Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-06-19
ORAT0RY & POETRY.
ANNUAL MEETING OF THE ALUMNI OF
RICHMOND COLLEGE.
Addresses by Drs. Robert RyIand and III.
A. Tuppcr, Jr.-Poem by
Mr. Hamberlin.

The alumni OF Richmond College held
their annual meeting last night IN the Col
lege chapel. Owing TO the threatening
weather the crowd was not very large, but
the exercises were particularly interesting
At $50 the orator of the occasion. Dr. II.
a. Tuppcr, Jr., of Louisville, Ky. and the
poet. Mr. l.. X. Hamberin. OF LOUISIANA,
were conducted TO the stand by the presl-
dent, Rev. r. Il. Acree, of Petersburg.
The meeting WAS led in PRAYER by Rev. Dr.
j. II. Garlick. of King and Queen county,
Va. The Richmond Light Infantry Blues
Band rendered The Star-Spangled Ban
ncr" 10 the high satisfaction OF the auGI-
ence.
THE TREE OF KsowLKDGE.
President Acree, in introducing the ven-
erebe DR.. Robert Ryland Of Lexington.
Ky, who had been requested TO address
the alumni and who was the first president
of the college. said that about sixty years
ago two servants Of God met in the Second
Baptist church Of Richmond TO consider
the propriety of planting in the vineyard
Of the Lord the Tree of knowledge. After
several removals this tree was finally
planted here in Richmond. ." One Of those
servants of God" he continued, has been
preserved and is present with US here TO-
night. and esteem it no small privilege to
introduce to the audience Rev. Robert Ky
land. of Lexington, KY, the first president
of Richmond College"
Rev. Robert RyIand. ID. ID.
The venerable DR.. Ryland came forward.
and though over eighty-five years old,
made very remarkable address. abound
ing in wit and containing very valuable In-
formation concerning the history OF the
college.
Dr. Ryland traced the history of the in
stitution from its origin IN 1892 up TO the
time of his resignation as president. which
was during the war, and he spoke OF the
change of the name from the Virginia
Baptist Institute TO Richmond College.
THE FIRST COMMENCEMENT.
DR.. Ryland spoke particularly of the
first commencement. which was in June,
1849. The only graduates were two men
who have since been singularly distln-
guished and useful-Mr. Josiah Ryland, of
Richmond, and Rev. =. S. Henson, ID. d.,
now Of Chicago.
The war, he SAID, worked many disasters
to the college; the entire library was de-
stroyed: the building injured, and college
work had to be suspended.
TWO MISTAKES.
The Doctor said that he was compelled
to confess to having made two blunders
while president of the college. One was
the manufacture Of gas by the college,
which finally had to be discontinued, and
the other was advice to the trustees to con-
vert the funds of the college into Confed-
crate bonds.
The Doctors address was vivacious and
strong, and he was interrupted 10y fire.
quent and continued applause by the audi
ence. who greatly appreciated his address.
"Old Folks at Home" was then pro-
duced by the band.
The Orator of tho Evening.
The president in q very brief but pretty
speech then presented 10 the audience DR..
n. A. upper, Jr., OF Louisville, Ky, the
orator of the evening, whom Virginia
loaned 20 Kentucky"
DR.. Tupper's subject was Self Hero
ism" Said he: 1T is what is in thing
that determines its value. The rough rock
of the mountain and the vaporous veil of
the sky shut from the eye mines, oceans,
worlds of wealth. Circumstance Is honered
above character. The one - the outward
man, the other "a the inward: the one Is
what man appears TO be, the other is whit
he is. TO the question What Is he WORTH
the answer is invariably given from
a materialistic view. Money Is the
monarch over the multitude of men,
for they have been educated TO think
that under itS rule they enter the
golden age Of life. For does it not
bring us into the courts of kingsi Does
IL not change the hay horizon of life into
n ring of rubiesl But within himself each
one has world TO explore and CONQUER.
and here may he found the treasury Of
mans life. Root. not fruit. Is the source
and secret Of lie"
The Doctor then divided his subject.
THE HERoIsM OF sHLF-ExANISATIoN.
There is q divine meaning in tho exist
ence of everything. There are no altcrnates
in creation and the Creator knows no sur
plus in his work.
What is the meaning of my life? This is
the supreme question for each to ask. The
author of my being has made mistake or
nv life is of tremendous significance; HIS
intention in giving me life Is of moment
Cus importance to me and the knowledge
of this problem should be my ceaseless
pursuit.
sELF-pREPARATIoN.
True education is self-preparation. II IS
not a question OF pouring in but OF draw
ing out 1t does not create, but 1t takes
creation for granted.
TO cram a lads mind with infinite names
of things which he never handled or state
mepts of facts which he cannot under
stand is like loading his stomach with mar
bles.
IlONs
The rays of the sun do not scorch the
fallen leaves. but let these rays cOncen-
trate upon the face of yOnder blt OF glass
and they become a rod of fire. A life often
fails TO make lasting impression because
of its disposition 10 spread itself To at
tempt everything and accomplish nOthlngls
a fatal folly encouraged by our professional
and commercial life. II our lives are TO
mean the most we must take one line and
ricidly contine our energies to 1t. DO not
try to handle too many things IN q short
lifetime.
DIR. Tupper related an anecdote from the
life of Tamerlane of an ant carrying a
grain of corn larger than itself up wall.
S;xty-nine times it failed, but the seven
tieth it accomplished its purpose. Also an
anecdote illustrative of the perseverance OF
Bernard Polssey, discoverer OF enamel.
sELF-PEBPETUATIoN.
Truly great and good men are not half
living when they are alive. Their best and
truest life on earth comes after they no
longer walk on earth. The prophets OF
God seemed almost useless in their time,
but when you look at the lire they have i1,
lived since they appear TO be the worlds
pilots. Their enemies could kill them
then, but no arrow can strike them now.
Martin Luther was mighty while he
lived but the shadowv Luther is might
Ter than a regiment of fleshly Luthers.
WASHINGTON AND LEE.
In conclusion, DR.. Tupper said: The
eastern and western windows of this build
ing look ont upon two monuments that
NAV well kindle the ares of ambition IN
the lives of the students of Richmond
College. Looking toward the rising sun
NAV be seen the noble figure of him who
as its defender, President. and father, LETT
on the newborn republic the indelible
imprint of self-heroism. Looking toward
the setting sun we see the bronze image
of him VINO gave glory TO the evening, or
tho first century of our republic.
Great in victory but greater IN de-
feat, as soldier, patriot, Christian,
his name is inscribed upon tablets more
lasting than bronze and granite. HIS cha
racter is asplendid exponent OF the herolSm
OF self-examinGtion, the heroism OF SELF
preparation, the heroism of self-concentra-
ton. and the heroism of self-perpetuation.
These silent memorials of our greet dead,
each representing thrilling epo;h IN our
national life. are more eloquent than hvlng
tongues. Let the voices from the nVes OF
Washington and Lee over be en- ihspira-
tion in the soul.
DIR. Tuppers address was very deep IN
NH.a -