The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-06-25
In Address on The Subject by Professor
H. H. Harris.
RICHMOND COLLEGE COMMENCEMENT.
Interesting History of the Work of the In
stitution-How 1t Looked When He Was
"a Boy-Members OF the Alumni.

@8E EDENN - NENAA NN
body and occupied the stage and the seats in
front. The largest crowd yet in attendance
filled the building to it's utmost and stood on
the outsidel looking through the windows. Rev.
Il. Il. AGREE. ID. d., Of Petersburg, presidentof
thcassociation presided. Professor CT. James,
Of Allegheny Institute led in prayer. Professor
II. II. Harris. LID. of Richmond College,
made the address Of the evening. w. 4. Hod-
gins. the eminent Texas iurist. WAS 10 have
filled this position. Professor Harris. after q
well-cOnstructed apology. spoke for nearly an
hour in q most interesting manner upon q
subjectthat in his own language, IS constantly
present 20 his thoughts IN The round OF daily
work. The following is q synopsis only OF
this admirable address.
He commenced by laying:
PROFESSOR HARRIS ADDRESS.
propose TO speak of a duty that we as
alumni owe 20 Alma Mater and some Of the
WAYS and means in which we may discharge
our obligation.
BY charter from the sovereign Common
wealth of Virginia complete control and most
ample powers are vested IN the trustees. VINO
have delegated certain limited and dependant
authority TO the faculty of instruction. n
third estate. tho students who from year TO
year assemble in these halls. are not less
potent in guiding by the unseen wand OF
public opinion the actual life of the college.
ALMA MATER PRIDE.
The duty on which | propose to insist as
compromising many others Is TO feel and
cultivate pride in our Alma Mater. ! am not
here to indulge in undiscriminating panegyrlc
or 10 deny the existence of faults and defects.
But the loving son must not look at wrinkles
that time has wrought on his mothers brow,
nor at any unseemly feature with which
nature or accident has disigured her. He
gazes rather on the gentle eye. the patient
lips, the general expression Of maternal love
FASTENED ana sweetened by the vicissitudes of
good and evil fortune. He will note the traces
OF care or discomfort only to remove 50 tar as
in him lies their causes.
WALK ABOUT ZION.
In ancient Jerusalem there were weak places
in the walls. narrow lanes and lowly hablta-
tons. but when the piOus Psalmlst wished 10
stir the patriotic pride of Israel he invited
his fcll0w-worshippers TO walk about Zion
till the towers thereof mark well her bulwarks
and consider her palaces" A similar invita-
ton now extend TO you, brethren OF the
alumni, and to this goodly audience.
one man bulwark, one massive W Of
strength in the college had its solid founda-
tiOns laid at 5 A. VI. on the Sth Of June, 1880,
by "a numerous meeting Of brethren held at
the Second Baptist church in the city Of
Richmond for deyisiug and proposing some
plan for the Improvement of young men who.
IN the judgment Of their churches, are called
OF God to the work of the ministry" In
all that they did and resolved one
characteristic Is notable. their avoidance Of
all pretense, their downright honesty. This
was in their estimation a prime qualification
for the vocation 20 which they looked. And
they were singularly %fortunate IN selecting
two years later a man 70 guide their enter
prise and gradually enlarge It's scope from a
seminary for the rising ministry to o college
for general and liberal education.
TOLD or his BIuNDrRs.
A year ago be stood upon this platform and
told in his own iulrnitable way OF the diff
culties with which he had to contend and of
what he was pleased 70 call his " plumbers.
He did not tell MS Of his invaluable services
and Of the successes he won. These the older
men among Us appreciate more and more as
the years 20 by. Recall the man as he used
TO preside. What was his most marked
characteristic; Vas 1t not slmple-hearted
caudOr, straightforward honesty; Thomas
CARLYLE pursued cant and shams with merci-
loss scorn. Robert Ryland did not 50 much as
know them.
The late p. T. Barnum is credited with hay
ing said that people Ike 20 be ~humbugged.
The phenomenal success OF scores Of sO-called
colleges and universities that offer the merest
veneer of snowy training instead Of thorough
education would Indicate that Barnum's dc
tum is applicable 10 other things besides
amusements. BE 1t our pride that the sterl-
ing character Of DR.. Ryiand and his cola
borers so deeply impressed itself upon tho
college in the formative period. was so thor
oughly ingrained in the warp and wool Of It's
courses Of study, methods of instruction.
standards of graduation. that its h1nOrs have
ever borne testimony TO solid attainments, tOa
broad. strong basis for building a life OF use
full service.
HISTORY or II GRADUATES.
Then followed q complete history of the
graduates of Richmond College from its be
ginning: very interesting, but OF too great
length T. be published here. Following this
sketch of the alumni Professor Harris de
voted himself TO those living IN Richmond:
To show how they stand at home | may
mention that besides the number in private
stations our roll contains the names Of the
Mayor. the Hastings Judge, the City At
torney. the CommOnWealth's Attorney. ex-
Judges Of the Police Court and the Chancery
Court. superintendent Of Water Works,
clerks Of Hastings and Chancery courts, z
pastors Of churches, 81 preachers, 81 lawyers
90 on bench. ~ professors y doctors.
Another fact is worth repeating. Our gradu-
ates have gone on 20 other schools of law. of
medicine, of theology, 10 the University of
Virginia. D. Johns HOpkns-they have not
failed anywhere. Then. again, ! have FOL
lowed them in examinations Tor West Point
and Annapolis. army and navy, civil service.
What not! All succeed.
GROWTH OF II COLLEGE
From character and alumni turn 10 a third
source Of Just pride. the growth or the college.
What changes since your speaker, a rustic
youth # sixteen. first stood on these grounds
and suffered the pangs Of nostalgia. Three
quarters of n mile outside the city llmits-ap-
preached by a railway through Screamcrsyille
or by the Scuiliet0wn road. Between Us ana
the city were the ruins of an old mansion, cul-
tivated fields and a marsh.
The city has taken Us INTO It's arms. given
light. water. streets and walks. Commence
ments used 10 be in churches. Now the best
pcople come here 70 these exercises and tOlec-
lures. Disadvantages in study; advantages Is
life and criticism. We are like contestants in
Olympic games.
What a change in grounds and buildings.
We still need trees and flowers. lecture-roofns.
laboratories. gymnasium. Never o be salts
fed. But great advance has been made:
OF the structure which in 1904 gave shelter
10 six professors and l6l students one only IS
standing. That furnished d~inlng-hall. chapel.
two lecture-rooms and r~eading-roOm IN the
basement. presidents Office and lecture room,
society hall aud library on the first floor.
dormitories for two students and two bachelor
professors on upper floor. OF whom the Junior
now fills the whole house with his family
nm the rest have been torn down, giving place
10 better and more substantial buildings.
MIND ABOVE MONEY.