University of the South Papers Series A, No1

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[From the Church Intelligencer.]

We offer no apology to our readers in giving them the full and detailed account of the recent important ceremonies at Sewanee, which we take from the Nashville Republican Banner, knowing that everything in relation to our rising University must be of interest to them.

LAYING THE CORNER-STONE OF THE SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY.

On the Rail--Going up the Mountain--Cumberland Scenery--University Place--The Hotel--Laying the Marble Corner-Stone--Interesting and Impressive Ceremony--Oration of Hon. John S. Preston--The Dinner--Lieutenant Maury, &c.

THE MOUNTAIN EXCURSION TO SEWANEE.

On the four o'clock, A. M. train from the Nashville and Chattanooga Railway station, last Wednesday, a large number of excursionists left this city for University Place, on Cumberland Mountain, to witness the ceremony of the laying of the corner-stone of the University of the South. Among the passengers on the train were many of the most influential citizen-merchants of Nashville, together with invited guests from other cities. The day dawned gloriously, and the morning atmosphere was bracing, pure and invigorating, while the trip up was enlivened by cheerful conversation and lively anecdote among the passengers, who seemed to be in most excellent spirits. Horn's splendid silver band, of this city, having been engaged to furnish the music of the occasion, was on the train, and delighted the passengers with some of their best musical selections. At Tullahoma station quite an addition was made to the party of excursionists, and at Decherd another large delegation from Winchester came on the train, and with them quite a number of Nashvillians who had gone up as far as this point on the night previous. The train, as far up as

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Cowan station, was under the supervision of Conductor J. T. Whaling, a polite, attentive, and gentleman attache of the N. & C. Railroad, to whose kind attentions the passengers were indebted for much of the pleasure and comfort of the excursion.

GOING UP THE MOUNTAIN.

At Cowan the passengers changed cars, taking the Sewanee train, at about 9 o'clock. The Sewanee Railway Company had made every preparation for the transportation of passengers, having procured a number of cars from the N. & C. Railway station at Nashville, and delegated their agent, Mr. Boyd, to take charge of the passengers from Cowan to University Place. Soon again the train was in motion, and then began the novel ascent of the mountain by railroad. This was decidedly the feature of the exursion, and excited not a little the wonderment of the excursionists, as the train moved steadily up the inclinded plane. We believe this is the first instance of a railroad train of cars going up a mountain side, and may well be considered one of the most remarkable accomplishments of modern science. Our locomotive, the "General Mosquera," a namesake of the celebrated Central American Liberator, who is a large stockholder in the Sewanee Company, puffed like a grampus, and screamed as if in defiance of the onerous duties it had to perform. The train passed directly over the great door of the Cumberland Tunnel, winding around the mountain side, and ascending all the time higher and still higher above the tree tops of the valley beneath. The scene at this point was beautiful beyond description; the mountain gorges, the distant slopes, the rugged cliffs, and the sweeping plain in the valley below, with here and there a "clearing" and a rude cottage, presented a picture not easily to be erased from the memory. Near the summit of the mountain an artificial opening between the trees displayed in the distance the pretty little village of Winchester, with its pointing spires clearly visible in the sunlight, at a distance of nearly twelve miles. The train soon reached University Depot, from which point the visitors were

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conveyed in vehicles of great variety of style a short half mile to

UNIVERSITY PLACE.

The scene, upon arrival at this point, is difficult to describe; what with the thousands of people scattered in groups in every direction; the continued arrival and departure of the coaches; hurrying to and fro of porters and servants; mountain peasantry run wild by the music of the band, who struck up Dixie's Land as soon as they reached the spot; and the tents and cottages all over the plateau, which spreads out before the eye an area with just enough undulation to be picturesque, covered with large timber, and a rich underbrush of grass, and with springs of freestone water yielding their hundreds of gallons of pure water per hour. Refreshment booths were everywhere almost, and fruit venders and tobacconists had already commenced a thriving trade, when the visitors from Nashville arrived. The hotel arrangements and accommodations were admirable, and we must say that the Executive Committee made a most excellent move, when they placed the superintendence of that department in the hands of Dr. D. T. Scott, late of the St. Cloud Hotel. The Doctor, though still a cripple from the sprain he received in the recent railroad collision at LaVergne, and though unable to get about without the aid of a crutch, yet gave his undivided attention to the cuisine department, while his son, our affable and attentive young friend, Hugh T. Scott, former proprietor of the St. Cloud, was indefatigable in his endeavors to make every visitor comfortable. We need not state that his praiseworthy efforts were crowned with success, for his landlord-accomplishments are already somewhat proverbial. A large frame building had been erected, which was denominated the hotel proper, and here visitors registered their names and were assigned rooms upon arrival; their baggage was taken in charge and checked by ready porters, and they were then piloted to the barber shop, to be dusted, polished, and burnished up generally.

LAYING THE CORNER-STONE--THE PROCESSION.

About 11 o'clock, a procession, consisting of the Board

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of Trustees of the University, persons specially invited to take part in the ceremonies, clergymen and citizens, was formed, under the command of Chief Marshl, Maj A. M. Rutledge, and proceeded, to the music of the band, from the Executive office to the site of the principal building, in the following order:

1st--Horn's Silver Band. 2d--Citizens of Franklin, and counties adjacent. 3d--Invited Guests. 4th--Architects. 5th--Ministers of the Gospel. 6th--Presidents of Colleges and Professors. 7th--The Ladies. 8th--The Trustees. 9th--The Orator of the. Day, and other speakers. 10th--Bishops, in order of seniority.

The procession moved off through the forest, four abreast, and on arriving at the site, the visitors and citizens opened ranks, and the Bishops and clergymen, clad in white surplices, the Architects, choir and band passed through into the pallisaded enclosure, where the corner-stone was to be laid, and formed a circle round it. The ladies were then all invited within the enclosure, and the band struck up "Hail Columbia," after which the Rt. Rev. James H. Otey, Bishop of Tennessee, began the services by giving out the Psalm: "With one consent, etc.," which was sung by the choir, with instrumental accompaniment by the band. The following sentences from the scriptures were then recited by Bishop Rutledge, of Florida:

"It is but lost labour that ye haste to rise up early, and so late take rest, and eat the bread of carefulness," Ps. cxxvii. 3.

"Except the Lord build the house, the labour is but lost that build it," verse 1.

"Except the Lord keeps the city, the watchman waketh but in vain," verse 2.

"Thou shall remember the Lord thy God, for it is he that giveth power to get wealth." Deut. viii. 1S.

"Ye shall diligently keep the commandments of the

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Lord your God, and his testimonies and his statutes, which he hath commanded thee." vi. 17.

"Thou shalt diligently teach them unto thy children, and shall talk of them when thou sittest in thy house, and when thou walkest in the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up." vi. 7.

"This commandment have we from God, that he who loveth God, loveth his brother also." I John iv. 21.

"By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep his commandments. I John v. 2.

"For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments." I Jon v. 3.

The following exhortation was then delivered by Bishop Atkinson, of North Carolina:

Christian Brethren, Friends and Fellow Citizens:-- It is decent and agreeable to the precepts of Holy Scripture, that in all our undertakings, we should beseech Almighty God, from whom cometh every good and perfect gift, to direct us with His most gracious favour, and further us with His continual help. Especially, therefore, when we are gathered together to lay the foundation of a house which is to be erected to His honour, and consecrated to the promotion of true Religion, virtue and learning among men, let us humbly ask the foregiveness of our sins, and implore His merciful protection and blessings.

After which was said the following prayers by Bishop Cobbs, of Alabama:

Almighty and Everlasting God, who hatest nothing that thou hast made, and dost forgive the sin of all those who are penitent: create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of thee, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness: through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Almighty God, the fountain of all wisdom, by those holy inspiratation we think those things that are good and by whose merciful guiding we perform the same:

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look graciously upon thy humble servants here assembled in thy name and presence, and vouchsafe to us thy protection in the work in which we are about to engage. Grant to all who shall be employed in the furtherance of this undertaking, wisdom to plan, and strength and skill to execute, every part of it, till the whole structure rise in due proportions and finished beauty, an offering which thou wilt be pleased to accept at our hands, to the honor of Thy Eternal Majesty, and by Thy blessing be instrumental forever in enlarging the knowledge and promoting the peace and happiness of mankind: through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Stir up, we beseech Thee, O Lord, the wills of thy faithful people, that they giving cheerfully and liberally of the abundance with which thou hast blessed them, may set forward this good work, and by thee be plenteously rewarded: through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Choir then sung the 79th selection, being the 100th Psalm of David:

Bishop Elliott, of Georgia, announced the deposits in the corner-stone, and in naming the articles to be deposited, as they were held up, one by one, before the people, made such remarks respecting each as was deemed suitable and appropriate. The following were the articles deposited in the metal casket, before it was fitted into its proper place:--

Copy of the Canonical Scriptures--Old and New Testament.

Book of Common Prayer.

Copy of the Constitution of the United States of America.

Constitution and Canons of the Protestant Episcopal Church, together with proceedings of the last Convention of that body.

Journals of the Dioceses of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Texas, Kentucky and Tennessee, forming the confederacies united in the undertaking.

Volume containing documents written in relation to this University.

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Publications of the Church.

Copy of the Spirit of Missions.

Religious Newspapers of the Church.

Pocket Almanac, containing list of all the Bishops and Clergymen of England, Ireland, Scotland and the Continent.

The casket was then sealed and placed in the stone, which is native Tennessee marble, taken from Franklin County quarry, two feet eight inches in width, four feet in length, and one foot nine inches high, and weighs about three thousand pounds. The stone was properly adjusted in its place and the ceremony of laying the corner-stone was performed by Bishop Polk, of Louisiana, who began by saying:

A corner-stone is that which unites the walls of a building, and may symbolize strength and stability--the union of the intellectual and spiritual nature of man-the emblem of Christ--the sure and tried corner-stone-the wisdom of God and the power of God!

Then striking the stone three times with a hammer he said:--

"In the name of the Holy and Undivided Trinity! Father! Son! and Holy Ghost! three Persons--one God, Blessed forever. Amen.

I, Leonidas Polk, D. D., Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Louisiana, on this tenth day of October, and in the year of Grace, 1860, do lay this corner-stone of an edifice to be here erected as the principal building of the "University of the South," an Institution established by the Prostestant Episcopal Church in the Dioceses of Arkansas, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas, for the cultivation of true Religion, learning and virtue, that thereby God may be glorified, and the happiness of man be advanced.

Other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ; the same yesterday, to-day and forever. God over all, blessed for ever in whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgive-

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ness of sins; for there is none other name under Heaven among men whereby we must be saved."

The choir then chanted the "Benedicite," with instrumental accompaniment, after which the audience, which was estimated at between 4,000 and 5,000 persons, moved in procession to the Oration Hall.

ADDRESS OF COL. JOHN S. PRESTON.

In a large frame building, 150 by 100 feet, with seats for 3,000 persons, a platform had been erected at one end; upon which were seated the Bishops and the Trustees of the University, with Col. Preston, Lieut. M. F. Maury, and other speakers. The seats immediately in front of the platform were occupied by the ladies. When the audience were seated, Bishop Otey, of Tenn., advanced and said: Brethren and Fellow-citizens:--I have the honor of announcing to you as the Orator of the day, a name--'clarum et venerabile'--a name illustrious in the annals of our country, and in this instance designating a gentleman who has always shown himself zealous and liberal in promoting the interests of all institutions designed for the honor of our country and the welfare of mankind. I introduce to you the Hon. John S. Preston, of South Carolina.

Col. Preston then came forward and delivered the Oration, one of the most eloquent and beautiful we ever listened to. He is a handsome-featured gentleman, of apparently fifty years of age, and in stature one of the noblest of his race; tall and square-built, a Colossus in height, and an Apollo in proportion. His hair is slightly gray, while his face is that of a young man; and his forehead broad and intellectual, with an expression about the mouth broad and indicative of gentleness of manner and amiability. For over two hours he held that vast concourse enchained by his matchless eloquence. His beautifully rounded sentences and distinct enunciation; his deep-toned voice, and graceful, smooth delivery, together with his earnestness of manner and commanding presence, attracted the attention of his audience and held them patient and willing listeners to

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his words of wisdom. The oration abounded in scriptural allusions and classic beauties, and was replete with logical reasoning and metaphorical illustration. As a composition, it was a masterpiece, and the production only of a finished scholar and statesman. More than once, his thrilling eloquence caused the blood to tingle in the veins of his hearers, and made their hearts throb in unison with his measured sentences. The great and good men who surrounded him--the venerable Bishops of the Church--themselves long disciplined in the school of oratory, we could see, by their quivering lips and tear-dimmed eyes, were much moved by his eloquence, and silently wept over his beautiful and touching pictures of the sufferings and heroic fortitude of Cranmer's, Latimer's and Ridley's martyrdom. Upon the subject of Education the speaker seemed to rise above himself, and "spoke like one inspired." We wish that every one of our readers could have heard it, for we can assure all who neglected to be present on this occasion that they missed an intellectual feast, such as is seldom presented to them.

When Col. Preston had concluded, the choir sang Gloria in Excelsis, the whole audience joining in the chorus. And then Bishop Green delivered the following prayer:--

Blessed be thy name, O Lord, that it hath pleased thee to put into the hearts of thy servants to establish here an Institution of learning recognizing the principles of the Christian Faith, and offering to all the free enjoyment of its privileges. Grant that it may ever "show forth the glory of Thy Kingdom, that thy power, thy glory and mightiness of thy Kingdom may be known unto men--thy saving health unto all nations! We give Thee thanks that we have been permitted in Thy good Providence to see the foundations of this house laid under so many tokens of thy love and favor. Continue to prosper us, O Lord, O prosper Thou our handy work. Give to those who have the direction of the affairs of the Institution here established, the spirit of wisdom and understanding--the spirit of knowledge and of a sound mind, that unity of counsel may mark their pro-

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ceedings and purity of intention guide all their aims. Guard by thy gracious providence every thing which may appertain to the building which is now begun in thy fear and in dependence on thy blessing. Inspire the master-workmen and all under their direction with the love of order, peace and ready submission to authority--with skill to devise and diligence to execute, and protect them from all accidents and dangers, that each faithfully fulfilling, in his proper measure and station, his appointed task, may contribute as Thou shalt give him ability to bring this work to a prosperous and happy conclusion; and at last receive the reward of fidelity and diligence which Thou hast promised to all who love and fear thee: even Thy blessing and commendation, O Lord God! Amen.

O Eternal God, the shield of our help, beneath whose sovereign defence thy people dwell in peace and safety, we bless and praise, we laud and magnify thy glorious name for all thy goodness to the people of this land. Inspire our rulers with the spirit of justice, fidelity and vigilance in the management of the trusts committed to their charge. Make the people orderly, sober, moderate and obedient to the lawful authority, that by humility and watchfulness in prosperity, patience, courage and steadfastness in our trials, we may always enjoy the confidence and blessed assurance of that people whose God is the Lord.

And grant, O Lord! that the course of this world may be so peaceably ordered by thy governance that thy church may joyfully serve thee in all godly quietness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

THE DINNER.

In the Dining Hall, seven rows of tables were spread the entire length of the building, and another one on a raised platform across the Hall, at one end, for the Bishops, the Speakers and the ladies. The dinner was excellent, and there seemed a profusion of everthing. Provision was made to seat 500 persons at one time, but only 300 were present, many being entertained at the