The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-06-25
Richmond College Comm encemon.,
FINAL CKLEBRATIoN OF THE Mu.s1GHA.Ruo
RoCIETY.


FINAL oELEBRArIoN OF THE au.sIaMA.Ruo
soCIETY.
The most ardent Mu-signa. Rho man,
or the warmest friend OF the young men
| or OF the College, could not have wished
a more auspicous evening for their final
celebration than they had last night. The
rain cooled the atmosphere, and the ques.
| ton which some Of the young men were
| anElously discussing about sundowr, as
| they looked into portmonnaies and computed
the cost of hack, was happily solved by
the clearing away Of the clouds and the
bright moonlight in which they could prone.
made.
The new chapel fulflls the most sanguine
| expectations of its projectors, and is not only
beautiful audience.room Capable Of seating
fully eight hundred people. and very admi-
est and most pleasant to be found.
Some Richmond ladies (ameng them the
young ladies Of the Richmond Female Insti.
| tute) had decorated the room with exquisite
taste and rare skill.
The evergreens. the globe OF beautiful
flowers, and the other decorations Of the
speakers stand, were most artistically ar
ranged, and produced very pleasing effect.
w biC tuC auuiShSS WIZ hssCluUliuS
throughout the evening Kcssnich's band
stationed in the vestibule, which is thrown
into the chapel by folding doors) discorrscd
their sweetest Strains.~
The audience was larger aud an even more
brilliant one than that at Assembly Hall the
night before. They are not IN the habit here it
seems, Of selecting out celebrities to march
upon the platform, only seating there those
who are to take part in the exercises, but a
number of men Of mark were scattered
through the hall, mingled with the beauty
that graced the occasion.
The president Of the society (Mr. S. F..
Tay lor) introduced Rev DR.. n. w. Wilson,
of Richmond, who made an appropriate and
| earnest prayer.
In Introducing the speakers, Mr.. Taylor
| said that he would pronounce no eulogy
upon them, but would leave each one to
speak for himself. -..-..
The first speaker was Mr.. r. r. Acree, Of
| King and Queen, who announced as his
| theme, "Darkncss Turns TO Light" He
gave a brief but vivid sketch of the rise and
fall Of the Confederacy, and said that he did
not propose 10 speak Of the gloricS Of other
days; but rather Of the living, active present
and the Frightening future.
lie proposed to show that the results of
the late war, as sad as they are, will in
| the end result in great good to the South.
He earnestly argued that education is a
cornerstone Of the State spoke of the great
advance which our people are making in the
| cause CT education, and insisted that from
this will come rich blessing to our people.
He regarded indiUiduaHty as essential to
national prosperity, and argued that the peo-
pie of the South have never appreciated
their personality as they do to-day.
He insisted that no country can prosper
which does not seek to develope its material
| resources, spoke Of how we have neglected
| this in past years, and of the efforts now
| being made in that direction, and urged
| that from this is to come great prosperity in
| the future.
He closed with an earnest appeal to the
Young men of Richmond College-to the
Young men Of Richmond-to meet their re-
sponsibility and bear we'll their part in the
coming combat.
Mr.. Aclee delivered his address with an
earnestness that impressed the audience, and
| was frequently interrupted with applause
and rewarded with number of bouquets as
| he took bis seat.
The band struck up "Dixie," which was
| loudly applauded.
The next speaker was Mr.. It. Henry Mil
cr, of Lynchburg. Mr.. Miller, it is under
stood, is the only student who has this year
succeeded in taking the degree of Master Of
Arts--the highest honor of the college--and
is said to possess remarkable talent. He an
nounced as his subject The Present Age"
He sketched the progress of the age, pointed
out its leading characteristics, and insisted
that it is but just entering upon its grand
race. These points were illustrated by aptly
chosen examples aud elaborated into IN ad-
mirable address which showed extensive re-
search.
He closed with an earnest appeal to his
| fellow-studentS-as actors in the grand
drama--to to meet their responsibility and do
their part in sustaining the dignity OF the
age.
| Mr.. Miller's address elected well-deServed
applause aud bouquets, for it was one OF very
much more than ordinary merit.
After music there followed the
MEDAL PRESENTATION
| to the following successful contestants:
| D,c+ w Whitman of Gamp.