
as We a;e.
The exercises we're opened Sun
day night at the Methodist Church,
by the preaching of the Baecalaur-
cate sermon by the pastor, Rev. W.
E. H. Mabry. His text was: "He
was a faithful man, and feared God
above many" The subject, as the
text indicates, was faithfulness to
God, to ourselves, and to all our du-
les in life.
Monday night at Munro's opera
house, the Platonic Debating So
ciety contested for the Winthrop
medal. The question debated was !:
Resolved, That Cuba should be an
nexed to the United States" Messrs.
Guy Louis Winthrop and Robert
Bryan McCOrd were the speakers for
the affirmative, and Messrs. Francs
Flagg Coles and William Harry Pro-
vence for the negative. Their argu-
ments we're forceful, logical and
showed careful training.The Judges
Hon. H. E. Day, Rev. W. E. Fl. Ma
bry and Hon. W. N Sheats, awarded
the prize, a handsome gold medal,
to Mr.. McCord. Mr.. Francis Bay
ard Winthrop, ex-president of the So
ciety, presided, and excellent selec-
tions of music were rendered By Miss
Randolph and Miss Provence and a
vocal solo by Miss Buchholz was
fitting termination of this part bf the
exercises. Then came the annua al ad-
dress by Rev. W. H. Carter, rector of
st. Johns Church, and the aWar,I-
ing of the medal. During the en-
tire evening the weather had been
dreadfully bad, but notwith4and
ing this, a large audience asselhb
and gave the partici pants in THO con-
test close attention all through.I
Tuesday night the AnaxagSrean
Society debate took place at the Spera
house. The condition Of the weather
had improved to a marked degree,
and likewise the size of the audience.
Judge W. B. Lamar, who is an hon
Orary member Of the society, y,ipre-
sided during the evening, and the
same judges who acted Monday |
night were again on the stage. The
question debated was: Resolved,
That the United States should have
no part in the partition of Chi na."
Messrs. William Bloxham Crawford
and Julian Howard represented the
affirmative, an Messrs., Asa B |
Clark and William Munro Mcintosh |
the negative. The same reful
training which manifested itself: the
night before was again everywhere
evident, the young men all acquitting
themselves in a most creditable man
ner. Mr.. Clark was the winner Of
the medal. At the conclusion of the
arguments Mr.. CASTOR Day de-
lighted the audience with an instru-
mental solo. !
Wednesday morning at 10 o'clock
the undergraduate exercises we're
held. They were opened with prayer
by Rev. S. NJ Provence, followed bv
Mr.. B. A. Meginniss with a mastery
discussion Of the Dreyfus case. Miss
Alice Apthorp showed the birth,
growth and advancement of Ameri-
can literature, and delighted the
audience with our history in that re-
speet as well as her ability to handle
the subject. Napoleon Bonaparte
was Mr.. Francis B. Winthrop's sub
lect, and the manner with wich he
held the attention Of the audience on
an overwOrked theme demonstrated
great talent on his part. Miss Hen
retta Ames handled "Wonders of I
Nature" in a very dignifed and
pleasing manner. Mr.. CASTOR Day
terseiy reviewed English literature, {
SS!ketching 5! its evolution from the ear ]
nest Il to the present day in mannfr I
mat convinced his hearers of his
knowledge of the subject, as WEI
as q ms ability as a speaker. Mr.. p. t
" Johnson dwelt upon GA Lo4t Il