Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-06-08

| Myers. Lucy Alys Taylor, Nina Emily
| Wayland. Mary Emma Womack.
Misses Katherine and Mary Vanderslce.
| of the class. were absent. DR.. Nelson sald
| most of the audience knew why TINS was
| so. and paid a very beautiful tribute 10
| their father, Rev. DR.. George Z. Nanuei
slice, whose loss they mourn.
| MIR. SWEENEY'S FINE ADDRESS.
In introducing the orator or tne eve, eve,
| ming Rev. Mr. Sweeney, DR.. NeSson salo
| no boned he had come TO Richmond as
| fixture. .,,
DIR. Sweeney spoke in part as follows;
Mr.. President and Young Ladies,-ih
| the threshold of this short ADDRESS ue
| sire to thank you for the honor ana prNi-
lege of speaking to you on TINS occasloh
For more than twenty centuries tne FaI-
thenon has stood upon the Acropolis, I'M
riyalled for beauty among the masteT-
pieces of mans magic fingers IL Is d
mower In architecture, marble PROPHECY
in sculpture, and an imperishaple mohu.
ment to Pericles Napoleon tried 10 rlVai
Il. and though the Madeleine Is marVel
of beauty, It is n signal failure In com
parison with its prototype. The aren't
tects tell us the reason for It's wondrous
beauty lies in the fact that there is not
a straight line in its construction. IL Is
a colossal collection of curves. The
scientists tell us the same of nature.
Whether we seek for illustrations In the
microscopic or telescope world, we find
the normal condition Of matter to be cir
cular.
The armament overeaches us in mag
nificent dome, forming the blue meadow
Of Heaven" in which the silent stars,
sweet forget-me-nots Of the angels
burst forth.
THE LAW OF CIRCULARITY.
The horizon around us is an unbroken
circle. There is not sun nor star in far
distant space that does not move in a
circle. Nature seems to abhor straight
line almost as much as a vacuum. This
is why the eye never tires of her won
drous loneliness. Indeed Hogarth's Zine
of beauty" is but a succession of curve
linear forms. Let us now see II this
law of crcularity holds good in mind,
as well as matter. How often do we use
the expression. ''the sphere of life" by
which Is meant that human life Is a
great circle. whose centre is the cradle,
and whose circumference-eternit
Within the confines of this larger sphere,
we find number Of smaller ones con-
tanning all the relationships and duties of
life The first is the family circle, which
kisses you good morning in the cradle,
and good night at the grave. Here you
are called upon to sustain the holy re-
lationships and perform the noble duties
of daughter, sister, wife, and mother.
Broadening our observations. we dis !
cover the social circle. in which you are
called upon to play the part Of friend, |
neighbor. and, / trust. also, OF sweet |
heart. Lying still beyond the confines OF |
society, we observe a larger sphere, call |
ed the political circle This Is one OF /
which you may not feel proud, and one
which you may be reluctant to enter, |
but enter it you must. Fate has so de-
creed, whether you will or not. Woman,
whether a worker or not Is destined to .
exercise a far greater influence in the !
political circle I'm the future than she |
has in the past. And why should she /
not? Does she not share equally with
man in the results of both good and bad
legislation? No matter what we may
think of 'woman's rights or equal
suffrage" as abstract propositions, we
cannot be asleep to the rapid growth of
influence in political matters.
IN THE RELIGIOUS CIRCLE.
Lastly, we find the religious circle in
which woman is most powerful,
md where she is always destin-
ID to WELD a dominating influence.
rhis is your highest and noblest sphere
This is mountain peak, which you must
limb, in order 10 look down with clear
'ision upon all your other circles of duty
Whatever else woman may be. she must
'e religious. You may be wealthy and
BEAUTIFUL, intellectual and refined but un-
ess you have religion you cannot hope
o minister without hypocrisy at those
oly affairs, before which only a priestless
an offer sacrifice.
Neglect religion, and il will mldew your
eart and life. Cultivate IT, and IL will
rown your womanly life with all its rich
ruits and flowers.
Having briefly pointed out the circles in
which your life must move, the question
meets you: How may l influence these
pheres OF my life TO the best advantage? /
n answer to that, l reply: "By furnishing
o them those elements in which they are
ably deficient, and with which your Crea-
or has so bountifully endowed you"
he careful student of our present age
annot help discovering that il is sadly {
Efficient in purity, sympathy. and faith
needs an infusion of these in order TO
rake II what It should be. Woman has
cen wonderfully endowed by her Creator
18th all these. and her duty is TO give
5 fully as she has received :
In order that you may work effectively ,
your life's undertaking. you must study
ell your relations 10 the world. Life is | !
OF a sickly, sentimental dream. Neither !,
1t cold. hard, calculating game. 1t is
problem. Time is the blackboard; life's
pportunities are the figures, and you are :
lie workers. May your life-work be
arked by the plus sign. instead OF the
linus. is my sincere prayer"
THE OUTLOOK is BRIGHT. I
The address made a fine impression
DR.. Willingham was introduced also. C
nd made an excellent talk on the pros n
scts and the advantages possessed by j.
e institution, over which DR.. Nelson
esided with so much dignity and eff
encv.
The exercises closed with prayer by
r. Smith for the continued prosperity
the college. A