Thursday was Commencement and the fullest day of the week. First came the graduating exercises; the class numbered seven, three young women and four young men from the Normal Department. Next came the alumni address and essay, after which the treasurer gave a brief statement of the resources of the college. The increase in attendance as compared with last year was more than eighty.
At the alumni dinner, in Foster Hall parlor, were present the alumni, the Faculty, and friends from the North, South, East and West, to the number of seventy in all. After supplying our physical wants, next in order came the toasts and responses. Dr. Andrews was master of ceremonies and in response to the toast “Our Theological Work,” Rev. Spencer Snell, of Birmingham, spoke of the great need of an educated ministry among the colored people, and told an amusing story of the “call to preach” of a colored man. He was at work in the field, but soon got tired, and leaning on his hoe, he said to himself, “Dis hoe am so heaby, an’ dis row am so long, an’ dis sun am so hot, I tink dis nigger am called to preach de gospel.”
Next Paul Bledsoe of Laredo, Texas, spoke for “Our Normal Work,” James Brown for “Our Students,” and Mr. Stephen Childs, of Marion, for the “Parents of our Students.” Rev. J. Silsby, of Tenn., who was personally acquainted with the early history of the college, responded to the toast “The Founding of Talladega College.” “Our Churches” was responded to by Rev. C. B. Curtis, of Selma, and J. R. Sims, of Shelby Iron Works. Dr. Andrews closed with a few words for the college.
At night, W. P. Hamilton and J. A. Jones, who were graduated from the theological department in 1887, were ordained to the work of the gospel ministry. This closed the exercises of the week. During the week, many kind words were spoken for the college by friends from different parts of the State, showing that the best colored people in the State appreciate the thorough work done here.
During the week President DeForest was very much missed, but we all hoped that what was our loss would be his gain in health and strength from his trip across the ocean.
TRINITY SCHOOL, ATHENS, ALA.
Another year of pleasant work has just closed. Teachers and students, though looking rather worn and weary, are in the happiest mood, for all feel it has been a good year. The latter part of this school year has been specially characterized by very earnest study, and an ambition to reach one hundred per cent. in every thing. One student has done this with a single exception, and says that he “shall surely make that up during vacation.” All have attained a higher standing than usual, and our final examinations were excellent.
Our sending a class to Fisk University this year, with favorable reports of them coming from month to month, has proved a constant inspiration to our classes here, and we hope as the years go by, to send many more in the same direction.