Evening star., 1897-05-11
AUTHORIZED TO PRACTICE
Graduates From Howard University Receive
Their Diplomas.
An Entertaining Address by DR.
Charles b. Purvis-Dr. Rankin's
Parting Words.

TheTe was not even standing room last
| evening in the Congregational Church, when
thirty-four graduates Of the medical, dental
and pharmaceutical departments Of How
ard University, representing the classes of
", with dignified tread and clad in the
characteristic college cap and gown, mount
ed the platform to the tuneful strains of
Fanciulli's Progress March," to be formal
ly ushered from school into the busy world.
Among the number were three young white
women and a native of far-away Japan.
AS they took their seats really inspiring
scene met the eyes Of the graduates. In
every seat. and on every inch Of floor space.
both down stairs and in the gallery, were
massed the friends Of the young people.
Bright spring costumes predominated, while
the decorations consisted solely of the ma
tional colors. huge American flags hanging
in graceful folds from the walls and the
gallery rail. The front of the platform
was a veritabie bower of flowers.
Members of the Faculty.
In addition to the gradutes there were
| on the platform: Rev. ]. Eames Rankin,
president Of the university; DR.. Thomas B.
Hood. the dean of the faculty; DR.. F. ].
Shadd. secretary and treasurer Of the uni
| versity; DR.. Charles B. Purvis, who ad-
dressed the graduates, and Rev. DR.. Lea
| witt, pastor of All Souls Church. Directly
behind the platform, in the first row Of the
choir gallery, were members of the faculty,
| as follows:
! Neil F.. Graham, M. D.; Daniel 8. Lamb.
| A. M, NJ. D.; william H. Seaman, A. NJ.
NJ. D.; John E. Brackett, M. D.; Robert
| Reyburn. A. M. NJ. D.; James B. Hodgkin.
| Herve Purdy. ]. Melvin Lamb, M. D., D. D.
| s.: E. A. Balloch, A. M, M. D.; E. Oliver
Belt, M D.; w. w. Alleger. M. D., Phar
D: Daniel H. Williams, NJ. D.; Samuel R.
Matt ~ NJ n
Charles NJ Emmons. NJ. D.; H. P. Davis,
D. u. s.; N. r. Jenner, M. D.; John r,
Francis, NJ. D.; Collins Marshall, M. d.
Andrew J: Gwathney. D. D; g.; VIM. N
| Edward D. Williston, A. B., M: John w
! Mitchell, M. D.; R. b. Tyler, NJ. D., Phar.
D.; Carrie c. Davis, r. s. Lamb.
Address by DIR. Purvfs.
When all had been seated, Rev. DR..
Leavitt invoked the divine blessing, and
after the rendition Of the intermezzo from
'Cavelleria- -Rusticana," DR.. Purvis deliver
| ed scholarly address. teeming with good
advice, common sense and wit. He said in
part:
with you I rejoice tonight A COM
| mencement day, a day of graduation, is no
ordinary one for young man or woman.
To have ones friends assemble, to have
the public turn out and in the presence of
q multitude of witnesses to have the rep
| resentative head of an institution Of learn
| ing to confer degree, to present a diplo-
ma-the evidence that the receiver has ac-
complished something worthy of the high
est encomiums-is a grand and supreme
moment to the graduate.
To-day you are knighted, tomorrow you
/ go forth equipped for battle. Whether
you will meet with victory or defeat will
depend largely upon the cautiousness of
| your movements, and your ability to esti-
mate the strength of the opposition you
are to encounter. l am far from being a
pessimist and l will not much as l ad-
| mire and appreciate each one of you, draw
| a picture of your professional lives which
will be misleading. l bespeak for each of
you success. OF all the professional schools
| from whence degrees are received, the
graduates of the medical, dental and phar-
| maceutical departments of Howard Uni
versity should meet with success. The
| Platform Of your alma mater is as broad
| as humanity; her curriculum is unSur-
| passed.; her methods of instruction up to
| the hour. Her instructors are welded to
| their calling; they are moved and gov
! erned by a fundamental principle that is
| unknown in other institutions A college thus
! broadly gauged cannot help bringing forth
| a class Of men and women imbued with a
| spirit that will win success. Old as the
| profession is, great as have been the
achievements of thousands of its mem
1t Is still far from being an exact science. -
| Must Run the Gauntlet.
| DR.. Purvis went on to assure the gradu-
ates that we are living in new and bright
| epoch: that this is an age of germs and
rev remedies and that the discussion OF
today is between the laboratory observer
and the clinical. Continuing he said:
| You are to confront public opinion; you
| Will find 1t your greatest friend, and al
| times you will find 1t your most powerful
| and relentless enemy, according as it shall
be swayed or moved. it is a powerful en-
| g1ne for good or for evil; it is a vacillatine
element shifting as the sands of the sea
1t makes and unmakes men; 1t strengthens
| or destroys governments"
| Before you think Of taking UP any spe.
| cial branch. devote ten years of your time
to general practice. You cannot afford tt
! start out to be physician with only one