The Evening Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1917-1920, 1919-04-16
ATHENAEANS HOLD
ANNIVERSARY FEAST
Older Members Tell of Ear
ly Days of Society at
Banquet.
IS 7S YEARS OLD
N
is 7S YEARS Oh
Tribute Paid to R. B. Price
E. w. Stephens Speaks
on "reminiscences.

Z
Il At the seYenty-eighth anniversary
| banquet Of the Athenaean Debating
| Society at the Daniel Boone Tavern
Saturday night, tribute was paid to
R. B. Price, as the oldest living men,
Der of the society He is one of the
charter members of the organization,
having become a member over sixty
nine years ago.
n. T. Gentry. who acted as toast
master, related incidents in the life
of the society in the COS. He told of
the presentation of the Athenaean
banner, since destroyed by fire, by
Professor Shields. R. L. Todd made
the speech of acceptance. In describ-
ing it. Mr.. Gentry said:
ut was of blue with a gilt fringe on
three sides and with gilt cord and
tassels. An eagle surmounted the
staff. On the blue background was a
picture of a Greek goddess. holding
aloft the motto of the society, 'Scien-
tia Regina Mundi'
The banner was kept in the Ather-
aean Hall in the old building, which
was destroyed in 1892 by the fire.
1T is curious to note that the first
meeting held at night in the old
building was conducted by the Athen-
aeans. The University authorities
were always fearful of fire, and for
that reason, no organization was ever
permitted to entertain in the chapel
room at night or as a matter of fact
in the building at all. This meeting
was held February %. 1855 The last
meeting ever held in the building
was on the night of the fire, and it was
held by the Athenaean Society"
E. w. Stephens spoke on "Remini-
scences." He said: I'm 1859 there
were eighty students in the University
and five professors. OF, this number
some forty we're students in the COL
legiate department At that time there
were in the society men who have
later distinguished themselves, as have
the members of no other organization
since. There were Chas. Leonard. H.
Rice, A. j. Thomas, Senator S. B. Ell
kins of New Mexico and West Vir-
ginia, Senator John t. Heard, Judge
Philips, and scores of others.
AT that time there were no frater-
mites. Consequently all the univer-
sity life centered about the literary
societies and especially the old Athen-
aean.
at is to be lamented that the liter
airy organizations do not play larger
part in the university life of today. l
feel sure that more was done in them
for the good of the students than in
the class room. l think that they Of
fer more and give more to the student
than any subject in the curriculum
1t is important for a man to be able
to stand up before group and be able
to think and speak logically without
hesitation.
Perhaps, it is true that we had
more bombastic oratory in the old
days Nevertheless it is to be regret
ted that even such oratory is not more
encouraged today"
In concluding Mr. stephens advo-
Gated the re-establishment of the old
Athenaean Hall, where relics and
replicas could be stored.
The other speakers on the program
were: "The Spirit of Athenaeanism"
Fred R. Suddarth; "The Original
Question, Harold P Marley; Our
Rivals, Floyd Sperry, and "Old Mis-
souri,, Frank NJ. Lowe, Jr. The pro-
gram closed with the singing of "Old
of Friendship and Good Fellowship.