The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-06-10
The COMMENCEMENT At SALEM
Annual Grafton by Hon. Andrew
D. White.

The Eminent Educator Delivers a Most
Instructive and Interesting Address.
The Reunion Association Held a
Meeting-secretary Morton to Speak
To-day-Distinguished visitors,
The contest for orators medal. given
by the two literary societies of the COL
lege, drew the usual large crowd Mon
day night. The speakers were an
nounced In the following order: All.
Throckmorton, Va. subject, "Charsc-
ter; Victor McCAuley, Va, subject,
Write Upon the Hearts OF Men,; +. S.
Moss, Va, subject, Back to the sand.
ard; Z. R. Carter, Ind, subiect.
GLORY; j. A. Dukes, Ind. Ter, subject,
"Expstriasion Of the Cherokees The
confess was rather above the average.
the young men scquitsing themselves
with great credit.
The following acted as judges: Rev.
8. A. Repass, Prof. G. v. Yonce. Rev.
G. A. Marks, Hon. ]. w. G. Blackstone
and Q. o. Keedy, and awarded the medal
to Victor McCauley. OF Salem. In an
nounciDg the decision Mr.. Keedy stated
that on the first ballot every vote was
cast for the successful contestant. Be.
fore the contest Judge Moffett in neat
little speech presented the medals to
those who won In the field sports ON
Monday. The students had made ar
engagements to illuminate the campus
and entertain the visitors with some
music on the college grounds, but the
rain interfered with this part OF the pro.
gramme.
Tuesday at 1890 q. m. the nddresses
before the Reunion Association meeting
were held In the Town Hall. DR.. Painter
presided, and introduced as first speaker
Rev. l.. L. Smith (class ~, who spoke
In the highest terms Of praise of his
alma mater, paying q warm. hearted
tribute to DR.. Bittle. the first president
ana founder OF Roanoke College. Prof.
q. V. Yonce (class Of III next Addressed
the meeting. During his speech he took
occasion to critlcise Salem for not doing
more for the college.
he said as former Salem boy he
could speak. freely on this subject.
The college WAS the life of the town.
had spent thousands of dollars in Sa-
lem and added much to Its material
wealth; but 1t had done more In giving
the sons Of Salem an opportunity to
obtain an educstion-it had done this
and much more for Salem, but what
had Salem done fer the college? He
then referred to the hall in which these
exercises are held with its dingy
walls and uncomfortable, scanty seats
as an answer to his question. Mr..
Yonce is a forcible speaker and made
some telling points.
The next speaker was o Representa-
tive OF the law, Hon. ]. w. G. Black
stone, ex-senator, from Accomac (clsss
OF TOY. His remarks were entirely ex-
tempose, as he WAS not on the regular
programme. but he said some good
things and his speech was much en-
joyed by the audience. The College
Glee Club furnished the music for the
occasion.
at 2:30 p. m. there was q meeting OF
the Triennial Reunion Association in
the college chapel and immediately
afterwards the Alumni Association held
meeting in the Y. M. c. A. Hall.
mr.. Whites Grafton.
At p. m. Hon. Andrew D. White, OF
the Venezuelan commission, delivered
the annual grafton before the literary
societies OF the college. His subject was
Evolution Versus Revolution" and his
speech in part WAS as follows:
standing on this beautiful spot in
this honored commonwealth, among
these gifted instructo and eager
scholars l discern anew the power of In
situations like this to develop a vet
nobler future for individuals, States
and the nation at large.
ut Is certain that in this century the
theory Of an evolutionary method of
some sort in the universe has taken fast
hold upon the thinking men. L shall
not enter into the relation OF mans
structure and life to the structure and
life OF other animals, but simply point
out the fact in passing. that in the
whole history Of humanity. al the great
array OF sciences which have been
brought to bear upon 1t, show from the
earliest prehistoric times in which we
can trace man by his works, evidences
OF his upward evolution. But while O
quiet evolution is easily seen in the
long series OF ever improving inven tions,
implements, laws, policies, ideas, q
more violent process is no less evident.
More and more 1t becomes clear that
the same law Of evolution extends even
through national catastrophes. The
doctrine of national catastrophes with.
out any effect save possibly to point o
moral or adorn tale has virtually dis
appeared; more and more IL Is seen, both
In historic times and in prehistoric.
that there has been not only an evolu-