The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-06-12
Hampton Sidney College Ninety
ninth mencemcnf.
THcrurtrd for the Dispatch. ]

Harnl,dcn Sidney College Ninety
ninth Comm ncemcnf.
THcr"rtcd for the DiSpach.l
The exercises of the ninety-ninth com.
mrncement began last evening (Junc OH,
with The celebration of the Union Literary
Society. \ large audience was present when
1T Si o'clock the cXel ciSeS were opened with
prayer 10y Rev. Thomas w. Hooper.
The Rev. II. G. Alexander, Of the Theo
logical Seminary. presided. and introduced
the various speakers With appropriate re.
marks.
v. +. Cave, of Virginia, the first of the
two junior orators, proved in logical and
wcll-rerdercd address the truth Of his para.
doXical subject" knowledge is Power"
r. VI. Dickson. OF Kentucky, added an lm-
portant qualification to this by showing that
True Greatness and Moral Worth are One
and lnSeparable."
An interesting ceremony followed in the
presentation Of the best speakers medal to
Charles Ghi>elin. of Norfolk, by James II.
Bridges. Of your city. Mr.. Bridges did his
part handsomely, and judging from the
short but elegant address Of Mr.. GbiSelin
the Society has not misplaced her highest
honor.
That man was "Half Dust, Half Deity >
was we'll shown by W. Seymour Green,
of Virginia. the trial orator, with many III
stances drawn from the history OF nations
and individuals.
The polite and Efficient marShals were F.
\. Coleman. Of Virginia, and Thomas =.
Hay. of South Carolina.
Hampden Sidney has almost completed its
onpt,,r-. ,f psnf,1lp.sS Porn amid no ihrnaS
Of the Revolution. it was hardy child. Al
ter successful mddle.aSe. another war has
not destroyed ii; but, renewed and reyiyi.
fed. We find it entering upon new era OF
usefulness. The work OF raising the endow-
ment proposed at the meeting of its friends
in Richmond is going on rs successfully as
possible for these tight times. \ committee
OF that body is meeting here with the truS-
tees.
The graduating class is the largest since
the war. 1t includes the names of the fol-
lowing Young conference.-the Harrison Il.
Thornton. of Virginia, first honor; Charles
GhiSciin. Of Norfolk, second honor; Charles
+. Riekc, Of Kentucky. third honor james
Il. Bridges. OF Richmond; Thomas II.
Campbell, OF Hampden Sidney; John W.
Dabpey. of Hanover. Va; w. Seymour
Green. Of Virginia; John w. Jones, OF
PRICE Edward; Charles W. johnson, OF
WytheIille: Robert X. MoSeley, of Liberty
William Hervey Woods. Of Kentucky; james
l.. Tredwuy. of Pitt>ylyania; Goodridge A.
Wilson, of Marion.
The literary societies were addressed on
this "Wednesday morning at y NJ. 10y Colo
mel William Il. Berkeley Of Farmrillc. A
large audience attended on this occasion,
composed chiefly Of graceful and polished
Young ladies. attended by the animated aud
| grtli1ied students, though we noticed such
AZ appeared TO be The people of the country,
| who flock in from all directions. Colonel
| Berkeley opened with some very feeling re.
miniscencc> Of his graduation precisely six.
| teen years ago, and 4 tribute TO two OF his
| fellow. graduates who now sleep on some
| Confederate battlefield.
Hpannounc,d rs his subject "The Priest
hood of Letters Declaring this hierarchy
! 10 be composed Of all cultivated men who
yalue letters as a means of Selt-culture, he
| proceeded 10 discuss the duties of The priest.
| hood at the present day. Their first duty
was 10 sustain the taste for English and
American clus>icS, which is being destroyed
bv the growing iondneSS for The light and
trashy books of the day. The second duty
was to purify the politics of the country. He
pressed this forcibly upon the men Of letters
insisting that if they stood aloof from the
uncean arena the country would die tor the
need of some power TO free it of this gan.
creme.
There were none others to do it. The
third was the great duty of welding the
press. and thereby control the minds OF
Americans upon the social problems OF the
dav. The false and gliltering plausbllitles
of such as Beecher and Wendell Phillips
must not be allowed TO sway the American
mind 10 sll their ruinous theories. They
must awaken themselves, and add theirs to
the zeal of the clerical aud political dema'
go9ueS.
\ meagre outline cannot give just idea oil
this animate d and elegant discourse. Though
he occupied an hour, and the day was op'
Dressively warm, Colonel Berkeley held the
close attention OF an audience who were loud
in their expressions Of qualification ana re-
eretful at lis close.
The entertainment Of this evening was the
celebration of the Philanthropic Literary
society. The exercises were opened at
9 o'clock by DR.. 81. d. Hoge, of Richmond,
with few very happy remarks, who also
introduced to the audience that much re:
spected and venerable "PrieSt of Letters -
Hugh b. Gligsby, Esq, of Charlotte. Inc
Doctor introduced The first junior orator, w.
l.. Austin, Of Maryland, and his subject
Never Say Die" with the anecdote OF the
ScOtcbman who, when his physician told MN
he was afraid he must die, replied: "No,
Doctor,it is the very last thing expect to do.''
Mr. Austin showed, in very iorclble man.
ner. the necessity Of having such motto.
6. s. Baskerville, of Virginia, was the other
Junior orator. He proved the truth of bis
PROPOSITION "The Wealth of the Mind is
the only True Wealth." by three arguments,
which he developed very we'll. First, De,
cause if properly applied it compartments all
other wealth; second, it is source OF Joy 10
lis owner, since into it thieves cannot break
and steal: aud lastly, because. as we believe,
!, is not discarded with this life. but lives
with MS into the unknown future"
The medal Of the Society was presented ny
John W. Dabney, of Hanover, in very plea
can, st vie 10 William Heryey Woods, OF Hen
t,cky who received it in an equally Sracefui
MANNER. He assured bis felow-mem-
hcr, il was his highest aim TO at
test his appreciation of their glit Dy
:. the yoceless eloauence of deeds" He was,
like Ferdinand of Aragon, sorrowing during
the festivities over the taking Of Naples; for
he. too, had gained a yictory-he, 100, naa
lost brethren. Upon the stiffness OF mes
morning had burst a trumpet-call which Dlos
hin, saw farewell to the brethren he lett IN
the camp and 80 onward with his nag. Inc
final orator. Goodridse A. Wilson, OF Fir-
a;nia made an excellent speech, which de.
servea the handsome floral compliments OF
which he got large share. More anon;
"ni'n ~ p. G. y.