The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-09-20
THE SESSION OPENED.
fyTEREsTrNG EXERCISES ar HICH-
MOND COLLEGE.
Speeches by DIR. Landrum. Professor d. II
Mason, Professor &. ;. Mitchell, and
President Eoatwright.

Iresiucut t'oaANIiEnt'
The chapel of Richmond College was
brilliantly lighted last night. and the
stage was tas tcfully decorated vita ferns
and potted plants in honor Of TIE Opening
exercises of the session OF 1885. on sc-
count of the stormy and threatening wca-
Their the attendance was much smaller
than is usual on like occasions at this
institution, but there was a fair-sized
gathering. among whom were many rep
resentatiye citizens Of Richmond.
The exercises were opened by fervent
prayer delivered by the Rev. II. w. Bat
tie. ID. D., pastor of the Second Baptist
church of Petersburg. in which he in
voked the Divine blessing upon the presl-
dent faculty, and trustees of Richmond
College.
Rev. DR.. W. w. Landrum then stated
that Or. j. l.. NJ. Curry. president OF the
Board of Trustees. was unavoidabiy an
sent. and that Rev. Or. W. T.. Hatcher,
who would naturally take the place OF
DR. Curry was detained by sickness IN
Fluvanna county, and that, therefore, ne
himself was called upon to preside over
the gathering Or. Landrum said that he
regretted that the bad weather had Kept
so many away, but he drew from the ram
which was now descending upon I've
thirsty earth an augury of the blessing
which would fall upon Richmond Col
ieee under the administration OF It's new
faculty.
At the conclusion OF Dr. Landrum's
brief address, Mrs. Durrett and Mr.. Had
don Watkins. of the Mendelssohn quar-
tett sang "In the Fragrant Summer
Time" The duet was loudly applauded.
and they were compelled 10 respond to an
encore.
DR. Landrum then introduced the speak
er Of tho evening. Professor otis NJ. Ma
son. of the Smithsonian Institute, at
Washington. who delivered a learned and
eloquent address. taking for his subject,
THE True Mission Of the College
TaoF. MAsoS's SPEECH.
Professor Mason said that some years
ago he had felt great anxiety for the fu-
ture OF the Baptist Church and Baptist
institutions of learning in the country
but that he now realized that Jealous
young men were taking the guidance OF
affairs, and he was satisfied that the in
terests OF both were safe in their hands.
Here the speaker alluded to the youthful
mark elected a storm Of applause. Pro-
fessor Mason then went on TO Illustrate
the purposes OF the college, and said II
was q place for the development Of tai
ents. and the making of new knowledge
To attain the highest success the speaker
said II was necessary for the whole col
lege 20 be as one man, each separate
part working in perfect harmony with
every other part. lie compared colleges
10 the highest order of life The profess
sOrs and students. ne said, should be so
necessary to each other. as 10 be ike
parts OF the human body. no one portion
or which could say to another. II have
no need of you" All personal feeling
should be lost sight of in an effort for
the common good.
THE VOTING MFy.
The speaker then addressed himself
especially 10 the young men, who. ne
said comnosed a unit, each one mutually
helpful 10 the other. This vas the time,
he said OF the young mCn for culture.
now were to be thought out the problems
Of existence. They would naturally inn
bihc valuable knowledge by corstaLt con-
tact with each other ard with their
teachers. lie said that the young men,
with their unframed minds were like bull
lion which would Doe turned into coin by
the stamp Of this institution Of know
ledge. u was only through the colleges
that the race Of colleges endured. The
college was a repository Of verified know
ledge or truth.
IL was dispenser Of knowledge and
a layer Of foundations upon which other
men would build. II was erraged. he
said. I'm weaving the tapestry Of the
worlds Intellectual history 1t was an
error. he said, to suppose that college
could be made self-supporting-no col
lege is self-supportng-th would I'm
great measure take away many of its
noble attributes. He spoke Of the two
gates Of the college-thc entrancei and the
exit and drew a glowing picture of the
possibilities which lay before young
man entering life. through this exit gate.
well equipped. The college, he said was
the central telephone Office Of know
ledge. Settlements. he said always
spring up around colleges, attracted by
desire 10 acquire knowledge. He pre-
dicted a brilliant future for Richmond
College. and commended 10 the watchfl
care Of the young faculty the interests
Of the pupils.
THE PRESIDENT.
He then addre ssed himself to President
Boatwright and urged him to be in every
way worthy OF the high Office to which
he had been called. lie called his at
tentIOn TO the great responsibility rest
Ing upon him, and said that he must be
an exemplar TO the young men under
MS care. He must teach them to love
him, for il would be great misfortune
II they did not. He said that his charge
was located in the best Commonwealth.
and among the proudest and best people
on earth
Professor Mason concluded his able
address by invoking a blessing upon each
and all OF the directors OF the college.
Miss Hopkins then sang sweet solo,
Wnicn was literally applauded.
DR.. Landrum said that until the re-
cent semi-annual meeting Of the Board
OF Trustees. Richmond College was the
only one Of 42O colleges in the United
states that had no president. and that
they determined TO make a change IN
the management, and elected President
BOatwright.
That gentleman, he said, was present
ana II was eminently fitted that some re-
marks should be made by him. He then
presented President Frederick W. Boat
wright 10 the audience.
lELslDi ~ BJATNLIGHT SPEAKS
President Bot.wright made a short. bur
able address. He said that this was the
siaddest time for the friends of the
College II was the halves, home" Young
men were gathered here, ne said. from
ali oNr the cOuntry-from beside the
tawny waters Of the Ohio and from