Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-06-01
HOWARD PREPARATORY
A Splendid Exhibition OF Orasory NJ the
Commencement

Commencement,
The cha pei at Howard University might have
held q few more people last evening. but thew
would have had to stand up. Every available
seat was engaged by friends Of the pupils Of the
pre- paratory school of the university, which
held its commencement exercises. The pre-
paratory school evidently has a great many
frien DIS, which is not strange considering the
high order Of the exercises last night, and evil
densly among these friends must be counted
most of the brainy colored citizens Of Washing
ton. On the platform sat the president Of
Howard, Rev. J. E. Rankin; the principal of the
prepa ratory department. Prof. George j. Cum
mings; the assistant principal, Prof. George
N. Lightfoot, and the orator Of the
evening, ex-senator d. K. Bruce.
The graduates occupied chairs at
one side of the platform. The exercises were
made more enjoyable, il il were possible. by the
presence OF the Capital City Band, which. In
ats usual Sne style. PLAYED q nam6er or se9ec-
lions The chief portion Of the program con-
sisted OF prize speaking contest between
speakers who had been selected at q previous
trial contest The remarkable literary excel
lence Of the speeches delivered bv the Soung
students would have surprised persons who
have 70; followed the giant strides which IRE
being made IN The higher education OF the youth
Of the colored race
THE SPEECHES
The first speech in the contest was delivered
by ID. Connsrd Binford, his subject being IAN
Opportunity a Responsibility Mr.. Binford
handled bis subject in a mastery manner and
completely succeeded in carving his audience
with him. he argued that in every mans life
there came an opportunity, which, II grasped,
would lead to success. 1t was q duty which
mi N nuvn to -rl,
himself as to be ready to grasp this opportunity
when il came.
E. Bradford Branch was the second speaker,
his subject being Political Corruption" The
speaker made an eloquent appeal for purity in
politics and denounced in scathing terms the
existing political corruption in many localities
Miss B. Cecilia johnson. the only lady orator,
spoke on woman, the Weaver Of Race Des-
tiny Her address was Of a high order and
delivered in charming manner. She held that
women made the homo and homes made the
nation, and that in their treatment OF women
as an equal, not superior or an inferior, the
colored race possessed the germ Of . newer and
higher civilization which would one day radiate
over the globe.
''The Importance Of Civil Law" was the sub-
ject OF Sumner H. Lark's address and the topic
was handled in a clear, concise manner The
speaker drew the distinction between outer and
inner law, the one being civil law and the other
morality, the one coming from man and the
other from God. Both, however, he held, were
law. The lack of civil law he thought formed
greater barrier to the true progress of the
south than the lack Of immigrants or CAPITAL.
Ii the south should make manifest that law
exists 1t would do more for the section than
any number Of meetings Of governors at Rich
mond.
Theodore NJ. Nixon spoke on ''Push and
Pull, and showed by example what could be
accomplished by hard, determined work, even
against seemingly insurmountable obstacles
The last speaker was c. Spottswood Shipper,
who discoursed eloquently on the beauties of
the American home, and in stirring words
urged his hearers to build up honest. pure
homes, which he held were the foundation of
nations
EX-SENATOR BRUCE
DIR. Rankin, in introducing the orator OF the
evening, ex-senator Bruce spoke of his career
in eulogistic terms. Mr.. Bruce, he said, would
be given diploma from Howard at the college
commencement
Mr.. Bruce made a strong address to the
graduates. speaking first of the interest he had
always taken in Howard He told the class
that their lives were before them and In their
hands to mako or mar. They had only
strewn and the harvest was vet to be reaped.
They would, however, he said only gather in
proportion to the sowing. Great lives were
made not only by accident but by the patient
Success was as steady in its growth as an oak.
and did not spring up in q night. as the mush-
room. He called on the students to start out
with a fixed purpose, firm determination to sue
coed and a noble purpose to be crushed IL need
lowed against the principle of wait
ing for something to turn up instead
Of starting boldly out and turning up
something themselves. Providence only helped
those who helped themselves, and as God gov
erned by natural laws, SO must success come
through natural progression The speaker
made an earnest appeal to his hearers to build
up character and follow only what was right.
Such course was always safe and always wise.
The pupils should always remember that they
were graduates of Howard and carried the
honor Of the college with them Carried the
honor of a college which was founded on a
which knew neither race nor sex, but stretched
ite broad arms to all
THE PRIZE wINNERs
The award Of the judges In the speaking con-
test followed, the judges being: Rev. Sterling
Brown, Rev. Eugene johnson and Mr.. Jesse
Lawson. Mr.. J. q. Avant gave the prizes, the
first being $40 gold piece. which went
to II. Connard Binford. and the second q Is
gold piece, to Sumner II. Lark. Miss johnson
was given honorable mention. The certificates
OF graduation were conferred BY President
Rankin.
THE GRADUATES,
The graduates, officers and committee we're:
THE CLASS.
The members Of the class, officers and recep-
ton committee are as follows: H. Connard Bin
ford, Huntsville, Ala; E Bradford Branch,
Amelia c. H., Va; George II. Harris, Washing
ton. ID. c.; Scott c. Harrison, Macon, Miss. |,
s. Cecilia Johnson. Washington. d. c.; Charles
II. Jones, Walkersville, Md: Sumner H. Lark,
Augusta. Ga; Theodore II. Nixon, Whining
ton. n. C.; Timothy q. Patterson, Charleston,
s. G.; E. Milton Peck. Baltimore. Nd; C.
Spottswood Shipper, Anacostia, ID. c.; W. j
X. Whitsett, Lawson, No.
Glass ofioers-H. Connard Binford, presi-
dent; E: Bradford Branch, vice president; e.
Milton Peck, secretary and treasurer
Reception committee. Edward Buckner.
chairman; W. g. Avant, J. F. Gregory, G. S.
Murray, Malvenia E. Walker.
AT THE RIVER FRONT.