“VIRGINIA. Alexandria—Commencement of the Theological Seminary.—The exercises of commencement week began on Tuesday, June 25tb, with a meeting of the board of trustees. Provision was made for a teacher of reading, who is to give instruction in this important study every session. The board also determined to organize a class for the theological instruction of colored postulants in connection with the Rev. Giles Cooke’s work in Petersburg. They appointed the Rev. Mr. Spencer the teacher, and the Rev. Dr. Gibson to collect the necessary funds for the purpose.
At 11 o’clock on Wednesday the alumni met in the chapel, the Rev. G. A. Smith in the chair, and the Rev. Dr. E. A. Dalrymple, secretary. The attendance was unusually large. After the transaction of routine business the Rev. Dr. Phillips Brooks, a graduate of the class of 1859, read an essay on the subject that had been selected at the meeting of 1877: ‘How to Deal with Popular Scepticism from the Pulpit.’ The essay will be published. After the essay the topic was discussed by other persons present, viz., the Rev. Drs. Minnigerode, Hoff, Peterkin, and Graminer, Bishop Dudley, and the Rev. Mr. Gallagher.
On Thursday, at 10 A. M., essays were read by the following members of the graduating class: C. Braxton Bryan, ‘ Roman Catholics an Alien Element in the United States ‘; J. Harry Ohesley, ‘ Relation of the Pulpit to the Present Social Issues’; George W. Dame, Jr., ‘The Christ of the New Testament’; Arthur P. Gray, ‘Jesuit Missions’; Curtis Grubb, Jr., ‘Catholicity of the Gospel’; Wm. B. Lee, ‘Council of Coustanee’; Frank Page, ‘ Athanasius’; Henry Thomas, ‘ Savonarola, the Martyr of Florence ‘; Byrd T. Turner, ‘Preaching the Gospel’; Josiah W. Ware, Jr., ‘The Fulness of Time’; and S. S. Ware, ‘The Preacher a Theologian.’ After the reading of the essays there was an intermission of ten minutes, at the expiration of which the annual address was delivered by the Rev. Dr. C. Walker, Professor of Systematic Divinity.
At 8 o’clock, after dinner, the bishop of the diocese delivered the diplomas to the graduating class and introduced the Bishop of West Virginia, who addressed the class in an earnest manner.
On Friday morning the annual ordination was held. The sermon was delivered by the Rev. Dr. A. M. Randolph. His text was taken from II. Corinthians iv. 13: ” We, having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak.” The sermon was able, impressive, full of admirable advice, breathing the spirit of the Gospel of Christ. The following deacons were ordained priests: The Rev. N. P. Dome, E. J. Hall, Oscar Bunting, Edwin A. Penick,’ James R. Winchester, and Peter M. Boyden. The following were ordained deacons: C. Braxton Bryan, George W. Dame, Jr., Arthur P. Gray, Curtis Grubb, Jr., William Byrd Lee, Frank Page, Byrd T. Turner, Josiah W. Ware, Jr., and Sigismund S. Ware, and Mr. John H. Pollard, colored. Messrs. P. P. Phillips, Henry Thomas, and J. Harry Chesley, of the graduating class, and candidates from the Diocese of Maryland, had been ordained by the assistant bishop of that diocese.—Condensed from the Southern Churchman.
