Meriwether-Morgan-Jefferson County GaArchives News.....Mercer University and Its Commencement. July 11 1872
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Linda Blum-Barton http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00003.html#0000645 November 3, 2004, 1:06 am

The Christian Index.
The annual Commencement exercises of this Institution have been unusually 
interesting this year.  The writer has been as much impressed by its already 
great success and its brilliant prospects, as by the varied entertainment with 
which the Board of Trustees and the Faculty have chosen to inaugurate the new 
era in its history. 
 After a long and resolute opposition, Mercer University was removed from its 
former location, and established, one year ago, in the beautiful city of 
Macon.  The liberality of the city has bestowed upon it a large and commodious 
building site, and the means for erecting College buildings inferior to none in 
the South.  
Hitherto, the exercises of the University have been conducted in buildings by 
no means commensurate with the needs of the case.  Hence, the Building 
Committee of the Board of Trustees are pressing on the work entrusted to them, 
and it is hoped that by this time next year the elegant plan of the University 
buildings, now on paper, will have been carried out in stone and brick, to 
endure for many a generation.
With a view of bringing the educational advantages of the University within the 
reach of as large a number as possible, the Board of Trustees are putting up a 
building for the accommodation of such students as may choose to adopt the mess 
system, which involves a great saving of board.  This building will be ready by 
the opening of the next term, on the first Wednesday in October next.
A Commercial School will be organized in connection with the University, where 
practical instruction will be given in ever department of business.
There will be established, also, a Preparatory School, under the supervision 
of, and for the present taught by, the Faculty, in the University buildings.  
This will supply a need scarcely to be appreciated by one unacquainted with the 
difference between the assumed and the actual scholarship of the greater number 
who present themselves for admission into the collegiate classes.
In addition to this, arrangements will be made at no distant day for the 
establishment of Schools of Law and Medicine, presided over by the highest 
talent the South affords.  The above statements are not mere rumors, but are 
the substance of an official proclamation from the rostrum by the President of 
the Board of Trustees.
COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES.
On Sunday, the 30th ult., at 10 1/2 A.M., the Baccalaureate Sermon was preached 
by the Rev. D. Shaver, D. D., of Atlanta, from Acts xiii: 36.  The Mulberry 
street Methodist church, being the largest in the city, was courteously placed 
at the disposal of the University authorities, and was filled to overflowing.  
The writer was unfortunate in not hearing the sermon, but has learned from 
those competent to judge, that it was in every way worthy of the reputation of 
its learned and gifted author.  It is understood that the Faculty have 
requested a copy of the sermon for publication, and should the request be 
complied with, the writer will have the less reason to regret this meagre 
notice.
The only proceeding on Monday connected with the Commencement was the regular 
meeting of the Board of Trustees, and that they met to some purpose is 
sufficiently shown by the new and important features introduced into the 
University.
The usual Sophomore Prize Declamation, the most attractive of all the 
Commencement proceedings to a large portion of the visitors, at least, was 
omitted on this occasion.
The University being without buildings of its own, and the rooms temporarily 
occupied being wholly unfit for the purpose, the first public exhibition of the 
College classes in Macon took place in Ralston's Hall, where, at 8 1/2 o'clock 
P.M., on Tuesday, a select, and not withstanding the threatening weather, large 
audience had assembled to greet the first appearance upon any boards of the 
Junior class. After the introductory music by the band in attendance, the 
exercises were opened with prayer by the Rev. Dr. Brantly, Professor of Belles 
Lettres and Modern Languages; after which he introduced Col. Wm. A. Lofton, of 
Macon, the anniversary orator of the Ciceronian and the Phi Delta Societies.  
Having no means of reporting, the writer is unable to give a resume of the 
address, and can only say that it was a most eloquent as well as a sound and 
appropriate effort.  The speech is soon to appear in a widely circulated paper 
of the city, and it is perhaps just as well not to forestall the public 
enjoyment.
The Juniors came next, and, doubtless, inspired by the animated and animating 
appearance of dress circle and parquette, acquitted themselves most creditably; 
and the accurate and graceful delivery of a number of happily - conceived and 
well - worded speeches, argued strongly against the reasonableness of one young 
orator's lament.  The speech referred to bore the unique title, "Making Bricks 
without Straw," and complained of the task imposed on the Juniors of  making 
oratorical bricks, as harder than that which was set upon the children of 
Israel.  The orator was Mr. Walter M. Jackson, of Macon, and the speech one of 
the best of the occasion: disfigured somewhat, it must be said, however, by a 
number of local and personal illustrations not altogether befitting the dignity 
of the occasion.  Mr. John P. Williams, of Jones County, in a speech 
entitled "Gas," and full of good humored satire, contrived to hit off very 
happily the vaporing tendencies of the age, and as he entered fully in to the 
spirit of the thing, his composition lost nothing by the delivery.  The speech 
of Mr. Lewis J. Render, of Merriweather county, though somewhat marred by the 
self conscious delivery of the speaker, appealed to the patriotic feelings of 
the audience.  The "Duty of Southern Young Men" was his theme, and by a 
singular coincidence he followed the line of thought pursued by the anniversary 
orator.  He maintained that the civilization of the South was not obsolete; 
that adverse fortune had not shaken our confidence in the teachings of our 
fathers; that we want no new philosophy, no improved religion, no higher 
civilization; that what had made the South great once, can make it great again.
It is to be regretted that an exhibition so worthy of extended notice, should 
be put off with such an imperfect report, but the want of space admits of no 
more than a passing notice.
On Wednesday afternoon, a number of the Alumni met and revived the Association, 
which has lain dormant for several years, and arrangements were made for the 
usual celebration at the next Commencement.  Rev. J. G. Ryals was elected to 
deliver the annual oration, with Rev. N. M. McCall, Jr., as alternate. 
On Wednesday evening, the hall was literally packed with an audience at once 
brilliant and appreciative, and after prayer by Rev. Dr. Shaver, Rev. A. J. 
Battle, D. D., President elect, was introduced by Hon. D. E. Butler, President 
of the Board of Trustees, and delivered the customary Inaugural.  As the 
address has already appeared entire in the Daily Telegraph and Messenger, and 
will no doubt be republished in the Index, it is only necessary to say that it 
was what could only have been expected from the eloquence and learning of the 
distinguished gentleman.  No one, perhaps, whom the Board of Trustees could 
have selected, would have made so favorable a first impression; and with 
wisdom, learning, and graceful manners with address, there could be no more fit 
successor to the honorable and gifted Henry Holcombe Tucker, D. D.  At the 
close of the Inaugural, Hon. D. E. Butler,  in a few felicitous remarks, 
formally installed the President elect, and entrusted to him the seal of the 
University. The two distinguished gentlemen, standing upon the rostrum, 
surrounded by the Board of Trustees, and the Faculty of the University, 
together with a number of no less distinguished visitors, both from the city 
and other parts of the State, formed a scene at once striking and prophetic of 
the future glories of the University.
The orations from the graduating class were introduced with the Latin 
Salutatory, by Thos. F. Stubbs, of Bibb County.  The class though consisting of 
very young men, will lose nothing by comparison with the classes of former 
years.  Prescribed limits forbid separate mention of each speaker.  But the 
quaint speech of Mr. Edward W. Butler, of Morgan County -- "An Old Saw Reset," -
-deserves an extra compliment, both from its own worth and the inimitable 
oratory of the speaker.  In a speech full of humor, he thoroughly refiled the 
saw "Early to bed and early rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise;" and 
showed that although it may have served our fathers, it was altogether too 
ancient for this generation.  The Valedictories were delivered by Bennett A. 
Salter, of Jefferson county, after which the degree of Bachelor of Arts was 
conferred on each of the graduating class:  Thos. F. Stubbs, John Atwell, John 
C. Weaver, Bennet A. Salter, Jos. B. Miller, Edward W. Butler.  The second 
degree in course was conferred on Mr. James A. Carswell and John T. McGinty, 
and the honorary degree of Master of Arts, on Rev. G. A. Lofton, of Memphis, 
Tennessee, and R. J. Larcombe, Esq., of Savannah, Georgia.  Mr. Virgil H. 
Powers and Mr. George Mason, of Macon, were declared to be graduates of the 
Scientific Department.  These ceremonies closed the interesting exercises 
connected with the first Commencement of Mercer University in her new location.
In this age of fine writing, when stilted sentiments and Sophomore rhetoric 
have placed such havoc with good sense and our good old mother-tongue -- when 
even College boys must inflict upon long-suffering audiences their flimsy 
metaphysics and pseudo philosophy; in this age, of all others it is a cause for 
much thankfulness to meet with folks whose ideas are within one's reach and who 
express themselves in honest Anglo-Saxon.  The unpretending and thoroughly 
sensible views of the young men, set forth in a clear and unaffected style, 
show that they have been taught to avoid the very common, but no less heinous 
crimes of abuse of good taste and the King's English.
In conclusion, it is only necessary to say that Mercer University is now 
thoroughly organized, and with a Faculty composed of ripe scholars and veteran 
teachers, is prepared to offer rare facilities for learning in every department 
of literary, scientific and practical education.        Jr.


Additional Comments:
The Christian Index.
The Union of 
South-Western Baptist, of Alabama          The Christian Herald, of 
Tennessee.     
Vol. 51 -- No. 27     Franklin Printing House, Atlanta, Ga., Thursday, July 11, 
1872.    Whole No. 2627.


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