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CLOSING EXERCISES AT TILLOTSON.

Of the six chartered institutions of the A.M.A., Fisk, Atlanta, Talladega, Tougaloo, Straight and Tillotson, the last is the youngest, the most remote and the most deprived of Northern aid and sympathy.  In plan and aim its work is identical with theirs; in quantity its work is less, because, in part, it has less resources, but in quality we believe our closing exercises would show our work at least not inferior to some of the others.

Our examinations occupied the whole of Friday and extended through Monday and Tuesday forenoons.  The questionings through which the students passed were not only creditable to them and their instructors, but satisfactory to visiting teachers and others invited to join in testing their knowledge of the studies pursued.  The exhibition of the sewing and the practice of the calisthenic class attracted special attention.

On Saturday, May 26, came Tillotson Day, designed, like Alumni Associations, to foster in the minds of present and past students, not only a love of the institution, but of the great work of educating and uplifting the colored people.  Last year the day was inaugurated with a programme a little more extended than that of this year.  Among other speakers then Miss M.J.  Adams, our first matron and now our special missionary, gave reminiscences and a gracefully written narrative of the opening of the school in January, 1881.  Mrs. Judge Garland read a valuable paper on the work done by Tillotson in connection with her own school in another part of the city.  In ’81 she sent her older classes up to the Institute.  The next year her large school outside was considered a part of us and so counted in the catalogue.  In ’83 she joined our teaching force, naturally attracting many of her old pupils within our walls.  In ’84 and ’85 she took other work, but neither herself nor Judge Garland has lost interest in the welfare of the Institute.

This year the Rev. Dr. Wright, our only trustee in Austin, gave us an excellent address, concluding with extracts from Mr. Tillotson’s letters and a very interesting account of the procuring of the site on which our building now stands, generally thought to be the finest and most conspicuous in the city.  After this came a few words from one of the Faculty, and four short speeches from as many representatives of the students, after which came refreshments and a social time on the grounds.

On Sunday morning the president preached before the students the closing sermon of the year.  On Tuesday evening the annual concert and exhibition was given to a full house and an enthusiastic audience.  The commencement exercises of Wednesday, consisting of essays, original orations and musical pieces, not only brought out the ability and attainments of the students, but seemed to impress patrons, friends and visitors present, with the quality of the work done and the standard maintained at Tillotson.