The American Missionary — Volume 32, No. 07, July 1878Various
Religion
The American Missionary — Volume 32, No. 07, July 1878
Various
Congregational churches -- Missions -- Periodicals; Home missions -- Periodicals
On Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, commencing at 9.30 o’clock,
examinations were held in all the departments of the University,
and were, on the whole, unusually satisfactory.
On Monday evening the Common-school Normal Exhibition took
place, at which time those who have completed that course were
granted certificates of ability to teach in the common-schools.
The exercises of the evening consisted of essays and original
declamations.
On Tuesday evening the Union Literary Society held its ninth
anniversary. The exercises were unusually interesting, especially
the debate, “Should the colored people of the United States migrate
to Africa,” which was well sustained on both sides, by Mr. J. C.
McAdams, of Tennessee, in the affirmative, and Mr. R. H. Harbert,
of Texas, in the negative.
On Wednesday evening the Senior Preparatory and Higher Normal
Exhibition took place. Six young men were admitted to college, and
three young ladies secured the Higher Normal diploma.
On Thursday, College Commencement day, the interest of the week
culminated. At an early hour the chapel of the University began to
be filled, until all available space was occupied. The audience
room was tastefully and elaborately decorated. At the back of
the platform, extending its entire length, was the national
flag, gracefully folded and festooned. Above, on one side, was
the portrait of the hero, Livingstone; on the other, that of the
statesman and philanthropist, Wilberforce; from the centre, the
generous, open countenance of General Clinton B. Fisk smiled
benignly down; above all, in evergreen, were the words, “CLASS OF
’78.”
At eleven o’clock the exercises commenced with the chorus, “Hail,
Festal Day,” well rendered by the University choir, after which
prayer was offered by Rev. Mr. Baird, of Ohio. Mr. H. S. Merry,
one of the two graduates, then delivered his oration, “Beyond
the Alps our Italy.” The young man acquitted himself with honor.
The manuscript of Mr. Miller, the other graduate—now absent as
Missionary to Africa—not having arrived as expected, extracts from
letters recently received by various members of the University
were read instead. These letters breathed forth a spirit of zeal
and devotion, and a courage unabated, even in the presence of the
obstacles and difficulties with which he must daily combat, thus
showing that his was not a mere romantic sentiment, but a deep,
controlling principle.
After a well-rendered instrumental solo, Mr. John H. Burrus,
candidate for the Master of Arts degree, read a carefully prepared
thesis on “American Citizenship.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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