In presenting their certificates, the President gave them five “Remembers” from the Holy Scriptures, as his final charge to them.
In the afternoon the annual address was delivered by the Rev. Dr. Truman M. Post, of St. Louis. As I cannot reproduce it for you, I will only say that it seemed an address which must prove a strong lever to aid in the “Uplift of Character, Intelligence and Social Life,” which was his theme. Taking a sweeping glance at the providential dealings of God with races and nations, he came speedily to the problems which confront us in this our commonwealth; and, after pointing out that races or individuals can only be uplifted by their own exertions, cannot be raised but only assisted to rise by external aid, and that it is not merely duty, but godlike privilege for the stronger and more fortunate to render this aid to the weaker and less fortunate, he dwelt upon specific means of advancement and elevation, and pointed to a hopeful future.
There were but few white visitors present. Despite the rain, a carriage load of gentlemen came out from Jackson, and added materially to the interest of the exercises--Mr. Lemly, a trustee of this institution; Col. Power and Gen. Clifton, members of the State Board of Visitors.
The first-named gentleman is accounted a firm friend of the school, but can never be prevailed upon to evidence it by speech-making. The others spoke very kindly and entertainingly. In the close of his witty and eloquent speech, Col. Power, Editor of the _Clarion_, spoke of the progress he had witnessed in this school since its establishment, and expressed the hope that a few years hence the enrollment will have increased from a couple of hundred to a thousand, and that a spacious chapel will have been erected, capable of holding them all and their friends.
Gen. Clifton stated that in asking the Legislature for an increased appropriation for this school he had said that he believed it was doing more good than any other school in the State, and he could repeat that as still his conviction, because it is doing a work so vitally needed.
Our theological anniversary exercises passed off very pleasantly May 5th. They were held in the Assembly Presbyterian Church, which is of convenient size and centrally situated. Though the weather was unpleasant, the attendance was good, both of the white and colored races, and included various persons of distinction. The number of theological students this year has been thirty, not including eight others, who study principally in the classical department. The graduates were five, connected with the Congregational, Presbyterian and Methodist denominations. Three go to the Southern field, and two look towards Africa. Their addresses were most creditable in matter and manner, and were warmly received by the audience. On behalf of the Washington Bible Society, Rev. Dr. Butler presented each of them with a neatly bound copy of the Holy Scriptures. Rev. Dr. Bullock, the chaplain of the United States Senate, made an excellent, practical address to them, on their coming life-work, and Rev. Dr. Craighead, Dean of the department, added some felicitous closing remarks. Owing to the endowment by Mrs. Stone, supplemented by the large aid of the American Missionary Association, and in a less degree by that of the Washington Presbytery, the Theological Department of Howard University is in vigorous operation; and we are prepared to receive and train young men, white or colored, for the Gospel Ministry of all Evangelical denominations.