The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1854-07-03
THE SIXTH ANNUAL COMMENCEMENT OF

The SIXTH ANNUAL COMMENCEMENT OF
RICHMOND COLLEGE, took place at the First Baptist
Church ON Friday night last. and we were really
pleased to see 30 large number of persons in at
tendance. The proceedings were highly interest
ing from the beginning to the end, and extremely
gratifying to the friends of the College and of edu
cation generally, who witnessed it.
The exercises were begun by fervent and elo-
quent prayer by Mr.. J. S. Walthall.
The Sacred Music Society, having kindly voluu-
teered their services, sung beautiful and appro-
pirate piece of music.
Mr. Andrew J. Buruss, of King William, ad-
dressed the audience briefly, on the subject of Fe-
male Influence"
He was followed by Mr.. James o. Terrell. of Hal
flax, in a very pretty address. Subject-"The DIFF
fusion ofthe English Language"
Music, by the Sacred Music Society.
Address by J. L. Haley, on the ject of Jesuit
ISM
Address by Mr. Ro. Mcdonald, of Lynchburg.-
Subiect-"Truth Progressive"
Music by the Sacred Music Society.
Address by Mr.. F. M. Mcmillan, of Greene. Sub
ect: Emulation
Address by Robert Williamson, of Princess
Anne subject-"Study of Greek Literature"
Address by Mr. VIM. G. Woodfn, of Hanover.
Subicct-"Duty OF an American Citizen"
Music by the Sacred Music Society.
Reading distinctions in scholarship and comforting
degrees were next pro eeted with.
After which, the Rev. Robert Ry.aud, President
of the College, delivered the ''Baccalaureate Ad-
Dress which listened TO with marked atter-
ton, by the large and intelligent audience.
Music by the Sacred Society: after which, the ex-
ercises closed with benediction
While upon the subject of the College, we lay
before our readers an extract from the twenty
fourth annual report Of the Board of the Virginia
Baptist Education Society. itsays:
"The Institution never before ia 80 prospe-
rous state. The number of matr iculates the pre-
sent session, is one hundred and mine. The amount
Of college endowment in hand, is about S56, 600 To
this sum must be added the amount of S44 900 in
good subscriptions yet to be collected swelling the
endowment to an aggregate OF about 100000. The
institution cannot advance another step without
suitable buildings for its accommodation. The trus
tees of the college are looking around with anxious
interest Tor the means of securing this desired OBJ
ject The fund for building purposes amounts to
about $4,000; but sum not less than S45, 900 will
be needed for the erection of such buildings the
wants OF the institution and its prospective success
imperatively demand The trustees have succeed
ed in obtaining draft for an edifce, which, when
completed, will admirably subserve the purposes of
the college, be an ornament to the city OF Rich
mond, and an enduring monument of the enterprise
and lberality OF its friends. Delay in obtaining the
drafts and the present extravagant prices of build
ing, have prevented the trustees from putting any
portion of the edihce under contract"
We should be glad to see a new and hand.
some College built-one that would prove an orna
ment to the cty-but it is to be hoped that it will
not be planted on the outskirts Of the city as the
present building is. We know the opinion prevails
in portions OF the country that cities have cor
rupting influences on the mind of youth and that
large schools and colleges should never be estah-
lished within their borders II this be true which
we do not consider by any means, how much more
cnrrupting must be suburban influences where
young men within the reach of vice and dssipa-
tion and yet not subjected the control of city po-
llce If the new college is TO be built as we hope
it will be- the trustees should select central site
for it, knowing as they must that the increase of
patronage to be thereby secured will go great way
towards paying the debt incurred for building :