About sixty members of the Theta Nu Epsilon Fraternity, University of Maryland, attended a banquet at the Belvedere recently. It was served in the main hall, and the tables, which formed a semicircle, were beautifully decorated with trailing asparagus and cut flowers. During the meal a string orchestra rendered popular selections. Dr. Arthur M. Shipley, toastmaster, introduced Mr. Frederick W. Rankin, who made the address of welcome. Mr. Rankin was followed by Dr. C. H. Richards, who responded to the toast "Past and Present;" Dr. W. D. Scott had as his subject "The Fraternity Man;" Dr. R. Dorsey Coale, "The Undergraduate;" Dr. Randolph Winslow, "The Near Doctor;" Dr. John C. Hemmeter, "Our University," and Mr. C. B. Mathews, "The Ladies." The reception committee in charge of the arrangements was as follows: Frederick W. Rankin, chairman; Ross S. McElwee; John W. Robertson, John S. Mandigo, Arthur L. Fehsenfeld, J. F. Anderson.
DEATHS.
Dr. Joseph R. Owens, class of 1859, mayor of Hyattsville, Md., and treasurer of the Maryland Agricultural College, died at his home, in Hyattsville, March 15, 1909, after a lingering illness of six months. Death came peacefully, and at the bedside were his wife, who was Miss Gertrude E. Councilman, of Worthington Valley, Baltimore county, Md.; his daughter, Mrs. Geo. B. Luckey, and his son, Charles C. Owens, of New York. Besides these he is survived by his mother, Mrs. Percilla Owens, 90 years of age; a son, Mr. L. Owens, of New York, and a daughter, Mrs. A. A. Turbeyne, of England.
Dr. Owens was born in Baltimore, February 20, 1839, and was 70 years old. His parents removed to West River when he was seven years of age. When he was ten years old he entered Newton Academy, Baltimore, and in 1859 was graduated from the Medical Department of the University of Maryland. Immediately after leaving the University he was appointed resident physician at the Baltimore City Almshouse, and served in this capacity to 1861, when he returned to Anne Arundel county and began farming on West River. In 1885 he removed to Hyattsville and accepted the position of clerk of the Claims Division of the Treasury Department, Washington. He held this office until 1890, when he was named as treasurer of the Maryland Agricultural College, which position he filled until death. For several years Dr. Owens was collector of taxes in Anne Arundel county. When the municipal government of Hyattsville was changed from a board of commissioners to a mayor and common council, Dr. Owens was elected councilman from the Third ward, and served with marked ability until May, 1906, when he was elected mayor.
He was elected for three consecutive terms without opposition, and was foremost in every move tending to the advancement of the town. As treasurer of the Maryland Agricultural College he became acquainted with many of the leading men of the State, by whom he was held in the highest esteem. He was secretary of the Vansville Farmers' Club for many years, a director of the First National Bank of Hyattsville. Interment was in the cemetery adjoining Old St. James' Protestant Episcopal Church, near West River, Anne Arundel county. The coffin was borne from his late residence, Hill Top Lodge, by seven cadets of the Agricultural College--Cadet-Major Mayor, Captains Burrough and Jassell, Lieutenant Jarrell and Sergeants Freere, Saunders and Cole. A squad of 25 cadets, five from each class of the College, under command of Captain Gorsuch, escorted the body to Pinkey Memorial Church, where the Episcopal burial service was read by Rev. Henry Thomas, rector of St. Matthew's Parish, of which Dr. Owens had been registrar and a member of the vestry for several years. The body, preceded by the college cadets, was taken to the Chesapeake Beach Railway Station and shipped to Lyons Creek, and thence to St. James' Church. Rev. Henry Thomas officiated at the grave. The pall-bearers were: Messrs. Wirt Harrison, Harry W. Dorsey, E. B. Owens, O. H. Carr, T. Sellman Hall and E. A. Fuller. A special meeting of the Mayor and Common Council was held in Heptasophs' Hall March 22, 1909, to take action upon the death of Dr. Joseph R. Owens, late Mayor of Hyattsville. Acting Mayor John Fainter Jr., was chairman and Town Clerk G. H. Carr was secretary. Former Mayor Dr. C. A. Wells eulogized the late Mayor, both as a public official and a private citizen. Dr. Joseph A. Mudd, W. P. Magruder, R. E. White, J. W. Aman and Edward Devlin, all members of the Council who served with Dr. Owens, and R. W. Wells, M. J. Smith and S. J. Kelly, the last named as members of the present Council, also made appropriate addresses. It was resolved that in the passing away of Dr. Joseph R. Owens, Mayor of Hyattsville, we have lost a conscientious official, a valued associate and a personal friend, and the citizens of Hyattsville at large, as well as his official associates, have experienced a bereavement, the effects of which they will ever feel.
Dr. Asa S. Linthicum, class of 1852, a former member of the Board of County Commissioners of Anne Arundel county, died at his home, in Jessup, Md., Sunday, March 28, 1909, from apoplexy, aged 78. About 25 years ago Dr. Linthicum retired from the active practice of medicine to engage in iron ore mining.
Dr. Linthicum's wife, who died about five years ago, was Miss Nettie Crane, of Clifton Springs, N. J. Interment was in Loudon Park Cemetery, Baltimore.