Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1880-12-03

after Frederick Billings fifteen miles south
west of here. lie has been recently sadly
bereaved by the loss of his wife and son.
70 return TO the excursion. At half past
II a. M, on Tuesday, occurred the laying
of the corner stone of new chapel Tor
Drury College. 1t il 10 be spa
cious AMI substantial building with re-
citation rooms below the audience
room The visitors and citizens OF
Springfield, Il number OF ladies included,
gathered in The college grounds, in spite OF
the SNOW Eat the severity Of the storm,
compelled the making of short work of the
ont -door proceeding A good band blew
some excellent music out among the thickly
falling snow flakes, a short prayer was offer
ed, the corner stone, with its enclosure OF
documents and photographs Of the principal
benciactors of the college. was lowered to
its place, and the asscmblage then repaired
to the man room of the preparatory de
partmeni, where DR. Goodell Of st. Louis
was called to the chair, and welcomed the
| guests. President Morrison, sketched brief
" the history Of the college Judge
Harwool, OF The building committee,
made nh interesting historical address, and
short aud inspiring speeches were made
by Rev Simeon Gilbert of the Chicago Id-
canoe, Rev DR. Wilton of New Jersey
Rev. DR.. Dana of St Paul, MINI, and Judge
Sargent of New Ham pshirc.
Dinner was served in Fairbanks Hall.
Nearly 800 visitors and citizens filled the
long tables, and after ample justice had been
done TO the handsome collation. spread 10y the
ladies of Springfield a round of unusually
bright and pleasant speeches followed. The
speech of welcome 10 the guests was made
by one of the trustees of the college, Capt.
Jones of Springfield, who was Confederate
soldier and who found at his side, at the
table, an Illinois delegate to the National
Council, whom he recognized as Il Union
soldier whom he had captured during the
war In his speech he stated this and gave
him his hand, amid storm of applause.
The Union soldier then related the incident,
which occurred at Lexington, Mo-, where
Can't. Jones of the Confcderatcs had his men
swim the river with hemp bales, and then
they rolled them up the hills in front of them
as a protection and thus got Il position from
which to make dash and capture the Union
earthwork.
This interesting episode formed a pleasing
introduction 10 the flow of wit and humor
which occupied nearly three hours. Among
the speakers were President Strong of Carrie
ton College, thriving Minnesota college
who is cousin of our Burlington Strongs,
and was. in his younger days clerk in Ed
ward Smiths book store on the north side of
the squarc-Rev. DR.. Savage of Chicago,
Rev. Robert West, the active agent of the
Home Missionary Society in Missouri, who
made witty Speech and many others
This evening there has been a large meet
ing in the Springfield Opera House, which
was filled in spite of the storm, which grows
colder and ficrcei, at which President Nor
rison presided, and at which the educational
interests of this frontier were discussed by
Rev. Dr. Sturtcvant of Iowa, Mr.. A. {.
Barsow of Providence, X. l., Rev. Lyman
Abbot, of the christian Union, Rev. +. W.
Bcccher, and others. At the close of the
meeting delegate proposed that memorial
scholarship in Drury College be formed by
the delegates 10 the congregational Council,
and 5000 of the 81 900 necessary forthe pur-
pose was speedily pledged and most of it
paid upon the spot. Mr.. Barstow prom
ised furnaces for the new chapel. a new
bell was offered by two other delegates and
another delegate offered TO start an art gal
lery for the college by the gift of portrait
of President Morrison. So both hosts and
guests were made glad, and the occasion has
been, all in all, quite notable one for this
town and its college.