Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-11-19
SOCIETY OF ALUMNI.
ITS HISTORICAL EXPERIMENTATION
ORIGINATED AND COMPOSED.
Mr.. Rives's splendid Address Before It.
Revival Of the Virginia
Rhetorical Society.
lwrllten for the pIspatch1

and lust IN proportion 10 It's consequences
ard value does that history become impor-
;ant and worthy of being kept In remem-
brance. Hut as time flows on, 1t IN for
gotten and gets wrapped up in dusty and
storcd-away records and documents. Some
his,or;ographers are partial In double
sense-in displaying both favoritism and
n shortness OF information. But some
may exhibit the one without the other
Not very long ago writer, who is re-
garded as a high authority In such mat
ters. asserted that ''in lH7, through the
efforts OF certain gentlemen, chief OF
whom was Mr.. Maxwell. a reorganiza-
ton Of the Virginia Historical Society
was effected: that such reorganization
took place under the inspiration OF Mr.
Maxwell's sugGcstiOns': that "unuer the
auspices OF him and a few others its hrst
annual meeting was held In February,
1871" Now, that meeting was held ten
months later on the 10th OF December,
though a special called ono convened IN
the Medical College on the 10Th OF April
II was the reorganization which occurred
IN February. The whole truth IL as fol-
lows.
The Historical Department Of the Society
OF Alumni OF the University OF Virginia
was not only the precursor. but the pro-
inoter and procurer OF the revival OF the
Historical Society of Virginia In February,
Is47 The plan for that department was
conceived and drawn up by II. y. Minor
of the city Of Richmond, but as he could
not attend the meeting Of the Society Of
Alumni Il was COnfided 10 his friend,
Mr.. George Wythc Randolph who present
cd 81 20 them July 3, 1915. Previously,
however, in tho Southern Literary Mes
senger for October. 1874, page $50 in an
appeal 20 the legislature to send
abroad an agent for the purpose Of OBJ
tanning materials for the Colonial History
Of the State he had earnestly recon-
mended the revival OF the late Virginia
Historical Society," that 1t might exert it's
salutary influence In behalf OF this and
other useful undertakings" But as this
recommendation met with no practical re-
spouse. and ne was fearful Of the apathy
and indifference which had allowed the
old Historical Society to expire in 1899.
ne deemed 1t safest and best To try to
engraft a historical department upon the
Society Of Alumni OF the University, be
cause 1t was the institution of the whole
state. and such a society was likely to
have powers Of vitality ana self-perpetua
ton.
A COINCIDENCE.
The scheme presented by Mr. Ran
doph was very hatterngly received: dis
cussed by Messrs. Randolph. NJ. Il. II.
Garnett. W. J.. Eocock. Frank Minor.
Boiling. Of Buckingham and other mem
bcrs. and referred ia committee Of
nnc--viz.: Garnet Randolph Thomas
Wood. William w. Minor. DR. James \.
Lcitch. Boiling, W. J. Robertson. j.. }.
barbour, and Or. j. l.. Cabel: a splendid
committee surely.
The next day Ouiy I 1850 Mr. Garnett
made an ciabOTAt% and arguinentatlyc
report. which was discussed at length.
but without arriving at any final action.
tie society decided to recomm the
report 10 the same committee, and re-
qucsted that they make a further re-
port AT their next annual meeting" IT
Is a pleasing coincidence that the author
of the proposed scheme, Mr.. Garnett
me chairman Of the committee, and the
Hon. II. NJ. T. Hunter, the president OF
10 society. were all natives of Essex
county. but Mr.. Hunter being also a
member Of the Board Of Visitors (who
were In session. had 10 resign the chair
o Nice-Presidcut John Barbee Minor.
tSee Richmond Times ana Compiled Of
July t. 1879.
In the Richmond Wig OF July IS. 1876.
IS a full report Of the proceedings Of
the Society Of Alumni for that year,
among which Were the following: Mon
day, June 29th.-"Mr. e. r. Minor made
q report in behalf Of the committee TO
which had been referred at the last an
hual meeting the subject of reOrganzing
thc Society cf Alumni Mr.. John II. Gil
mer offered a resolution as a substitute
for the report of the committee. which
was lost, and the report OF tho committee
was. after discussion and amendments
thereto adopted I'm the following form"
Its nine articles are thea given in full
but an abstract of them Win DC sufi
cient Mr.. Garnett was absent. and had
some OF the papers relating 10 the sub
1ect az presented at the last meeting. and
Mr.. Minor was called upon to make the
report. because of his interest IN the
proposed scheme and his familiarity
with 1t.
ABSTRACT OF THE PLAN.
Article l. Objects of the department, TO
embrace the history of Virginia and OF
the United States.
Article il. Officers of Society of Alumni
20 be It's officers. except its two secreta-
RES who may be not alumni.
Article Ill. All members OF Society of
Alumni to be it's members: but persons
not alumni may, to the number of nifty,
be elected corresponding members" each
TO pay s. initiation fee, and three adverse
ballots to exclude, &c.
Article ". Honorary members may be
elected
Article " Two sessions each year; one
Mt the university at the time Of the an
nual meeting there of the alumni. the
other In Richmond the second Wednes'
day In January. AT each session an ad-
dress or essays. or both, on historical
subjects. &c.
Article VI. Auxiliary committees TO be
formed IN different localities. but TO keep
records and make fun reports 10 the SEES
sions at the university.
Article VII Historical Fund" how Gre
ted and to be appropriated; the Execu-
Ave Committee to draw upon II for the
expenses Of the meetings In Richmond.
Article VIII. Executive Committee of
ne. TO be residents of Richmond but
aoed rot be all alumni, who shall provide
for the meetings in Richmond.
Article IN How these articles TO be
amended Nine members to be "A quorum
The Society of Alumni adjourned 10
meet In Richmond on the second Wednes-
day In January. lSt. and at the uniVer-
sity on the 9th OF June but before ad-
tournment they completed the organlza-
ton OF their historical department. that
Il might be in operation when they should
assemble In the capital
The Executive Committee were Thomas
II Ellis. john n Meredith, John Il.
Thompson. Conway Robinson. and Gusta-
vus A. Mye's.
These gentlemen. outside OF the alumni
were elected as Corresponding mem
bers": William Maxwell, Conway Robin
son, Charles Campbell. G. A. Myers. X.
X. Howson. Charles Dimmock, James r.
Heath, John NJ. Patton, Sr., +. V. pa
MEL, Jr Charles +. Osborne, William H.
mcfarland Rev. w. II. Foote, General
y. c. Johnston. Governor d. Campbell,
George W. Summers Wyndham Robert
SON Ballard Smith, William NJ. Black
ford. I.ucian Minor. Joseph h Irving, X.
II. Toler. William l.. Goggin. o. +. Bald
win. Rev. Jacob u. Mitchell, William Nj.
peyton, and Rev. Benjamin Nj. Smith
tSenty-six OF tho fifty allowed. Mr.. VIII
liam Maxwell was elected corresponding
secretary. and b. Il. Minor recording Sc
rotary.
PERSONAL.
The Hon. William c. Rives was re-
omested to deliver an address at theif
tirst meeting in Richmond and COM
,otttaa anpointed 10 obtain his acceptance