1852: An Acadia Tragedy Unfolds (Part 5, Jun 4/25)

The College Holds a Public Exhibition

Two days of examinations performed under the watchful eyes of faculty and Governors’ alike proved successful for the College. Now the anniversary celebration could finish with a public exhibition when the students demonstrated their learning to the community. Archivist Wendy Robicheau found several surprises when researching the public exhibition.

Nine of the sixteen students enrolled at Acadia College took the lectern to deliver essays before a large crowd of spectators. Between musical interludes, the students spoke about royal scholars, Rev. Edward Manning, human progress, and the aspirations of students. The program was published in the Christian Messenger on 11 June 1852, along with this critique of the event,

Of the Orations or Essays I have only to say that they were pronounced excellent by competent judges. In that opinion I heartily concur. There were various degrees of merit, no doubt, but it is quite unnecessary for me to endeavour to adjust the relative proportions. The good sense, sound judgment, and correct feeling displayed in all the compositions were credible to the writers, and elicited general approval. The speaking was probably susceptible of more improvement than the writing, a tendency to the monotonous being observable; this is frequently characteristic of early efforts, and is commonly remedied by practice. (Acadia College Anniversary, 186)

It must have been an exciting event for everyone involved. A report in the Christian Visitor for 11 June 1852 explained that “everything about this Examination and Exhibition seemed to forbid the fear of a relinquishment of Acadia College.” Dr. Cramp and Professor Chipman must have been relieved that the troubles of the past were behind the College and they could look forward to growing. The newspaper report continued with,

It does not appear to have been customary for more than a very few to attend examination of the classes in their classical and mathematical studies, but a general attendance is given upon the public exhibition. This occurred on Friday, in the Lecture Room of the College, which was appropriately and tastefully decked for the occasion. The weather favoring the occasion; a large number assembled from the vicinity of the College, and the Hall was filled. (Anniversary of Acadia College, 162)

Tomorrow’s post highlights four of the papers delivered at the public exhibition.