The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-06-20
RANDOLPH MACON.
COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES.
Alumni Address and Celebration ednIists
Orators, and Degree-N1en-The Trustees.

celeDrating 'tS htty-nrst anniversary
though the college was chartered and
entered upon It's work as such several
years before 1888. Tue first graduate, the
venerable Rev. John G. Blackwell, ID. D.,
still lives at his home. in Buckingham
county, took his degree in 1888.
Each year shows changes, and for the
better, In the appearances OF Ashland, and
| especially in the immediate surroundings
OF the college grounds. In the latter. all
OF the old frame buildings famous in the
days when Ashland was known as Slash
Cottage have been removed, and the cam
pus, from the railroad, presents as attrac-
tive scene as that Of any college surround
ings in the State. A number OF well.
known citizens OF your city have built
ana occupy charming residences in the
| village. The hotel and every boarding
house Is filled to overll0wlng. On the ar
rival and departure OF every train rs many
J Richmond faces are seen at the depot as
those OF strangers. But OF the commence
ment. A larger number OF trustees are
now present than on any like occasion for
many years, and their business sessions
have been OF great interest, and promise
| higher prosperity 10 he college than ever
/ known. This Is the centennial wear Of
Nethodism, and in the centennial offerings
OF the denomination special efforts will be
made in Maryland and Virginia to secure
an endowment fund sufficient to relieve
! this institution from all possibility of fu-
| ture disaster. During the past year great
| improvements have been made, and a Visi-
tor who has not looked upon the college
and its surroundings for several years
would scarcely recognize the once familiar
| grounds.
ALUMNI ADDRESS AND CELEBRATION.
Professor Bennett Puryear, LII. D..
now chairman OF the faculty OF Richmond
| College, who graduated in the class OF
| 1876, delivered the annual address before
the Society OF Alumni. His subject was
'DenOminational Colleges" and with that
vigorous way he has OF dealing with all
subjects he undertakes TO discuss, he met
every demand Of the occasion, "Civis"
is no new name to the people Of the cOun-
| try, and especially to the people OF Vr-
gina. After making some deeply inter-
eSting remarks upon the college and its
government in the years 1S42-'46, and OF
| his then associates among the faculty AM
students, he came directly TO his subject
and held that the denominational colleges
of the State were doing far more for the
moral and literary culture OF the youth OF the
State than all other instrumentalities now
| applied TO the education OF the youth OF the
State. lie was no enemy Of the great State
| institution, but did not believe ii polite or
| Just for the State, by any legislation, to
| seek TO cripple the denominational col
| leges. He argued that free studentship
would result in disaster. But the reader
of the "Civis" " articles Of some years
ago will recall some OF the arguments he
! then used. DR.. Puyycar's arguments for
the study OF the " IIumanities " was mas
| terly, and indeed, without following him
| in his splendid address, it may be enough
to say that on every point he gave no vain
reason for the faith within him. However,
the reporter would venture 10 remark that
his address would not, in the main, il
| spoken by Virginia politician, serve to
have won him votes at a popular election,
however cOgent and convincing the argu-
ments adduced.
! The contest for tie
sUTHERLIN PRIzE-NEDAL FOR ORATORY
was perhaps one OF most interesting known
| in the history Of the struggles for this cOv-
eted honor. -Four contestants appeared
before the interested audience. No event
of these closing scenes calls forth a deeper
| interest among the young and old. Each
speaker had many friends, and certainly
each one did himself credit. II. l.. Stuart,
TeXas-subject, "a Man.; James Can
non, Jr., Maryland, Searching for a
Polar Sea-; J. A. Duncan. Virginia,
The Glory, jest, and Riddle OF the
World"; T. +. Sheriff., North Carolina,
The New South"
ALUMNI MEETING AND DINNER.
After a brief business meeting Of the
Soc ETY. OF Alumni. when officers were
elected for the ensuing year, and Rev.
Charles B. Stuart, ID. D., OF Louisiana, was
selected as orator for 1855, the Society
and their many guests spent several hours
at well.laden table, not lightly enjoyed
after the long-protracted exercises of the
dav. Post prandials were made by num-
Der of gentlemen-membeTs OF the Society
and their guests.
THE FINAL CELEBRATION OF TIE FRANKLIN
LITERARY SOCIETY
called out brilliant audience at night to
hear that dashing cayalryman General
Fitzhugh Lee address the Society. The
General most happily spoke OF the " Aims
OF Youth-Their Successes and Disasters"
in way that gave greatest delight to his
hearers. The gallant General never had a
hcarter welcome, and perhaps in war or in
peace was he more successful In winning
victory.
Mr.. Il. L. Stuart, OF Texas, received the
Society's prize for excele. &c in declama- /
ton.
THE FINAL DAY
opened this morning with a lovely sky !
but very hot sun, and the eloquence OF (
Rev. DR.. Milburn in his splendid address !
before the Literary Saciety, in bis portrait
IRE uf Aaron Burr, was not sufficient to
keep the fans from lively vibrations.
While his address was long as TO time, and
the hall was unusually warm, there was no
listieSsneSs. One who hears DR.. Milburn
on this theme will not lack coaXingto hear
him again on the same theme.
President Bennett then awarded the GER
fificates OF distinctions to the successful
students in the several schools, and dlplo-
mas to the following graduates Master OF
Arts, Il. ID. Newsom; Bachelor OF Arts,
r. II. White, James Cannon, Jr., X. H.
Bennett. n. II. Robertson:
The recipients OF the above honors ana
OF the following, who were awarded prizes
and medals for special excellence IN thelr
studies, were greeted with much applause;
Especially was this true OF the successiui
for the Sutherlin Prlze Medai
for excellence in oratory, James A. Dun
can, Jr., son of that illustrious divine who
died while president OF this college
Pace Prize Medal, James Cannon. Jr:,
Mathematical Prize, j. NJ.
Page, Virginia; Greek Prize, l.. Leitch,
Virginia. "New Shakespeare Society
Pnze, S. III. Eng'e. Virginia; "Oid Eng ,
ish Text Society" Prize, IL. l.. stuart,
Texas.
The trustees, on recommendation OF the