The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-06-19
BEGINNING REAL LIFE.
RANpOLpH-MACON COLLEGE
COMMENCEMENT.

Fr.vHl,u Literary Society Cc'ebr"''o"
A,,uu, Address at Richmond coi'egs--
North Carolina Agricultural and Me-
chanical College.
spccial from Ashland, Va, last night
.a,d: The event OF the Randolph
Macon College ccmmencemcnt--is upon US
and as usual during commencement week
Ashland is OVERLOOKING with visitors, and
IL looks as though the whole South had
contributed the faircst OF its fair women
and many OF its hapdsomcst men to ada 10
the beauty and interest Of this occasion.
The baccalaureate sermon was preached
in the college chapel last sunday morn,ns
nv Rishop A. w. Wilson, OF the Mctnou,s'
sonfcrcnce. His text was Ephesians NV,
I'd and 9Th verses.
To-day at II 80 o'clock the chapci was
comfortably filed 10 hear the address before
the society OF the Alumni by MAJOR David
r. Duncan. A. NJ, and to hear the contest
ants for the Southern prize medal ior ora
tory. ., ,,,n,
m, was called 10 order by DIR. slcdd, aud
prayer was offered by Rev. :. ;. Lambeth,
OF Richmond. The band then played Near
or. my God. to Thee" DIR. sledd next maze
a short address. oxcusing the absence VI
the president Of the society: lie caiieu ,ne
roll III the ten young men VINO occupied ina,
platform ut the commencement OF 1870 ana
three of them answered 10 their names; one
of whom was the speaker, another was l.
A. Catch, and the other the orator OF the
day. Major David X. Duncan, OF South Car
DINA. whom Dr. Sledd then introduced.
Major Duncan madean eloquent address ana
spoke with much feeling, bringing up many
reminiscenses of the old college days. lie
spoke about an hour and fifteen minutes
Dr. Sledd then resigned the chair 10 Dr
smith, president of the college, who INTRO
duced ia turn the seven contestants Tor the
orators medal.
CONTEST FOR oRArORY.
The speeches were limited TO twenty min
utcs each, and the contestants, win theif
subjects, were as follows:
WA. Christian, Virginia, ..rurpose."
X +. Beadles. Virginia. MASTERY oil tne
situation"
s'W. Eason, Virginia, sour Country's Great
ness and Its Safeguards.
J. n. Riddick, Jr.. Virginia. "Ihe Power OF
the Ideal In the Formation OF Character
j. u. Johnston, Jr, Virginia, Education
W. b. Beauchamp. Virginia. "rhe oppor-
tunity Of To-Day
X. l. Croker. North Carolina, "Deau, Du'
His Spirit Lives"
The decisions of the judges will not be
given until tomorrow evening. The speak
ing continued until after O'Clock.
AT NIGHT.
Long before O'Clock, people began &c
gather in the chapel to witness the celebra.
ton Of the FRANKLIN Literary Society, and
by the appointed time the house was tillec
90 oyeriiowing. The intervals of waiting
Were filled with sweet music
Those taking part were: President, Z. ID
Ragland. Virginia; First Nice-Prcsident
w. b. Beauchamp, Virginia; Second vice
President. r.. l.. Dalh, Virginia.
Marshals ;. ;. Lambeth, Jr., Viz
yinia; A. l.. Noise, South Carolina; W
Stevens, Maryland.
Orators-W. A. Christian, Virginia. Sub
jiect: "a Nations Safety. {. Z. Cunning
ham, Virginia. Subject: "Nationalism."
As honorary president Of the society,
Hon. W. W. Walker, of Virginia, delivered
the address which, though extemporaneous,
was one Of great cloquence and was highly
appreciated by the very critical audience.
After the close of the exercises refresh
ments were served in one of the lecture
rooms Of the college, and the young people
kept the hours merry till the small of the
morning.
NOTES.
The college chapel was prettily decorated
with eyergreens and the college colors
Black, orange, and the same colors are
flying from the Top of the chapel steeple
and from the gates of the campus.
The music by Iardella's band, of Rich.
mond, was excellent, and added much 10
the enjoyment Of the happy occasion.
Among the gentlemen on the platform
were Rev. l.. Il. Betty, DIR. Whitehead Or.
Patterson, DIR. Lambeth, the venerable Dr.
Rosser, Hon. Mr.. Hereford, Rev. Mr.. Ship
ley, Rev. Mr.. Whitley, DIR. Barnes and DR.
Sledd.
The annual address will be delivered to-
morrow at IL A. NJ, by Hon. John W
Daniel.
The celebration of the Washington Lite.
rary Society takes place tomorrow night.