The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1894-11-23
Founders Day.

Iu0 TRUSTEES Vi lOulc lHSU1tule DIS
Founders Day. The ceremonies
were held in the Assembly room of
the building.
The following program embraced the
interesting ceremonies of the day:
Professional Invocation, Rev. David
f. Shaw, pastor West Nottingham Pres
byterian Church Introductory remarks,
by Director Campbell; Chorus, by the
school; Address, by President D. c. Gil
man of Johns Hopkins University Vocal
solo, by Miss Stone Address, by Rev.
DR.. Chas. Cuthbert Hall of Brooklyn
Address, by Rev. Harvey W. Ewing pas
tor of Port Deposit M. E. Church; Adj
dress, by Hon. w. w. Hopkins of Port
Deposit Dedication prayer, by Rev.
Harvey w. Ewing,
The platform of the audience room was
fronted with mass of autumn flowers of
the blended hues of the rainbow Over
the platform large portrait of the
founder of the Institute, Hon. Jacob
Tome, was hung showing him at forty
years of age.
| A few minutes before two O'Clock
chorus of boys filed in and took seats
directly in front of the platform, followed
few minutes later by the chief actors of
the day who occupied the platform.
After short invocation by Rev. David
E. Shaw, Director Campbell made brief
preliminary address fitting the occasion,
and lively song was sung in chorus by
the students
The address of D. c. Gilman, President
of Johns Hopkins University, was direct
ed to the incite1neut and encouragement
of the pupils. He compared such a school
to the great river, which, having its foun-
tain head away above in New York came
down with its many tributaries, beautify-
ing and fructifying a vast region of
country, and finally mingled its waters
with the great ocean which circled the
entire globe.
The Tome Institute was the develop
ment in the evolution of time of the con-
ception of the first owner of Watson's
Island, Mr.. Palmer, who two hundred
and seventy years ago had bequeathed
the island and dedicated it and other
lands to the cause of education, and the
conception of the philanthropist was an
advance OH the education of that day in
the direction of manual training, which
has steadily developed till four great in.
situations of learning mark its progress
in Maryland, the Peabody Institute, the
Pratt Library, the Johns Hopkins Uni
versity and the Tome Institute, within
near proximity to Palmer's Island.
The necessity of will power was inl-
pressed upon the boys and girls of the
Institute by citing them to two persons,
one boy born with but two stumps of
arms and deficient in limbs who had be-
come a great traveller, was a skilled
marksman and was able to perform MANY
manual acts. The girl who was deaf, |
dumb and blind at birth, had nevertheless
by the exercise of her will power attained
fine education and could write and talk.
speaker. He urged the pupils never to be
content with mediocrity, which was a |
synonym of conservatism, which is but |
petrifed moral and intellectual life, but |
to move on and on, widening and broad
ening thought like as the course of the
noble river on whose banks the Institute |
stands, and those who go out to carry
higher intelligence as teachers through |
the land far and wide, might impress
the lesson OH the young minds under
their care never to be content to remain
with the common mass, but with the
spirit Of excelsior inspire their charge to
rise up and press on towards a higher
ideal.
The speaker related an incident which |
occurred that morning which made most
| favorable impression on him, of the cul-
ture and refinement typical of the neigh.
borhood, but whether he considered it |
indigenous to the country or a Fremont
ton of the influence which was already
radiating from the Tome Institute, he did
not say. In passing along the street,
which was filled with the students all in
tent Oil discussing the program of the day,
he and his wife met a couple oflittle boys
with heads down deep in the program,
and SO absorbed that one ofthem ran into
his wife. The boy raised his cap and said,
81 beg your pardon madam" This bit of
gallantry on the part of the young cava-
lier was one of the most impressive evil
dences of refined culture with which he
had ever met.
The address was followed by solo,
sung by Miss Stone, which was very fine
as an artistic rendering. The accompanist
was Miss Mary V. Houser, of Cadiz, O.,
guest of Mrs. Tome.
The next speakers discourse was on
the democracy of education, which was
in line with the idea of the founder of the |
institution, embodying his leading
thought, we felt, more than any of the
preceding speakers had DONE
Mr.. Hopkins closed the exercises of the
day OH this line, by well considered ad,
dress which he read from manuscript, on
behalf of the founders of the Institution
and the Trustees. The building cost over
SIS, 900 with an additional $4,000 in