The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-04-17
Taw Wil Galh,r Around The Festive
Beard This Evening.
TIE BANQUET At THE JEFFERSON
Among tho Speakers VIII be Mr.. Robert
NJ. Hughes, Professor Charles ID. Kent
and Dr. ,. Allison Hodges-Hisiory
of the Alumni Association

and invited guests, not less ''"' '' -
sons arc expected to Doe present ana COW
era will De lai1 for that number.
The guests are expected TO arrive at N''o
O'Clock. when they viii DE ushered IN the
first of the three dining-halis OF the Jei-
ferson. where large bowl of mint-JuleP
viii await them. ln tho other two rooms
tno laneuet VIII Doe served, and the guests
wan $40 down To- table about O'Clock.
AT the conclusion of the banquet the
alumni and guests VIII gather IN the mid
Ge dumg-ro9m, where the speeches "iIl
le made. Tho ceremonies viii be presid-
al over by Judge james C. Lamb Who
VIII act as toast-mastcr.
Tho following gentlemen are expected TO
respond o. toasts. Mr.. Robert NJ. Hughes
of Norfolk. president lof the Virginia
state Bar Association; Professor Charles
D. Kent. off the University of Virginia.
ur. j. Allison Hodges Of Richmond, ana
Senator Faulkner. Of West Virginia.
The committees who have charge of the
affair ere as follows.
Banquet Committee -Messrs. Allan
Potts. klrilwood Mitchell y. .. Nolun6'
= l.. Kelley, and Samuel III. Pulliam.
Invitation Committee-Dr. G. W. L.
Brock John T.. Williams. John L. Nc
CURE. and W. Gordon 1cCabe.
HISTORY or THE SOCIETY.
The now large and important Society OF
Alumni of the University of Virginia was
organized in the Rotunda on the 4th day
OF July. a. d. 1s2s This hlial movement
aid not proceed as It might-perhaps
ought to-haye done, from the alumni;
but took place in pursuance of an invita-
ton addressed 10 them by the faithful
and efficient faculty of that time.
At their meeting on January 81. 1898,
Prof George Tucker offered a resolution
that the alumni bc invited TO form such
an association. and ne and Professors
John A. O.. Davis and John y. Emmett
were appointed "a committee 10 extend
Chat invitation Accordingly, they issued
q circular dated the 9th Of February
I~S which brought together at the close
of the session twentysevcn true ana zeal.
oul SONS of the University
ITS ORGANIZATION
The Society has had an existence Of
nfty-eight years. bat some of its sessions
were prevented by the late war. and %
bad the misfortune Of having all its ante
lelum records destroyed. By a diligcnt
search in various directions most OF the
facts In its past career have been recov-
cred. and some Of the prominent ones
viii boz here presented. But the alumni
have had tO lament over something in
lnitCly worse than this, for one OF the
dire devastutors of peace as wen as OF
war has visited the institution with It's
flames, and laid in ashes the classic and
sacred halls in which they commenced
and carried on their pious war
AT the meeting for the organization Of
ha vie nd W.
present by invitation. and assisted i'm
the work. TWO Of the faculty, Drs. Cess
ner Harrison and James J.. Cabell, were
alumni After a temporary organization
q committee was appointed TO prepare
constitution Of which Mr.. George Mich
olson Johnson. OF Richmond. was chair
man. Their report was, after debate
adopted
The meetings Of the Society were to be
held annually at the University, on the
80 of July, unless that should be Sunday
a standing committee OF seven was TO be
appointed. 90 whom should be submitted
an applications for membership: who
should Doe members was defined; their
election was TO Doe by ballot, and unan-
imous. visitors and professors. who had
never been students, should be honorary
members: an orator should be elected TO
deliver am Grafton at each annual meeting
also an alternate. The first officers of
the Society were: Alex. H. Moseley, pres
idcnt; Willis =. Bocock, first Vice-pres-
ilent. George y Johnson second vice
president Thomas II. Ellis, secretary;
George W. Trucheart treasurer.
The i.rst committee on nominations
Wcrei Messrs. Wood. chairman rrue-
heart, BOcock. Christian. Ellis, Frazier,
and James II. Davis. Upon their recon
mcndotion thirteen members. besides the
twenty-seven already referred 20. We're
elected. of whom large majority were
hlghly-distlnguished Virglnians, or be
came such. They were: r.. NJ. r. Hunter,
VIM. Daniel. Jr, Thos II. Bayly A. II.
II. Stuart Henry Tutwiler, Charles L.
Moshy, Alex. Taliaferro. James A. Sod
don. Thos. Semmes. VIM. Ashe Aston,
VIM. IL. Brock enbrough. VIM. j.. Hodges,
and WIN. Ballard Preston.
The celebrated Chapman Johnson. Of
Richmond, "a that time in the Board of
Visitors, was elected the first orator hut
declined. Then Ro. NJ U. Hunter was
elected. and James G. Bruce his alternate.
WIND AND WIT
There was a great deal of cXhiliara-
ting intercourse between the alumni pro
fessors. and students and at night ine
banquet. at which. as one of the editors
wrote, "Wine and wit flowed in equal
profusion We understand that a classic
supper VIII constitute one OF the regular
and not least delightful proceedings OF
tho Society"
What has been found in regard 20 this
initiative meeting has been considerably
abridged. and yet the launching OF such
IA society, with such objects in view, de
mands sOmefullness OF statement.
The fun proceedings OF the Society AT
their session in July. 1880, arc not known,
but tho main items are There were about
ftty mcmbcrs ia attendance, and a hne
spirit prevailed among them. On the 4th
of July there was assembled in the ko-
tuuda a large and brilliant audience,
which included Governor Campbell, the
nrst Of our governors 10 grace such an
occasion, eX Governor Barbour. and the
visitors. After the close Of the college
exercises. the Society OF Alumni were
called 20 order and Hon. X. NJ. T. Hunter
delivered the annual oration, which was
"a grand success and Was spoken Of with
unqualified laudation. Ills subject was
Government and his tribute TO Chris
uanity Tor rs benign influences IN the
world and his culogy Of our auper-emincnt
Washington were characterized as splcn-
cid. Mr. James G.. Bruce. OF Halifax, and
James a. Seldom, OF Richmond, were
elected orator and alternate for The next
annual meeting
after adjournment instead OF classic
supper" the Society as part OF $50 guests
partOok OF an elegant day-dinner. provid.
I'd by the liberality Of the faculty. TIE