The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-05-21
CITY INTEL ELLIGENC
GIRARD COLLEGE.


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The One Hundred aud Nineteenth Anniversary
of the Founder of the Institution sixteenth
Annual Reunion of the Alumni-Spceches by
President Allen, David Chambers, ESQ.,, and
Othcrs-PrOgrnmne of Exercises.
To-day is gala day at Glrard College. IL signal
ICES the one hundred and nineteenth anniversary OF
the birth Of Stephen Grard to whose munhcence
the institution its origin, and brings about the
sixteenth annual reunion OF the Society OF the
Alumni. Months since il was determined TO make
this day memorable one, to make its ceremonies
more than ordinarily impressive and interesting,
and, consequently, preparations for it were made
most extensive scale. The Alumni active,
and the ecIdt which attends the celebration to-day
proves that their efforts successful.
At an early hour this morning the spacious campus
of the college was thronged with VISITORS partici-
pants in the ceremonies, the alumni, and the audi
tors The grounds never looked more pretty, in
viting, and refreshing. The sun shone gay, and
the birds chirped merrily The grass was beautiful
in its greenness the trees in their foliage. The
stately college, in its marble magnihcence, never
presented an appearance more grand. The exer-
cises took place in the chapel Of the main building
The walls, doorways and rostrum OF the room were
tastiy decorated with flags, bunting, and greens. A
full band OF music, under Professor McCiurg, was
present.
At half after II O'Clock the exercises began, with
the rendition OF "Home, Sweet Home" by the band.
President Aliens Address.
w. II. Allen, LII. D., President of the College,
then addressed the assemblage as folows:-
Mr. President and Members OF the Society of
| Alumni:-The return OF your anniversary has at
tracted you more to these halls which were the
! home and school of your childhood. Here you ac-
| qured the education which has opened to you a
career of usefulness in the various walks Of life, and
prepared you for positions OF responsibility and in
tluence. Here you meet again the officers and
teachers who were the guides of your YOUTH who
encouraged you when you did right and admonished
| you when you did wrong, and who sometimes gave
| emphasis to their admOnitiOns by arguments which
were felt But they are not all here. Some of them
have been lassOed with the moose matrimonial, and
| hurried away to be seen among more. think
that, for the sake OF the college, you will join me in
protest against any future aspirant for the hOnors
Of Benedick coming here for his Beatrice. She can't
In behalf Of the survivors Of these catastrophes
and of all the professors and officers, greet you
| with hearty welcome. We have watched your
course with parental solicitude we have rejoeed to
see many of you ascending steadily on the scale Of
| manness and reSpectability; and we have mourned
when few who are not with us to-day, have turned
| aside from virtue and made for themselves the
record of a wasted life. We are gratided that so
many of you whom we still delight to call "our
boys" reclprocate the affection which cherish for
you and regard the reputation of the college in
separable from your own. We are strong in the
faith that you Will always be ready to defend the in
| stitution against unjust aspersons, from whatever
| source they may emanate.
1t gives us pleasure to learn that your society has
| been organized on permanent basis, and that you
have much OF the esprit du corps which animates the
| alumni of more ancient institutions Your Presi-
dent, already familiar with the usages OF delibera-
tive bodies through honorable public service, will
|
dignity and decorum. Your Executive Committee
under the inspiration of its jealous and ndefatigable
chairman have spared neither time labor in col
lecting the names, residences and present occupa-
uon OF our graduates the personal history OF those
who fought for National Union and especially of
those who laid down their lives for their country
The work which Mr.. BlascheCk and his colleagues
have performed possesses S more than temporary
monument to perpetuate the memory OF those brave
and patriotic graduates of the college who died in the
military service during the late war; and the records
OF your committee will furnish them with a roll OF
honor very nearly complete.
The Board of Directors, young gentlemen, will
speak to You through its President. / will only
advert to the fact that OF the members of the board
who were in office at the opening of the college,
twenty-one years since, only one remains in it. He
still retains the parental interest in the pupils which
he manifested for the eldest OF you in the prime of
his life; and no one rejolces more to meet you on
this your annual festival than Mr.. Boswell, the
patriarch OF the board. But you meet here few of
your old friends, formerly directors, whom you re-
member with respect and gratitude, and whose re-
gard for you is as strong as Their labOrs in your
behalf We're beneficial We welcome them to our
hosptalities, and hope that they may witness many
returns of this anniversary We welcome his Honor
the Mayor, the Committee on Girard Estates and
other members of Select and Common Councils and
representatives of the municipal governments of
Philadelphia When they look upon this large as
semblage of reputable young men, they will see
proof that their care in managing the great trust
which Stephen Girard con1ded to this city has not
And now nv sons as the frosts OF advancing years
admonish me that the winter Of life approaches and
that every reunion Of your society subracts one from
the number, already small, how small we know not
that may address every one Of you in the language
of David to his son Solomon
And thou my son. know thou the God of thy fathers
the Lord searcheth ali hearts and understandeb ali
the maRinatiOns of the thoughts if thou Him. He
will be found Of thee but thou fOrsake Him, He will
Address by David Chambers, Esq.
After piece of music had been performed David
Chambers, Esq, was introduced and spoke as fol-
| lows:-
Mr.. President and Gentlemen of the Board OF Di-
rectors, Mr.. President and Faculty Of the College,
and Ladies Of the School and Household 1t be-
comes my duty, on behalf Of the Alumni of Girard
College, TO express TO you their heartfelt thanks for
your cordial welcome TO our old home and school on
this bright and beautiful anniversary of our bene-
factors birth.
We have come from shop and store, from farm and
factory, from counting-room and office, TO answer
your anxious questonings OF our welfare to tell
you OF the brothers we have left behind, unable TO
be with u.s. but whose hearts beat In unison with
ours, ana whose eyes are turned hitherwards from
all parts OF this broad Commonwealth and nation
to-day to tell you that still love and honor YOU
TO renew our vows of fidelity TO truth, virtue, and
patriotism, and to he strengthened again for the
great battle OF life In the perennial fOunt OF your
pains and your prayers.
Whilst we have amongst our number to-day those
who but few weeks ago were in the far-Off islands
OF the we bring you good word OF others in far
distant States. But there are some who will never
return TO greet u.s. They have fallen at their posts
Of duty in civil life noby given their lives that the
nation might not perish. According TO facts and
records I'm the possession of the chairman of EX-
graduates who left the institution prior TO the year
| 1864, one hundred and eighty-nine enlisted In the
| army. Of this number twenty-five were Wounded
| eight were taken prisoners, and thrty-sA were
Killed on the battlefield, died in army hospitals
| and as prisoners Of war. Whilst we honor the memo
| ries of those upon whose graves the grass now
grows soft and green the hills ana IN Jhe valleys
of the SOUTH we point with pride to this war record
as the best evidence we offer OF the strong at