The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-07-06
"C0mmeneements.'

Editors Dispatch: Let me add few
words to the discussion on the present use
OF the word commencement as applied to
college grsduations.
My own impression has been that the
word was at first, and for a considerable
period of time, applied to the opening OF the
college term, when the degrees were In fact
conferred upon those passing examination
at the close OF the previous term. | do not
remember whence this impression was de-
rived; but after receiving the fact IL was
easy for me to imagine reasons why such
was the custom at first, and why it was after.
wards changed. My suppostion was that in
those days, when the course OF study was
probably more protracted, and the. degree
conferred Of greater importance, the decision
upon the results of the examinations was
postponed from the end OF one term to the
beginning of another, in order to give time
for careful consideration and comparison of
the relative standing Of the students; and
these were required to come up again at the
ensuing commencement to receive the awards
OF the faculty. The announcing of the degrees
and the comforting of honors upon the most
successful would, OF course, be the notable
facts Of the opening Of the session, and the
term commencement would naturally come
to be applied TO these as the most important
OF the opening ceremonies by the students
and professors, IS we'll as by the admiring
public. But " hen the Dons Of the College and
the students themselves became impatient oil
this delay, the honor would be accorded
when the examination was made-that is,
both would be at the end Of the session.
The term commencement, however, having
been intellectually fixed upon the clarifying
ceremonies of graduation would retain that
application, notwithstanding the change OF
tiaIe tor these from the beginning to the end
Of the term.
This commencement creed has until
now kept my own mind in peace through all
the discussions on the subject. Something
in the last article in your paper, however, in.
duced doubt whether might not be wrong
as TO the foundation fact Of my creed, and put
me upon an effort to fluid out the truth Of the
case. The result is disastrous to my theory.
now give it up.
In Recess Encyclopedia, first American
edtion-article Cambridge-I tnd the fol.
lowing passage: "The time required by the
statutes for studying in the University, be-
fore each can be qualified for taking the de.
grees, is three years for Bachelor and about
four years more for Master Of Arts; seven
years after that he may commence Bachelor
OF Divinity, and then five years more are
required to take the degree of Doctor OF
Divinity. In law, q student may commence
Bachelor after six years, and in physic after
five years standing both may be proctors
at the end OF five years more. The proper
time for comforting these degrees is called
the commencement, which is always the first
Tuesday in July, when the Masters of Arts,
and Doctors OF all faculties complete their
degrees respectively" -FOUR italics.]
This passage is the more conclusive be-
cause it is in the simple form Of straight
forward statement of facts without any ap-
pearance Of the writer's being aware OF any
doubt or discussion on the subject. Il.
81. S. j." and "H." are as good authority
as we could ask for on any disputed question
in letters. They seem 10 have proved that the
word commencement as technically used
in colleges and universities has no reference
to the supposition that the degree man j:
about to commence the active business o.
life, but is used solely to express the fact thai
he then Commences Bachelor of Arts, Oh
Master Of Arts, or Doctor of something. Thi:
use Of " commence as an intransitive OIL
.neuter verb Is almost unknown In this coun
try, and accounts for the fact that the techni
cal college meaning Of commencement ,
has been well.nigh lost. -..sa.