EEPOETS OF DEPARTMENTS. 35 



Commencement exercifes consisted of baccalaureate sermon by President 

 Abbot, Nov. 7,, and the class orations, and conferring degrees on commencement 

 day, Nov. 10. The degree of Bachelor of Science "svas conferred on Oscar E. 

 Angstman, Frank J. Annis, AVilliani L. Carpenter, Albert A. Crane, Charles 

 Goodwin, Dean F. Griswold, Charles S. Ingersoll, Bartlett A. Kevins, Louis D. 

 Niles, Charles H. Parker, DoWitt C. Postle, George A. Royce, Charles W. Shel- 

 don, William A. Smith, and Charles A. Sturgis. 



After the conferring of degrees, Governor Bagley, at the request of the Pres- 

 ident of the College, addressed the class most felicitously, both as to matter and 

 manner. A short but important portion of the address was thus epitomized by 

 the Flint Globe : 



" Perhaps the most not.al)le foatin-e of the occasion was the address of Governor 

 Bagley, in which he told the young farmers that their education w^as given them by 

 the State, not for their own personal and selfish ends, hut as a trust to be used for the 

 good of the communitv in Avhich each one dwelt, and of the State at large. The 

 added ahilitv, capacity," usefulness, and manhood resulting to every young man going 

 forth from college halls, is simply au iuvestmeut made by the State, — capital lent, — 

 and it was due to the State, not less than to the student's own self respect, that the 

 interest should come back in the shape of better manhood, better private life, and 

 better public service. 



" In speaking to the audience, he said that we, as a people, have got beyond grum- 

 bling over taxation for educational purposes. "We have demonstrated that it pays to 

 educate our children and our youths." 



Each officer has given a detailed account of what has been done in his own 

 department in reports now on file. The Faculty respectfully refer to these 

 reports for further information regarding the instruction, the manual labor of 

 the students, tlie management of the Farm and Horticultural Departments, the 

 museums and library, and apiary. . 



It may be proper here to notice several organizations of the students. Prom- 

 inent auiong these is the College Christian Union. It has sustained a vigorous 

 Sunday school in the College chapel with the usual accompaniments of song, 

 papers" and books, and its privileges were shared by the households living at or 

 near the College as well as by the students. A bible class in charge of Professor 

 Fairchild, comi:»leted the study of the book of Job, another under Professor 

 Cook, the book of Genesis. Other classes" were in various books of the bible. 



The union has .sustained a weekly prayer meeting, which has been well at- 

 tended, and has had the following Sunday evening lectures : 



May 2. — By President Abbot : St. Anthony. 



August 1. — By Kev. Wm. Wilkins : A Good Name above Riches. 



August 22.— By Rev. T. P. Pradden : The Manly Tendencies of Christianity. 



October 3.— By Prof. Fairchild : The Creed of the Atheist. 



October 31.— i3y Mr. Chas. W. Garfield : Spiritual Forces. 



The Union has given an entertainment every three weeks during the year, 

 consisting of readmgs, short addresses and music. It has a valuable library, 

 the use of which has been free to all the students. 



The Society of Natural History has sustained its monthly meetings to the 

 great profit of its members. The attendance upon these meetings has been 

 large, and students have taken upon themselves to notice minutely and report 

 carefully many curious natural phenomena. The collections of the Society and 

 its library have been somewhat increased during the year. 



The College Cadet Cornet Band and the military company, the Agricultural 

 College Cadets, have added much to the pleasure of the students during the year. 



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