The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-06-07

PROGRAMME OF THE EXERCISES.
Baccalaureate Sermon by Bishop "A.
w. WilsoD-Last Evenings Recep-
ton at the Woman's College.
The Auditorium Decorated.

LYNCHBURG. VA. June 6.-SpeciaL-
The joint commencement OF the Ran
dolph- Macon schools was formally OPEN
ed tonight with a reception rendered
visiting students ana alumni at the Wo-
mans College. The beautiful parlors OF
the Institution were handsomely hiumi-
mated and decorated and with the i'm
mense assemblage presented a brilliant
and attractive scene.
Students from the various Randolph
Macon colleges and academies arrived In
the city this afternoon on special trains.
Randolph Macon College at Ashland is
represented by about ninety students, the
Front Royal Academy, by sixty or sew
enty: Bedford City Academy. by about
eighty: the Blacksburg Female Institute
by one hundred and thirty-hve and Dan
vile Female institute by sixty. AS
there are at the Randolph-Macon Wo-
mans College including day scholars
two hundred and twenty young la
dies, the total number OF students pres
ent is in the neighborhood Of seven
hundred. A large number OF parents
OF the young people and a numerous con-
tingent OF alumni and alumnae are also
In attendance.
The improvised auditorium at Moor
mans Warehouse on Church street, pre-
sents a most attractive appearance. For
several days past a number OF men
have been buslly engaged in the work
OF decoration and the erection Of
platform. and the result Of their efforts
is a startling Transformation. In the
place Of brick walls and pine wood cell
ing. there IL now a wealth Of charming
colors and an arrangement OF ornamen-
tstion that will both please and delight.
-Four thousand yards Of cloth have been
utilized In carrying out the scheme OF
decoration, and to-day the walls are Of
orange and black and the ceiling Of blue
and white-the colors respectively Of the
college and the literary society. A plat
form Of large dimensions has been erect
ed at the Sixth street end Of the building
An outline OF the commencement pro-
gramme is as follows
Tuesday $3.50 4. NJ. 3d. Auditorium
Church street. Competitive Rotations.
declarations. elocutionary readings adj
dresses and orations by students OF the
five institutions: $3.50 p. M-Field-day.
Ball grounds on Rivermont line. Athletic
contests. running, vaulting. throwing.
etc. S p. M.-Opera House. Concert by
students OF Randolph Macon Woman's
College and Danville Institute.
Wednesday. $3.50 4. M-Auditorium.
Class-day exercises by the graduating
classes Of the two colleges. Alumni an
niversary address by Hon. Charles w.
Tillet. Of North Carolina. 4 p. M.-Ball
grounds. Baseball match game between
the two Academies. s p. M.-AuditOrium.
Annual celebration Of the Franklin Lit
erary Society. Representatives OF the
Society. as organized I'm each institution,
will participate. $3.50 p. M.-Aiumni ban
quet.
Thursday. $3.50 \. M-Auditorium
Award of distinctions. diplomas, de-
grees prizes and other college honors.
Address by Bishop John n. Vincent, Of
Kansas { p M.-Ball grounds. Baseball
match. Academies vs.. College. p. NJ
Auditorium. Annual celebration of the
Washington Literary Society. Representa-,
tives of the Societies. as organized at
each institution. will participate Ad-
dress by Rev. Z. +. HOss. ID. d.
The baccalaureate sermon Of the Wo-
mans College was delivered last night at
Centenary Methodist church by Bishop
A. w. Wilson. in the presence Of an i'm
mense congregation.
A feature Of the joint commencement
will be A score or more OF songs arrdng-
| ed specially for the occasion. They were
written by members of the faculties and
students. and a large number of them
were composed by Chancellor W W.
| Smith. The Hin city Franklin Band and
| the young ladies' of the College have been
practicing together for several weeks.
| and the manner in which they can rem
| der the songs promises 10 lend inspiration
| to the exercises.
At the reception tonight. the address
Of welcome was delivered from the spa
cious front porch OF the Woman's Col
| lege by Chancellor Smith, and the re-
| Spouse by Bishop John c. Granbery.
president OF the Board Of Trustees. The
| reception committee consisted Of Chancel-
| Tor and Mrs. Smith of the Woman's Col
| lege: President and Mrs. j. a. Kern, or
the Randolph-Macon College, Ashland
Dr. and Mrs. Nicholas knight, of the
| Womans College; Professor and Mrs. a.
| NJ. Hughlett. of the Bedford city Acad-
envy; DR.. and Mrs. b. W. Arnold. of the
! Front Royal Academy; Professor an4
| Mrs Sumpter Smith. Of the Bedford city
| Academy: Mr.. and Mrs James Cannon
of the Blackstone Female Institute; Pro-
| fessor and Mrs. Il. y. L. Farmer. or the
| Danville Female Institute. and Professor
| and Mrs Charles H. Melton, OF the Front
/ Royal Academy.
/