The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-06-13
RICHMOND CoLoRED NORMAL scHooL
i"enty-fourth Annual Commencement I'm
the Colorcd Baptist Church.

"'"'S-H"urth Annual Commencement In
the Coiored Baptist Church.
II those who believe colored education to
be failure could have been present at the
tWenty-iourth annual commencement of the
da;.li richmond Normal School last evening their
opinion would have been reversed The
exercises took place in the First Baptist
church (colored) and were attended by an
immense audience of the most intelligent
colored people
A good many white ladies and gentlemen
who are interested in the education of col
ored people were also present.
The following programme by the pupils
was rendered IN highly creditable and in
teresting manner:
Address Of welcome-C Charles p. White
Song. Essay. Palm is not Gained Except by
Labor Duet, Fila j. Williams Selection
., Miss Spicer Tries the Toboggan," Maggie +.
stephens. Solo: song-"Oft in the Silly
Night" Essay, I'VE know what we are, but
know not what we may be-" Bertie V. Fox
Selection. Mr.. Caudlea and His Second Wife"
Isabel Hill. Solo. Selection from Cinderella 4"
Selections, Repeal of the Tennessee Dog
Law Frank Z; Boiling. Uncle Reuben's
Baptism" Charles N. Robinson Song II
Am Going Home" Valadictory, Robert
The address TO the graduates was delivered
bv Rev. George Cooper, ID. d., pastor of the
First Baptist church. lie said that the battle
for public schools affording every one-rich or
poor. white or colored- equal opportunity for
m education, had been well fought. lie re-
marked that there were now 6,4O0 school
houses in the State of Virginia
% per cent. of the white people
and So per cent. Of the colored were
receiving an education: that STA, 900 is
spent yearly for the support of our public
schools in Richmond and over 81 800 00O
throughout the State
He demonstrated how necessary it is now
10 secure q good education; that education re-
lieves moral destruction and lack of patriot
ism and that the destiny Of our nation lies in
our schools.
He said: Let every one vindicate by his
life, by lis conduct and character that it pays
well IN the end TO make sacrifices in life IN
order 10 receive an education. He explained
In q very mastery manner 10 the graduates
that the education they had received was only
preparatory for the hard tasks Of life-that
now life has only commenced for them. and
that this education would qualify them for
their duties in the future. Honest toll is
what makes men and women, and those who
have made themselves famous in the world
did not dsdain honest toll.
The Rev u. ID. Lewis then spoke on The
True Aim in Life" He spoke very earnestly
to the graduates, saying that this world is a
vast temple circumscrlbed by the walls Of
eternity, and that every one has his mission
in life to perform, and requested the
young men and women 10 have an
aim in life, and not be like ship
without rudder upon the mid-Ocean, going
10 destruction. He warned them not TO do
like good many have done after leaving the
schOol-those who have had no aim III life, no
object in view, and are now loafers and bar
room seekers.
Further. that the true aim in life cannot be
found In the seeking of pleasure. but life
means work 1t Is a constant struggle. bat
tlefield upon which every man and woman IS
placed TO confront the struggle of life, and
give service TO God and his fellow man.
The Peabody medalists were: Senior A
class. Bertie Fox intermediate A class, Ben
jamn Taylor: Junior class, James Griffin.
The Anderson medals for best bOokkeep-
ing Benjamin PeytOn: for most successful
spelling, Alice Voolfolk; for best essay on
temperance. Florence Aytes. Frank Boiling
received q Waterbury watch.
Following are the graduates in order of
their standing:
February, is9l-Maggie Stephens, John
Braxton, John Alexander, Robert Mosby,
Samuel Steward. Isabelle Hill. Sallie A. Ma
son, Mary Cousins Susie Scott, Lucy Wood
son, George Harris, Frank Boiling Lucy
Walker, Anna Evans, Emma Jones, Ella Will
hams, Emma Lucas John johnson, Mary
Payne, Margaret Tinsley, Ellen Woodson,
Sarah Z. Brown, Mary Loney, Lewis Her
bert, Lucy Curd. Alice Voolfolk.
June, 1891-Bertle Fox, Fannie Knight Mol
lie Randolph. James Brooks Harrison Holmes,
Florence Aytes Lizzie Williams. Thomas
Wyatt, Sarah j. Brown Julia Holmes, Charles
Robinson Frances Tay Fannie Robinson,
Helen Fentress, Hattie Wallace.
Mayor j. Taylor Ellyson delivered the dplo-
mas to the graduates. The exercises closed
with tho benediction by Rev. James II.
Holmes.