The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-06-24
Wasa,l ugfon and E4ee University --Com.
mencenent ExerHsScs.

SUNDAY HtEHt thS IiupSi NHs Nittu lU It's
utmost capacity 10 hear the sermon before
the Young Mems Christian Association by
Rev. George Peterkiu, of the Memorial
church, Baltimore. Rev. DIR. PepdletOn as
sisted 10 the service. Mr.. PeterkIn's teXt
was Matthew w.. 4: +" Man shalt not live
by bread alone, but by every word that pre-
ceedeth out Of the mouth of God" The
sermon was earnest and impressive. The
speakers manner was that OF man who had
a message to deliver, and does 1t with sim
plcity and force. 1t was the first time Mr..
Pcterkin has preached in Lexington, but he
has won for himself admirers and friends.
CELEBRATION OF TIE soclRrIxs-rRgsRSTAGro
oP MEDALS. &C.
LExn GToS, June 90, 1915
The University chapel WAS thronged last
night with a brilliant audience, assembled 10
witness the tinsl celebration Of the Graham
Lee, and Washington Literary Societies.
The ladies were out in full force, and the
galleries snd floor Of the chapel presented
the appearance of a parterre Of besutifui
flowers. The band discussed sweet music,
the recipients Of the hoDOrS of the occasion
looked happy and handsome, and the rib
boncd marShsls displayed, il possible. more
than their usual degree of aIacrity and cheer.
fulness.
The exercises Of the evening were begun
By Mr.. J. p. Boccck, Of Virginia, who in.
troduced to the audience as the recipient of
the debater'S medal from the Graham Lee
Society Mr.. Miles Macon Martin, of Dan.
vile, Va. MIR. Martin responded feeingly
and elcquently, expressing his warm graft
,udc for the highest honor in the power Of
the Society 10 confer.
Mr.. S. f. Green, Of Alabama, president Of
the Washington Literary Society, then pre-
scented. on behalf OF the society, the deoater's
medal to Mr. II. l.. Duiour, Of New Orleans.
Mr.. Dufour responded in his usual eloquent
strain, aud ut the conclusion was the re-
cipient Of baskets of aIwers in sufficient
abundance 10 cover square yard OF the
sage. la fact, floral tributes were Showered
upon each of the speakers, but Mir. Du:our's
share really seemed TO require the utmost
| eXcltionS Of dozen maj suals TO get them
! TO him.
| Tie president of the Graham Lee Society
| then presented the medal conferred upon the
best declaimrr to Mr.. 5. }. Graham, Of Nir-
! yinia: and the president Of the Washington
Society the dPclaimer's medal TO Mr.. w. L.
Dod. of Virginia. EIch Of these gentlemen
made an appropriate response.
Mr.. J. L. Lis!e, Of Kentucky, was then in-
trocuced rs the orator Of the Graham Lee So
clety. He took for his theme the Contrast
between Ideal and Real Lite" and spoke flu
emily and vel. The attention of some OF
his tair auditors during MIR. Li>le's speech
was not, perhaps, quite as fixed Us ne mig ht
hive wished; but at the conc u-lon the sweet
culpri's showed their desire 10 obtain forgive.
ness for their fault by the many tokens OF APP
pfccla'ion they sent him; and when has
| beauty failed TO purchase pardon with
rose!
Nr. W. p. McCorkle, of Alabama, the
orator Of the Washington Society, an
bounced us bis subject g. Moral Skcpti.
cism in America Its Causes and it,
Tendency" lie was quite severe on
the press, especially that portion OF il
uorth of alason and D'Xon'S line, who, be
said. crcate Il debauched public taste that
they may find their profit in paDdering to It's
qualification. This was the deadly upas
Tree, which threatens with Us fell poison
our whole laud; bug Americans would yel
shake Of the raleful Influence, and demand
nonor and integrity in office, and viudicate
he purity Of society. Mr.. McCorklc'S effort
was in every way creditable, and was listened
to with attention.
NO'hDg now remained TO be done but the
presentation of the SIntni prize medal, and
the Gazette mcda, given resp cuycly tor the
best and It cOnd-0tst essay published dullng
the session in the students paper, the South
| err COlleqi0n. II was announced that the
first of these would ba contcrrt d oy General
j. W. Grlgshy, of Kentucky; and as the
stately form of The gallant soldier advanced
upon the stage, Il hush OF pleasure and eX
pcc,ution ron through the audience. Hc
look the beautiful gold medal in bis band
and turning to its recipient, Mr.. Clarence
tdmurd>on, Of Tennessee, stated that the
| ColleSian owed this reward for excellence in
IT, columns 10 the noble generosity Of Mr.
Joseph SantIni. Of New Orleans, who had
given an endowment OF $1,000 for the pur'
pose. In few simple though beautiful
DIS he cXhorted its recipient never 10 for
get its purpose and import, nor 10 neglect
The seIi-culfure it was intended 10 encourage
and concluded br expressing the hope that
the example OF Mr.. Siutini would be follow
ed by many others in generous incentives to
literary excellence.
Hon. John Randolph Tucker was chosen
TO conter the Gazette medal. Curlou>ll
enough, this mccall, given by the LcXiug
ton CARTE, had fallen 10 Mr.. W.P. McCor.
klc, the gentleman who in his speech fen
moments before had been 80 severe upon the
press. He bad, however, had the grace to
ryplain that bis structures referred 10 the
press "outsIde OF lexington ard in par.
ticu1r not 10 the Lexington Gazette. Mr.
Tucker alluded to the coincidence humor'
ously, and then, changing his manner to
earnest conylclnn, reminded the young
writer who had received the prize that The
ren is mightier titan the sword, and that
now with the pen. and not with the sword
the Sou,b hus TO contend against the cor
rupting influences of the day. Mr.. fuckers
manner and words were excellent. and few
Others could have so we'll borne comparison
with the elegant soldier who preceded HIM
in the same duty. q. a. &.