The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-06-03
THE R. N. A. CLOSES
The End of a Successful
Session.
HONORS TO STUDENTS
AWARD OF MEDALS DISTINC-
TIONS.
ADDRESS ON NEW NEEDS OF CITIZENSHIP
Rev. John {. White Declares that The Constu-
tional Amendment is Bound TO Come.
Presentation of Medals by
Mr. W B Snow.


boys that have studied AT its desks ard
gone ont as men to take ul,. the battle
of life
In every wolL of Hfe it has honored
sonS-and the fame of not Il few of them
extends beyond their States bordeve.
And among the young men who are now
graduating at the State University
and colleges its students stand at the
head.
Often have | noted this and marvel
ed at it, wondering whence the insp-
ration and the enthusiasm that ever hold
these men to habits of correct thinking
and faithful methodical study.
Yesterday | discovered the secret. |
did ii by attending its commencement eX-
erciSeS.
Now these exercises were held in the'
quiet. old-faShioned academy building on
Bloodworth street. They are as unique
and characteristic as they are interest
ing. In them the student is everything,
as he should he. but in a vastly different
way from that YOU find in most other
schools. Instead of coming before you
to show off some accomplishment or
training. he comes to receive the homo
and praise due him for ten long months
of toll and good behavior. Has he stood
at the head of his class? There is Il
certificate for him, perhaps medal.
Has he attained high marks on certain
studies? There are distinctions and APP
plause Has his department been good:
There is Il medal worth striving for.
All the exercises of the day are made
subordinate to this one object, setting
to the comforting of honors. the reading
of distinctions and the presentation of
medals and prizes. And one could not
help feeling that these honors We're
worth the study and toll they coSt-to he
thus made q hero of.
And this careful giving Of honor to
whom honor is due, must be the secret
of the wonderful success of this school
in scholarship.
The exercises of the day began at II
O'Clock and lasted nearly three hours
that was all. Many of the parents and
friends of the students were present.
The exercises were opened with pray
er by Rev. DR.. w. c. Norman.
Mr.. MorSon then read the list of dis
tinctons. This consumed much time.
n1ucU tlllpUuSIS Doing ldlu Ou the tiN III IL
ing Of the honors.
This was followed by the address Of
the day made ny Rev. John f. White
1t was Il very fine effort, admirably suit
ed to the occasion and to sucn an hu-
dience as the speaker was addressing.
New Demands on Citizenship" was
his subject. He spoke of the closing
years of the 18th century and of their
incalculable strategic Importance i'll Civ
ing permanent form to industrial devel-
opment, political progress.
Into these years God is packing hui
man destiny With all its achievements
the 10Th century has propounded more
difficult and dangerous questions than
it has answered. 1t bequeathes to us Of
the Goth century problems Of vaSter peril
than it has solved for us. To be living
now is sublime, because sublimity al
ways. in scene or action. presents Il
situation full of tragic elements. Man 5
greatest hour is the hour when the soul
is tried by dangers or bound down with
crisis An answering purpose runs
through the ages That purpose. speak
ing humanity. is the perfection Of citl-
zenship. The final struggle between ma
tons must be, not which can produce
greatest soldiers or sailors but which
can develop the highest type of citizen
ship.
ALREADY the question of supremacy is
shifted from guns and armament to the
man behind the guns. The character Of
citizenship is the concern of every army
and of every navy. The twentieth cen
fury will require Il better type of citi-
ypn thHn the Nineteenth needed.
1T will demand first an educated cit
izenShip. The standard of individual
success is being elevated the world over
The Medical Board rejects today the
man who ten years ago could have pass
ed its examination easily. The Supreme
Court demands ii written examination
from those seeking to practice law. Tie
prep department in all professional
life has been abolished. Everything con-
spires to eliminate quackery and inCom-
potency The pressure on energy and
capacity is increased. Success is in
knowing not little, but much. The
unprovided man is foreOrdained to fail
ure. The successful citizen is to b. one
who has armed himself capapie, whose
loins are girded for the fray. The in
dustria value of education is coming to
lands factories. or natural resources,
but in brain.
Likewise our greatest losses are not
through storm and food or war. but
through the waste of uncultivated in
tellect Every year we have coming into
an almost vaiueless manhood men who
but for the lack of developed capacity
would have been our great statesmen
orators. industrial leaders and puhiIc
benefactors. The waste is fearful. Who
can gainsay the truth that the fist duty
of North Carolina to herself is to appro-
pirate every available dotla? of public
fund at this point of power and wealth.
the education of the free school children.
''We are coming TO see. too, that educa
ton has rights at the ballot box which
ignorance can not claim Whatever may
| be your view Of the Constitutional
Amendment in North Carolina, it is IL
evitable, and let it come Put there
* M ~ M