Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1903-04-22

aNE6 of writing up not only the new
aNN9stS building, but also the college and
eAN3feS its mission. A rush of business
SO however forces us to postpone a
personal attention in this direction, and we substi
tute handsome report of the proceedings and incl
dents of the day, copied from our friend J. T.
Senter's paper, the Columbus Commercial, which is
better even than we could have produced at first
hand: Following is the Commercials report:
An auspiciOus event in the educational annals Of
Mississippi occurred at the Agricultural and
Mechanical College last Friday when a representa-
tive gathering of citizens assembled from all Sec
tOns OF the state to witness the laying Of the
stone OF the new Science Hall, q handsome and
COmmOdiOus structure which is decided credit to
this great and growing commonwealth, to those
who conceived the need OF such an institution and
to the wise legislators who provided for its build
ing
A special train bearing the student body Of the
Industrial Institute and College left Columbus at
s:45 q. m. and arrived at the College campus at
1920.
The meeting was held in the large and cOmmOdi-
Ous assembly hall Of the A. & M. College, and that
immense auditorium Was inadequate to accOmmo-
date the crowd.
President J. @, Hardy delivered the welcome
address and gave brief synopsis of the splendid
progress which has marked the of the college
under his management, but mOdesty forbade him
speakers TO pay him numerous high compliments,
all of which he more than deserves.
President Hardy spoke with enthusiasm of the
magnificent prospect Of this, Of the states most
magnificent institutions particularly of the compile
ton Of the new Science hail. the auspiciOus event OF
the occasion. he welcomed the vast audience feel
ingly and frankly, and paid numerous high COmpli.
ments to the Industrial Institute and College, which
he declared Was doing the same work for the girls
Of Mississippi as his institution doing for the
boys.
The response to the address Of welcome was de.
livered by President A. A. KincannOD, OF the I. L
and G. college,, who spoke enCOuragingly Of the work
being accomplished for Mississippi boys at the A.
and NJ. college. BE thanked President Hardy for
the generous welcome extended to the girls and
said that he was glad that the blue and the gray
had come together again, and that this time he
hoped that the gray would conquer the blue. econ
trary to my teachings at the l. I. and Co.. he said
tI am going to make an exception to the rules to-
day. I am willing for those who wear the blue to
put their hands into those Of the gray and discuss
any subject"
Prof. LpscOmb, of the University, expressed re-
gret that the Students of that institution could not
be present He discussed educational matters in
general and particularly the relative importance of
the states three leading institutions OF learning
which he designated IS the University, the A. and
II. college and the I. I. and 9. Each, be said, had
its own field and each was doing great work in
preparing the future men and women Of Mississippi
for the responsibilities that would to them in
future years. Prof. Lpscomb is q former student
of the A. and NJ. and expressed much pleasure anent
the progress made in every department since he
left the institution.
Capt I'll. D. Shaw, ir., spoke in behalf Of the
student body OF the college, and made one of the
best speeches Of the day. Mr. Shaw is a young man
OF splendid OratOrica powers and his speech would
have been creditable to a much older man.
The chief speaker Of the day was Secretary of Agr
culture James Wilson, who had come all the way
from Washington at the solicitation of Congressman
Gambler and the college faculty. he was introduced
by Mr.. Gambler, who paid several handsome COM
pliments to the distinguished visitor Mr.. Wilson's
speech was full OF useful technical suggestions and
was highly appreciated by the audience.
Promptly at noon the members Of the Masonic
lodge assembled, organized and formed q line of
march to the Science hall where the corner stone
was to be laid. Grand Master Thomas, of Green
vile, presided. This feature was exceedingly i'm
pressive and the ceremonies were fitting for an oe
Oasion Of this kind
NoTE.-Friday was gala day for the people OF
Starkville and for those connected with the A. s. NJ
College. Distinguished visitors were there from
al portions of the state and all joined in express
ions OF pride and loyalty to this great state insttu
tion, in which the young men Of the state have an
opportunity to qualify themselves for the various
avOcations especially profitable in the South. We
shall later utilize the data gathered this visit to
more fully speak Of the college and its benefits