The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-06-22

Commencement Day Elect on of Officers of
the Alumni Society Address of the
Rev. Thos. Preston, of Rich
mond, before the Alumni.
ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE D1spArcH.1

ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DISPATCH.
LEXINGTON, Va, June 21.-The stream
of visitors has continued to flow in until
we now have perhaps the largest number
of strangers that have ever attended one Of
the commandments of the University.
At the meeting of the Society Of Alumni
to-day the following officers were elected:
Col. B. Christian, of Staunton, president !;
Prof. W. T. Thorr, Of Richmond, first
yice-president; Prof. Lucius Dispa. of Ken
lucky, second vice-president; and Prof. C..
A. Graves, of Lexington, secretary.
At the Alumni anniversary tonight Col.
Christian announced that the usual assem-
bling around the festive board would be
dispensed with this year, for reasons sufti-
GENTLY attested by the drapery of this me-
mortal chapel. He gracefully presented
the orator Of the evening, Rev. Thos. Pres
ton. of your city, who needed, he said, no
formal introduction among these his native
hills. .-~
Mr.. Preston appropriately introduced as
his theme, "Theology q Fit Branch of Lib
eral Culture" He argued that theology
should not be left alone to the pulpit; that
the cultivated Christian man of every pro-
fession ought to be so thoroughly posted
and imbued with this science that he can
meet and refutc the skeptic. He insisted
that the rich mines had not yet been fully
explored, and that the educated intellect
of the country should be prepared to dig
in and develope it. BY well-chosen and
beautifully-put examples he illustrated the
feeling which men Of all professions have
of the sustaining power which comes from
knowledge of and implicit faith in the great
doctrines of theology. He argued that the
people should be made more familiar with
the great doctrines of theology, SO that they
may not be startled out of their propriety at
any new theology which the man Of sci
ence may announce; that they may not on
the one hand oppose true science when 1t
may seem to conflict with Gods word, and
may not on the other be ready to have
their faith in the Bible shaken when it may
seem to be contradicted by science. He
earnestly and ably refuted the idea that the
Bible does not speak scientifically, and
contended that while it was not inten ded
as book of science, that when God speaks
he makes science. He contended that not
only the preachers, but the Christian man
in every walk should be so thoroughly in
structed as to be able to meet the man Of
science and overthrow him if he dares
to assault the citadel Of Gods Word.
He met the popular idea that the
Bible is opposed to civilization, and
argued that we ought to be prepared to
proue against the materialism Of the age
that 4" man shall not live by bread alone )"
that he had better die than do wrong. He
brought out the relation of this science to
government and the Importance of the
grand principles Of Gods Word in estab-
fishing and perpetuating Gods govern
ment. He spoke of the contest for
the power of government as being not
confined to the trees, but as being
associated by the flowers. He contended
that the woman's rights movement
could not be met with q sheer, but only
by the inimitable principles of Gods
Word, which commits the ordinance of
government to men, and does not permit
them to turn it over to women. He spoke
of the growing feeling among Christian
men that they want their children taught in
the college the truth of Gods Word,
and argued that they would never
be satisfied until some provision is made
for them, and that the colleges ought at
once to make such provision. He insisted
that the truth in its essence could be taught
without coming into conflict with peculiar
tiles, and that these grand truths should be
taught. .............
He closed with an eloquent expression of
his best wishes and high hopes for the fu-
ture of the University.
Mr.. Preston spoke without manuscript,
and in that earnest, feryid style which
characteriZes him.
The address seems to have given satisfac-
ton to the intelligent audience.
LEX INGToN.