Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-09-27

Some of them were only for short time in
the foreign field and returned to this country
because of failure of health. Some have fallen
asleep like the soldier on the battlefield. In
the little graveyard at Cape Palmas, near
| enough to the ocean to hear tie ceaseess dash
of its waves, FIVE of the Alumni of this semi
uary-Midor, Holcomb, Messenger, Robert
Smith, and Golden Hoffman have accomplish
ed their warfare, and rested from their labors.
The London Christian Observer has said =
1--WE do not commit ourselves to terms of ex-
cessivs commendation in declaring our belief
that the annals of missionary excellence do not
furnish brighter example than that OF Golden
Hoffman"
The mission of our Church in China has been
and is now almost wholly supplied with mis-
sonaries from our seminary. Two OF our pres.
eut students are ready to 60 whenever the for
eign committee are ready to send them.
The soil of China has become holy ground by
holding in it's embrace all that can die of Bish-
op Boone aud Henry Parker, who, unlike the
rich young man in the gospel sold all that be
had at the command of Christ and followed Him
and his treasure in heaven.
Cleveland Keith, the son of DR.. Keith, an
earnest apd singlo-hearted missionary, ,perlshed
at sea on his way to this country. When the
Golden Gate" caught on fire he exhorted to
the last his fellow. passengers, as one OF them
who survived Informed US, to fee to that Say.
iour who was near his servant in that awful
hour
Our Alumni are to be found in nearly every
diocese and in every large city in our country;
and two 10 Dacotah among the
Ponka Indians represent our seminary. They
have generally been, as DIR. j. S. Stone has
said, warm hearted, devoted parish clergy :;
or to quote the testimony af the Princeton Re-
view, 'There is now in Virginia body of
clergy who, for diligence, piety, aud rcpu!gnance
to Rtualism, are uDequalled among Eplsco-
palians.
But the ranks Of our Alumni have been like
those Of regiment gathered after standing
all day under fire. As the day wears on the
ranks grows thinner, and at the evening roll
call to familiar names there comes back no an
swer. Could We summon them from their
graves to meet again with us to-day what
goodly company would they make. Aud how
would they exhort US to flush our course with
Joy, and say to US, is it not written. They
that be wise shall shine as the brightness OF the
armament, and they that turn many to right
eous ness as the stars forever and eVerY
Let this great era in our seminary llte be not
ouly al occasion for reviewing the past but a
startiug point for new era OF greater progress
for the half century to come. We need our en-
dowment to be greatly Increased; it Is very in,
sufficient for our pressing necessities 1t will
no doubt surprise some here when they learn
that the annual income from our vested funds
is but $1,000.
| hope that some measures will be taken at
this meeting and in this crisis OF the seminary
life looking towards a sufficient endowment.
We need new chapel, new library building.
We need constant improvements in our course
of study.
Let us in conclusion, dear brethren, watch
day and plight over that holy fire kindled from
heaven fifty years ago here, and which has
burned so brightly, that it 60 not out on this
altar of God.