Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1918-06-04
Closing Exercises At St. HiIda's Hall.

The meeting OF the Oouncu OF west
Va, and the commencement exercises
of st. Hilda's Hall took place the same
week, thus giving the Clergy of the
State an opportunity to see something
of this new Diocesan school. The
growth of the school has been very
gratifying to those interested in it and
its future, despite war times, seems
bright. The Rev. R. E. l.. Strider
preached the Baccalaureate sermon on
May &c, developing with great force
and directness his theme that God is
the directing power in our lives, and it
is only through giving them to him
that success in whatever sense you
take it may be attained.
The graduates held their Glass Day
exercises on Thursday afternoon on
the lawn. Here the intimate words of
fun and farewell were said to school
mates and faculty and an English ivy
planted for remembrance.
In the exhibition of the Art Stu
dents work, which was open through
out the week, one noticed especially
the Manual Arts department, the
skill with which color and design had
been adapted to material deserves
mention. On Thursday afternoon an
informal reception to the Council was
followed by the recital of the vocal
graduate, Miss jamie Bushong. The
varied programme which from old
Irish melodies through Chaminade to
Hayden and Beethoven, and the deli
cate shading of such selections as
with Verdure Clad" showed much ar
tistic skill and fine training Miss
Margaret Hester gave several inter-
esting piano compositions and the
mony and control Gounod's "By Baby
Ions Wave"
AT nine the same evening the school
gave Endymion, Greek play which
had been planned as an open air per-
Torrance. AS the weather prevented
the open air setting, Cadmon Hall was
made into spring time forest and the
Greek maidens, youths and dryads
danced and sang with an unselfish
consciousness that made amends fol
lack of space and special lighting
The theme Of the play-the power OF
love through self sacrifice was devel-
oped quite charming lines and situa-
tons presenting contrast to the
rather over strained note of the day.
On Friday morning at 8 o'clock, the
students marched into Cadmon Hal
singing Onward Christian Soldiers,
pledged the American flag and sang
I"America." Bishop Gravatt, after few
appropriate prayers, addressed the
graduates on the meaning of the stu
dent to the school, emphasizing the fac
that their lives are living epistles. The
Bishop then delivered the diplomas
and left for a meeting of the Council
Miss Duval presented the distinction.
to students who had reached 80 pei
cent in any subject and the Saral
cambridge Cooke Scholarship to the
girl making the highest average in al
her studies This honor went to Miss
Serena cambridge Pendleton, a charter
member of st. Hilda's. The schoo
then marched into "Whitby" where tht
"Linll" which was placed in the chair
on Founders Day." was closed, thu!
symbolizing the closing Of the schoo
year and the link with the past. A
circle was then formed, toasts drunk
and the graduates presented to Miss
Duval a-banner to hang on the walls
of Whitby in memory of the class Of
'18. The services were closed with the
benediction from the rector of the
school, Mr.. J. S. Alfriend.