We have always listened with pleasure and profit, each recurring year, to our annual address, by whomsoever delivered, and faithful and eminent men have thus favored us; but never have we experienced greater delight in this part of our service than this year while being addressed by that grand, large-hearted, eloquent divine and stanch friend of the colored people from _ante-bellum_ days, the Rev. Dr. C. K. Marshall, of Vicksburg. He seemed not at all to address himself to colored people as such, but from a glowing heart to pour forth universal truth for universal humanity, in the most genial spirit, counseling our young people as young people anywhere might rejoice to be counseled on the threshold of active life. After so prolonged a “feast of reason,” the mortal bodies demanded refreshment, and the afternoon was far spent when all had been served. Then good-byes were spoken, students and visitors departed, and a sort of lonesome quiet settled over Tougaloo; but the chosen motto of our graduating class looks down in letters of unfading green from over the rostrum, “Life is earnest,” and carries our prayerful thoughts out to the army of young workers who, in their several homes, schools and places of labor, we trust are earnestly endeavoring to walk in the footsteps of our blessed Master and “overcome evil with good.” J. K. * * * * * GREGORY INSTITUTE, WILMINGTON, N.C. Our closing exercises this year partook more of the nature of a Commencement than heretofore. This is the second year only that our school has turned out graduates from any of the higher courses. From the class of ten comprising the elementary normal class, seven—five young men and two young women—were graduated. One other young man, who failed to pass on account of being absent teaching during a part of the year, and who is working hard, determined to make up the lost studies before leaving the city, will probably succeed and be granted his certificate during the summer. The exercises were held on Thursday evening, May 27th, in the church instead of in the hall, in order to get a larger room. It was needed, the largest number being present that were ever assembled within the walls of this beautiful building. The exercises consisted principally of orations and essays by the members of the graduating class, interspersed with singing, all of which were rendered in a highly creditable manner. In addition to these were recitations by the school of the 23d Psalm, a Scripture catechism learned during the year, and a missionary colloquy beautifully rendered by girls from the different classes, representing, by their dress, many of the heathen nations.