The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-12-16
A DELIGHTFUL SOCIAL OCCASION AT
TRINITY
fspecial to New and Observer.l

Especial to News and Observer
Durham, N. c., December ID
On the evening of Tuesday, December
II. 1900, the Society of Trinity College,
known as ''9019," celebrated the compile
ton of the tenth year of it's organization.
The occasion passed off with public ex-
ercises. followed by a banquet for the
members of the society and their lady
guests. The former was held in the col
Iege chapel, which was gayly decorated
with flags and bunting. The banquet was
served in the spacious dining room of the
Epworth Inn. and this also was deco
rated with bunting and palms.
In the public exercises, Prof. Gill presid
ed, and in graceful words introduced the
speakers.
First, Prof. Bassett made some general
remarks on the nature OF the organiza
ton. He began by welcoming the large
audience and gave a short sketch of the
early experiences Of the "9019." He al
luded to the general interest that was
aroused in the college community when
the order was organized and the mis-
understanding of the purposes of the or
der on the part of some persons. 1t had
never been, said he, any secret that the
best equipped men who go out from
Trinity bound together for the upbuilding
Of the best life of the State. and of the
college. The qualification for member
ship had always been high grade scholar
ship high grade moral character and high
grade common sense. The first ten years
of the order have been largely experiment
tai 1t has been finding itself and per-
lofR,
the necessary work of accommodating a
membership. 1t now numbers nearly
hundred men. They are widely scattered.
They are determined to go into wider
field of work for the common purpose than
ever before. The prospects for accom-
plishing great good are excellent; and.
said the speaker. it is the reasonable
hope of the "9019" that it shall have the
encouragement of every well intentioned
member of society for this end.
Headmaster J. F. Bivins. of the Trinity
Park High school, next read a poem. He
began by saying that he was poet by
enactment, and his friends thought when
the noem was read that this was wise
enactment He dealt wittily with the
life Of the "9015" and was warmly APP
nIauded
The chief feature of the exercises was
the address by Prof. r. A. Smoot of the
faculty OF Greensboro Female College.
He said.
Great movements like great men are
the products of centuries. not of a single
day. The ''9019," though born to the
light ten years ago, was and is in spirit
the offspring of all of the pathos and
love and intellectual life that cluster
about the Craven educational movement
1t is not possible to give more than
general idea of ''9019," on the principle
that the profoundest feelings and thoughts
Of men cannot in their entirety be trans
ferred through medium of words As our
best selves must be kept to ourselves, 1t
behooves us to make the most of what
we have. Our own minds contain the
final and lasting source of joy and happi-
ness. independence in thought is the
greatest desideratum of our time. In no
field is it needed more sadly than in
those OF student teacher and preacher
Conformity to custom and over scrupulous
consistency, Emerson says, are the great
est barriers to self-relianee and develop
ment But the truest independence is
found in the wisest dependence. The
"9O19" chooses men of individuality and
puts them on this basis of wisest CO.
operation. The order stands distinctive
ly for Trinity College and North Carolina
The threefold basis of good
is made w of love of state,
love of truth. love of purity. The Ar
thurian legend incorporates these in the
oath of the Round Table. No State hay
ing such principles Incorporated into its
en- no ait Of
''9Gf9' to stand about Trinity like a liv
ing wall, and place her in the van of the
great educational movement of the South,
and to help create the highest type OF
for North Carolina
All these features of the exercises were
lery carefully heard by the audience.
There has always been more or less of
curiosity on the part of the community in
regard TO the nature of this organization
and many persons had hoped to find out
its secrets. They followed the speakers
closely and were gratifed in many parti-
culars Some of the ladies', however, ex
pressed themselves as dissatisfied at not
having learned the meaning of the name
"9019" and of the badge, which is cup
and spear surrounded by circle.
The banquet was delightful affair
served in Dughis best style. The table
was arranged in the shape of T, and
behind it was a screen of palms. At the
head of the table sat Prof. P. T. Durham
as Rex Convivii. The toasts were ar
ranged at the various ends of the table,
and were as follows Our College, Mr..
p V. Anderson; Our Guests, Mr.. G.. H.
Flowers; Our Absent Ones, Mr.. w. A.
lambeth Our Order. Dr. w. l. Crawford.
The following couples were present;
Dr. and Mrs. J. S Bassett, DR.. and Mrs.
w. 1. Crawford, Prof T. A. Smoot, Prof.
and Mrs C. w. Edwards, Prof w. F.
Gill and Miss Mabel Chadwick Prof. P.
T. Durham and Miss Maize Hendren, Prof.
J. f. Bivens and Miss Maude Moore, w. II.