The Brookhaven leader., 1883-05-17
THE GROUND.BREAkING.
A Tomb 10 Ignoronce-AT Tempt,
60 Knowledge.

stood, this was the signal for the impOr-
tant ceremony of breaking tie ground for
the erection of the new whitworth College
Building.
At half-past o'clock large congrega-
tion'of citizens. and friends of the College,
together with the large corps Of teachers
and the students, were assembled on the
campus, the spade was brought out and
placed in convenient position, and all
was in readiness.
The exercises werGopened by.over 2t0
students, beautiful, joyous and bright as
song birds, joining in the grand, patriotic
ode, "America"-
"My Country! It's OF thee,
sweetsLand OF Liberty
OF thee sing
led by their honored President DIR. II. +.
Johnson, accompanied by the deep har-
monious tones of magnificent organ.
Miss Cora McRee, a modest-looking,
pretty young lady, who will be the vale
dictorian of her class in June, then step
ped forward, delivered short graceful
address and threw the first spadeful of
earth She was followed by Miss Annie
Conner, the Salutatorian for this year, and
several other charming classmates. Below
we give THE names and addresses in the
order in which them came:
Miss Cora MCREE: We read in Virgil
that when Eneas had been cast ashore in
Africa, he was taken tlb in a cloud by his
mother, Venus, and as they moved over
the plains of Tyre, and came in sight of
Queen DidO's capital city, he exclaimed,
| so fortunate quorum jam mOenid surgant!"
Happy they whose walls now rise toward
heaven!
The Trojan hero mingled signs with con-
CALCULATIONS, since those rising walls were
not for him nor his stOrm-tossed cOmpan-
ion. Sel6shness perhaps, might dictate
that we too should rejoice in sadness as we
take part in the joys of this day; but bet
| ter spirit whispers that, though our acade-
mic career shall end before the completion
of the building whose beginning we cele-
brate to-day, yet we and all of us may
share the benefits that its erection and use
will confer upon those who are to follow
us. Let it rise then thing of beauty and
| a benediction, to rejoice and bless not only
this community and those who may be
educated here, but our State at large and
our whole country.
We congratulate DR.. johnson upon this
| prospect of realizing the dream of many
wears. We congratulate all who have con-
| trbuted OF may contribute to this result
With larger and nobler spirit, we trust,
than that which animated the hero of
the Eneid, we say, Happy, thrice happy
| they whose walls on this spot shall rise
toward heaven. Offering feryent pray
or for the success of the enterprise, break
the ground and throw this shovel of earth.
Miss ANNIE Conner: Here is to be the
new College building. AS her walls rise
upward, prayers Wal be waited to the
throne of Him who only can bless and
prosper her mission. Within her walls may
| the women, not only of Mississippi but also
of adjoining States, receive inspiration to
noble deeds and lives of usefulness. This
being my earnest desire, throw this Show
ell of earth.
Miss MINNIE COLLIER: That there may
be erected upon this spot Temple of
knowledge, whose bright rays shall pene-
trate the darkness throughout this land
and be the means of polishing the corner
stone of society, throw this earth.
MISS BESSIE KEARSY: Here is to the
new building. May it be a pharO of
| knowledge which shall throw its light far
over the waters of ignorance.
/ Miss ANNIE BAILRY: May many years
| of prosperity crown the labOrs of our hon
| ored President within these walls.
Miss SALLIE CARGrEL: May those who
enter the new building thus dive into the
| mines of knowledge [digging up spade
full of earth1, and thus bury ignorance
Throwing the earth DOWN..
| Miss MoLLIE RAIFoRD: May this new
building be able to withstand all the
storms and cyclones that may thunder
against it.
| Miss MAGGIE FRYER: May the founda-
ton of this building be laid in truth and
may its walls rise in grace and beauty to
perpetuate the name of the founder
Miss THIRsIA WRIGHT: Here's to the
prosperity of WhitwOrth and all connected
with it.
Miss ANIcE WARREN: That the young
ladies educated in this institution may be
"as corner stones, polished after the simili-
tude of a palace" l devoutly pray and
throw this shovel of earth.
The College speakers having been ex-
hausted, there was casting about in the
audience for impromptu speakers. Judge
J. B. Chrisman being present responded in
i-nfSt, an amusing, tHcn AnSIuCtNc, anu
finally earnestly eloquent address in favor
of higher Christian education.
All the rest of the impromptu speakers
being hoarse OF out of town, DR.. johnson
followed with a feeling reference to the &C.
casion when he himself, then young man,
delivered the first Annual Address before
the College. He repeated for the future
of the College now, what his earnest desire
was then-that it may be the friend Of
knowledge, the foe of ignorance, and afford
to all who come under its fostering care
the blessings of thorough Christian educa-
ton and true refinement. Here the exer-
eisss were closed by Dir. johnson in an
earnest prayer; to which there was hear
ty Amen.
The new building win be two-story
brick, LA 60 feet; covered with slate,
and embracing all the latest and most ap-
proved school building improvements.
The Cornerstone win be laid Commence
ment Day, June 10, under the auspices OF
the Masonic Grand Lodge of Mississippi; d
which time many of the most distinguish
ed men of this and other States are expect
1