Our Commencement on Tuesday evening in Central Church was an indication both of the excellence and efficiency of the instruction afforded by the University, and the strong hold which the school has gained in the public regard and appreciation. The large auditorium was crowded. A fair estimate of the audience would place it at 800, and they remained with delighted attention from 8 o’clock to 11 o’clock. Four young men and one young woman graduated from the Classical Department, and two young men from the Higher English Department. Their orations were well and carefully written, showing mature thought and manly convictions. It was certainly suggestive of the possibilities of the race to see the manly bearing of these young people, and to hear them treat with real ability and eloquence such themes as “The first Century of the Republic,” “The Survival of the Fittest,” “Pride of Race” and “Head Workers and Hand Workers.” To those who have a chronic habit of detracting from the abilities of the negro we say, “_beat them if you can_.” It was a delightful feature of Commencement that the son of our beloved dean took his diploma in the Higher English Department, and delivered an oration on “The Future Fields of Conquest in Science,” which did credit to his heart and his head. We departed from our usual custom in conferring upon two of our graduates the degree of Bachelor of Science. It was the judgment of the Faculty and our Board of Trustees that this should be done. The young men have devoted several years to classical and scientific study in the University; their scholarship has averaged 9¼ on a scale of 10, and they have pursued such special studies as the Faculty have assigned them. At the close of the regular examination a special examination was appointed for them before a committee of the Board of Trustees, in whose presence they also read a scientific thesis, the one on “Applied Electricity” and the other on “The Copernican System.” Thus closes another school year, and we are able to say as never before: “Hope is in the ascendant” for our beloved University. Service this year has been a joy, and Almighty God has crowned that service with his blessing. To Him be all the glory. TOUGALOO UNIVERSITY. The assembling of the Sunday-school and the study of the lesson entitled Paul and Barnabas in Cyprus, with “Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them,” as its key-note, seemed a most fitting introduction to the Commencement exercises upon the close of which a large number of the students were to go forth to their summer’s work. Following the Sunday-school exercises, and in keeping with the custom of previous anniversaries of this institution, a Sabbath-school convention was held, in which was discussed a variety of topics calculated to stimulate and aid the students in their Sunday-school work. These exercises were enjoyed by a large number of people, many of whom were from a distance.