The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-06-28
CHARLOTTESVILLE.


THE UYIvERsITY-sERMoN OF REV. DR..
CHARLES F. DEEMS OTHER ITEMS.
correspondence of the Richmond Dispatcb.I
JUNE 81, 1881.
The closing OF all the churches in Char
lotlesvile last night sent an immense crowd
OF people TO swell what would have been
otherwise large congregation attracted by
the wide reputation OF the gifted speaker
who was to address the Young Mems Chris
tisn Association OF the University. The
exercises were opened with an anthem by
the excellent male quarlette OF the Uni
versity, after which DR.. Deems read Sc
lection OF scripture and led the audience
in prayer. He then announced his text as
follows: cone New Man," clause OF the
18th verse of I'd Ephesians. The Doctors
effort was to show that there had ever been
striving by humanity after human perfec-
ton. The Greeks tried it by cuItuie"-
no people had ever acquired the culture
which had been possessed by the school
Of Athens. In philosophy, in poetry, and
plastic art, they bad eXcelled, and yet their
endeavor 10 make one new man had proved
most signal failure. 1t had poisoned to
death its truest exponent, Socrates. Then
came physical development and dedication
Of brute force, a. eXemplited in the reign
Of the Caesars. Then the ecclesiasticism OF
the Hebrews was tried, and bad lis result
| in the slaughter OF the Son OF God. AL
had failed. But Christianity, as distinct
from all these. furnished system that
would accomplish the desires OF human.
ity-that would make some new man -
even one In Christ Jesus-and finally one
in the relation Of all men to Christ as The
branch to the vine, irrespective Of creed oil
denomination.
The closing prayer was offered by Rev
w. II. Williams, OF the Charlottesville Bap
list church. The singing was performed
| by the University Male Quartette Club.
| The opening piece, Jerusalem, my Happy
Home, Name Ever Dear TO Me-" was arts.
tcaly rendered, as were all the hymns.
DR.. Deems is man apparently about
sixty years Of age. His style is not such as
we would look for in finished orator. but
bis logic is pointed, powerful, and irresisti-
BILE, and his earnest manner attracts atten-
ton 10 his subject.
The Board of Visitors meet to-day. They
will probably determine upon the site OF
the Mccormick Telescope Observatory.
The Magazine medal has been awarded to
Mr.. S. III. James, OF Louisiana, on the arti.
Gle in the November No., "Diogenese Teu-
felsdI0chk."
There are few visitors to the University
this year. Even those whom we may consider
chronic attendants are absent. And yet the
attraction is as great, or greater, than it has
been for some years past. The speakers are
as able, the girls are just as pretty land not
q bit older than they were twenty years
ago., and the WASH" has a celebration.
which has not been for several years in
Guided in the exercises.
One OF the heaviest rains ever known In
this section fell few miles north and east
Of Charlottesville On Saturday evening.
Immense quantities OF water fell, swelling
the creeks and rivers to an alarming de-
gree, washing away fencing and damaging
cultivated land very considerably. So sud-
den and rapid was the rise in the Riyanna
river that driver OF Mr.. l.. C.. Cox, of this
town, in making the attempt, Immediately
after the storm, to cross the ford between
Mr.. Rawlings aud Mrs. Dabney's farms.
got his team submerged, drowning valua-
BILE horse, and narrowly escaping with
his own life. AT Bethel station during
the storm, Captain Bennington, OF the con.
struction train Of the Virginia Midland rail-.
road, had run into siding at Bethel, and
while standing at the switch received a Sc.
we're shock from diffused lightning, which
passed down bis left arm and side, prostra.
ting him and leaving sensation as Of paral.
yss. His escape from death Is remarkable.
The comet was plainly visible in the
northern heavens last night at 8 O'Clock, due
north, and at 2o'elock this morning east OF
north. IL must be travelling back ward.
Mr.. James Madison, an overbauler In the
yard OF the Chesapeake aud Ohio railway,
was severely mashed on Friday evening by
slipping between an engine and tender. His
thigh was badly crushed, although, strange
to say. no bones were broken.
DR.. Deems left for New York this morn
Ing. ~ OUR.