The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-06-23
RICHmOND COLLEGE.
Joint Final Celebration or the Ma sigma Rho
and PhiioloGian Literary Societies.

Joint Final Celebration or the MA sigma Rho
and PhiioleGian Literary Societies.
The chapel was crowded last night with
most intelligent and appreclative audience.
Rev. DR.. NJ. ID. Hoge, president on the oc-
casi0H. presided with bis usual grace. Rev.
DR.. j. y. Hawthorne opened the exercises
with prayer.
DR.. Hoge in few well-cbosen phrases
extended TO the audience cordial welcome
and most hearty congratulations. He con-
graduated them on the charming night
who ever saw such weather for "com-
meRcement" "?-and on the good news for
the college and its future which had been
made known to-day; and be congratulated
them on the rich programme for the eve.
ming. He was happy to be able 10 announce
a treat not originally In the programme for
the evening. II had been arranged that Rev.
T. Hume, OF Norfolk, should deliver on
Monday night poem before the Society Of
Alumni; but there was on the train so
much divinity and so much poetry that the
engine broke down, the poet was unable to
reach the city In time, and we were for
tunate In being able TO hear his sweet strains
tonight.
He had the pleasure OF introducing as
poet OF the alumni Rev. Thomas Hume, OF
Norfolk
Mr.. Hume then read In admirable style a
poem on Walking with God" In which he
Instituted a parallel between Euoch and
Jeter, and held up the latter as faithfully
walking 10 the footsteps OF the Man OF Old.
OF fine thought, chaste language. rich
fancy, and smooth rytbm, the poem had the
A. .l.,, lt-4 ha
dience, will take rank with the finest pro-
ductions OF such occasions, and will add to
Mr.. Hume's high reputation as a finished
scholar and accomplished teacher that OF q
real poet and sweet singer.
Next followed the address OF Rev. DIR. A.
B. Brown, OF Pittsylvania county, who, on
very short notice, bad kindly consented to
take the place OF Hon. Roger A. Pryor, who
at the last moment was compelled by press
ing business engagements TO withdraw his
agreement to speak on this occasion.
ADDRESS OF REV. DR.. A. b. BROWN.
The speaker would feel great embarrass-
ment il he supposed that he was to be
brought into contrast with the brilliant ora
tor to whom had been first assigned the SER
vice OF this occasion. With more time Tor
selection be might have fallen upon a topic
less trite. Speaking to college students on
the advantages OF collegiate education ought
to be as boring as talking shop to mer-
chant, II the college had been teaching the
advantages OF its discipline-rather CIV
Ing the discipline itself. The theory that
education is education-a theory based on
questionable etymology-thoughi in the main
true, is extreme. AS agriculture is both
planting and cultivation, so education IS both
instruction and discipline. These two
are necessary duslism, though never
perhaps in absolute equilibrium. Fortu-
natey the mind asserts itself against the
extremes OF theory. The merest examining
cannot cheat the mind OF its discipline in
interpreting the symbols in which instruc-
ton is communicated. The most sublima-
ted ideas OF mere mental self-evolution
must recognize the necessity Of some OBJ
icctive springboard or gymnastic apparatus
10 evoke its graceful and invigoratiDg feats.
Happily where knowledge solely Is sought,
discipline even more than knowledge Is in
directly gained. And under generous
course OF instruction the mind tends to be-
come rather an ever.springing fountain
than an everything reseryoir-rather an all
producing factory than an alI.contaning
warehouse.
~
collegiate course to represent 1t as in the
main useless in its tendency to elicit mental
activity and develop mental vigor. On the
contrary, it presents in compactest form the
very essence OF all known truth. II maps
the whole field OF knowledge, traces its
great tbOrougbfares, trains TO rapid and
sure.footed movement along the lines, in
dexes the roads which lead into Its minutest
sections, and directs to the summit which
commands the widest outlook on the entire
panorama. It's grandest though not its abb
solutely first lesson is "Know thyse!f." 1t
teaches to perform the only analysis which
is not dssection-the only decomposition
which is not death. 1t reveals that know
iug subject which is grander than all
it knows save God, and the fullest
witness and truest image OF God Himself.
1t teaches that language whose content Is
all knowledge, and which Is the noblest
product Of thought-its wellnigh indispen.
sable instrument, its generous pabulum. its
fitting and graceful drapery, its minds
channel OF communication with others and
with itself. and which more than the fingers
alphabet Of nature is Gods own chosen
avenue to the guilty and despairing soul.
Language Is strong enough TO bear the
weightiest and the heaviest speculations Of
philosophers; light enough for the most
airy imaginings OF poets; flexible as hu-
man caprice; harsh as the thunders OF in
dignation, and soft as the accents OF love.
Surely the veriest utilitarian should not
depreciate that science whose office 1t is to
enable us to understand all that Is eX-
pressed and 10 express all that Is under
stood. 1t teaches the mathematics whose
educational value Is immeasurably above
its more vulgar and patent utilities. Ii
Alexander Hamilton found it to his profit
to 90 through Euclid once year (some say
once month"; how unspeakably valuable
the present methods OF institution in that
science which train not merely 10 the inter-
probation and criticisms OF mathematical
argument to original independent explora-
ion throughout its indefinite domain?
But the glory Of the mathematics and the
wonder OF the minds harmony with nature
Is that the Mathematician comes out OF his
region OF mere speculation OF pure idealism
with the clue in bis hand which enables
him to thread the labyrinth from the
iungles OF botany TO the mazes OF
l need not detain you to speak
OF the grand and now rapidly.widening en-
pire Of physical science which Is, besides Its
facts, those stubborn things to which the
most stiff.necked utilitaran should bend, the
practical side OF mathematics.
The course which | have so rapidly and
sketched would seem TO be
useful both for instruction and for dsci-
pline. Yet it will be said with sighs or
sneers that collegiate education Is not prac-
tica; that the young collegian lacks CON-
nonsense. Now, there might be some
thing in this il education were carried on In
the cloister. The young student might come
forth from commerce with great minds and
great thoughts, like Captain Lemuel Gulliver
from the land OF Brobdignag, very ignorant
Of bis true relations to men and things,
ha mio,hf need like the same GnliiYer