The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-01-22
LFr1yGros. VA, January 10, !

-ga LEXINGTON. VA, January 10, 1869.
To-day was the sirtieth anniversary o.
the Graham Philantbropic Society, Whlcf
was named in honor of the real founder o.
Washington College, and has continued IL
course of prosperity through all these
wears. In honor of the day, all regular
COLLEGIATE exercises were suspended, but
Il" intermediate examinations - are too close
at hand to allow the young gentlemen tt
avail themselves of their holiday, and the
day seems to have been generally observed
as q fortunate time for reviewing" This
evening, however, the College chapel was
filled to listen to the grafton and debate
with which the society has been wont tc
celebrate their university. The societies
and students generally were out in full
force, most of the Faculty attended, and
the bellies of Lexington smiled on the occa-
sion. E.
After the usual prslimiharies the presi-
dent Of The society (Mr. Prather, of Texas, }
in clear voice and graceful manner intro
duced as orator of the occasion Mr.. G. G.
Garrett, of Texas. Without the clap-trsp
Of self-depreciating apologies or the gran
eloquent "curl" 80 common upon such
occasions, Mr.. Garrett proceeded at once to
q simple introduction of his theme: "Dog-
matism is an Enemy Of Truth.''
After defining dogmatism, he proceeded
to show it's prevalence in the learned
professions, invading the sacred desk,
palming off quackery for medical skill,
brow-beating witness or bullying jury,
and uttering to the terror of urchins the
ipse dirt of the pedagogue. He showed the
superiority of liberation over dogmatism,
and made special application Of the prin-
ciples deduced to the proper conduct of a
literary society. He showed the effect
which dogmatism has had upon litera-
ture, philosophy, and history, and con-
cluded with the following appeal to his
society Let me urge you to begin here
to be distinguished by character for accu-
racy and honesty in your arguments, and
you may make use without hesitation of the
store of knowledge which you are so zeal
ously garnering. Leave the ignorant and
the narrow minded, who pamper the pride
of their own party, to dogmatize and chime
by the artificial light of their own enthu-
siasm. Let truth be your creed, mankind
your party, and doing good your victory.
Thus may your realize that sublime tolera-
ton and humility of spirit which carries
with it its own reward which cannot be
cast down, for its attainment is itself the
final triumph"
The speech was exceedingly sensible,
and very we'll written, and while not con-
tanning many of those "curls," or " hits %
which "bring down the house," seemed to
give great satisfaction. 1t had nothing
about Greece or Rome, the temple Of free
dom, the American eagle, or the days OF
ZIG "-contained no eulogy upon woman
beauteous woman" no advice to. the Fa-
Guilty, and no rehearsal of the wrongs OF
the South. Indeed it was refreshingly free
from the usual staple of college orations
And it was also Of a most sensible length
about twenty minutes.
The question announced for debate was,
"Is the motto 'our country right or
wrong justifable The affirmative was
advocated by Mr.. Frank Coleman, Of Ala
bama, and Mr.. J. Lewis Logan, of Virginia
Mr.. James C. Wintersmith, of Kentucky,
and Mr.. Lucius Desha, Jr., Of Kentucky,
supported the negative. Your correspond
emf regrets that he has not space for sketch
of the debate, which was very creditable tc
the disputarts and the society.
The question was decided in the negative
by vote of thirty one to twenty eight.
All of the speakers were compliments
with boquets from the ladies and lat the
close of the exercises) congratulations from
General Lee and other. friends.
LEXINGTON.