good priest of that parish is this day your instituted rector,† and one of the clergy of New Jersey. This is indeed an auspicious day for all of us; and whilst I bless you all, and bid you God-speed, I heartily pray that the Holy Spirit may bind all hearts together as the heart of one man, in unity, peace, and charity, and fill us with godly zeal for the edification of the Faith and Kingdom of Jesus Christ our Lord, the Good Shepherd and Bishop of our souls."

The large congregation, including the teachers and pupils of St. Mary's Hall and Burlington College, remained, after the Holy Communion was concluded, to add their bidding of "Godspeed," to that of the Wardens and Vestrymen.

At 4 P. M., the Church was again filled, when the Rector read Evening Prayer, and a sermon was preached by the Rev. Thomas F. Davies; the Rt. Rev. the Bishop pronouncing the Absolution, and giving the Blessing of Peace.

AN ALMS CHEST.

On the 21st of March, 1871, an alms chest, of handsome design and finish, was affixed on the right side, within the door of entrance to the south transept of the Church. So far as can be ascertained, no such article had ever been, either in the old Church, or the new, although there had long been one at St. Barnabas'.

AN ALTAR CROSS.

On Easter Even, April 8th, 1871, there was placed upon the altar of St. Mary's Church, a foliated altar-cross, (valued at $100,) of Italian statuary marble-three feet and a-half in height, including its base-the gift of Mrs. Elizabeth A. Ellis, wife of Charles Ellis, M. D., in memory of a departed relative, a communicant of the parish. With great good taste, there is no inscription on this sacred ornament.

On Monday in Whitsun-week, May 29th, 1871, "after Divine Service" was "Ended in the fforenoon," in compliance with the conditions of the deed of John Talbot, made July 13th, 1724, (see page 183,) the rector "publickly before the Congregation read the thirty-nine Articles in the Book of Common prayer."

II Kings, xii 9.

THE FINANCIAL CONDITION OF THE PARISH.

"The Parish is entirely free from debt, and its finances are conducted with an efficiency and promptness worthy of the highest commendation."-Parochial Report, May, 1871.

CLOSE OF THE TWENTY-FIFTH ACADEMIC YEAR.

On Tuesday, the 11th of July, 1871, the closing exercises of the 25th academic year were held in Burlington College. After Divine Service in the new chapel-a room much larger and better furnished than the one formerly used for this purposethe examinations took place, lasting from 8.30 A. M. until 2 P.M. At 2 P. M. the announcement of Standing, and Form promotions, was made by the Rector. Heads of Forms were declared as follows primi; Masters John Dows Hills, Eugene Jeffrey Babcock, Henry George Wilson, George Sumner Chipman, Thomas Kingsbury Benton, George Heathcote Hills.

The candidates for advancement were then called forward and presented by the Rector to the Rt. Rev. President, who addressed them briefly; and, with his blessing, admitted them to their advanced positions.

Handsome copies of Freund's Leverett's Latin Lexicon, were presented to Masters John Dows Hills and Eugene Jeffrey Babcock, for the highest general rank, cum honore.

On withdrawing to the refectory, three long tables were filled with students and invited guests; and after dinner, at the call of the Bishop, speeches were made by the Rev. James W. Bradin, and the Rev. Hobart Chetwood, ex-rectors of the College; and the Rev. George Morgan Hills, rector of St. Mary's Parish.

At the alumni meeting, resolutions were adopted looking to the endowment of Professorships. The Rev. Geo. Morgan Hills and Mr. Geo. McClellan Fisk, headmaster of the College, were elected honorary members of the Associate Alumni. In the evening, an oration of great force and leauty was

pronounced before the alumni by C. Willing Littell, Esq., of Philadelphia †

THE RECTOR RECEIVES THE HONORARY DOCTORATE.

The Rev. Dr. Jackson to the Rev. Dr. Hills.

"Trinity College, July 14th, 1871.

"Rev. George Morgan Hills, D. D.,

"Burlington, N. J.

"MY DEAR DOCTOR-It gives me sincere pleasure to be able to inform you officially, that Trinity College, yesterday, at its commencement, conferred on you the honorary degree of DOCTOR OF DIVINITY. I tried to accomplish this at Hobart; ‡ but, now, I am much better satisfied that you should receive it. from your Alma Mater.

COMMENCEMENT AT ST. MARY'S HALL.

The commencements at St. Mary's Hall have been growing in interest, annually, from the foundation of the Institution to the present time.

During the three days next preceding, the annual examinations are held under the careful attention of the Rt. Rev. the Bishop of New Jersey; and in the presence of the entire corps of teachers, and a goodly attendance of patrons and friends.

Son of the gentleman, who many years before presented that full-length, life-size portrait of Bishop Doane, which attracts the attention of every visitor to the College. On the foot of its massive gilt frame is this inscription: "COLLEGIO. BURLINGTONIENSI.

ALMAE. DUORUM. SUORUM. FILIORUM. MATRI

HANC. PRIMI. PRAESIDIS. G. W. DOANE. NEO-CAES. EPISC. EFFIGIEM.
GRATI. ANIMI, MONIMENTUM

D. D. D. JOHANNES STOCKTON LITTELL

III KAL. OCT.

ANNO. SACRO MDCCCLIII."

The Rev. Dr. Jackson was President of Hobart College, Geneva, N. Y.,

From April, 1858, to July, 1867.

Early on Thursday (Commencement day) the number of visitors increases to a throng, who come from all quarters to witness scenes, "whose like," as a reporter from Philadelphia once expressed it, "are known on no other day, and in no other place, but Burlington."

The ample grounds-familiarly known as "the circle;" the spacious buildings; the art gallery, decorated on all sides with specimens of the proficiency of the pupils, with crayon, and pencil, and colors; and, crowning attraction of all, the Chapel of the Holy Innocents, are each visited in order.

At 10 A. M. the visitors gather in the study hall, and while awaiting the hour for the exercises, interest themselves in viewing the emblems and mottoes, of former classes, which adorn the walls. For many years, each class has chosen an emblem, and a text from Holy Scripture-those for the class of 1871 being LILIES OF THE VALLEY, and the words, In quietness and confidence shall be your strength.

On the wall, just over the platform, was a bold crayon-sketch, representing the porch to an abbey, having on its arch the motto of the class, while near the base of one of the columns supporting this arch, was a cluster of these flowers, twenty-eight in number, one for each of the graduating class, the largest class ever graduated.

But—there is a perceptible hush in the assemblage; and, all arise and stand. The procession approaches. First, comes the Bishop of New Jersey, in academic gown, Oxford cap, and scarlet hood; then, the Principal of the Hall, then the class of young women to be graduated, "not with broidered hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array," but attired in white, with no ornament except a leaf of ivy from the Chapel walls. Following these, come the matron, and vice-principal, the rector of the parish, the rector of the college, the visiting clergy, and the trustees, for whom places are provided on the platform. All kneel in silent prayer. Then, the reading of compositions, from the graduating class begins. These are in French, German, Italian, Spanish, and Latin, as well as English, with such diversity of subject, thought, and style, as shows the characteristics of each

writer.

"The awarding of testimonials" follows; a simple, though much admired, feature, of the day. An engraved card, with the signatures of the Bishop and the Principal, certifies that the recipient has attained for a given period, the maximum for conduct and scholarship.

From the school room, the procession returns to the library; while the audience-parents, and relatives holding blue tickets, having reserved seats-enter the Chapel. When all are seated -and every inch of room is always occupied-the sweet strains of the processional float towards them from a distance:

Angelic songs are swelling."

"Hark! hark, my soul! "The singers go before." And, what a blending of melodious voices; voices trained, in tune, and time, by daily practice in hymnody! The music gains in volume. The procession of choristers in cottas, and white-clad damsels, and vested clergy, reaches the middle of the nave, and the organ adds its notes. The line, in the last stanza, seems literal:

"Sing us sweet fragments of the songs above."

The "Amen" has hardly ended, when the Bidding Prayer and Litany are read; followed, always, with the metrical version of Psalm cxxxi:

"LORD, forever at Thy side,

Let my place and portion be."

Each member of the class is then called, and each comes forward to the altar-rails, and receives from the Rt. Rev. President, the diploma of the Hall-with its repesentation of "the handmaid of the Lord."

The Bishop then addresses them on "The Christian Woman's Mission"-an anthem follows, and they kneel for the Episcopal benediction.

While, in double rows, these white-clad maidens are bending on the lowest steps of the altar, they seem like their chosen emblems, "lilies of the valley."

At 4 P. M. a musical rehearsal takes places in the school-room. Solos, duos, quartettes, and choruses, interspersed with brilliant instrumental music, occupy two hours. Finally, the twentyeight graduates appear once more together, on the platform, and sing their "Parting Song."