The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-04-15

sermons at night. The house was thronged
Many returned to their homes who wer
prevented from finding seats in the church
An unusually large number of member
obtained leave of absence after the ser
mon of to-day. Most Of the business @
the Presbytery is disposed of. 1t will pro
baby adjourn tomorrow. OBSERVER.
intermediate Celebration OF the JET
fersOn Society.
Correspondence of the Richmond Dispatch.
UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA.,
SUNDAY, April 18th, 1867.
The intermediate celebration of tn,
Jefferson Society, which has been 70
weeks past a source of anticipated plea
sure to all at the University and surround
ing country, came off last night. The ex
ternal adornments and preparations TO
this occasion were equal if not superior t
any similar affair which has taken plac,
here since the close of the war. The
Public Hall had been tastefully decorated
with wreaths and all the usual accompa
niments Of flowers, festoons, etc. The
hall, being brilliantly lighted, presented {
fairy-like appearance. Nothing was want
ing which could contribute in any way t
the beauty Of the scene. The Lawn, too
was illumined with the light of more thar
two hundred and fifty Chinese lanterns
the light from which presented pleasant
contrast to the dark shade of the house.
on the Lawn.
At o'clock, the Washington Society
preceded by the band and a committee
from Jefferson Society, marched to the
front of the hall, and on entering the hall
were assigned seats reserved for them or
the left Of the room. They were followed
by the Jefferson Society, the band playing
whilst the societies marched in. After al
intermission of about half an hour, the
Faculty, together with the Orator and
Reader for the evening, marched in, and
were assigned places on the stage. The
president of the Jefferson Society, Mr.. 4.
II. B. Browne, of Virginia, then announced
that the exercises of the evening would
commence by prayer by Rev. Mr.. Ware, OF
Charlottesville-the Chaplain of the Uni
versty, Mr.. Lindsay being detained by
serious indisposition. The band again
played; after which the President intro
duced the Reader, Mr.. G. 7. Bassell, of the
University of Virginia, who, in accordance
with an old-established custom, proceeded
to read the "Declaration Of Indepen-
dence." His enunciation was clear and
distinct; and although the subject was
somewhat hackneyed and had often been
listened to before, the applause elected
was sufficient evidence of the appreciation
of the audience.
After short intermission the President
introduced the Orator, Mr.. Frank ID. Moore,
son Of Rev. T. V. Moore, Of Richmond
who announced as his theme the "Nature
and the Power Of Hope" prefacing his re-
marks, however, with an acknowlcdg.
ment of the apparent trivial nature of bis
subject, defending himself by stating that
the occasion was one on which the orator
should not appeal SO much to the intel
lects as to the hearts of those present
Sub-dividing his Grafton into three heads
he proceeded to digest each separately
as follows: First, GA Chronicler of the
Past"; and stated, although as "Chroni
cler of the Past" its Retrospective actor
had been unnoticed, we still have the
legend of the Goddess of Hope, and in the
legend is shown the intricate alliance o
Hope and Memory; for while Memory
tells us of our lost joys, Hope remains t.
tell us of our future possessions. He al
luded to the history of Spain as an instance
of people who have memory without hope
Second, as an Angel of the Present
this is seen in Ambition, which, though
often exerted for the misery Of mankind
we still are debtors to that hope which up.
holds the man of science as he goes abroad
to civilize the earth. 1t is the hand which
strews with flowers the thorny path of life
and has changed into blessing the curse
which doomed man to earn his bread by
the sweat of his brow. AS "Prophet Of
the Future" it dwells in man alone, and
seems to be the sole relic of his fallen ma
ture; for without this Hope man would
gladly seek in death lasting remedy FOL
all his ills. He then discoursed quite Ella
borately upon the "Power of Hope" a.
seen in religion and law, regarding religion
and law as mutually determined and de
termined by each other. The historical
illusions on this point were peculiarly APP
propriate.
In conclusion he exhorted the young
men to grid themselves for the responsible.
ity which would soon devolve upon them
as citizens of their respective States. And
that though our present is seemingly a
horizon on whose murky edge no silver
lining can be seen, Hope shall pierce the
dark cloud and fringe it with beaming light
while the dark waters which the cloud
contains shall but give the drops to form
the rainbow which Hope shall spread on a
new horizon Of political glory, whence
shall be written in characters of fame,
Peace, and Freedom, and Hope.
The delivery of the grafton, although &C.
cupying the space Of more than an hour,
was listened to with evident interest by
the large number of persons present, the
speaker being free uently interrupted by
applause. The orator, notwithstanding the
large dimensions of the hall, filled it with
the utmost ease. His manliness and grace
full bearing elected the praise Of all, and
the expectations of his many friends were
fully realized. The select and literary
character of the audience was enough to
have embarrassed more experienced
speaker, yet from the beginning to the
close he exhibited a perfect ease Of man
ner, and his gesticulations were graceful and
appropriate, and his Grafton gave evidence
Oh careful preparation and study. Alto
se.her we congratulate the Jefferson So
t by upon the possession of SO able men,
a snc anu predict for the gentleman himself
fess;on =; vi and brilliant career in the pro-
ASar ~ !, which he will soon enter.
the pra.;a oration had been delivered.
the even;u announced the exercises of
of Iadies as a. an end. The large number
the Lawn u wh gentlemen then adjourned to
until late bonr pwrGhmenading was kept up