Evening star., 1896-06-11

The speaker referred to the union of the
colonies for protection against Great Brit
am, and dwelt at some length on the his
tory OF the first Continental Congress and
the consequences that followed its organ
ization. and of the second Congress- which
or necessity far exceeded the powers
granted 1t by the colonies by establishing
national government. Mr.. Stevenson
gave resume of the articles of confedera-
tlon ana OF the treaty of peace with Great
Britain in lISi, and the necessity felt for a
stronger government than then existed
win power to enforce its DEGREES. He
spoke OF the convention of 17S1 and lie
scribed the three plans proposed for elect
Ing the President
He dwelt upon the subject of liberty and
Went on to say that the wisdom of the men
who framed the Constitution of the United
states was the wisdom of ages. The Vice
PRESIDENT took occasion TO state that il is
1olly for one nation to look for disnterest-
ed favors from another, declaring such to
be an Illusion that must be dispelled He
also stated it to be his firm belief that
"Hat mas Deen gained for women is the
| croWnins glory of the closing century
With wonderful increase in the Dopu-
lation. said the Vice President, I'm con-
ciusion, the rapid accumulation of wealth.
the growth OF powerful corporations, with
corruption in the government of large
cities. and with the coming of a vicious
element among us, will arise questions of
as great moment as those that were solved
hy our forefathers. and with their solution
you will be charged
Vice President Stevenson was loudly an
plauded when he resumed his seat, and
was also presented with handsome basket
ol flowers. An amusing incident to the
students was the fact that the sneaker
used the phrase young gentlemen i'm re-
ferring TO the graduating class which is
composed OF both sexes. This was not so
surprising, as the entire class wore the
regulatlcn gown and cap.
Award of Prizes.
The presentation of prizes was next i'm
order, and the dean of the college, Prof A.
=. Montague, announced that the Elton
medal for excellence in Greek was awarded
TO Miss Elinor Wilson. while Miss H. MAY
johnson, Miss Henrietta Camille Morrison
and Mr.. Edward A. Playter were entitled
10 honorable mention, their averages being
Tut fraction below that of the medal
winner. The Staughton medals for excel
lence in Latin were won by Miss Mary E.
Chaplin and Miss H. May johnson, honora-
hle mention being made of Mr.. +. A. Play
ter and Miss H. c. Morrison. For the best
essay upon philosophical subject Mr. f.
A. Playter received prize of $40. presented
by Rev. James Mcbride Sterrett of the
faculty. The medal for excellence in par
liamentary law, the gift of Prof. J. IL
Gore of the faculty, was won ,bs Mr..
Harry Hampton Donnally, and the medal
offered by Professor Monroe to the stu
dent from the Washington High School at
the entrance examination last fall, was
awarded to Miss Marie Christie McKelden
Mr.. j. Scott johnson carried off the Emo
sinian medal for excellence in debate.
Professor Montague next announced that
the class of so had decided to found a
medal in the school of physics to the mem
ory of James Mcbride Sterrett. jr. The
candidates for degrees were then formally
presented to President Whitman. who
awarded the diplomas with the following
words: BY authority of the United States
conferred on Columbian University and
vested in me. declare you and each of
you entitled to the degree just recommend
ed by the DEAN
President Whitman's Advice.
"A name does not make a great in-
stituuon.'' said President Whitman, land
neither do men and apparatus. The essen
tial requirement is contact with the lives of
men and women. Henceforth not as stu
dents. but as members of the great body
which has heretofore gone forth, you are
numbered among the alumni of Columbian
University. You are going to some hard
experiences. It Is question whether hard
n