The sermon was preached without notes, as is usual with Prof.  Francis, and with his usual quiet earnestness.  The discourse was as tender as it was able and wise, and ever to be remembered by the thirteen girls sitting just before him.

Of the singing on such an occasion, no Northern audience can have any conception.  The closing hymn was that grand one, “Guide me, O thou Great Jehovah!” It is almost an anthem, and when it is known that the voice of the colored man or woman is three-fold more powerful, richer and sweeter than that of the white, one may try to imagine the effect of nearly a thousand voices.

Commencement was held May 28, in the Friendship Baptist church.  The house was filled, many standing for the nearly three hours.  The singing was by a large chorus of students, trained most faithfully and successfully by the music teacher of the University, Miss Rebecca Massey.  One Jubilee Song was given, “March On”; other selections were classical; the chorus from Mendelssohn’s Elijah, “Thanks be to God,” being especially fine.  The exercises were closed by a spirited rendering of the Anvil Chorus.

Miss Massey is a native of Ohio, and a graduate of Oberlin Musical Conservatory, and is one of the most thoroughly educated musicians in the South.  Recently she bought a reserved seat to Gilmore’s concert in Atlanta, and in the Imperial City of the Empire State of the South, in the noble city of the reconstructed Henry W. Grady, she was marched out of the hall by a policeman, simply and solely because her blood is one-quarter colored!

The commencement essays of the thirteen young ladies would have done credit to any Northern institution; they were in good taste, thoughtful and high-toned, indicative of culture and a missionary spirit.  These girls may never be famous, but they will be useful and successful, which is infinitely better.

* * * * *

COMMENCEMENT AT FISK UNIVERSITY.

PRES.  E.H.  CRAVATH, D.D.

Fisk University held, on the 13th of June, its twenty-third anniversary, reckoning from the founding of the Fisk School.  The weather was perfect, and all the exercises of the day were highly satisfactory.  Five were graduated from College.  One member of the class had been called away during the year by the death of his father.  The commencement address was delivered by Rev. C.H.  Richards, D.D., of Madison, Wis.  Subject, “Making Life Beautiful.”  The address was admirable in thought, style and delivery, and greatly delighted the vast audience of citizens and students.  Dr. Richards paid a high compliment to the graduates, and those who had furnished the music for the occasion.  The commencement dinner called forth very pleasant reminiscences of the early days, and many confident predictions concerning; the growth of the University in the future.

One noticeable and hopeful feature of this anniversary was the large increase in the attendance of alumni.  Heretofore, anniversary week has come before the close of the schools in which the larger part of our alumni are employed.  This year it came three weeks later than formerly.  This change was made to better accommodate the little army of student-teachers, which is sent out annually to the country public schools.  It was found that by far the larger number of these schools do not begin until the first of July.