The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-07-25

Tho sorpe-.s,onc OF me superb New
Building 10 b s>ed ~ '"o N"S
Department OF randolph "Ao"" '"'
Iege LAID az Liberty by tue "''h"
r,edge Of na~0u~ Of Virginia


LIBERTY. VA. July ga large as
semblage Of people. consisting Oh Fisi.
tors. Mas0ns. prominent educators. ana
citizens. witnessed the laying oil the
corner stone Of the new academic de-
partment Of Raudolpb-Mac0n College
here Yesterday. This building IS be-
ing constructed under the special aus
pices Of the Methodist Conference. by
the trustees Of Randolph-Mac0n Coi-
lege. and il will be. IL Il believed. the
handsomest and best arranged struc-
ture Of IT. kind iu the Southern States.
II not in this country. 1t VIII De con-
structed Of size Go accommodate 21V
pupils. and a corps Of instructors. OIL
GERS. matrOn. and servants. Ii Will be
hard red brick made OF clay taken
from the foundation. The cite
j. on the western limit. If this Deauti-
ful Piedmont town, and seems 90 have
been specially designed by the Great
Architect for this use. The area OF
the grounds s. about forty acres, lying
on the north side Of the Norfolk ana
Western Railroad for nearly half 20
mile. from which 1t slopes mp gradually
Co an emiuence nearly quarter OF q
mile in lergth. upon which the build
ing will bee located. Tn the back
ground rises in majestic beauty the
spur of the Blue Ridge range. which
eliminates in the lofty and iar-iamed
peak. Of Otior.
AT 10 o clock q procession. headed by
the Salem brass band. marched 20 the
grounds and witnessed the impressive
Masonic ritual OF laying the corner
stone performed bv Grand Master u. T..
Craighill. of the Grand Lodge Of Viz
giuia. The stone comes from the red
sandstone Qulrries at Midway Mills.
Nelson county on James river. and had
the usual receptacle. in which WAS
placed copies Of the local papers. small
coins. "a list OF the officers 0t the college
and other small articles. such as usually
serve for this purpose.
The audience then adjourned % a
large stand Ina ana ADJ joining grove. and
the orator If the occasion. Dr. ". J..
Tillets. dean II Vanderbilt University.
gas introduced by the Master VI oere.
monies. and delivered an address of
marked power and interest.
The next speaker was Professor VI.
W. Smith. LID. president Of Ran
dolph Macon College, aud chief pro-
leclor of this great undertaking. The
doctor gave a most Interesting and
lucid sketch of the undertaking from
ils inception. explaining iu detail elcN
step. and asserting that the committee.
upon which was dcvO we'd ihe duty d
executing the desire of the tru=tees
had IA every particular been governed
by ihe cardiua. idoa of securing
the very best " everything of it.
kind. Thus the location was tn,
choice of the committee after % most
exhaustiys personal canvass of tht
merits of all ayailauia locations. 81 b.
easily accessible from ali points. is ir
beautiful hollthiul country. is cup
Piled with pure free -t1ue water lu uu-
limited abundance Tine speaker then
explained the measures taken t0 ..cur,
the best plans. $1,000 havia. been eN.
pended for tne plan among tine seven
most disungu shed architects in ihr
country. The Dlldinl in every detail
will b. one I'D. the very be,- ihat can
be- gotten upin Che United States
After 20 sal.l talk rom Hon. N S.
Berry the visitors repaired Go ii.ie
Brecheubrlok. whore baaqu.l mU
been spread BOO honor OF the occasion
J.. ws- altogether one off tine m
pleasant Day Boz tne history ol Liberty