National Republican., 1883-03-07
MEDICAL COMMENCEMENT.
Interesting Graduating Exercises at the Con-
gregahonal Church Last Night
Tlhrty-Ono NewIy-Fledged Doctors Let
Loose in the Community.

held in the Congregational church last night
There was a very largo audience. The front
of the stage was thickly covered with flowers
in all manner of devices, tributes from adj
miring friends. The Marine band with ff-
teen pieces was in attendance and played
during the evening q number of selections.
The exercises commenced with an invocation,
after which DR.. Charles b. Purvi5 delivered
the following charge to the class
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN: | am to say to
you on behalf of my colleagues and myself a
few parting words. We meet you no longer
as our students. We meet rs equals. We
have invited you hero tonight 20 receive
from the trustees of the university, in accord
anCc with our recommendation, the degree of
doctor of medicine.
We have invited this audience here to meet
you SO that we may in their presence bear
witness rs to the faithful manner in which
you have discharged your duties as students,
and say to thenf that each and every one
of you Is worthy of this confidence You are
about entering upon n new life Whether IL
shall be one of brightness and prosperity, or
ono of disappointment and sorrow, will de-
pend largely upon the fidelity with which you
prosecute it.
The profession of medicine and surgery Is
the grandest and nobest known to civilized
communities Your opportunities for doing
good, accomplishing grand results are almost
limitless Every community, every state,
every country in fact, refers with pride TO
the achievements of its leading physicians;
what they have accomplished for good, the sue
cess thoy have had in their battle with disease,
in allevating the suiierings of the old aud the
young, in the seeming calling back as It were
into new existence the apparent ilecting life
of beloved ones, has built up an imperishabe
monument Of love in the hearts of those who
have seen and felt the position of thoir l0bors
Medicine is n science, Il progressive one; IN
some of its branches 1t is almost an exact
one Each year, however, brings us new
ideas, new experiences and new successes.
Therefore | have to enjoin upon the i'm
portance of keeping abreast with the daily
growth of your profession.
DIR. Purvis then warned his hearers that
their journey into the difficulties Of life had
but just commenced that the physician cs-
pecially would find his profession one Of toll
and anxiety, but that the true man would
porsevere, remembering that the physician
was bulwaElS between suffering humanity
and the diseases, the evil habits and practices
that entrap so many men and send SO many
women to bcggary and shame.
AT the conclusion of this address President
Patton, of the university, conferred the de-
grecs to the medical class, Of whom there
were twenty-nine gentlemen and two ladies.
The graduates in medicine were as follows:
lnlllp IL, ID TDSI, hllllhllNDllt lN,i Js MOtll-
mer Bcssey, New York, y. ~; Samuel Z. Bi0by,
PottersvilIe, n, y; Thomas II. Brcen, Washing
ton, d. G.; William Il. Childs, North Fairfield,
Ohio; Collin D. Crnsor, jrr Chesapeake, bld;
Chules A. Davis, Washington, ID. c.; samuel III.
Dismoud Lyuchhurg, Va; William I. Fizgr. 81.
Louis, Moi Charles 4, Glcnnan Washington, d. G.;
james Is. Hallwpod, New YORK, n, y; James ii.
Howard, A. B., Brookvilc Nd. b, Benson Kelly,
washington D. c. Ernest Il King, A D., Wash
sfn e. ons 4T0Ga MSTsha al wasRnso % M's1H y alma R
W, Mccormick, Washington, ID. G.; \, yelling
McGarvey, Trenton, n. j.. William \. Olms.ead,
Charles j. Russell, ,Bridgcpor vi Nelson Xliyon,
Groom, Nd; Augustus StaOler Brighton, Nd. (;
E!loTy Stanford, lIasburE, "; Guy W. Taylor,
j.. Upshaw, Atlanta, Ga; James 9. Walton, Gin
ton, Miss; Green d. Williams, South Curol,na;
Eugene q. G. Winter Washington, ID. O.. Mary l.,
Wooster, Middleburs, Conn.
DIR. Palmer W. Roberts here delivered the
valedictory to the graduating class
He began by defining disease and gave the
audience some very good practical suggestions
about tho cause and prevention of disease.
The different influences contributing to Il de-
rangcment of health were mentioned, such as
age, sex, temperament, want of exercise, ne
glect of sanitary considerations, &c Espcc-
tally was intempcranCG cited as the most pro-
life cause Of disease. And then the witty
yalodictorian convulged the house by saying
that each individual in the audience twas
liable at any moment 10 be attacked by any or
all of the following quoting the scientific
names of over q hundred diseases. The mo-
notonous, unbroken roll-call from "adcno-
synchitonits all down the alphabet TO "2ona
serpiginosa," was irresistible. Paying grace
ful compliment TO his alma mater and bidding
farewell to the faculty in eloquent terms, the
valedictorian thus closed:
To JUNIOR CLASS We desire to express
our thanks for the notable success OF this
evening. Your efforts to contribute to our
comfort and pleasure shall long be remem-
bered. We wish you every success in pros
ccuting your studies, and when you shall
have completed the prescribed course may as
willing hands be there to minister to your
comfort, and as many cheerful friends to bid
you God speed as are present here ON this oc'
Casion.
FELLOW CLASSMATES; The three memorable
years as students of medicine at Howard
university are ended. If in these years We
have learned the solemn and all important
truth that much is yet to be learned, and
have in some degree comprehendod the way
to learn, we can congratulate ourselves on
having we'll spent our student days
From this night We are to make our in
vidual record in the profession we have
chosen.
We know that the duties of those so emin
emily fitted to teach US have been ably, CON
scientiously, and thoroughly performed. w,
know that ii we follow their teachings and
tie manly examples Of their lives ii we keeI
ever in view our duties and responsibilities
If we arc earnest and faithful in our life work
| IL we remember that often the issue of /
human life may rest upon what We know anC
how we apply it if we regard the honor o.
| the profession as we should our own-oul
career should be and will be useful, prosper
Gus, and happy, each year Of life marked witt
| the white stone of success.
T,l1 4 30,
our best powers of body and mind to fill every
proper demand of the profession, let us nee
the days to come checnully, hopefully, ant
| iearlcssly.
And now, classmates, in all the future year
may pleasant memories of these class day
ever be with u.s. and whom liles race Is rul
may we each and all, serene in the retrospec
of life nobly spent, calmly lay down th
| teshlY shroud and touch the goal.
President Patton then conferred the degree
Of doctor of pharmacy" upon the pharma
ceutical class.
Walter w. Alleger, New York city, N, Y.
Samuel L. Bibbee, Portersville, n. Y; Collin
| B. Crusor, jr., Chesapeake, Md Samuel II
| Dismond, Lynchburg, Va. 4; vladimir dc Med
man, A. b., Washington, D. c.; Maurice +
| Pilgrim, Cohansey, n. j., and EugeRe G.
| Winter, Washington, ID. @.
Samuel H. Dsmond, Phar, d. NJ. d., theI
delivered the valedictory TO the phGrma
ceutical class.
Rev. DR.. Patton then pronounced the bone
diction, and with final galOp from SUhricnc
by the band tho audience dispersed. Presi
dent Patton held a reception to the graduatin
classes after the exercises were over
These two classes are said to be at once tn