The republic., 1851-03-17
Local Matters.


Saturday, commencing at half-past ~ O'Clock, p.
m. There was large coneourse of spectators,
the larger portion of them ladies. The Marine
Band were in ATTENDANCE, and performed several
airs in the order Of exercises.
The President of Columbia College (the Rev. DIR.
BAoos) addressed the candidates for the degree Of
NJ D., telling them that, having completed their
regular course Of preparatory studies, and passed
their final examination, they were about to be in
vested with the honor Of the institution, and would
go forth into active life recognised and author
lied members Of profession which occupies an
important position and exercises an extensive in
huence on society The cherished hopes of many
years were doubtless centred here this moment,
after toilsome and self denying labors TO prepare
for profession upon which the candidates were
on the eve Of entering. The long wished for mo-
ment had come, and they were to be set forth on
tho broad theatre of human life. His hope was,
that Providence would grant them success equal to
their most sanguine anticipations, connected
with the best interests of society; and he was sure
that those connected with their welfare shared
warmly and largely in this wish. May these
expectations, 90 delightfully."- cherished. never be
disappointed. The candidates had passed the usual
period Of probation, and were about to enter upon
q profession which imposed peculiar duties and in
volved important results and responsibilities. In
toish merely, will not effect the object; it only
serve stimulus to effort and will produce no
valuable results, unless properly directed. The
mere dreamer passes his life in thinking on what
might be- while the fanatic believes the world mad
because il will not enter into a crusade against
some imaginary evil! II is only by selecting right
objects, and diligently pursuing them, that proper
ends can be obtained. Therefore IL was matter
of deep importance what the candidates should un-
dertake to accomplish, and how to do it. Was II a
livelihood II they had not resorted to the short
est and the best way to obtain it, They had epent
much time and pecuniary means; and, if this was
their only object, their prospects Of success were at
best, doubtful. If they had served an apprentice
ship at the most humble branch of mechanism, i'm
mediate support would be more certain. Was it a
life of and indulgence? If 30, they had better
abandon their profession once and enter pursuits
moro congenial with their desires. The profession
affords but little means for such course of
life. He had doubt they had higher objects than
these connected with their duties and responsible
ties az men. One of these should be that of emi-
in the profession. Let ambition lead to this.
What is worth doing should be done we'll; and one
of the best means of success is a thorough know
ledge of the profession. No professional man has
right to claim the confidence and patronage OF
the public without this; and if by deceit con-
trivance he gains it, it is species of imposition
the public; he ought to be exposed and consigned
to merited contempt. .Nter
The reverend gentleman ascribcd the non success
of persons entering upon the medical profession to
an absence of requisite knowledge of their business
J..
This was the fate of thousands, who over-estimate
their claims on the public support, and whoec pros
poets are darkened by encouragement and despair.
Settle, as the first point from which you start,
that you toiu gain thorough knowledge of your
profession. However diligent you have been in
your studies, and the means of improvement,
what you have obtained is but the threshold and
elementary part-the outline. Let it be your
object, then, to fill up the outline, and render it
as perfect and as complete as possible. No one
should be contented with any thing short of it.
With abundant opportunities, he ia at fault who
does not master his profession. Without this you
ought never to have chosen the profession. To
those who wish TO excel, study and observation
should be delightful and proper task. You may
avail of the experience of othors and feel
prepared to accomplish whatever man can do in
the sphere of the profession. The public will not
be slow to bestow patronage on those who have
brought the wisdom of experience to bear on the
profession. Many failures are owing to the fact.
that the candidates for public favors have not de-
served them.
Another thing is to be regarded, and that is fidc-
ty. which will go far to secure confidence and es-
TEEN. To this you will be impelled by your inter
est as well as by philanthropic feeling And here
your interests and those Of the community iden-
titled. In laboring for their benefit, you will Sc
cure benefit to yourselves. In some things success
brings disasters TO the public; and rewards and
emoluments to the few result in injury to the
many. Not 30 with your profession; 1t appeals to
the best feelings of humanity.
He then impressed upon the candidates the ne
d
of their profession, and urged the importance OF
enlarging the boundaries Of knowledge. And he
uttered word of caution. " You ought he said,
"to labor for the improvement Of your profession,
and by all means add to its efficiency and power
for doing good All changes not improve
ments. hope no one of you will turn out re-
former. mean, By reformers, a class of charac-
ters who would remove the whole basis of your
profession, set it afont on q sea of wild uncer-
tainty. The world is full of reformers, and per-
haps, by them, no profession has suffered more
than yours. Keep by the old landmarks. Walk
where experience has named, and observation has
directed, with safety. Extend knowledge, and
multiply the resources OF truth and observation. a.
But If you set yourselves up as general reformers,
you will do more harm than good; With firmness
every speculation and theory, but never surrender
known and well established facts, sound reason,
and common sense, to mere theory" And, in the
conclusion of his remarks, (of which the above is
a hasty sketch,) the president expressed his best
wishes for the present temporal good of the candi-
dates whom he addressed.
Applause succeeded; and after music by the
Marine Band, the names Of the candidates were
read by the Dean, DR.. J. Riley, and the degree of
Nj. D. was Conferred by the president on the fol-
lowing named gentlemen, namely:
Alexander J. Semmcs. Jno. G. Riley, SamI ]. A..
Of the District of Columbia; Henry p. Howard, of
Texas; Henry Powers Ritter, of New York, and
Henry Clay Martin, Of Virginia.
The honorary degree of M d. was conferred on
JObtpn I1ODDlu6s Oh EuSAduus
Music again lent its charms; and ]. RILEY, M. D.,
Dean, addressing the young gentlemen who had
just received their diplomas said This is an i'm
portant epoch in the history Of your lives. You
may look upon the occurrences Of this day as the
closing pagc'af your pupiage, and the opening of
a new volume. You have attained the goal SO ca
gerly sought-thesagitating ordeal is passed: the
chief honors of our school conferred upon you,
and you now take your places legitimatey,
and by right, within the precincts of the medi-
cal profession. You now doctors of medicine.
Your assiduty, proficiency and virtue, have
secured for you titled profession more enviable
and more honorable than an hereditary knighthood,
and one that will you, il rightly pursued, for
honor and for profit, for business and for pleasure,
during life The relations which we have hitherto
borne towards another dissolved. You have
grown in knowledge beyond the need of our assist
nncc, and are about to take your flight into the
world of action each trusting TO his own wings,
and selecting his own course in the broad expanse
before him. But though we can aid you no longer,
our earnest wishes for your true good will follow
you always. One parting word of counsel, dictated
by these wishes, will be received in tho spirit