Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-06-24
THE ALUMNI MEET.
RECEPTION AND BANQUET At THE
JEFFERSON LAST NIGHT.
GRADUATES In CAPS AND GOWNS.
The Glass the HOnorcd Guests of the
OccasiOn-Spcechcs by Professor
to the College.

| The alumni of Richmond College held
| their annual celebration at the Jefferson
last night. They assembled in the par
lors at o'clock, and spent an hour or
more in pleasant intercourse and in the
revival Of old associations. The society
appears TO grow stronger each year, and
the gathering last night was the largest
in Its history, and probably the most
successful.
There were several very pleasant Incl
dents in connection with the reunion,
but perhaps the most interesting was
the public announcement that Rev. Mr..
Thayer, of North Carolina, an alumnus
OF the college. had shown his love and
admiration for his Alma Mater in a very
practical way by giving the sum Of $1,000,
to be used for any purpose in connec-
| ton with the college that the trustees
might deem advisable. Mr.. Thayer had
| sent his check several days ago. with
| the request that the matter might be
! kept secret, but it leaked out at the
meeting of the alumni last night, and
there were loud calls for Mr.. Thayer, and
he was greeted with great cordlality.
AN ELEGANT BANQUET.
| The annual banquet Of the association
| followed the reception. The guests of
| honor were the members of the grad
| uating class. who attended i'm their acade-
| mic caps and gowns. The Board of Trus-
tees was very largely represented, and
| nearly every member Of the faculty was
| present. There were about $50 people
| present. Hon. J. Aston Cabell. president
of the Alumni Association, presided and
when the toast-list was reached he made
brief and happy introduction of each
speaker. In MS opening remarks he said
IL was his pleasant duty to call those
present from one feast to another. on
such an occasion, when so many distn-
guished men were gathered from all parts
Of the country with one single object the
sentiment that appealed to all should
have expression. "That which appeals
10 this body of men" he said, sis Rich
mond College" This was the first toast
on the list. and with it was coupled the
name Of President Boatwright.
PRESIDENT BOATWRIGHT'S RE-
President Boatwright. who was greeted
with prolonged applause. after a few
happy Introductory remarks, said: "All
OF us are proud, as the Roman citizen
eitlzen, 10 say. i am an alumnus Of
Richmond College" Continuing, he spoke
of the high esteem in which the college
IS held among the educational institu-
Theological Seminaries of Chester or
Louisville" said he, you will gain some
idea Of the opinion abroad of Richmond
College scholarship. for it both of those
INSTITUTIONS the highest honors ever at
tained were won by our college students.
Suppose We go TO Johns Hopkins Univer-
sity, they will tell you there that they
are proud Of Richmond College. because
Richmond student carried off the high
est honor there, together with a fellow
ship of $500 | think we have reason 10
be proud OF our Alma Mater and the
work she has done. As l walked down
to the Jefferson tonight with the gentle
men OF the graduating class in their caps
and gowns, / couldn't help noticing the
remarks made as we passed. People said.
There go the graduates of the college"
They did not particularlZe, but called them
the students OF the college. The college
is one of the brightest jewels in this city.
Let us not despise the day of small
things. Let US not grow disheartened be-
cause our college is not as large as some
other institutions. II our aims are high.
and our ideals lofty. the time will not be
far distant when our college shall take
place in the front rank. You would like
TO know something about the future Of
the college. | think the future is full of
hope. our rooms are all taken for next
year, and we hear that we are to have
more students than ever before in the his
tory Of the institution.
SPEAKS FOR THE ALUMNI.
The Society of the Alumni was the Sc
cond toast and DR.. r. II. Pitt. one Of the
most enthusiastic and energetic members,
responded. He said while the organiza-
ton was not very compact or powerful,
il was none the less useful 1t promoted
several results. First, it kept alive memo
ries which otherwise might very quickly
perish 1t was almost incredible that the
college associations should SO quickly
fade. But the world Is busy and its voca-
tions taxing. and unless there is some
provision for keeping alive the memories
of college and college life they would
quickly disappear, and while these emo
tions might be regarded as merely senti-
mental, the sentiments are worth cherish
ing.
Secondly. 1t promotes good-fellowship
at is n good thing for college men TO get
together, especially on a festive occasion
like this" DR.. Pitt continued. ut is
worth something 10 bring them together
without any utilitarian purpose-Just 10
shake hands and have a good time while
duh care is flung to the winds. We should
too soon forget one another II there were
no such annual gathering"
Indirectly the society Will bring sub
stantial good to the college. 1t is not
money-raising organization. and yet II
you will search out the men who have
raised and the men who have given the
money on which the college rests, men,
nent among them. BY keeping In touch
with one another and with the institution,
incalculable good may come TO the col
lege in countless ways.
THE CLASS OF 1897.
Mr.. f. B. English, president of the
graduating class. responded TO the senti-
ment, THE Class OF 81" He said:
After years of hard labor and study,
the graduating class OF 1851 have accom-
plished the objects of their efforts in the
obtainment of collegiate degrees and
honors. This was no easy task. Their
success involved brave and steady work.
and they have every reason TO be happy
and joyous tonight. While such is the
case. yet | dare say there Is not one OF
us who does not feel some regret that the
end of our collegiate course and training
has been reached; that we must now
sever our permanent connection with our
Alma Mater, within whose portals many
pleasant and beneficial day has been
spent"
Mr.. English spoke of the many fea-
lures Of college life. and laid particular
stress on those which endeared the Alma |
Mater TO the students. In conclusion, he
said:
MAY Richmond College she who has |
been the fountain of our knowledge and |
our succor in our thirst for learning and |
Standardization, continue 20 advance ana |
progress until AT no far distant day she /
NAV be I'M the foremost van of our cOun- |
try's bright galaxy OF educational institu- |
tions. Such is my profound desire and |
such Is my earnest belief
MINISTER. DOCTOR LAWYER.
Rev Dr. Hatcher was TO have responded |
to the toast OF "The Minister" but he |
was absent, ii was explained. through an |
imperative call 10 pastoral duty.
DR.. Stuart Mcclure. who was TO have |
RESPONDED to-"The Doctor" was also ul- |
ayoidably absent. but his place was taken |
by DR.. Henry III. Levy. He spoke OF the |
physician I'm his many aspects. and dwelt |
upon the wonderful progress made in med |
ical science during the last century. many |
diseases hitherto regarded as incurable |