FISK UNIVERSITY.
Early delays——Increasing favor——The five closing days.
MISS ANNA M. CAHILL, NASHVILLE.
Looking back over the past nine months, it seems a long time since the dark days of last September, when the school opened under the shadow of the pestilence, and we saw one of our own students, just returned from his summer work, stricken down by the fever. The firmness with which the few students then in the school stood bravely by their work gave some of us a confidence in their fortitude and faithfulness which, perhaps, we could not have gained without some such time of trial to develop it. As the autumn advanced the school began to fill up, though some who came to us after Christmas from the lower part of Mississippi assured us they came “as soon as it was safe.” Naturally the decrease in attendance resulting from the epidemic, was mostly seen in the number of new students. Those who have fairly started in the work of getting an education cannot be detained except by absolute necessity; others, who were thinking for the first time of going away to school, were easily led to wait another year.
Notwithstanding the delay in getting the school started, one of the features of the year has been the steadiness in attendance, especially in the advanced classes. As the result of this regularity in attendance, the school work has gone on with rather unusual satisfaction. There has been little to interrupt the quiet spirit of study that has so much to do with the amount accomplished; a friendly spirit of rivalry between different classes and among members of the same class makes it from year to year more of a disgrace to fall below the standard of scholarship.
The school has been growing in favor with the Southern people. The presence of a large part of the State Legislature at our public rhetorical exercise, in March, and the evident pleasure with which they listened to the young people, indicated an increasing interest in our success. We find that the aims of the University commend themselves to the best men of the State.
The anxious question as to how these aims can be carried out, and the enlarging necessities of the work met, has been partly answered by the generous offers to the University of $60,000 and $20,000, which have made this year memorable. It is safe to say that no visit has ever been made to our school that left in the hearts of teachers and students more hope and encouragement and thankfulness than that of the gentlemen who, after inspecting the work of the school for a few days in the Spring, gave, at the close of their visit, the intimation of the former gift.
The year has had a religious history peculiar to itself. Without any thing that could be called revival interest, there has been a constant turning of the unconverted, and a quiet earnestness on the part of Christians, that leave us with the feeling that the Spirit of God has indeed been with us. Beginning with January, there have been several additions to the college church at every communion season, and fully as many have connected themselves with other churches.
As the closing exercises of a school must partake of the general character of the year, our commencement week was one of much interest. Our delightful Tennessee climate scarcely affords a more beautiful week than that in which the commencement occurred.
Beginning with Sunday, five days are occupied with the different exercises. Examinations continue through Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Monday evening is given to the exhibition of the class finishing the common school normal course; Tuesday evening is devoted to the Union Literary Society; and on Wednesday evening the class finishing the preparatory course deliver their orations and are admitted to college. Thus there is a growing interest and importance through the entire week, ending with the college commencement on Thursday.
Dr. Roy reached us on Saturday, and stayed during the closing week, delivering, on Sunday evening, an excellent address before the Missionary Society. The baccalaureate sermon was for the first time preached by President Cravath, who for several years has been necessarily absent at the close of school. The shadow of death came once more into our household. One who five years ago came to the University to take the place of matron, but who for the past year has been suffering the weariness and pain of a long illness, was, on the morning of Commencement Sunday, called away from earth. The simple funeral services mingled strangely with the closing exercises, but the effect seemed to be only to give a deeper shade of earnestness to all our work, as one who had loved the work to the last passed from its labor into rest.
Among the visitors who attended the examinations were the superintendent and teachers of the white schools in the neighboring city of Edgefield, who expressed great pleasure at what they heard.
The evening exhibitions are always largely attended, the audience frequently changing every evening. Quite a large number of white people can be seen at almost any of our public exercises. The students of Vanderbilt University take a friendly interest, or perhaps curiosity, in hearing their darker brothers. The exercises of the Union Literary Society on Tuesday evening especially attracted their attention. Five of the students received certificates, and two of those admitted to college were absent teaching in Mississippi. The class entering college, ten in number, is the largest ever admitted to our college course, and we hope President Cravath’s admonition to have their number complete when they are ready for their degrees will be carried out.
Of Commencement day the following extracts from the Nashville American, of May 23d, will give the best account:
“The chapel of Jubilee Hall was beautifully decorated. Around the six iron pillars were twined ropes of cedar, while over the shield, upon which are the memorable words of Albert Miller, now a missionary in Africa, ‘Her sons and her daughters are ever on the altar,’ hung festoons of cedar. Draped along the entire length of the stage, and hanging in graceful folds, were the Dutch and American flags, while the British Union Jack stretched along the side of the room. Above the platform, in the centre, hung the beautiful portrait of Dr. David Livingstone. On either side were the portraits of the Earl of Shaftesbury and William Wilberforce. Between the portraits, in large letters of cedar, were the words, ‘Class of ’79.’ An hour before the time the highways were filled with the friends of the Institution on their way to Jubilee Hall.” After giving the opening programme, the account continues: “Preston R. Burrus, of Nashville, spoke of ‘The Power of Wealth’ with earnestness and good gesticulation, but a little too fast for the best expression. He was greeted with deserved applause as he closed. Miss J. H. K. Hobbs, of Nashville, read a well prepared essay on ‘What shall we Read?’ She read in a loud, clear voice. The excellence of the matter and the manner of reading enlisted the close attention of the audience. Austin R. Merry, of Nashville, spoke of ‘Ideals and their Influence.’ Mr. Merry’s production was an elegant presentation of the difficult subject he had taken, and evinced the possession of a pen of no ordinary ability. The delivery was as vigorous and graceful as the production was well written.
“Miss Lulu F. Parker, of Memphis, presented an essay on ‘Genius and Labor,’ but owing to sickness was unable to read it. It was read by Miss Laura S. Cary, one of the graduates of the Institution, and at present assistant teacher of Greek.
“The commencement address was delivered by Rev. J. E. Roy, D. D. Dr. Roy announced as his subject, ‘The Incompleteness of Individual Talent.’ While there is adjustment of the powers of the mind——intellect, sensibility and will——these are not always equally developed. Unity in variety is the law of Nature. As no two faces are alike, so no two minds are alike. One mind supplements another; one man fails where another succeeds; the first man succeeds in some other calling. A Western farmer failed as a farmer and storekeeper, but became the greatest captain of his age. All gifts are not combined in one man. Great inventions are the growth of years and the contributions of many minds. Theology is a growth developed through the centuries and by many intellects. It is still open to improvement. This diversity of talent provides for a division of labor. All occupations are mutually helpful, each being dependent on the other. Men and women have each their sphere, or rather hemisphere; the family is the unit of society. The mail goes to the polls and deposits ‘their’ votes——the votes of the family. Each man has his own talent. This he should cultivate. ‘Act well your part, there all the honor lies.’ The address abounded in striking passages and terse statements.”
“President Cravath then, in behalf of the Trustees of the University, addressed the graduating class in fitly chosen words, and gave them their diplomas.
“At two o’clock the alumni dinner, one of the institutions of Commencement week, came off. About sixty guests, including former graduates, members of the college classes, and various ministers of city churches, sat down with students and teachers to an ample collation. After dinner an hour was occupied in listening to speeches, which abounded in wit, humor and pathos.
“Thus closed a series of exercises which are regarded by all those who witnessed them as unusually interesting and successful.”