The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-07-04
Commencem ent.Daya at the University
of virginia. ,., 49,

In the EducdtaoNdt JOtffItut. ,....
commencement Day at the University
= of Virginia. sl,.,. ; -e;,
THE Associated Press telegram which
we published on "Wednesday morning
abounded in errors, which our report
would have corrected had not our corre-
spon dent been, called home on Tuesday by
family affliction.l no
Instead of the joint celebration OF the
two societies occurring Tuesday night las
stately, that was the celebration of the JET!
fersou Literary Society, at which Mr.. Mere
dith (son OF Judge Incredibly. OF Richmond.
received the medal asbest orator. and made
an admirable speech on Sc The Statesman OF
the Future" and Mr.. Bruce, OF Halifax, re-
ceived the medal as best. debater.
"Wednesday, night, Hon. S. F. Hunt, OF
Cincinnati, addressed the Literary Socie-
ties, and yesterday Thursday was com.
menccment proper. ,'o7.'. 's.n+' 3.
The chief interest OF the week centred
in the address yesterday Of Bishop Dudley,
of Kentucky, an old g Richmond boy" be-
fore the Society Of Alumni, and we give
our readers the following full abstract:]
ADDRESS OF BISHOP DUDLEY.
He begun with very pleasant and rather
humorous sketch Of the only previous occa-
sion upou which he had stood upon that
stage. when, as student, he mac read
Washin eton's Farewell Address, and OF the
changes which had occurred since. lie
smoke tenderIy OF the worthless who IN that
dav-a little over twenty years ago-guided
the footsteps OF over 600 pilgrims gathered
here, and asked the privilege OF speaking
especially Of those Of them whose work Us
done, and who have entered on their resi-.
He pictured a grand old man, the very
PIancus OF our republic, who himself, born
OF the University in her earliest youtn,
came as elder brother to govern and GUIDE
the household through the years OF long
life, and to be to the outside world the very
incarnation of the University OF Virginia.
He needed not to name him that ne DC
recognized by that goodly company OF dis
old pupils, who learned the ancient wisdom
from his lips, and the highest wisdom OF all
from his life. AS his pupll-nay, as ' IT.
gInian--hc could not but say, All honor TO
the name OF Gessncr Harrison, VINO ana
more for the glory OF our native State than
any man OF his, time; for he in largest part
made the University what it is-the chlelest
adornment Of the virgin green. Dear "O!d
Cess Otis loving reverence which calls
him so; for so in boyhood's disrcsp2ctful
phrase we best can think OF him). how
strange these walls and halls without thy
kindly smile, thy quaint words OF welcome.
No marble slab pcrpetuates thy memory
within these walls, which thy. fame did MI,
but tby sons gathered here to-day rise up
and call thee blessed": do thee homage us
the pioneer in that path in which our In
versity has iourneyed to glory.
The Bishop then paid touching tributes
to Professor Maupin, the self-saci ihclng,
efficient chairman Of the Faculty; Or.
Blcdsoe, whose great intellect d;scourSed OF
the universe in its complex revolutions;
and OF DR.. McGuffey, the great teacher. lie
smoke also of Professor Gilder>leere, who
had zone from bis grand work here to make
the reputation OF the new University at
Baltimore. And the boys, SIX hundred
strong, who that night with noisy applause
proclaimed their gladness that the farewell
address was ended. All! how few are here
to-day, and they with boards grown gray
and Geep-lined faces The greater number
of them-yes, the greater numbcr-sleep IN
warriors graves, who on an hundred bat
tfe.felds Welded their young life in defence
OF what they believed to be the liberty OF
our land. And in their midst lies Coleman,
nor professor nor student in the day Of
which speak, but who was my prcceptor
and my friend, and than whom Virginia
had no nobler, no more gifted, son. And
both he and they, professor and student,
ere they died adorned the gray jacket they
wore and illustrated the principles here
instilled that thoroughness and complete
ness are the alone characteristics OF excel
lence in every department OF life.
He spoke Of living alumni who adorn
the highest places, whether in the capitol
or the COURTROOM, the lecture-room or the
hospital, the Press, the pulpit, or the
and paid an appropriate
tribute to The president of our Society
Hon. J. Randolph Tucker-whom great
editor has recently pronounced "cohless'
edy the most eloquent as the most pro
ound constitutional lawyer in the Congress
If the United States" ,,.;o
He paid an eloquent tribute 10 virginia,
md Virgina's University as leaning on nei
broken spear. and though Wld""tu' coh-
lueror still through her sons; ana pro.
,Inmni os TO what is needed to make
he future OF this noble University more
ylorious than q, her grand past. lie
,.ma from another State, but was no
lien or stranger here, and coming from
a part OF Nlrgnla-he
riplded to none in his love for the State OF bis
hirth an d for the mother from whose breasts
his mind did suck the milk which had given
Am all the strength he possessed. lie
would therefore freely inquire how Alma
Mater may be greater and more glorious i'll
the future than in the past? How these
halls may he again crowded with the youth
Of the West and the South. He proposed
TO consider whether the University should
seek future prosperity by new methods
and new systems, or by adhering firmly to
her old prlnciples and rallying around her
the loving hearts and willing hands OF her
children and all others who love her!
He first asked, What are the distinctive
OF the University of Virginia :?
What popularity OF constitution did the
sage OF Monticello engraft on this his bant.
ling that, though nourished with at best but
pittance from the State, i'm thirty
years she had grown so great that her fol-
lowers did outnumber those OF institutions
OF the North whose age could count almost
as many centuries as her decades! He
answered IN two, wOrds-FREEDoM and
THoR0UGHNEss. -..--
He brought out, clearly the point that
FREEpons belongs to everything pertaining
to the University system; that students are
free TO come, to stay, orito 60, and free in
selecting their course. Of study; and that it
is, the very. denial and defiance OF the mo-
nastic schools Of the middle ages, and the
ser1i-monastic schools Of to-day. >. Here
shall be no traditional aristneracy OF prece-
dence compelling The multitude, each and