The intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1887-1891, 1889-07-13
WASHINGTON AND LEE UNIVERSITY


From the Central Presbyterian
MEssRs. EDITORs-The closing exer'
rises of this venerable and valuable in
stitution occurred June 18Th. The
addresses and oratiOns of the young
men were said to be above the average.
The Baccalaureate sermon by Df. w
W. Moore, the address before the I .
NJ G.. a. by Mr.. SaytOrd, and the
Alumni address by Prof Thom, re-
ceived ,as we understand they deserved,
very high praise. The session just
closed has been marked by an Increased
patronage, as well as the most com
mendabe department, application aud
scholarship on the part OF the students
We have never known more orderly
and studiOus body OF Young men.
The ppesent method of distributing
the students as boarders among the
families of the town. is. we think,
working admirably as wise measure,
both restraining and stimulating.
The religious history OF the past
year has been good. A large per cent.
OF the students were members OF the
church, and many of these were active
workers. The Y. NJ. q. \ during
the session, held frequent services con
Quoted by one of the students,
ar the local ministers or visi-
tors. We have been much impressed
with the valuable training of this asso-
cation. The familiarity with scrip
ture, readiness to lead in prayer, apt
ness in conducting religious services
and speaking, exhibited by many, were
simply amazing, and infinitely ahead
of anything in this line we can recall
from our college days. The spiritual
outlook of the Univerty is very encour-
aging. The danger OF its being secular
lied, which many fear, d, has van
ished, and to-day, by the for
NAL act of the board, the University is
explicitly committed to evangelical
Christianity, and that the most scrupu-
lous parents may commit their sons TO
its care; we may say that the chair OF
Moral Science is filled bv u Presbyte-
rian minister, DR.. Quarles, OF ability
8nd earnest piety, whose praise Is Oh
every lip, and who in his classroom
unfolds and enforces in mastery and
thorough way the Christian evidences,
and the fundamental principles of a
sound ethics, and in his uuprOfessionaI
and personal intercourse with the stu
dents eXerts a persuasive influence with
a singleness OF purpose TO bring them,
as sinners to Christ. In this depart
mcnt we have the right man in the
right place. But at its late meeting the
board has made another concession 10
the Christian religion. 1t has establish
ed chair of history and elected to ii
the Rev. ii. A. White, young minis
ter recently licensed by Lexington
Presbytery, and of superior scholar
ship who has accepted the position
with the distinct understanding that he
will give great prominence to Biblical
history, and make the scriptures text
book. This is most important and
significant departure, and should win
the favor and patronage Of the Christian
public. Bat the climax of these exer-
cises was reached when it was annouu-
man of national and uDblemished repu.
tation, the able and honest and Chris.
tiau statesman, whose interpretations
of the constitution must. it anything
can, save 10 us a united country, and
whose crown of glory it is that he re-
tired from public life as Door as he
entered it, the Hon. John RandoIs.
Tucker had been elected coordinate
professor of law. The long continued
applause with which the RocKbridge
people always greet her distinguished
citizen, brought Mr.. Tucker to his feet
and with great emotion he acknowl-
edged the tribute, and declared his pur
pose to live and die among us.
The University needs now but one
thing to fill up the measure of it's fame
and usefulness, and that is more stu.
dents; and to obtain these she mus
have, in these days of competition, bet
ter connections with the outside world
In word she wants chancellor, wbt
leaving the internal administration il
present hands, shall have laid upol
him the special duty of representing
the University in public assemblies ant
concerted conferences. We have writ
ten tins for the special purpose O
bringing Washington and Lee Univer
sity to the attention of Christian parent
aud not with view of disparaging
even indirectly and by comparison
other institutions. d. w. s.