Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-09-24
OPENING OF ATHENEUM,
There Was Distinguished Assemblage, I'm.
pressye Exercises Much ENTHUSIASM and
Large Enrolment of Pupils.

Under the most favorable auspices and
With the most fiattering prospects the
seventh annual session of the Atheneum
was begun yesterday morning.
President Cummings, though quite
busS looking after the general patronage
Of the institution. had found time to have
the building and grounds put in beaut.-
full condition, and everything on "Athe-
neum Eminence' yesterday morning was
as lovely as was the day-and it was
faultless. There is no more charming
view around Birmingham than that
which gfeeIs the eye as the cars round
the curve and come TO stand in front
of the Atheneum gate
The scene yesterday was more than
ordinarily exhilarat!ng, for scattered in
groups over the campus were beVies Of
bright young girls and friends OF the coll
lese, who had come TO attend the OPEN
ing exercises.
At 1880 the president called the large
and distinguished assemblage in the
chapel to order, and Rev. DR. Hobson of
Howard college offered ferVent prayer
for the success of the institution.
Mr. Cummings in a few well chosen
words, then welcomed the audience to
the exercises and introduced Rev. DR..
Armstrong, who n an earnest thought
full manner told of what the institution
ought to accomplish and called upon lis
friends to stand by the president and
faculty.
After a most beautiful piano solo by
Miss Ida Palmer, Rev. W. ID. Hubbard
of Greenville, Ala. most elequently told
of what the Atheneum had done in the
past, which was but the harbinger of a
still more glorious future.
Then Miss Couch, the accomplished
directress of the music department, en-
tertained the audience with a piano solo
that was exquisite in its beauty and
divine in its melody. Miss Couch cap
tured the audience completely, and the
almost breathless silence with which
they listened to her rendition showed not
only their appreciation, but also the
power of the artist.
DR.. p. T. Hale followed in an address
full of good cheer and enthusiasm, which
showed that his own noble heart was
brimful of love for Howard college. the
Atheneum and his almost lifelong friend,
the new president.
General Rhodes made a most touching
talk, in which he alluded to the noble
founder of the school, DIR. Palmer, and
said that in the years to come he hoped
to see a monument in the form of an ele-
giant memorial hall worthy of his great
and unselfish friend. browning the beau
tiful Atheneum campus.
Mr. Robert Jemison, president of the
board of trustees then made some eX-
tremely practical remarks, in which he
appealed to the people of East Lake and
Birmingham to stand shoulder to Shout
der with the president, faculty and board
of trustees in making the Atheneum one
of the very best institutions of the south.
DR.. Hosmer, presiding elder of the Bir-
mingham district, spoke words of good
cheer and encouragement TO the school
and the faculty.
After some announcements by the pres
ident the audience was dismissed and the
work Of enrolment began.
There were something over 100 DuDiiS
present and enrolled-a remarkably fine
showing considering the uncertainty con-
nected with the institution until within
a few weeks ago. This number repre-
sents the number present, which in all
probability will be more than doubled be-
fore the close of the session.
AS bright and as successful as has been
the school in the past the future promises
still more glorious results. Already Mr..
Cumming, the new president, has won the
confidence of the entire business COM
munity, and the state Herald hazards
nothing in saying that from the present
outlook there is no doubt that his efforts
to build here great nter-denomnational
and Christian school will be crowned
with the greatest success.