The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-06-13
ADDRESS OF JUDGE STABLES.
Further Proceedings OF the Hoaf" %
rrussecs-Tne Centennial EndoH-
mens--Fansl Celebrations Of the
phslanthropic Society, &c.
YRepcrsed for the Dispstch.I
SECOND DAY.
WEDNESDAY, June IL, 1871;

sCslptlOQ III ASE%a1 Vi oottNtnSSS AI"NC Su
;nterestipg report. About three thousand
dollars bad been raised, Of which about 81, 500
had been appropriated to valuable improve
nepse already made and now in progress.
The committee proposed to add 81 1000 to
tbs $500 YET uuapprop riated to enable them
to repair the large building known as the
" stewards hall " aud tit it up for hotel, to
be kept under proper restrictions, for the
accommodation Of visitors at commencement
and on other occasions, the Astounding hos
phaiity Of the professors Of the college and
seminary being unequal to the demand for
such accommodations. Many persons, It
was stated, would visit the college on the
public occasions, and at other times, whoare
embarrassed by their unwillingness to tres
pass on the families residing here, always SO
hesvily taxed In this way.
The committee are confident they can
raise the amount Of 81, 800 by appealing to
the friends Of the college. The committee,
consisting Of Messrs. Z. s. Darlington and S..
w. Vepable, Rev. Drs. Atkinson and George
W. Finley, was continued, and enlarged by
the addition Of DR.. W. l.. Stamps Of Milton,
y. c., Captain Il. S. Reynolds Of Norfolk,
Rev. DR.. D. B. Erying, and Rev. T. W.
hooper. ,s~@@.s
The degree Of 4. NJ. was conferred on
Mr. Addison Hoge, professor Of Greek In
The college.
Il was stated to the Board that Messrs.
Moth, Daily & Co., land agents at Farmvtlle,
had voluntarily inserted IN their advertising
sheet, which they send abroad to attract
English and other emigrants to this neigh
borhood, q comprehensive advertisement Of
the college, made up from the catalogue
and the thanks of the Board were cordially
rendered to them for this valuable service.
The citizens now coming into this part OF
the country through the agency of this com.
pany from England are regarded with much
favor and cordially welcomed. ..-
Authority was given the Faculty to adj
rertise the institution extensively at home
and abroad. =.
1rBIlo EXERCISES or THE pAY-JUDGE sTAPLEs's
ADDRESS. +z.
BY IL O'Clock an interesting audience had
assembled In the college church, and the two
literary societies Of the college entered in
procession, accompanied by the trustees, pro-
fessors, &c. The President called the assem-.
bly, to order and invited the Rev. p. B. Price
70 offer prayer, and then introduced the
speaker. Judge W. r. Staples, of Christians.
burg, Va, Of the Court OF Appeals Of Wiz
g!nja.
Judge Staples said that for the last three
years he had not been In the habit of public
speaking, and had wholly retired from the
political arena aud from the animating pro-
fessienal conflicts which impart self.confi-
dence. ! have been content to pursue the
sven tenor of my way, and to perform the
duties the State has assigned me.
he said he was confident he could say
nothing new to this audience, and az all
popular topics had been exhausted he had,
after much reflection, concluded to speak of
"The Earth its Constitution, its Laws, and
its Elements" What he had to say on this
subject would be necessarily of a general
character. Abiding to the Yastness Of the
theme and the attention it Is now attracting,
the efforts Of literary institutions, Govern
ments. scholars, and travellers, to extend
their discoveries in physical science, he said {:
"Occupied for the last twenty years with
the duties Of an engrossing profession, / have
still had some little leisure for studies of this
Kind. They have afforded me many Of the
happiest hours Of my life. In sickness they
have cheered and sustained ME. In health
they have filed me with emotions Of joy
and rapture no other study could ever i'm
part
views Of the creation, preservation, and
government of the universe, which these
studies open 70 our vision. harmonizc
server of the world ; that they crafty Gu
ziosity implanted in us by Providence;
they enable US to follow with our own ewes
he marvellous works Of God; to trace His
unoounded power; to see the exquisite skill
and design exhibited In the most minute as
well SO the highest works IF the universe.
speak to the earth said Job, and il shall
teach thee The earth Is the vestibule of
the great temple Of nature For man IT, was
created, to him it was given to have domin-
ion over 1t, upon it he Is born, Its surface is
the arena of his pleasures, bis ambition. and
his achievements; In pursuit of it's vanities,
It's iucIe, he wastes the bloom of his man
hood, he risks the happiness of bis soul; to
its bosom be Is at last committed, beneath its
Verdant sod he reposes, and with its dust
uaingles all that Is mortal in his nature. 1t
Is not only beautiful to the eye, but Is filled
with treasures for our enjoyment; its vaults
conlain stores for building, marble for deco |
ration, fuel for warming US, fountains Of oil
for our lamps. Its surface is covered with |
countless gifts that minister to our comfort,
and adorned with plants and flowers that fill |
lis with delight and qualification.
"ln the language OF Kepler, while the |
tongue of the Almighty is speaking to US In |
His Word, His finger is writing to us in His |
works. The story of revelation is written
upon every leaf, and, as has been well said,
man should enter upon the study of nature
with the Bible in bis hand. While the mys-
teries Of the spiritual world are shut in from
our view, the domain of nature lies before
rs. Here man may raise his sceptre. On
him has been conferred the high prerogatiye
of expounding It's mysteries, penetrating It's
secrets, and Of making the elements subser-
Went to bis will. The task Is worthy of his
genius and his destiny. !. Man, how
feeble and yet how strong. "A tainted
breath of air may poison him +; al
single false step may fling him upon his
face; fash of light may blast him and yet
the fires obey his command; he rides in
triumph over the surging pillows of the
deep; be makes the lightning the messenger
OF his will; he encircles the globe with the
electric wires, to convey the tidings Of bis
Toys, bis SORROWS, and his achievements to
the uttermost regions of the earth he stu
dies the heavens, he maps out its territory,
he measures the distances of the constella-
tons SO far remote In the awful depths of
space, where light does not reach him. And
yet, with all bis genius and penetrating
intellect, the entire space of his mental life
Is not sufficient to comprehend one of the
senses"
Judge Staples next spoke Of the perfection
and harmony OF the works Of nature as COM
pared with the works Of man with richness
and variety Of enumeration and ILLUSTRATION
which your reporter has net time to repro.
duce IN the speakers own language, II you