The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1905-06-17
LOVING CUP PRESENTED TO
GEORGE w. wlEsos-sueERe
COLLATION. SERVED AT HOTEL
BLANCHE.


A special to the Jacksonville Times
Union from Lake City says: After
the magnificent graduating exercises
OF the University OF Florida which
closed at l O'Clock yesterday after
noon, the citizens of Lake City tender
ed a reception to the outgoing board
OF trustees, as an evidence Of the
warm esteem for them as a body OF
educational managers. The reception
was held at the Hotel Blanche, and
was indeed royal attestation to the
superior qualifications Of that body,
which has so unselfshly and zealously
served and managed the interests of
tYorida's finest institution of learning.
The eommodious parlors of the Blanche
were filled during the two-hours recep-
ton, the citizens going forward to
express their acknowledgment. of the
success secured by their ability and
devotion to the high trust that had
been conf1ded to them by the state,
/ and flowing out to make room for the
| host OF waiting ones. Your cores
pendent, as he viewed the scene,
could but appreciate the pride that
could but fill the minds and hearts of
these faithful public servants, and re-
solved in his own mind that no higher
compliment could be paid to mortal
man than this voluntary demonstra-
ton of good will and. warm gratitude
to these gentlemen, who had 20 faith
fully and uncomplainingly discharged
their duties and so fully met the re-
sponsibility placed upon them by their
| fair commonwealth.
Presented Loving Cup.
When the occasion permitted il,
Judge B. H. Palmer approached the
members Of the board and with grace
full and pointed speech introduced to
them the Rev. Mr.. Ferran, of this city,
and placing beautiful loying-cup ia
the hands of the gentleman, stated
that the citizens of this beautiful city
| desired to present, through Mr. Fer
ran, the little tribute of their affection
to Mr.. George w. Wilson, chairman of
the outgoing board, and incidentally
to the board. Mr.. Ferran presented
the cup with the following remarks.
Il feel myself unworthy the honor
conferred upon me in my appointment
to this important position and its re-
sponsibilities. My position reminds
tme of an old negro who, when asked
If he were a preacher. replied: No,
/ am an exhorter' But what is the
difference between preaching and ex-
horting?' To which he replied,
There is reat deal. In preaching
you must take text and stick to it,
but in exhorting you can branch I
have been branching. Last week l
deemed myself preacher. This week
X deyolved upon me, with others, to
keep the mails hot with our literature
in behalf of the retention OF the Uni
versity of Florida at Lake City, and
now | am in the midst of my third
branch / have noticed that when a
stream begins to branch it loses depth
in shallowness. This may explain any
want of depth in this address,. But
low l want to congratulate the dis
! tinguished men OF the late board of
trustees, who like the Hebrew child
rem, Shadrach, Meschach and Abed-
nego, have come forth from the burn
ing. fiery furnace, with their bodies
! untouched without the smell of fire
upon their garments, and with their
hair unsinged and with nothing to
show for their great subsection, save
a little shining of the place of glory
here and there on one and another.
and an auburn glow Of reflection from
the terrific fires beneath the strong
physiognomy of one of them, but
otherwise intact, may, in fact, like the
Hebrew children, after their diet of
pulse, fairer and fatter and more dis
tinguished than when they entered
upon their uncertain course.
And now, members of the board of
trustees defunct, with the hope that
the future will see you in positions of
equal distinction and influence in the
educational life of Florida, and in ex-
preston of the appreciation of the
citizens of Lake City, whom | have
the pleasure and honor to represent,
appreciation for not only have endeav-
ored to do for the interest of the uni
yersity, but for what you have surely