The daily morning journal and courier., 1894-10-23
THE NEW COMMENCEMENT
CHANGES WHICH HAVE BEES PRAC-
 TICALLY AGREED UP0M

Aboiishsd-Law School and ''sheff" VIII stin Hold Separate Exorcises-Chorus of Male Trained Voices Will Furnish Music
 An Orator to Speak for tho Glass.
 The plans for the change in the commencement exercises of Yale uni- versity have now been for the most part formulated and are practically agreed upon. and will undoubtedly be approved by the faculty and the cor poration.
 The prime movers in the new plan were Professor Henry A. Beers, the well known author. and Professor Thomas R. Lounsbury of the Sheffield Scientific school.
 A year ago an inclination was shown to make a change in this long es- abolished custom. At that time com mittee was appointed to look into the matter and report on program to take the place of the old commencement day. Of this committee the president acted as chairman, and the other mem- bers were Professors Beers and Wright of the academic department; Professor Lounsbury and Director Brush of the scientific school; Professor Fisher from the theological school; Dean Way land from the law school, and Dr. T. T. Munger, representing the corporation. There was a subcommittee, consisting of Professors Beers and Lounsbury and Dr. Munger, who met more frequently and did the larger part of the work.
 This committee was appointed in Oc- tober, 1893. The idea that could not not be carried out was to have the commencements of all branches of the university at one time in Center church, but the scientific and law schools objected. The Townsend speaking of the law school and the reading of theses on Monday evening in North Sheffield hall will, therefore, take place as usual. A complete change otherwise has been made.
 The scholars under the new program, have gained a slight point, for 1t Is then that they will hereafter receive recognition. But they will lose more than thy will gain, as the two highest honors in scholarship-the salutatorian and valedictorianships- be abol- ished.
 The dropping of the salutatorian Is interesting as the abandonment of the sole surviving features of the com- mencements of the eighteenth century. It was formerly the custom for the students to present Latin plays on these occasions, and also to write their essays in Latin. These features were gradually dropped one by one, the only thing of the kind surviving being the Latin salutatory address, which continued up to the last commence ment. The last men, therefore, to hold the positions of valedictorian and salu- tatorian were Frank Herbert Chase of Haverhill, Mass, and Edward Thoms of Waterbury.
 The program of exercises has been to a certain extent modified after the Ox- ford commemoration. The only speak, ing will be an address by the president on the condition and progress of the university. This will be in English, but will not supersede the similar ad- dress at the alumni dinner. The candi- dates for a degree are all required to be present. A new officer will be introduced called the "orator," who will perform the same duties a similar dignitary does at Oxford. It will be his place to introduce the various candidates to the president. The candidates for honor ary degrees will have their virtues and qualifications for the honor put before the faculty and president by this of- ficer, after which the customary 'pro auctoritate mini commissa" will follow from the president.
 This officer is resurrection of for mer custom at Yale. His position was formerly filled by the senior tutor, who presented the seniors to the president for degrees. The formula is somewhat quaint ard was entirely in Latin. The young men marched up before the pres ident, who turned to the orator and asked with an expression of surprise, "Who are these young men that see before mel" The orator would answer that they had diligently performed their studies for four years and were in every way worthy of the honor of B. A., after which the degree would be con- ferred. This ceremony gave the name of presentation day to the occasion, which is now, however, applied, though mean inglylessly, to class day.
 The music will be of different and more academic kind than formerly The instrumental waltzes will be replaced by hired chorus of trained male voices, who will sing several selec- tions during the exercises. After the candidates have received their degrees the distribution of prizes will take place. This has usually occurred after the de- livery of the poem and oration in Battell chapel Monday morning, but has been transferred for the sake of making the affair distinctively one devoted to scholarship.
 The exercises are computed to last about one hour and a half. Of course. this change has nothing to do with class day. The other exercises are pri vate matters with each class. It is also left with the student body to decide whether they will wear cap and gown It is required, however. of all members of the faculty who sit on the platform to adopt this scholarship garb.
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