The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-06-08
NINE RECEIVED DIPLOMAS.
GRADUATION DAY AT THE INDUS
TRIAL COLLEGE.

the commencement Exercises-The
Diplomas Awarded by Chancellor
Boggs and the Commencement Adj
dress Delivered by Bishop Arnett.
cant. f. +. Howell, Col. MeIdrim
and State school Commissioners
Glenn Among the Speakers-The
List of Graduates.
The commencement exercises of the
Georgia State College were held yesterday
morning. Long before Il O'clock crowds
beean to pour in and by II o'clock the
chape. was packed. Fully 1900 people wit
messed the exercises. while hundreds had
10 content themselves by walking around
viewing the sights on the campus, as they
could not get seats.
The chapel was tastefully decorated with
palms and American flags. The picture of
Abraham Lincoln, draped in the folds of
the American flag, hung in the center at
the back Of the platform On either side
of il were the pictures of President Wright
and of Booker T. Washington, while
in the sides of the Stage. under wreaths of
moss and flowers. hung the pictures of
Frederick Douglass and the late DR.. JOS
eph c Price.
The exercises began with prayer by
Rev L. H. Smith, after which the choir
sang Gloria" The oradons by the young
men were all of a very high order and
were frequently applauded. They were
THE Desire of Fame" by II. II. Culpep-
per. My Ideal Man." Cyrus G.. Wyly;
1.-THE G. S. l. c. Idea of Industrial Educa-
ton" by l.. B. Thompson. The last ora
ton elected many rounds of applause. The
speaker impressed upon the audience the
tact that the college boys were taught TO
work, that labor has dignity which no true
man does not fail to enjoy, and that it also
stands for the highest mental and moral
training as the essentials of good citizen
ship
The alumni address was delivered by
Rev John W. Maxwell, of Waycross, who
IN few we'll chosen words. spoke on the
subject of True Education" After the
song. Away to the Fields" by the choir,
President Wright introduced Bishop B.
W Arnett who delivered the commence
ment address.
The bishop congratulated the commits
s.oners, the chancellor and the president
On the good work which this school and
other schools are doing for the education
OF he colored people. He spoke with much
hope of the future of his race Said he
We, as a race, are living in the evening
Of our lives, and the morning of the day
Of our freedom. The spring of hopes and
summer of opportunities are blossom
iIlr on ever side Thank
God that our twilight is not the twilight
that is swallowed by a night after a day
Of trial suffering and toll; but it is a
twilight that is The harbinger of the COM
ing day"
The bishop spoke at length of
character as the essential of true
manhood and said that he believ-
ed the day would come when ev-
cry man, whether white or black. will be
judged according to mis- character He
Illustrated this very cleverly by calling
some men, those of the lowest character
nickel men and those of the highest char
acer dollar men. He urged study hon
es,y and patriotism. His whole speech
was one of good advice and was inspiring
10 all who heard him.
The diplomas were presented to the
class by Rev. William f. Boggs, D. d.
IL. D., chancellor of the University Of
Georgia. Then President Wright intro
duced Col. Meldrim, chairman of the COM
mission. Col. Meldrm spoke of the
work of the college, saying that he was
very much pleased with il and that ne
thought this was the best year of the
school. His words were encouraging and
he urged all the colored people TO take
hold of the opportunities for education af-
torded by the state college. He said that
there is on the part of the best white peo-
pie no disposition whatever TO retard the
coiored people. But directly TO the con-
uary they are giving their time and
money, and giving them freely, 10 help
the people better themselves.
Capt Evan p. Howell of Atlanta said
that he was greatly surprised with what
he saw. He commended the singing and
orations very warmly and said that so
far as he was concerned the negro prob
lem was settled and he believed that a
visit to the school would do much in set
Ting the problem for the many others
VINO think there is a problem. He urged
the peop.e not to be led astray by false
leaders, but to think well and act well.
The next speaker was State School Com
missioner Glenn. He urged with great
effect the Importance of industrial edu-
cation. He showed that the great men
4 Of the future are TO be the men who
are great in the industrial pursuits. Ma
cnnery Is taking the place of hand labor
very rapidly and if the negro does not
learn TO use machinery he may
expect to be put in the back
ground as the Souths greatest
laoorer. For in few years nearly every
kind of work viii be done through the
agency of machines. Even now in the
west a great deal of the agricultural
work is being done by machinery and it
looks as though Ingalls, statement, that
Farming will become a sedentary vo-
calion,' is fast becoming true. He spoke
OF the great inventions OF the industrial
word the latest OF which was the max
ing Of silk out of cotton. and urged the
H Students to apply themselves aggressive
Il Iy 10 their trades and industries.
This years class is composed of nine
young men, eight from the normal course
Il ana one from the college course. The
Young man from the college is Lewis B..
thompson, A. B., of Darlington. Thomp-
son is the second graduate from the col
lege course at the state college. He ives
porn In Darlington, 5. c., July 25, 1873,
attended school in his native city and
learned the trade of brickmasou. Seven
years age he came to the college and has
stuck 10 his trade and his books. Recog-
Nzlng his ability as a scientific mechanic,
'Ae school viii very probably retain him
as instructor in brick masonry