and
purpose; of the present class three have fallen by the hand of death
within the four years and only three have dropped out for other
causes.

Commencement day revealed in the tone of the graduating orations a
moral earnestness and uprightness of principle that called forth the
commendation of our stranger guests. The best record of the class,
however, is in the influence its members have exerted in the school
during the whole of their Senior year.

It may be remembered that a year ago the Alumni Association adopted a
plan by which, beginning three years after graduation, at least one
per cent. of the earnings of each member is to be appropriated to an
endowment fund for Fisk University. Whenever the sum reaches $1,000,
it is to be devoted to some chair in the University. This year the
Treasurer reported $140 on hand. The beginning seems small, but who
can tell to what the stream may grow? Part of the Alumni anniversary
was given up to a memorial service for one who, after six years of
faithful work among her people, has died within the year.

On the evening devoted to the Normal Department, Prof. Salisbury was
expected to address us on some educational topic. In his absence,
Prof. Smith, of the chair of Greek in Vanderbilt University, kindly
filled the place and gave us an excellent address on Thomas Carlyle.
Prof. Smith is of Southern birth, but has manifested a cordial
friendliness and an interest that has led him to really investigate
the work of Fisk University.

On Commencement Day, Rev. R. G. Hutchins, D. D., of Minneapolis,
Minn., honored us with his presence and with an address, both wise
and eloquent, on "Sublime Motives," holding up three as especially
worthy to prompt to action: responsibility for the architecture of
our own character, responsibility for the development of latent moral
power, and the conservation of moral forces.

Few who heard it will forget the solemn charge given to the
graduating class by President Cravath, illustrated by an incident, as
told by the Rev. Sam. Jones, of the battle of Nashville. General Hood
saw a Federal battery making dreadful havoc in his army, and sent to
a subordinate general a messenger, saying, "Give him my compliments,
and tell him I ask at his hands the battery in the Locust Grove." The
general was in the thick of the battle and could not be found. The
same message was sent to another with the same result. Finally to a
third he sent the messenger, saying