Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-04-15
REDEEM THE CITIES.
Prof. Small Discusses This Phase Of Our
Social Life.
THE TRUE AMERICAN SPIRIT.
Sectional Lines and Feeling Dying
Out. and the Deeds of Noble Men
Applauded--yaIue of Scientific Lee
tures-Kind Words for Richmond.

toward Richmond College for the past
several nights TO hear Professor Albion
w. Small, of the University OF Chicago.
viii ever remember the lecture OF last
evening
No lecturer who has come to the city
since the endowment of the lectureship
has more favorably impressed the people
with his scholarship. his acquaintance
with the subject In hand. his noble char
acter. and his broad-minded and opu-
mistic views OF society and Of men.
Professor Winston. in introducing DR..
Small said that his lecture would be the
most practical of the series. The sub
ject was "The Redemption OF Our Cities"
and I'm his remarks the lecturer gave
some illustrations of the application
of the theories and principles which he
had explained in the previous lectures.
While many Of his principles were equal
ly applicable to any and all our SOUTH
ern cities. he treated more particularly
the northern cities. basing his PROPOSE
tions on his observations In MS own
SOCIOLOGICAL Laboratory" as he Is wont
to call Chicago.
In our general social reform he pointed
out the fact that we must look TO the
cities. as they are the centres or popula-
ton and progress, and the country wiz
take care of itself. At the END or DIS
lecture Professor Small took occasion 70
urge upon the people Jf Richmond the
for Z.
tory and sociology. and showed the ad-
vantage which would accrue TO the city
from such a part in the college work.
THE BEST OF MEMORIALS.
In conclusion. Professor small SAID:
In bringing this series OF lectures TO
close | esteem IL a privilege to say what
It is difficult TO express without appearing
TO ask for appreciation of the speaker
own work. Not referring to the present
course OF lectures at all, may say IN
general that such a memorial as the
Thomas foundation Is comparatively
rare exhibition of the discretion ana pe-
nevolence Of It's donors Human vanity
has squandered untold wealth In monu-
lnents to the dead, which have only the
one use OF aiiording a visible sign that
the dead once had a mortal career. The
same wealth might have been made OF
the same memorial use. with the added
service OF continually augmentlng the
comfort. intelligence, and righteousness
of the living. Buildings OF many sorts
museums. Libraries. hospitals, Laboratories,
schools. churches-d0 this double service
of commemorating the departed ana bless
ing generations present and to come But
a foundation for pure Intellectual iniiu-
ence carries the name of the good man
whose memory it perpetuates, and IL does
the very largest proportion OF work for
human progress. All the material equip
nents of civilization when wealth pro-
cures are OF inestimable worth II devoted
to the uses Of beneyolence. OF culture, and
OF religion, but In comparison with the
permanent enlistment OF benevolent and
cultured. and religious souls Hho snall
use tools and become channels or
spiritual influence. we may say. In scrip
tural dioni--if rot precisely in a scriptura.
sense: "rhese material endowments that
are seen are temporal. These spiritual en-
d0wments that are unseen are eternal."
There could be no more wise and benin-
cent memorial Of a former citizen OF
Richmond than this provision. which shall
annually call to your city men who will
speak the most vital thoughts which are
building up the best life in the world,
and who viii thus enrich the sources and
enlarge the currents OF the best mental
people.
KINDNESS SHOWN HIM.
/ may speak with less reserve Of the
kindness OF which | have been the re-
cipient I'm Ricmond, because / take
1t as in no wise due 10 myself, but as
your expression of appreciation OF the
provision which has brought me here.
Nevertheless; | may be allowed to ac-
knowledge that 1 could not make myself
an utterly impersonal and passive re-
cipient OF these signs Of favor. which have
this larger than personal meaning. | de-
sire to express publicly my appreciation OF
the privilege OF meeting the gentle lady
who has inspired this foundation-who
seems TO me more refined and spirit
ualized Martha Washington. graciously
recalling to this generation the best quail
ties OF the culture and the courtesies Of a
departed civilization. Great kindness has
been extended TO me in the same spirit
by the faculty of this college and OF
other educational institutions In the city;
by the large numbers. both students and
guests, who have composed these au-
diences; by the Baptist pastors OF Rich
mond. and by distinguished citizens. L
can assure you that after l get back 10
my home | shall never be caught saying
mean things about the people OF Rich
mond. ] presume / have seen the very
best side OF your life and none OF the
worst: but / take the best people of any
community as a safer index of what that
community, as = whole, tends to be. rath-
er than draw my calculations from any
stratum inferior TO the best.
WE MUST WORK TOGETHER.
While l have emphasized in these lee
lures fewer points OF application OF So
cial principles TO your own local condi-
-
understand how TO do, IL expounds the
same principles. I have tried to strengthen
the perception that we Americans are
called In the Providence Of God TO wrestle
with some of the most momentous tasks
that have confronted the men OF any
time or race l have tried to leave with
you a confirmed conviction that We must
not be fractional Americans in .ur re-
sponsiblity for these tasks. We Are like
the Church, which Paul Iikened to the
human body. We Americans are members
OF one another. IL one member suffers
the whole body presently suffers with II.
In the coming days we shall be called
upon for Americansm more broad, more
liberal, more intelligent. more fra
ternal though II cannot be more
staunch and true TO conviction than the
Americansm OF the generations gone
Speaking as one or the fraternity OF
thoughtful men and women who love
their country; to you, as thoughtful men
and women who love our country,
bespeak the cultivation In us and by US
OF comprehensive and Christian pa
triotism. which shall rejoice with all good
men in our nation whenever II is right
for good men 10 rejoice, which shall
weep with all good men whenever in
any part OF our nation the cause OF
righteousness shall suffer wrong. Let
US build broad and high In American
thought the edifice OF our national Par
thenon and Pantheon, In which shall be