Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1897-06-07

tor-Nine Valuable Prizes Awarded to
Pupils-A Large Audience Present.
The Mining and Mechanical Institute
closed its term of 1S9G-97 last week and
the annual commencement exercises of
the school were held at the Grand opera
house on Friday evening The com
mencement was the fourth yearly affair
of the kind given by the institute and
was the most successful yet held. 1t
was success from every standpoint; in
the first place from the good work done
by the institute during the school year
selfconldence into the work of the stu
dents, and secondly from the character
of the orations and the brilliant manner
in which they were delivered. No bet
ter testimony could be offered of the
value of the institute to the community,
and of its especial value to the young
men who are ayailing themselves of its
advantages, than the results shown by
the students who participated in the ex-
erciseS.
Nine money prizes, 1925 in all, were
| given by the directors of the institute
through the munidcence of Eckley b.
Coke, .Jr., nephew OF the founder, and
were complete surprise to those who
received them. In addition to their
money value the prizes are doubly APP
precable from the fact that they were
awarded on merit. All the young men
who received the prizes were entirely
worthy and have reason to be proud of
the fact that their industry and applica-
ton was so substantially rewarded.
The students of the institute had no di-
rect knowledge of the prizes during the
term, and those who have won the hon
ors were persons who attended the
school primarily for its educational ad-
vantages, and not with view to com
peting for any trophies.
The commencement exercises opened
with selection by the May berry band.
At the conclusion of the piece, Albert c.
Leisenring, of Upper Lehigh, president
of the institute, announced that Hon.
George d. McCreary, of Philadelphia,
would act as chairman. Mr.. McCreary
was given quite an ovation when he
arose, as this was the third time he had
consented to act in that capacity. After
few words in which he stated his
pleasure at being able to.preside on such
an occasion and his hearty approval of
educational projects, Mr. McCreary an
nounced the first Grafton to be the
salutatory by Bernard Boyle.
Mr.. Boyle's subject, Conservation of
Energy" permitted an interesting dis
course on one of the branches of physi-
cal science and he handled the subject
thoroughly. He drew several fine in
stances of the capacities for doing work
possessed by all physical bodies whether
in motion or at rest and of the various
methods of applying it.
The next Grafton was on the "Neces-
sity of Education," by John j. McMena-
min. Mr.. McMenamin, although rep
presenting the youngest class in the
advanced section of the school, was
easily the superior orator of the evening
He is the possessor of II fine appearance
and is the master of an intense, earnest
delivery. His sentiments were happily
blended with these qualities apd all that
he said was sincere and heartfelt. The
speakers portrayal of the necessity of
education becoming more evident as the
world advances, and his references to
the promotion of educated workmen
under such LIBERAL minded American
employers as the late Eckley b. Coke,
whose picture hung above him, were
punctuated with applause.
Daniel Sachs spoke on the effects of
Machinery on Labor" Mr.. Sachs con
trasted the advanced position of the world
with its standing before the introduction
of machinery, and concluded that the
inventors of labor-savng machinery
were among the greatest philanthropists
of the modern era.
Howard Barager gave dissertation
on the Life of Benjamin Franklin -
Mr.. Barager briefly reviewed the great
printer philosophers early struggles, and
his speech was calculated to arouse the
young men in the audience to an imita-
tion of Franklin'S careful and conscien-
tious work which resulted in his life
success.
Variation of Weight was the sub
iect of an oration by Roger Dever. The
cause OF weight, viz, the attraction of
the earth for everything on it or in it,
and its variableness as bodies are moved
about on the surface at different dis
tances from the centre, were all treated
by Mr.. Dever in an intelligent and en-
tertaining manner.
Neil McHugh delivered an grafton on
the Education of Mine Foremen." Mr..
McHugh pointed out the increasing
dangers of mining and also the necessi-
ty, as the coal supply becomes lessened
for its economical mining. He also
showed the growing demand for educat-
ed men in responsible positions, as
modern mining operations demand The
| direction of a competent head