Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1877-07-06
Letter from Annapolis.
June 3oth, 1917.

! June both, 1877.
Mr.. Editor The latest ia the shape OF
/ literary treats that has happened in this old
! city, once called the ATHENS Of America,
/ was the 9Th Annual Celebration OF The
| Philokalian Society, Of St. Johns College, on
| last evening. With your permission, Mr..
| Editor, it would be proper 10 preface tho ac-
| count OF that occasion with a few remarks
/ respecting the claims OF ST. Johns College
on the support of the people Of the State. AS
an Alma Aater it claims the respect and love
| of some Of the greatest men OF our State as
a medium of Education it is second to no COL
| Lege ia the county. lis standard is far above
the average, and with every department
thoroughly organized and presided over by
men whose ability is undoubted, Justly claims
the patronage Of our people. II offers higher
education at lower rates than the colleges
2atronzed by many Marylauders; it is easy
of &C cess and pleasantly located in our own
State Capital. Her claims briefly summed up
are these Thoroughness Of instruction, con-
venience and what should recommend itself
in these hard tiues-cheapness.
The exercises OF the evening were opened
with prayer by Rev. DR.. Dashiel, after which,
Mr.. N. W. Dixon, the president of the Society
made few remarks in which he welcomed
the audience and referred 10 the benefit the
students Of the college had received from the
H. Arthur Stump, OF Cecil county, who de-
livered an Grafton on "a Federal Republic
and Constitutional Monarchy" His man
ner was digni6sd and graceful, his utterance
clear and distinct and he treated the sub ject
in most original liberal and creditable
manner. Want Of space prevents even
synopsis of the Grafton, but il would be I'M
Just to refrain from the remark that it con-
tanned views and ideas worthy more natured
mind. The subject is, indeed, one of great
weight and presents a field for elequence and
lar-sightedness of sages, but Mr. Stump I'M
ders,ood the work and the Grafton did credit
to his comparative study of the two forms Of
Government.
Mr. Stump was followed bv Mr. J. Harry
Krebhs, Of Baltimore who delivered an ora
ton entitled "Utepia" This grafton was
also OF a political cast, and in point of erato-
ry did not fall short of Mr. Stumps Among
its many good qualities could be men tioned
that portion which contained sarcasm of the
highest stamp at the conceit OF the A mercan
people in supposing that they were the favored
ones and that they had found an Utopa-the
perfection of human Government. To the
the contrary OF this idea be cited the darkest
spots Of our history as proof most vivid and
The address to the society was delivered by
MT. II. NJ w Johnson, OF ElkIOn, Mo-, ana
entitled tho "Goal of History" The subject
was beautifully handled, and its meaning
opened up to the audience by the statement
hat it meant the grand and vexng problem
Of life. Fear lest justice be not done pre-
vents lengthy criticism but the orator showed
his intimate acquaintance with History in
his very graphic description of the birth, life
and death Of all the governments of the
world. He found occasion TO aliude to the
war in the East and drew from the tale of ages
the awful doom Of the fual ruin OF the Turks
The latter portion of the address was pariicu-
larly noticeable for its eloquonce and close
reasoning.
The exercises were concluded with PRAYER
after which dancing was INDUCED in until
late hour. After the dance the old echoes of
those classic walks were once more awakened
by merry college songs. Many of the "eld
fellows" were present and even those who af-
footed mustaches and the dignity of years
entered With the spirit of the joyful students
with all their once boyish hilariiy. So WAS
due homage given TO cid time for giving to the
Society of the lovers of the beautiful another
year Of honor and benefit.
YIsIToR.