Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-02-16

SHOWS a double wreath, One-ha1 composed OF
oak leaves and one-half of laurel, the branches
crossed at the bottom and tied. The oak is
emblematic of strength and civic virtue. the
laurel OF fame, and the binding together sym
boliZes the unity of the two. Running trans
versely, and filling the center space, is the
following legend: .'Sodaes Alumni Alme
MATHIS SPcularia fiesta primum dedicant
MDCCCVIIIL"
The selection and arrangement of the in
erection, SO that they should be in thorough
keeping with the commemorative object for
which the medal was designed, and the legend
is mainly due to one of the Italian fathers at
the college, whose reputation as a classicist is
worldwide. The design, it will be observed, is
severely classical, and in accord with Roman
numismatics of the Augustan era 1t is of
course. circular in form, an inch and FIVE
eighths in diameter, and has been struck in
bronze. 1t is to be worn by the alumni during
the centennial exercises, and will be suspended
from ribbon of blue and gray--the college
colors. The respective schools of the univer-
sity-arts and sciences, law, medicine, &C.
will be designated in gilt letters, worked di-
agonally across the ribbon. The design is the
work of VIM. F. Quicksall, an alumnus now re-
siding in Washington, and the drawings were
sent to Philadelphia, where the medal was
struck. The ribbon adopted for the purpose
of badge is about an inch in width, Of gros
grain silk, into which are woven the hues
adopted by the college as its colors, being in
the center bright hue, bordered by a pretty
steel gray.
This combination of the blue and gray was
adopted for the reason that the old institution
stands upon the bank Of the Potomac, dividing,
as 1t were, the north from the south, students
entering for its benefits, from its very founda-
ton, from the one section as we'll as from the
other, and it is intended that this commingline
Of colors shall indicate that the pupils from
a "a a q In a }hns
from the other quarter-that the mantle Of her
protection, teachings, and love has no political
alloy.
The Society of Alumni.
In May, 1880, the present Society of Alumni
was organized, the first meeting having been
held at the residence in this city of Hon.
Francis Herman, who was, at that time, United
States Senator from New York.
The object of the society. as set out in the
preamble to the constitution, is as follows:
Whereas 1t is meet that students should cher
ish toward the college in which they have been
educated sentiments of sincere gratitude and
an affectionate interest in its welfare and
progress; and
Whereas the best expression of these senti-
ments is the desire and effort on our part to
obtain for our alma mater greater educational
facilities and larger concourse of students;
and
WHertdS euulatlOu ID 30 lauQaDle q cause,
while furthering the end proposed, will draw
more closely the bonds Of fellowship between
US
RESOLVED, That we, the alumni of Georgetown
college, do organize ourselves into q society
for the purposes before recited.
THE FIRST OFFICERS OF THE SOCIETY.
The officers for the first two years we're: W.
W. Corcoran, d. c., president; Hon. Francis
Herman, N. Y, LIST vice-president; Hon. Richard
t. Merrick, d. c., I'd vice-president; John F.
Hanna, ID. c., secretary; Rev. P. F. Healy, s. j.,
treasurer. By the provisions of the constitu-
ton first adopted the membership was not con-
fined to persons holding degrees from the uni
versity, but all undergraduates were eligible.
Prior to 1880 an alumni association, member
ship in which was restricted to graduates, had
been formed, and continued its organization
until 1888, when a union of the two organize
tons was effected through the influence of
Rev. James A. Doonan, s. j., then president of
the university. The constitution of the society
was then revised, and membership thereafter
restricted to persons holding degrees, profess
sors, and undergraduates on the university
rolls prior to 1888. The total number upon
the society rolls in 1888 was only about $50.
In 1885, in view of the near approach of the
centenary Of their alma mater, q systematic
effort was set on foot to increase the member
ship. As result 800 names were found upon
its rolls in 1886.