The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-06-24
of Richmond Co,lere.
FINAL CELEBRATION OF THE Pnn.oLoGlAN
SOCIETY

4.
SOCIETY.
Assembly Hall was filed last evening with
one OF Rlchmond's best audiences. The
grave theologian, the staid matron, the belle
| and the beau, the chivalry aud the beauty OF
our lair City were all there TO honor The occa.
s'on and show their appreciation of the
efforts OF the young gentlemen of the /" Phi
| iolosian Society" of Richmond College as
they gathered for their final celebration.
AS the company were assembling Kess-
! nich's band discoursed some very sweet mu-
| sic, and strain of pleasant chit-chat ran
through the hail.
This old society has been in very -four
| ishing condition during the past session, and
| its many friends seemed highly gratified at
the large and appreciative audience which
greeted them last night.
The marshals of the occasion acquitted
themselves skiltully and gracefully in con-
duc.ing all comers TO seats, and number
Of our most prominent citizens were scat
| tered through the audience.
The president (Mr. r. III. Rawlcs) intro
duced Rev. DR.. Ii. A. Tupper, who opened
the exercises with an appropriate prayer.
MIR. II. J.. SchmelZ, Of Hampton, made a
| graceful salatatory in which he expressed
| large and refined audience, bade them a cor.
! dial welcome, and thanked them for the
kind and friendly appreciation shown by
| their presence.
He alluded to the events of the past ses-
sion as incentives to future efforts, gave to
| his fellow-members some well.delivered ad-
vice, and made an earnest appeal to those
who had borne off the "honors" Of the So
| ciety to meet in the future the responsible.
| ties that are upon them.
He concluded by bidding the audience
welcome-t thrice wecome-to the rich lite
rary repast which had been provided for
them.
After music the President introduced as
| the first orator Mr.. William NJ. Turpin, OF
| Richmond, of whom he remarked that he
| was soon to bear off one of the highest hon
orS Of the college.
6ir. Turpin begun with the trite remark.
"The times change, and we change with
them," and easily and quite gracefully intro.
| duced as his theme The dreams Of one
| age the science Of another"
! In illustrating and enforcing his subject he
culled from the history of the great nations
| of the past. and traced with familiar han
| the history of science.
He was very happy in tracing the origin
Of astronomy in the speculations Of the old
magi and astrologers through the supersti-
| tionS, dreams" and false theories Of the
Middle Ages down to the light and advance
ment Of the present day.
Mr.. Turpin's address was we'll conceived,
beautifully written, and very we'll delivered.
| 1t was free from the many faults incident to
the young orator, and was specimen of
rare good sense and pure taste. A better
model Of literary address is seldom heard
and it richly deserved the loud applause and
beautiful boquets with which he was re-
warded.
| The President next appropriately intro
| duced, as one who had come from his sunny
home "to share the literary advantages OF
dear Old Virginia."
| Mr.. X. S. Hanks, Of Pickensville, Ala, who
discussed as his theme "LJe: Is al a
Dream or q Realitv?" He gave vivid
picture of youth just setting sail on the
sea of life, fondly imagining that life is a
sweet dream, and sailing over the CLASSY sur
face until at last rudeIy awakened to realize
that life is real, life as earnest. He then
showed that life is real in its duties, lis pos
| sibilities, its issues, and its influences.
| He insisted that life may be made real
| that one should resist the first tendency to
evil, and that the true man should be willing
to piod for success.
lie gave vivid contrast between the
"genius" :" who fits through college and the
earnest worker who lays deep and strong
tue foundations of future usefulness and
success. He urged that we should see 10
our influence that we should dare the
worlds opposition and always 10 r'Jht..,
g be sure you are right and then 60 ahead." :"
He illustrated his theme by the story Oh
the printers boy, Benjamin Franklin-John
Bunyan, who rose from 'the Bedford DaD'
| bler'' to his immortality of fame aud USE
funess-Andrcw johnson, who rose from
his tailor's bench to the Presidency OF the
United States - Gallleo, Newton, and
Morse, and closed with an eloquent appeal
to his comrades to recognize that lJe IS
real.
Mr.. Hank>'s address was sensible, we'll de.
liyered. and full Of good hits, which brought
down the house.
| lie, too, richly deserved the smiles of the
fair, and the appreciation Of the whole audi
| ence.
| The president then appropriately intro.
| duced Major Baker =. Lee, who had been
| selected to deliver the medals on the occa
| sion.
| Major Lee begun with 4 graceful al!usion
| to the OCCASION, warm congratulation TO
| the friends Of Richmond College on the
I! splendid success Of the past session, and
| some eloquent words Of advice to the young
men of the college. He then, with a few ap-
propriate words TO each, presented the FOL
| lowing medals, which had been awarded by
| the vote of the society:
| MEDALS
l. Best Dictator j. Ad. French, Of Rich.
| mond.
Best Writer A. W. Graves, of Oranst
! county.
Inproued most in DEBATE: j. Fl. Garnet,
of Missouri.
Best Declaimer: j. C. Hobson, Of Rich
mond, Va. -
He then expressed to the "honor mcn >
| his sense of the privilege it had been TO he-
stow these houors on those who had so Wor'
| thily won them at zone of the very best col
leces in Virginia, and one that is destined 10
| take rank with the very first institutions on
| the continent"
| Major Lees address was we'll conceived
and Gracefully delivered, and elected lre'
quent aud rapturous applause.
The exercises were closed with the
| vIFDIcToRy ADDRESS,
by the president, Mr.. r. Il. RaWles, OF sui
! folk, Va, who warmly returned thanks tc
the citizens of Richmond, the Faculty OF the
| College, and the Mu Sigma Rho Society, ano
spoke feeling and appropriate words OF part
| ing to his fellow. members OF the Phllologlar
Society. -,
The band played " Home" very sweetly
Dr Tu,,,ar y,ron,1ncad fhe benaaictiOn