The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-02-26
Washington and Leo University.
siXTy-fiRsr c~EIERRATEoN OF WASHINGTON
LITERARY socIETY--fNTEREsr1NG ExER-

80
%sxrysfiRsr CELEBRATION or raE wAsH,sGro,
LITERARY OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES ExER
CTSEs.
correspondence of The Richmond ftsnatcb.,
LEXINGTON, February %. 1879.
~ O'Clock tonight a large aud i~ntellisen
audience was assembled ia tho Uniyersit,
chapel to Witness the sixty-frst celebration
of the Washington Literary Society. The
weather was very fine and tho galleries wcr,
httedwith many Of ~LeNington's most beau
tiiul ladies. After a short prelude by tn,
band, Mr.. +. G.. Butord, of Tennessee. WI.
~nsfouucca as orator OF the occasion, and
coming forward in 4 graceful manner, an,
nounced as his theme "rtc Oracle of tI,t
Fast" MIR. i;nlord showed that the Pas,
was an Oracle ever true, and that we should
always look to that rs q certain forctcller o.
the future. He eXhortcd his audience ia
take their lcSSonsfrom The Past, and improve
on them in the Future. looking to God rs
the Divine aud Everlasting Oracle. The ora
ton did great credit to the gentleman, and
we can only add that the choice was a harry
one. "
Next III order came the debate, and the
secretary read the following question {: care
the Matcrialistic Tendencies of the Age
likely to Prove Beneficial ?" MIR. NJ. II.
Wisdom, OF Louisiana, was then introduced
Is tlr>. dcbatcr. Mr.. Wisdom first rave q
definition Of the question, aud next pro-
cccdcd 10 show that Ma,erialism has ever
cNcrted Il beneficial influence upon society,
ana upon the scientific and religious worlds.
lie attributed most inventions and improve
mentS 10 this tendency, and claimed that
man il hut lurthering the will of his Maker
in training his mind and body. MIR. Wis
dorn's appearance or tho stage was very
striking and pleasant, and he sustained his
point well and nohly.
Mr.. W. i. Childers, Of Tennessee, ap-
pcarrd rs the first champion for the negative,
and the gentleman did great credit both to
himself and the Society which he rcprcscnt-
ed. His chief point was that Ill modern in
y~entions and Improvements are made not
from any high motives, but for love Of gain.
Mr.. Chiiders then makes it n question as to
whether mankind has been improved by in
ycntionS. and further claimed that they tend
greatly 10 decrease morality. lie showed
that Matcr!aliSm destroyed Liberty. and was
III many other respects injurious. His speech
| WAS rs good "a any we have heard for q long
| timC.
Next calnc Mr. Horace Dufour, OF Mis>is.
sipIi. a. third debater and second for The
affirmative. Mr.. Dulour has a peculiar
charm in his delivery. and the repeated ap-
pause and the attention Of The idiieS in the
galleries clearly proved that his speech was
appreciated. He claims that nlaterialism
causes men to prefer the practical to the or
%nanlcnial, The useful to the useless. and thai
it improves the mind. Mr.. Duiour sus
tanned his argument by comparing the diff
tcrent states OF society III the past and pre-.
sent. He denies hiSopponent's assertion, and
SAYS that all inventions arc made in the
material world. and that they are not made
Tor money alone. The g%cntlcmau'S speech
WA very good. aud We are sorry that want OF
space c"lGpc'S Us 10 say nc more about il.
Mr. ". +. llognc appeared rs the fourth
and last speaker. ail by lis witty cuts at his
opponents canned considerable applause. Mr.,
lioeIc cm,!oycd hi, time in shown" where
his opponents were wrong. and showed that
all nations which have Lccn raised to a high
position through this matarinli>tic tendency
ultimately decay. The debate WAS excellent
Oh both sides. and after Il hard-fought battle
the negative gained the question.
Tie music was very tine and bouquets
plentiful, aud altogether the celebration was
an exceedingly pleasant one, and everybody
went home much pleased. i. Il. w.