The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-06-17
RANDoLPH-MACON COLLEaE.
ADDRESS BEFORE THE ALUMNI-CoNTRsT
FOR THE sUTHERLIN MEDAL-CELEBRA-
TI0N OF THE FRANKLIN soCIETY-A
LARGE ATTENDANCE AND INTERESTING
EXERCISES.


TI0N OF THE FRANKLIN soCIETY-A
LARGE ATTENDANCE AND INTERESTING
EXERCISES.
The sessions OF the Board OF Trustees
held on Tuesday and yesterday were largely
attended. The reports of the College
faculty for the session now ending were re-
viewed, and, after dispatching much detail
work, considered plans for giving greater
facilities to the College. As yet no specific
plan has been adopted.
From the annual report OF President Ben
nett II appears that the number Of students
in attendance during the session was 12s,
being an increase Of five over the preced-
ing. This fact is somewhat remarkable. as
the experience OF other State colleges has
not been so favorable. DIR. Bennett states
"with few exceptions the students have
been attentive and diligent, and have mau-
tanned the reputation of the institution for
good scholarship. Like all other colleges
we have had to take a number of boys under
the proper age for college classes, and who
should have been kept at preparatory
schools. Mere youths can hardly be ex-
pected TO study diligently unless they are
under the eve OF a teacher in study hours"
During the session there has been no case OF
serious sickness among the students, and 1t
Is worthy OF record that ont OF nearly 1000
students who have attended the college dIi-
ring the past twelve years there have been
| but three deaths, and one OF these was the
result OF sickness contracted at home.
| The efforts 10 improve the financial condi-
tion Of the college have not been satisfac.
tory, though perhaps fully as much so as
the condition OF the country would war;
rant. II is remarkable that college under
the direct patronage OF the 10000 Metho-
dists OF the Virginia and Baltimore Con-
ferences should suffer in any particular for
lack OF an ample endowment. But this Is a
fact for the Methodists TO look at squarely,
and subject upon which Rev. Mr. Laflerly
will doubtless express himself.
The college was established fifty years
ago, and is perhaps the Oldest Methodist
college in America, and no like inst-
tuition has made nobler contributions TO
society, Church, and State than Randolph
Macon. 1t is fair TO presume that Board
OF Trustees deeply interested in the success
OF the institution will doubtless devise
means to overcome all financial troubles.
Since our last years visit to Ashland more
improvements have been made i'm the vii
lage, and notably in the college-grounds and
|
chapel, a handsome building, has been COM
pleted, and adds greatly TO the attractive
ness OF the campus. 1t would be hard to
find a more inviting lawn than that IN which
the college buildings are located, and ii
would be difficult to suggest more deslra-
| BILE locality for college than at Ashland.
The commencement exercises were lnau.
gllrated Yesterday morning by the annual
celebration OF the Society OF Alumni. The
rain in some measure interfered with the
attendance, yet the beautiful chapel, hand
somely decorated, was filed to hear the adj
dress OF Joseph T.. Leigh, Esq, OF Coum'
bus, Miss. There were present larger
number OF the Alumni than at any like Oc-
casion since 1860. Mr.. Leigh graduated in
1857. and few students ever left college
with q higher reputation as debater and
orator. Such a reputation is generally
dangerous. Mems minds when the men
are forty are not so fervid and impressblt
a. when the men were boys OF seventeen
Mr.. Leigh accomplished the difficult role o.
meeting the very highest expectations o.
his audience, and his address, which we vii
not here attempt toIreproduce, was one ol
rare eloquence, force and beauty. Th'
college may well rejoice that she has 81
worthy son. =.
Governor Il. j. Jarvis, OF North Carolina
was elected the Alumni orator for June
1880.
The contest for the Sutherlin prz
medal for excellence in Oratory, folIoWln,
me Alumni CeIeUratIun, was narrowed
down TO two contestants-D. NJ. James
Of PENNSYLVANIA. Subject: "a Pro
test Against Departure from Princi
pie" w. w. Sawyer, OF North Carolina
Subject "The Seeming and the Real Man.
These speakers acquitted themselves wit
much credit. The name OF the successiu
contestant will not be announced until to
morrow.
The annual dinner OF the Society o
Alumni was served at the Ashland Hote
and several hours were spent in that sort o
2 talking and speech-making which give th
] highest interest to college festival.
: At s O'Clock p. N. the Franklin Literar
Society held its final celebration In I'D
I chapel. The sky had become cleared an
t the crowd was immense, as always, and th
DISPLAY Of fans, flowers, and fair womer
| made the scene one long to be remembered
] T. w. Mason, Esq, OF North Carollni
presided as honorary president and dell'
cred an inaugural that delighted bis aud
Ience. He was followed by the Society
presentatiyes-Adam {. Davis, OF Mort
o Carolina, and McLain Pleasants, OF Ricl
$ mond. II Is too late to say more than th'
, the Society was well representedt
. To-day Q7th) DR.. TaImage will addre'
the literary societies at / | O'Clock A. n.
|. Prof. w. W. Smith and VIE saiieu iS
] Europe yesterday.