The essays and orations presented covered the following range of topics: “The Teachers;” “Genius and Success;” “Whitewash;” “Why a Young Man Should Seek a Thorough Education;” “The Material Advancement of the South;” “The Cause of Temperance;” “As You Would Have It;” “The Study of Physical Science;” “The American Missionary Association;” “Home.” The Principal of the Normal Department then presented certificates to the graduating class, setting forth in a few well chosen and emphatic words the nature of these certificates, of the step the graduates had taken, and that there was more beyond. Col. J. L. Power, editor of the _Clarion_, a man of wide influence in the State and a staunch friend of the school, spoke on behalf of the State Board of Visitors, of which he is the Secretary. He paid a glowing tribute to the work of the school and of the American Missionary Association. In referring to the essay on “Whitewash,” he said there was no _whitewashing_ done at Tougaloo—that it was the _genuine_ stuff. Referring to the oration on the American Missionary Association, he said he had known considerable about the Association and its work, but that he was amazed at the magnitude of its work. In closing his speech, which also was without “whitewash,” he said it would be the pleasure of the Board of Visitors at the meeting of the next Legislature to ask for at least as large an appropriation as the institution had received for the last two years. Rev. Dr. C. B. Galloway, Editor of the _Southern Christian Advocate_, was then introduced. He commended the work of the institution and expressed his satisfaction with the original, direct, practical, common-sense way in which the essays and orations had been written and presented. He was impressed with the absence of grandiloquent gush, so characteristic of the youthful mind on Commencement platforms. After the Commencement dinner the graduating class held their “Ivy Exercise,” which consisted of a class song, class poem, planting the ivy and an address by a member of the Faculty. In the evening R. W. Jackson, class of ’80, delivered the address before the Alumni, on “Decision.” It was well written and full of interest. At its close Mr. G. W. Jackson of Whiteside, Tenn., a former student, and Miss Rosa McCutcheon of Chattanooga, Tenn., class of ’82, stepped upon the _Commencement_ platform and were united in Christian marriage, constituting by this sacred tie a _Christian family_. Thus closed a most successful year of faithful work. THEOLOGICAL DEPARTMENT, HOWARD UNIVERSITY. REV. J. G. CRAIGHEAD, D.D.