Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-06-15
DAY OF DEDICATION.
The New Buildings at the University
Of Virginia.
AN INTERESTING PROGRAMME.
A Brilliant and a Most inspiring
Scene.
MANY DISTINGUISHED VISITORS
4, poem by Hon. Armistead GORDON
Tbc Governor Receives the Build
ipr,-The Addresses On the occa-
,ion-PersonnI Notes
,,xy DISTINGUISHED VISITORS.

varsitv-Day. devoted to the dedication OF
the new buildings, which form the great
Quadrangle. AT noon the most notable
90 ,barinp Of the commencement filed the
auditorium. The scene was made viva
and beautiful by the fact that three
fourths of those occupying seats III the
dress circle, balcony, and gallery dresseo
IN bright costumes. On the rostrum sat
the Governor and members of his STAN
and many distinguished alumni. The
exercises opened with prayer by Dr. Ran
dolph McKim, of Washington. which was
followed by the singing by students Oh
the fine hymn, rise, Crowned win
Light"
The reading OF the dedication ode, The
Fostering Mother" by the former rector,
the Hon. Armistead c. Gordon. of Staun-
ton was an event. It's close was fol-
lowed with many evidences of keen satis-
faction, and when some one in the audi-
ence proposed "three cheers for our poet
they were given Unanimously. While the
building was ringing with them. MI w.
the Chinese Minister; Chow Tsz-chl' Sc
cond secretary Of the legation. ana NJ l.
Chung. Interpreter, entered and took seats
in the pit their nearest neighbor Delhg
Thomas Nelson Page.
The Fostering Mother.
The dawn of summer breaks in beauty
DER her, -.
throne once more;
Gather again her children to adore her-
TO hail her soul-compelling as Oh yore,
Gle Dir
Turning the latest page of her illumined
story
An open book that he who runs may
Annals of patience courage. sacrifice,
Blazoned with lofty thought and spienoio
deed, .,, -.
Scroll Of the intellect's majestic sway; -.
Scripture of hope and faith that shall
not fade away.
One name, before which none in all time
Hath been or shall be. shining there is
writ:
Worker of Revolutions, mighty giver
OF Freedoms Charter ana the voice Vi
When kingdoms shake, and iron empires
fan,
Through multitudinous time shall ring
the clarion call
OF the eternal lesson that he taught:
"The gift OF God is Freedom" Never
gift,
In ali the ages with His promise fraught'
Hath been bestowed Ike this one 10 up
Mortality to godhood. and to light 49,,
Mans pathway through the years TIL
Time be put TO flight.
It is the gift of God Philosophy
Might not devise it; art might never
Its beauty; in the realm of poesy
1t were undreamed or were 1t not OF
Science, whose feet are with the light
! nings shod,
Had never found it; for 1t is the gift
! of GOD.
And when the nations arm them for the
with hearts of fire and force of triple
To test the DURANGO on some fateful day
OF Tyranny or Freedom, they shall
feel
Whether on blood-drench'd sod OF
| wandring wave
| The conquest theirs who know its
I sovereign strength 10 save.
Let us rejoice, then. that upon her scroll
| Wherein our Mother reads the pntet-
| tered creed.
! The sacrificial courage of the soul,
| The untrammelled thought that works
the deathless deed
Is written first, to last through latest
This gift of God. though gained with
immemorial tears.
Teaching the lesson of that morning
| Voice
To all her children, peace encompassec
Till dawned a day in springtime, wher
the choice:
Death or Dishonor! made her pulses
In scorn of life dishonorec. For tho
| Truth
Go forth and die!' she said to her i'm,
mortal youth.
| The drum beat, and they answered. "A:
! they stood
In the forefront OF war, sacred band,
And poured the red hbation OF theil
| blood
At Freedoms altar for their native
| land,
The stricken mother wrote In words o.
flame:
"For Truths most holy cause" o'el
each respondent name.
For Truth and Freedom! Not the name
who through the centuries by the Gre
| clan sea
! Sleep i'm the narrow pass they kept, shall
| shed
A nobler lustre upon Liberty
Than these heroic hearts to whom she
That Spartan fortitude is born of Spar,
tan thought.
Fronting defeat. she heard the drumbea
She heard the cannonading die away
Counting her graves beneath the star o.
| peace.
day
Sacred to Freedom, glorified by death,
| She turned her hottest page in more
exalted faith.
'Tn storm or sunshine this one thing Il
And shall be through His everlasting
The gift OF God is destined to endure
So wrote she, though ye take IL e'er
with tears.
Heartbreak and agony and bloody sweat
They who have loved II once have never
lost it yet
II Is her lesson still. Her slain sons sleep
A last long sleep, their battles all for
| got
Whom neither love nor prayers, nor any
weeping
Might bring back to the land where the,
Speak from the grave the message o.
their gain,
That they are likewise free TO slumbel
with the slain
IL Is the lesson still that TO the living
| Who gather meath her mantle's ample