The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-09-16
A SEAT MADE SACRED BY LEE.
INSTALLATION OF WILLIAM L. WILL
SON AT WASHINGTON AND LEE.

The cx-Postmnstcr General Becomes
President of "A Virginia University.
Many Distinguished Men Take
Part in the Exercises and Letters
Are Read From other Men of More
Than National Famc-NIr. Wilson
Speaks on the Need of Education
in Political and Governmental
Science-Tributes Paid to the Mem
Ory OF the Great Southern Lead
er.
Lexington, Va, Sept 15.-Wiliam L.
Wilson. ex-postmaster general and form
erly distinguished member of the House
of Representatives. was installed into Of
flee as president of Washington and Lee
University to-day.
At an early hour students, friends and
alumni of Washington and Lee began to
gather on the Campus and in the chapel
to take part in the ceremonies. No bright
er or prettier day could have been chosen
for the occasion. Promptly at IL o'clock
line was formed and the march into the
chapel was made in the following order:
President-eect Wilson, Gov. Charles y.
the board of trustees of the university,
alumni, students and friends. The chapel
was already filled with the society people
Of Lexington and many guests from the
neighboring towns and cities.
The ceremonies were opened with music
by the Virginia Military Institute Band.
After prayer by Rev. DR.. Smith, Judge
NIaT nF ha mi
verslty, made short address, reviewing
the history of the university and giving
a short sketch of the life of its former
presidents. He then introduced Dr. Henry
Alexander White, who read letters of re-
gret from many distinguished people, ex-
pressing their regret at not being able to
attend the inaugural ceremonies and con-
graduating the university on securing as
it's president such distinguished man
| as William L. Wilson. Among the writers
were Hon. Grover Cleveland ex-Attorney
General Harmon of Cincinnati, Judge
| Tracy of New York, President Woodward
of the University of South Carolina, Pres
| ident tombstone of Tulane University the
president of the University of New York,
| Senator John w. Daniel, President Pat
| ton of Princeton and DR.. Warheld, presi-
dent of Lafayette College
Judge Mclaughlin then introduced the
| Rev. Or. Hy C. Cameron of Princeton
| University. Dr. Cameron began by ex-
! pressing regrets that the president Of the
university could not be present in person.
He then spoke of the three most distin-
| guished presidents of the university, Will
| lam Graham, and the two Lees, telling OF
the work each had done in the university.
| He said that Princeton could claim that
| she was the mother of other institutions,
| many of which are among the most prom
| inent schools of America. There were
| three ties that bound the university to
| Washington and Lee It's education Of
many of her professors, the connection Of
| Washington to both, and the education of
| Light Horse Harry Lee, the father of the
| universitys two most Distinguished presl-
| dents. He closed by congratulating WASH
! ington and Lee university on having such
a distinguished man as William L. Wilson
| for its president.
! Dr. Cameron was followed by James
| H. Kirkland, LII D., chancellor of Van-
derbilt University and by Daniel c. Gill
man, LID, president of Johns Hop
| kins University, who made addresses.
Judge William Mclaughlin then intro
duced Mr.. Wilson, who began his remarks
| by thanking the university and those con-
| nected with It for the honor they had
given him. He expressed gratitude at the
| presence of such an audience, and gave a
| short sketch of the university and of its
| standing among other universities in the
south. lie laid great stress on the need
| of education in political and government
! al science, and pointed out that this
| branch of education had been strongly
| favored by Washington, Franklin, jeff
| erson, Adams and many other great men.
! He closed his address with an acknowl-
| edgement of the great duty he had before
| him and paid a short tribute to Robert Il.
| Lee.
| Judge Mclaughlin then administered the
| oath of Office. A procession was then
| formed and a march made to the gym
| nasum, where a banquet was served to
! the board of trustees, the faculty of the
| university and their guests, visiting
| friends alumni and students.
The ceremonies were closed with BAN
| quet this afternoon, which lasted from 2
until p. m. Addresses were made by
! DIR. Gilmon of Johns Hopkins; DR.. Kirk
land of Vanderbilt, and DR.. Cameron of
| Princeton.
Col. Herbert, ex-secretary Of the Navy,
responded to the toast, THE United
| States"
Gov. oFerrall Of Virginia responded to
the toast, Virginia, the Mother of States
men," and DR.. Barrnger to the toast. "Our
Sister University" Other colleges and
universities also were represented by
speakers. Mr.. Wilson was postmaster.