Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-06-17
BETHANY COMMENCEMENT
Annual Closing Exercises Of the Col
lege Yesterday Morning
Attracted q Large Throng to the
Little Town-Exercises of Very
Attractive Nature-The Gradua-
ton Honors-Degrees Conferred.
The Year Prosperous One at
the Stakeholder Exercises of
Commencement Week.
The annual commencement of Bethany

] exercises The atmosphere was clear ana
the warm rays of the sun were tempered
| by delightful preezes. The population of
the college seat mad been multiplied sew
| eral times on account of the previous ex-
| ercises of commencement week, and the
number was still further augmented yes
terday. Vehicles of all sorts and condl-
lions were pressed into service to con-
vey the people of Brooke and adjoining
| counties to the Mecca of all the friends of
old Bethany. No educational institution
has an alumni more loyal to their alma
mater, and the former students of
Bethany manifested their affection for
the college by attending the closing exer-
! cises, and participating in the general re-
joincing over the safe passage through a
crisis in the history of the school.
The preliminary exercises of commence
ment week were marked by excellent at
tendance and very creditable pro-
grammes Seldom, if ever, has the crowd
been larger on commencement day than
yesterday; and seldom, if ever, has more
meritorious programme of exercises been
given.
The commencement hall presented a
| doors were thrown open Streamers of
various colors formed a canopy over the
stage. There was patriotic background
of flags and bunting, relieved by ever
green. The front of the stage was banked
with flowers and palms. The atmosphere
was cool, and was redolent with the fra
GRANGE of flowers. At ten O'Clock the
! usual procession of faculty, trustees and
students formed the HpjphtS and
ceeded down to the chapel to the tuneful
/ notes of a patriotic march rendered by
the Wellsburg band.
The hall filled rapidly and there were
very few vacant seats when the Rev. A.
B. Marston. of Australia, opened the
exercises with fervent prayer. The Wis
itors were seated by the ushers, namely:
T. J. White and w. l.. Fisher, of the
class of 1899: P. g. Cochran and F. NJ
Gordon of the class of 1900; w. II. Fields
and J. Fred Shrantz, of the class of 1901
The graduates were sixteen in number
/ as follows, namely:
| A NJ. ost-Graduates-Frank Bradley
| Huffman of Michigan; John Meredith
Tribe, of West Virginia; Francis Ed
mund Wynne. of West Virginia.
A. B. Ministerial-Henry Malcolm
Acoam, of Indiana: Zimri Enos Bates, of
Pennsylvania; Demar Roy Bebout, Of
Ohio: Francis NJ. Biddle. of Ohio: Henry
Newton Miller, of Pennsylvania; Herbert
Henry Moninger, of Pennsylvania; Alfred
William Place, of Ohio; Orias Grant
White Of Texas
A. B. Classical--Juhan Thomas Barclay,
of Alabama
B. S.-Alexander Campbell Chapman.
of Pennsylvania
B. L-Meredith Eugene Stuckley, Of
Virginia
Mus. B.-Bessie Myrtle Lauck of West
Virginia
Occupying seats upon the platform were
President b. c. Hagerman and members
of the faculty
The salutatorian of the class was Mr.
f. NJ. Biddle. whose address was really
excellent, both in its composition and de-
| livery. In welcoming the audience, he
! said the class regarded its presence as
reminder of the close of school days He
| complimented the class and paid hand
| some tribute to the present faculty In
an historical vein, he referred to the
founding of the college by Alexander
| Campbell, and TO the friendly interest
! which has always been manifested in it.
| and in its students. zone would think"
he said. that the ambition of the stu
/ dent would be satisfied with the nstruc-
| ton which is impaired in this college.
but it only shows the great depths Of
knowledge of which we have never tast-
ed He thanked the audience for its
presence, and bid all a very hearty well
come.
President Hagerman, in introducing Mr.
| Moninger stated facetiously that there is
| but one Grafton on the programme to
! which the faculty invited the criticism of
3, the audience If any words We're not apt
| any sentences were not well rounded in
the Greek grafton. listeners would be per-
| mitted to file their objections. Mr. Monin-
| gers subject was Influence of Grecian
| Literature" While his remarks were I'M
| derstood by very few, his voice was
! streng and resonant. and his delivery ad
| mirable. He was warmly applauded.
| Improvement of Self was the theme
| of an excellent Grafton by H. NJ. Acoam.
| The germ of life. he said is essential to
| growth. and growth may be assisted by
| cultivation. This is true of man, as of
! the plant. He referred to the develop
ment of the physical man. which is now
regarded as a great help TO the growth of
, the brain sound mind in sound body
] is being striven for. The religious senti-
| ment is the highest growth. Intellectual
! cultivation is too often a the expense of
/ moral growth The improvement Of self
| is natural. All should endeavor TO make
| the most of their opportunities. and to as
sist their fellow men. thereby carrying
| out the highest idea of self-improvement
| Mr.. Z. E Bates selected very timely
| theme for his oration-"Shall our Govern
! ment Become Colonial Power" He re-
, ferred TO the great progress made along
| material, moral and intellectual lines dur
| ing the past thirty years OF peace Dur
! ing recent years unavoidable circum-
stances have been eliminating into the
present criss-the war with Spain The
question which we must confront is
! shall we Become Colonial Power?''-
and its solution must be found in the
| answer to the question-Can we be of as
! sistance in their moral or material up
| building? He held that the United States
| should not become a colonial power from
| love Of conquest: but If there IS cry OF
| humanity for assistance. to give 1t IS a
| duty Mr.. Bates possesses considerable
| oratorical ability
| Individuality was the subject selected
| by s R. Bebout He said the advance
| ment of civilization has been along two
lines the development of the individual
| and the organization OF society. He said
one is always developed at the expense of
| the other He gave many examples from
| history 1rxailfpu ,,ya,,