Richmond planet., 1897-06-19
commencement of Rich
mOnd COIored Normal
School.
Thirty-one Young Graduates
Rendition of an Excel
lent Programme.
PEABODY MEDALS CONFERRED BY
HON JOHN MITCHELL, JR.
List Of Graduates and Successful Stud
ents.

Thirty-one graduates were sent
forth last Monday night having COM
pleted their course in the Richmond
Colored High and Normal School to
carve out future that will reflect
credit upon their Alma Mater.
The Thirtieth Annual Commence
mt Mt Of the above named school took
place at the First Baptist Church (col-
ored) and was marked by the excellent
order that prevailed through out the
evening. as we'll as the beautiful rendi-
tion of the programme. 1t is hardly
nees ssary to give a description of the
beautiful collection of flowers that
adorned the rostrum OF the church,
but suffice to say that these floral tri-
butes from the hands OF admiring
friends to the young graduates, lent
additional charm to the gathering.
A S:l5 p. m, the gaze of the assembly
was directed towards the door, through
which the graduates marched, their
appearance being all that for and low
ing hearts could have desired,
THE PROGRAMME
Part I:-March song, Morning In
vitation ;" selection, Human Pro-
gress," Jesse @. Smith," selection,
jackson song, "Jubilate Deo :" essay,
Gems" Bessie Murray; selection,
High Tide at Gettysburg" Alice
Smith Gong. "The Pariot's song;" Sc
lection, Mrs. Caudles' Lecture" Nan
ME Bowler; selection, The Legend
Beautiful" Bertha Winston; song.
Onward Christian Soldiers
Part II Address, Rev. Wesley +.
Grsham; song, when the Roll is
Called up Yonder;" Conferring the
Peabody Medals. Hon. John Mitchell,
Jr onferripg Diplomas, Hon. j, Tay-
lor Ellyson song, Good Night" Ben
ediction, Rev j K. Jones, ID. ID.
The selections by Misses Jackson,
Smith and Bowler and the essay, enti-
tied "Gems" by Miss Bessie Murray
the selection. "Human Progress" by
wr. Jessie c. Smith embodied thoughts
that were truly inspiring.
The singing showed with what care
and excellence the students had been
trained and reflected great credit upon
the school. The address of the even
ing was delivered by Rev. W. f. Gra-
ham; mis- subject being the Benefits
of the Present Free-School System, :"
He pronounced it friend o. the poor
and rich alike. and q stimulus to
boys and girls to higher and nobler
endeavors, regardless of color or con-
dition of birth, and defended in glo-
rious terms this system that has prov
en- such a blessing to the colored race
in the south.
A GRATEFUL PEOPLE.
Rev. Graham enlarged upon one of
the beautiful characteristics of the
race and that was their gratitude and
appreciation for whatever kindness
others have rendered to them. "Pri-
vate and sectarian institutions are
good }" he sand, but they only reach
the few bat the public school system
reaches the masses of our people and
is the greatest agency that elevates us
as race. 1t comes in contact with
the masses directly, while the private
and seetarian schools come in contact
indirectly" Continuing, he explained
that perfection had not been reached,
but the stimulus given had already
made tremendous advances. He then
pointed out the great benefits the
church, society, business, mercantile
anu JAAO pLO4CbblODul BuI udu QC-
rived from the Free School System
and exhorted the colored race to make
the most of thess advantages, consid.
ering the fact that they are not finan-
cially able to meet the growing de-
mands of the race in their anxiety for
an education. He heartily condemned
the idea that the Negro is on trial and
said that if given the proper encour-
agement and an equal opportunity the
Negro would go up Ike other races.
He cited facts to prove that the Negro
has long since demonstrated his abili-
ty along all lines, and showed that
there were already 70 colored ladies
and gentlemen who were teaching in
the public schools of Richmond alone.
and throughout the south the colored
schools have their colc=ed presidents,
faculties superintendents, principals
and over 70, 600 teachers His perora-
tion was a grand one, and when he re-
sumed his seat there were roun Is af-
ter rounds of applause.
coNFERRIEe PEABODY MEDALS.
After a song Hon. John Mitchell, Jr.
stepped forward and was greeted with
roar Of applause He started out by
Iexplaining that the earliest records OF
prize giving in profane history were
the prizes awarded at the Olympian
Games, but could trace farther back
in Sacred History to the time when.
amid thunder and smoke, the laws
were given Moses on Mount Sinai. He
very aptly said that the world Ruages
all races by their literary and other
achievements, but the permanent sue.
cess for the colored race lies in their
good behavior, since all think that we
should be four times as good as any
one else.
He exhorted the great audience tc
be four times better, thereby showing
US to be identified with the best blood
in the whole world. Mr.. Mitchell as
cended to great heights Of eloouence
and cautioned those who were startiD1
out that they wyuld have to fight the
battle of life, that there was no rova
road to success, or need they expec
success through chance work. bu
that it was through hard and earnes
labor ombined with an honest anC
persevering endeavor that woulG
bring them success. The address wa
fired with ell the ardor of his natur,
and fairly electrified the house. AL
, though many representatives of th
J other race we're present, yet he di,
not hesitate to say that when the soutl
ern white man pledged his FRIENDSHIP
he was q friend indeed but when Al
enemy he was on impiacable one, Il
other words he was the best friend an,
worst enemy. When he closed his ad
dress, there was another grand out
, hurot Of 0nfhuaiaono Aftor uvhsoh h