The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-06-03
SMALL COLLEGE .
HAS: ITS MISSION
Speaker Tells Educators of Value.
Of Such Institu-
tons.
RANDOLPH. MACON
ALUMNI
Hs9as.H|s4 ~ al
Richmond Members Enjoy Ban
quet and Hear Good
Speeches.

III The fourth annual banquet Of the Ran
dolph- Macon Alumni Association of RICH
Inond at the Westmoreland Club last
night was in many respects the most IN
tercstng and successful Of the quartette.
1t was attended by about thirty gentle
men. the great majority of whom were
alumni and the remainder friends OF the
institutions love OF which holds this or
ganizaion together and adds the element
or congeniality and the enthusiasm al
ways manifested.
Tho dinner was beyond criticism. but
the feature OF the celebration was the
high standard Of the speeches, und nota-
bly, those Of the orator OF the evening,
Rev. William H. IL. joyce, ana OF ID,
"A. c. Wghtman, of the college cuitS.
4N The other speeches on the regular pro-
grarnme were made q by Mr.. John y.
Branch, OF this city: Mr.. s. S. p. Pate
son, OF the Richmond bar, and Or. X. r.
Blackwell president Of the college. Mr.
ALFRED B. Williams. editor of the News
Leader; Rev ]. Sydney Peters. OF the
Richmond Advocate, and Mr. ii. u. Per-
kins, Of The 1imes-Dlspatch
s Those present were Rev. William f..
Evans. p. D., who proved an accomplished
and tactfu toastmaster; Rev. W. =. II.
Joyce, the chief speaker; Mcssrs. John T.
n, }. !
street. IL. Thompson Brown. II. Seldom
Taylor. Mr.. William D. Duke. Dr.. F.. G.
- woodward, Mr. g. NJ. Motley. DIR. Thomas
.. Aierrick, DR.. a. G.. Brown. DR.. r. %
Blackwell, Professor r. B. smithey. OF
4 the college faculty; Dr.. A. G. Wightman,
rem. James J. Hickey Rev. J. T Mastin.
w. o. Priddy, Burnett Lewis. w. 8.
Brown. H. p. Perkins, James +. Howl
son, L. NICK. JudkIns. Alfred 3. VII
liams. r. G. Rcnnolds. Charles x. VIII
LIZ, Charles Laurens and A.. H. taylor
As soon as the menu courses had been
# completed, Or. Evans. with a happy In
troductory address, presented as the
speaker of the evening Rev. William II.
III Joyce. Of Luray, Va. The speaker,
man or imposing appearance and with a
strong face. soon enlisted the attention.
then the enthusiasm and finally the ad-
miration OF his audience, to many OF
whom he was stranger. though OF the
II same collegiate family. Mr.. Joyce. in an
informal Introductory. expressed his pro-
found pleasure at being with gather
Ing OF Randolph Macon men. after having
left the college sixteen years ago. He
q spoke briefly of the prominent part taken
by men In various vocations, and re-.
marked that many Virginians insisted
upon having a Randolph- Macon man for
Governor. a sentiment that aroused en-
thusiastic applause from the Swanson
men present The speaker frankly adj
mItted,b however. that he was pledged to
another candidate. .Ea }as si5 sg'
college and the Times.
Proceeding to the consideration Of his
theme. Mr. Joyce discussed in an address
z or twenty minutes THE College and the
q Times and aroused great enthusiasm BY
Z the breadth OF his treatment OF the sub
feet and his brilliant rhetoric. tie sald
& in part:
.Brethren-a children OF the same gen
tie foster-mother. bound by common
& tie OF grateful reflection. there are none
& here who are not thankful at every re-
Inembrance OF her gentle ministry. the
benedc elton breathed upon us when she
sent us forth, the impress OF her firm
and kindly fingers, indelibly craven into
the substance OF soul and character, and
have no doubt there are some present
who have an additional bond OF attach
ncnt to her and OF sympathy for each
other, by reason of the fact that at some
time they have been soundly spanked by
those same fair but pussant hands. 4a
The speaker declared for the value of
the small college. which he characterized
"a as distinctly. American, and though crit
Sicised with supercllious shrug by some
who sit in the seats of the mighty. yet
he declared that in nine cases in ten they
are doing good, thorough work. and are
more accurately keyed to their immediate
environment than their more pretentlous
. sisters. The time has come. SAID ne,
when the community of Interest among
educational institutions should be recog-
nIzed; when the immense potentialities
arising from such recognition, should be
z utilized to the best advantage, and when
the vital relevance Of the college TO pres
cnt times should be demonstrated beyond
dispute.
Dr.. Wightman Speaks.
Dr.. Wightman was the next speaker
his subject being "Randolph-M Macon;
What 1t is and What 1t Aims to Be-
and aroused great enthusiasm by his elo-
uuent and thoughtful treatment of the
theme. He resented the term small col
lege as applied TO institutions like this.
and summarized the work of the college
in the brain weight 1t had added to the
world in the 700 degree graduates It had
sent out, and the 5000 or more students
who received their training there. The
college, said he. was no longer q luxury,
but necessity to American life. His
Z IS address aroused great enthusiasm and
was warmly commended.
Mr.. John P. Branch. veteran trustee
and benefactor of the college, spoke for
the board Of trustees. handling his theme
in a emi-humorous vein and tracing