The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-06-21
DEGREES FOR M'KINLEY.
MoUNT HOLTOKE AND SMITH COL
LEGES HONOR THE PRESIDENT.

Civil Lnws and Smith Makes Him n Doc
tor of Laws, the First Degree She Has Ever
Given to IA Man-Mount Holyoks's Day.
SOUTH HADLEY Mass. June 2O.-President
Mckinley received degrees from two colleges
to-day They were degree Of doctor OF civil
laws from Mount Hoyoke College and an IL.
d. from Smith College. He is the first man To
have an honor conferred on him by Smith.
After an address by DR.. X. T.. Sturrs before the
senior class President Seelye made the an
nouncemcnt. and also read Il note from the
President saying:
Receive for Yourself and the trustees my
high regard for the honor conferred on me.
Mrs. Mckinley joins me in hearty congratula-
lions to the class OF 1850"
1t was Mount Ilolyoke's day to entertain the
President Not only did Mr. Mckinley pre-
sent the diplomas to the Seniors but he made
u brief speech Of thanks for the honor con-
ferred on him. He also spent the day in
South uadlcy with the Presidential party.
partaking of dinner served by the towns
people and holding "A public reception on the
green. The town looked it's prcttiest, and all
the surroundings had gala appearance.
~ ,unt llolyoke was also honored by the
presence Of Gov. Wolcott. When the Prcs--
dental PARTY arrived at the admlnstra-
tiOn building of the college. Mary Lyon Chapel.
In which the exercises were held was filed
with students and hundreds of invited guests.
including well-kuown Springfield. Boston.
Holyoke and Northampton men and women.
Seat, in the centre had been reserved for the
members Of the graduating class The Presi-
dent and his party were greeted by Mrs. Mead.
the President Of the college. and escorted at
once TO the administration rooms. After
brief rest the party was ushered into the
Mary Lyon Chapel. to seats upon the
platform. The entrance of the party was
followed by that of tho members OF
the senior class Members of the other
classes occupied the gallery and seats in the
rear Of the seniors and tho right half of the
platform. Organist Hammond played Hail to
the Chief" as the party entered the chapel
This was followed by the organ prelude. the
singing OF an anthem by the college choir
Scripture reading and prayer by the Rev Dr.
Henry A. Simpson, the singing Of Gounod's
" Sauctus" by the college choir. assisted by H.
Maercein.
After the Rev. DR. Judson Smith Of Boston
made an address on " A Plea for the Human
tiles" Gov Roger L. Wolcott said:
when one attends the crowded and some
what stately exercises OF Harvard. as one goes
into the great Memorial Hall and looks about on
busts and pictures the sense is that Of antiquity
and aggregated achievement of our sons who
have entered into the world. Here. however, it
is rather youth and promise. | say youth be-
cause the higher education Of women is rather
recent thing. lsuppose by process Of evo-
luton college has sprung from seminary. I
bring the homage Of the Common
wealth to the name OF Mary Lyon and
to the graduating class and to the under
graduates. We speak Of our school life as
though it marked a distinctive period
and it Is sometimes difficult to remam Der that
the division is an arbitrary line. There is. per-
haps. justification for establishing this ar
bitrary line, but there is no real division line
1tyou have acquired the knowledge OF clear
possess on You viii carry t1hroaSh lie. '' A''"'
b,v Youth h3 ape and opportunity INIT are what you
mains; opportunity is held out to you Those
who survive in history are the very few.
names that Will be long remembered. it is true
that the that Is held ont may not
true and virtuous life, 'e"U q" "o"''@O'e'
Mrs. Mead escorted President Mckinley from
the platform to TIE floor Of the chapel and tot
Of the senior cass Mrs. Mead stood at the side
while the seniors formed in line and passed
the diplomas. The President had to move move
quickly to keep the line from waiting. After
turned to their seats remained standing. while
the President mt Of the class presented to
Then the President led the class in singing
part OF the class song. He was then escorted
ring OF the degree upon, the President, which
was pgTi9SISSd hy the k9y Dr IT, L. r. TrssS
President stood facing DR., ,Trask who said:
Il desire to assure you. Mr.. President. Of our
ire OF the ds'nSt9n conferred upon
PARTICIPATION in these exercises in this chapel,
which takes its name from that Of our founder.
who dedicated this college to the cause Of re-
ligion and learning and patriotism and love ot
country, and am sure hat she would be found
to-day. At a meeting OF the trustees OF this
college in May it, was. unanimously, voted to
confer upon you the high, honor OF Doctor OF
Civil Laws aud by the authority vested in me
do so create you. Officer of the war repre-
sentative in Congress. Governor. statesman
and Christian gentleman. he pleased to accept
1t and may the God Of our founder and OF our
rerublic be with you unto thousand genera
The, President then stopped to the front of
the platform. amid burst OF applause. and
Mrs. MEAD. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:
cannot refrain from making Acknowledgements
honor which the Board Of trustees a, and OIL
GERS of this inStitution have been pleased to
confer on nue.. l want to assure the young la
dies Of the graduating class that am both
delighted d Io ard honored to be a member Of the
first in many things, but in nothing more than
IN educational institutions IcQunt myself most
College. that plendid,nstitution OF learning ifor
most fortunate to-day to look upon the faces
OF the graduates OF this GIoriously historic IN
ton OF Women and whose influence is felt not
only in Massachusetts,. but in every part of
our common country.
Mount Holyoks is more than sixty years old
to-day. and the Influence of this institution in
moulding and shaping the citizens ofthe nation
can never be told. / am glad that we are
demonstrating in the United States to-day that
the boy shall have no more advantages than
the girl, and Mount Holyoke and Smith and the
half dozen other institutions OF the land are
demonstrating the fact An educated woman
hood Is an open school for citizenship every
dav Of the year and the home Is the training
school for the soldier and the statesman. I
wish for this graduating class all good things.
and I want you to be assured that all good
things walt upon pure and mob woman"
At the conclusion Of the Presidents speech
there was n great burst OF applause. The
townspeople then took their turn at entertain
ing the President Tie was escorted to tho
ring. where fully 400 people sat at the board
with him. Thence he went to the public
square. and almost every man. woman, and
child pressed forward to shake his hand. Ho
returned to Holyoke late in the afternoon and
e nn x Up 70 I@s' wil
reception, At 800 O'Clock he will board the
train for Adams. whore he will stay until Mon
he wi n