The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-06-16
RANDOLPH-MACOy.
Closing Exercises Of the Forty.sixth Session
Alumni and Society Celebrations Address Of
Governor Jarvis, OF North Carolina Inter
estft,u 0fwcvrtscs
Reported for the pispaich.I

sixth session OF Randolph. Macon were
formally inaugurated at Ashland yes,er-
day morning by the annual celebration
OF the Society OF Alumni. On Tuesday,
however. The trustees held lengthy ses.
sions. and carefully reviewed the work
OF the Faculty for The session that Is now
closing, and proposed plans for giving
grester usefulness to the college. An un-
usually full Board were present at the
adjourned sessions to-day. The clerical
| element very largely predominates IN
the Board, and perhaps in reference
TO purely business matters greater attention
should be gwen to the affairs OF the college
by businessmen. II is rather hard to keep
n talking preacher from talking. From the
report OF President Bennett IL appears that
the session now closing has been a most
prosperous one. There has been little sick
ness. Good order has prevailed, and atten-
tion TO college duties has been marked. The
number OF degree graduates will be larger
than at any commencement since 1860.
There were 1913 students on the roll, Vir.
ginia, OF course, supplying the largest num-
Der OF malriculltes; but the quotas from
Maryland aud North Carolina are liberal.
Six other states are represented in the cata-
logue.
BY resolution Of the Board it was deter.
mined TO refer to legal authority the con-
struc!iOn TO be placed upon the wording Of
The " Scholarship Certificates as issued in
1889 and 1916. The language OF these GER
tifcate. i, certainly open TO more than one
construction. aud TO settle finally long,
veXed question the Board has properly taken
the course above indicated. All In all, it
may be stated that the condition OF the col
lege is better than it has been at any period
within the past ten years. Still there must
be surprise that the Methodists OF the two
Yirsinias and Maryland do not give the
college heartier support.
ALUMNI CELEBRATION.
| The members OF the Society OF Alumni,
representing about twenty classes from 1874,
accompanied by the Faculty, Board Of Trus-
| tees, and the two literary societies, were
formed in line under the student marshas
| IN front OF the Society halls. and, preceded
| by band Of music, marched 10 the chapel,
and the exercises were commenced by prayer
| by Rev. j. a. Kern. OF Alexandria. The
orator Of the Society, Governor Thomas j.
Jarvis (class OF 1861, was then introduced,
and after illusions 10 his college life
at old Randolph and his meet
| ing with the alumni since his gradua-
ton, especially the unexpected gathering OF
| five OF his old chums in the Richmond Fe-
male College in 1SG4-then hospital-from
the battle fields before Richmond, three
with empty sleeves and two permanently
disabled in their right arms, Mr. jarvis an
nounced his theme, Ich r;en," Il Serye,)
and in direct way proceeded 10 discuss
the manlness OF labor and the duty OF sery-
| ing in Just cause. Abiding TO the duty
OF service 10 country, the well-timed words
1 oF In 70 will bp road a eXnrpeS SinO
the best sentiments OF an elevated patriot
| ism:
"While I cannot advise you. my young
| friends, to become politicians in the restrict
ed and popular sense OF the word, yet |
must tell you that you cannot disregard the
obligations you owe your country. There
| is no service in which you can engage, save
that OF your Creator, more sacred than that
OF your country. No man who does his
| duty can withdraw himself entirely from
such service. Particularly is this true OF
men who have received their mental training
and moral teaching.wthin the classical and
haliowed walls OF Randolph Macon. Let
me entreat you, young gentlemen,
when You do engage In the service OF your
country. no matter in what capacity
whether it be as maker or minister OF the
law, or whether il be in that highest type OF
| an American citiZen-a voter-to discard
every other consideration from that service
| but the best interest OF your country. Ask
only the question, How can best use this
great trust for the benefit OF my country !?
| Study only that question. Seek information
only upon that, and when you have deter
mined IT, let no selfinterest keep you from
doing it like men,"
The address was practical, logical, and
! fOrcible, and made profound impression
upon the vast audience. North Carolina
has reason TO be satisfied with her Gov
ernor-a man OF mark, who we'll deserves
the high honor bestowed upon him. He is
the second Governor that Randolph Macon
has given to the "Od North State"
At the conclusion OF these public eXer-
cises the Society Of Alumni held its busi-
ness meeting, elected officers for the ensuing
year, Rev. George +. Booker being reelect.
ed president, aud Rev. John B. Williams,
OF Bladensburg, Nd, was elected orator for
1882.
As usual, among the students and citi-
zens OF Ashland the deepest interest GEN.
tired in The contest for the Sutherlin prize
medal, which came off at O'Clock =. VI.
Only two contestants appeared-Thomas
II. Bagwell. Of Virginia-subiect, -" Homo
Sum-; and j. w. Morris, OF Randolph
Macon-subject, Patriotism in Politics"
Many EXPIRE ions OF favor were bestowed
upon tue efforts OF the young speakers.
The announcement OF the successful con-
iestant will be made to-day, when the
medal will be awarded.
At 4 O'Clock in the evening q splendid
banquet was spread at the Ashland Hotel,
and The Society of Alumni, with their In
viied guests, were promptly on Land. Sew
eral hours were spent in generous discus
sion Of the report, in songs. and anecdotes
and speeches. The response of Governor
JARVIS 10 the sentiment "The Orator Of the
Day." &c, was specially felieltous. Many
years have passed since so many sons OF the
college were thus gathered together in So
eia refinion, and the occasion will be re-
membered as among the enjoyable in the
history OF the Society.
These baDques have become necessity,
aud proof is at hand that post-prandial
speaking can be brilliant aud piquant with
out the accessories of Mumm,
After the banquet the trustees reassem-
bied in the hall OF Washington Society and
continued In session until the supper hour,
and the old students and undergraduates
spent an hour in the shady campus, or ia
visiting The society balls, lecture-r0Oms, and
college chapel. A tablet has recently been
inserted in the western wall Of the chapel in
memory Of The Hon. Gabriel p Dlsosway, a
native Of New York and a graduate from
Columbia College, Of that city, in 1919. who,
with the Rev. Hezekiah &. Leigh, ID. d.,
was chiefly instrumental in founding RAM
dolph- Macon. Mr.. Dlsosway was lifelong
friend OF the college. He died at bis home,
in Staten Island, New York, IN 1868. On
the opposite wall Of the chapel Is the tablet
in memory OF Rev. II. q. Leigh, ID. d., an
Offering OF the students in 1854.