Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-07-26

hailed with great delight the news that
the seminary was to be removed to
Richmond.
THE NEW HOME.
In December. 1888, the new home
was occupied. The site was called
- Columbia" and had long been the
home of some of the Haxall family.
The main building now stands on the
rear Of the college campus, and is occu-
pied by Professor Harris, the present
chairman of the faculty. This was
finely-conStructed building, and retains
much Of its beauty and finish to-day.
Surrounding it was garden Of rare flow
ers and many rare and beautiful shrubs
and trees. The place was described at
the time as combining healthfulnesS,
beauty, and convenience.
Here the seminary continued to live
and grow under the fostering care Of
the society. and the able and devoted
management Of Robert Ryland and his
associates until it cstalOgued as many
as seventy pupils. Prominent among
the assistant teachers Of the day were
Charles l.. Cooke, now the superintend-
ent of Hollins Institute, and upon
whom the college recently conferred the
degree of Ii. d., and Rev. Samuel c.
CloptOn afterwards missionary to
China, the father of the Rev. Mr.. Clop-
ton, now pastor Of the Clay-Street Bap-
fist church.
THE FIRST GRADUATES.
The first class to finish the course
and graduate, a. it is called now, was
in 1880. The names Of the gentlemen
comprising the class will be recalled
by some of the readers Of the Dispatch.
They were William !. ChileS, Elias
Dodson, A. p. RepiiOn, and John o.
TuIpin-threc Of whom have recently
died full Of years aud honors.
Although the seminary was founded
for preachers. il was not long before it
was thrown open to all moral youth"
and many substantial citizen re-
ceiycd his only training in the sod
Seminary"
CHANGE or NAME.
By act Of Assembly passed March
1, 1870, thirty-seVen gentlemen therein
named were incorporated as trustees TO
establish, "at or near the city of Rich
mond, a seminary of learning for the
instruction Of youth in the various
Branches Of science and literature, the
useful arts, and the learned and foreign
languages, which shall be called and
known by the name Of Richmond Col
lece." The charter conferred ample
powers. and allowed the purchase of
the property of the Education Society,
but provided "thst nothing herein
contained shall be so construed as to
authorize the establishment of the
illogical prolssSorship in the said col
lege." This proylSo, according to au-
tlensc tradition. was inserted at the
request Of an eminent brother and IN
fluentisl member Of the Legislature,
who was selected TO offer the bill
Colonel Hdmund lIrosdus, Of Gull
pepper. Without it there would have
been difficulty in getting charter at
that time. ii was omitted from the
amended charter Of 1898, under which
the college is now working.
PsRFECTING PLANS.
The trustees spent two years in per-
lecting their plans aud trying to raise
means to carry them into effect. The
work fell mainly to the lot of their preSi-
dent. Dr. Rylsnd, and his rare csndor
md supreme scorn for all shams made
him unwilling to call the school col
eye until it could DO real collegiate
work. The terms Of transfer agreed |
,pon in lsll were--l. That the col
eye should admit free Of charge, eI-
,ept for board. all ministers ana cshd'-
lstes for the ministry who may DC
by the Education Society
" its Board Of Managers by comlnoa
.onSent ,his has been extended
O all such persons whether recon-
nended by the Society or notI'
!. That ia case Of failure to cos'.nue
he institution, or TO comply with the |