The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-06-18
RANDOLPH-MACON COLLEGE.
The Annual Commencement Exercises
Yesterday
CONTEST FOR THE SUTHERLIN MEDAL.
Addresses by Professor Robert A. Davis, OF
Petersburg, and DIR. w. T.. Jud-
kins, OF Richmond.

ana laymen, are attending the commencement
exercises of Randolph Macon College. and
the large lecture-room of Duncan Memorial
chapel was filed TO its utmost Mt 1880 yester-
day morning with an interested throng Of
visitors and home people. The ladies were
present in full force in new summer costumes,
the pure white and rich colors of which
blended with the decorations OF tie black and
lemon college colors. and made an interest
ing and cheerful scene. Bishop CRANBERRY
opened the exercises of the day with prayer.
In the absence of Bishop j. H. Vincent. Of
New ok. who was on the programme %
make the openin. address and the cause of
whose absence has been already puUls. Ell.
Robert Is. Davis isQ. OF Petersburg the
PRECEDENT OF Randolph Macon Alumni AssOci-
alton. was called on 20 fill the vacancy thus
made. Nr. Davis occupied q few minutes
only IN q short talk. which bristled
with humor and anecdote. and called
on Rev. W. h. Judkins ID. ID. In
the brief time allowed him Or Judkins gave
strong presentation Of the advance steps
made by the college in the last five years and
paid a high tribute 10 the sasacty. energy
and ability Of President W. ". Smith. Rev.
james A. Duncan. of Memorial church.
Iynchburg. followed. and strongly defined
the duties owed by the alumni 10 the college
the mother institution and her alumni chill
dren
Following these impromptu addresses Pro-
fessOi v. ". Smth took the CHAIR and an
u0unced the contest for the Sutherlin medal.
Th.sis medal presented 10y Major w i.
Sutherlin. Of DAnvllle to be awarded To the
best orator of the season. The competitors
were FIVE in number. Mr. d. l. kesier of
Baltimore. Md, led of AMI handled his sub
icct. National Pride and Responsibility"
with considerable skill. and pictured in clear
terms the physical and moral advantages OF
our great republic.
Mr.. r. ". Patton, Of Ashland. was the sec
Ond speaker and took for his subject Honor
TO the Confederate Dead His theme though
an old one was treated very artlstlcellv and
spoken with great smOOtnness and feeling:
His peroratioE was almost rhapsody AID
very effective
Mr. +. l.. Newberry. of Bland county. Va.
followed in q very strong speech upon Our
Country Needs | 3, and presented his thome
tersely and concisey, and though the shortest
was one Of the pithiest
Mr. #. q. buchanan. Of Ashland. spoke
upon tho Impending Crisis. which he IN
gruiOusly developed to mean the strained rela-
tions and constant friction between capital
and labor. His delivery was measured and
he spoke with dignlhed mien and well selected
terms Of expression.
Isaac W Eas0n. of Hickory. Va. was the
fifth and last speaker His subject. Useful-
ness the Condition of Success" was argued
with skill throughout His speech showed
great originality of thought and his ulus-ra-
tons We're especially happy and well selected.
Ills style IS vigorous and his gestures tOrclDle.
Az UNKNOWN COMMITTEE.
The speeches were all dssumlar in style,
and vet the measure OF capacity 50 equally
balanced that there was general expression
of sympathy Tor the committee of judges who
L. fI..o ffl.4
composed of three unknown gentlemen IN the
audience who have no connection with the
college faculty. and the award Will not be an
nOunced until tomorrow The speeches were
pronounced 10 be the best delivered from a
Randolph-Macon commencement platform
for many years.
The applause was generous to each
speaker and the complimentary donations Of
flowers were quite evenly distributed. Each
speaker had his strong adherents. but IL Is
generally admitted that the contest lies be-
tween Messrs. Patton and Eason.
The annual meeting Of the Society OF
Alumni was held Immediately after the con-
test of oratory. The meeting was opened
with Robert b. Davis, president, IN the chair
and r. Is. Smithev was elected secretary for
the occasion. The election OF officers for the
ensuing year was gone into at once. and re-
suited as follows President Rev. :. =. Lam
beth. ID. D.: First Nice-P President. Judge J.. ID
Newman, OF Woodstock Va; Second Vice
President, Rev. Richard Ferguson and Cor
responding Secretary, Prof. William A.
Shepard
Rev George f. Booker was elected orator
for the annual meeting in 1892. with Rev. w.
f. Evans as alternate The students gradua-
ting with the degrees Of masters and bache-
Tors were elected TO membership. They are
as follows: Masters Of Arts. c. Starke, of
Petersburg; ID. F. Parham, MurfreesbOro. \.
c.: c. II. Davis, Petersburg. Va. ID. b.
Easter, Ashland W. A. Murrell, Blacksburg.
Va. j. ). Richardson, New Kent county Va,
and S w Eason, Hickory. Va. Bachelors
of Art w. K. Old. BENEFITS Creek. Va;
K. r. Webb. Boydton Va; &. II. Ray Jr.,
Richmond, Va: q. f. Barnett Dailsyllle,
Md: Il. l.. Fultz. Raphine. Va A. Il. Dud-
derar, Knoxville. Md, b. NJ. Beckham,
Burkeville. Va; b. W. Arnold Asheyile, n.
c.: j. c. Hawk. Darkesyille. w. Va; NJ. 5.
ColOnna. Hickory, Va: g. W. Dyer, Axton,
Va; Ii. ID. Blackwell. GOrdonsvlle. Va; and
A. NJ. Hushlett, Bedford City, Va.
TIE BANQUET.
The alumni banquet was a very substantial
affair and was held in the gymnasium. COM
mencng at 3 o'clock. The usual festivities
o0d after-d nner speeches We're nCulged in.
Bishop Wilson being an entertaining speaker
on the occasion. After dinner tie board OF
trustees held meeting on financial affairs.
committee was appointed to nominate MEM
bers 10 Fl Il several vacancies on the board,
At T. NJ the chapel building was again
filled to its greatest capacity with a crowd
composed Of rare elements of intellect and
beauty. The occasion was the celebration Of
the Washington Literary Society, and after
appropriate preliminary exercises, presided
over by Bishop Wilson, the orators Of the oc-
casion were introduced. The Bishop as pres
ident-elect made ashort but highly interest
Ing address
Mr. F. b. Glen followed, and took as his
subject "Uncrowned Kings" and made ali
excellent address. which was listened to with
much interest
Mr.. c. I. Workman brought down the house
in the presentation of Mr.. Bardel in Mr..
Pickwcks trial.
varie'y Of refreshments were served by
the Ia, les Of the Church Aid Society in
another b aiding and they were literally pat
rOnized. The evening exercises belonged
largely % the young people and they obtained
n maHimum amount of enjoyment out OF it,
The First Regiment Band furnished excel
lent muse in the interim between the ex-
ercises.
The Washington Literary society medals
xrara delivered nv BishOD Wilson as follows.