Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1901-04-03
SPRING CONVOCATION.
Eight Young Men Given Diplo-
mas Tuesday Night.

ID. Reynolds Delivers Notable Al.
dress Relation of University to the
Rest Of the State his Theme-Sub
stance of Remarks.
The Spring Convocation of the w.
v. Il. was held at Commencement
Hall Tuesday night in the presence of
a large crowd The music for the oc-
casion was furnished by the school of
music. Eight young men received
diplomas. They had finished their
courses. The names of the graduates
and the degrees conferred are as fol-
lows:
Allen Wilson Porterfeld, Beding-
ton, w. Va, A. B. W. V. U. 1899
received the degree of Master of Arts.
Jerome Case McMurphy, Oak Park,
Illinois, that of Bachelor Of Arts.
Charles Frederick Tucker Brooke of
Morgantown the degree of Bachelor of
Arts.
Emory Ison Ireland, Whiteoak, w.
Va, Bachelor Of Science in Civil En-
gineering.
William Louis Six, Wadestown, de-
gree of Bachelor of Science in Civil
Engineering.
George Morris Beltzhoover, Shep-
herdstown, Ca. B. West Va. Univer-
sity 190O) degree of Bachelor of Laws.
Terence David Stewart, Charleston,
was given certificate in Law having
completed the work required for the
award of certificate.
DR.. Reynolds acting President of
the University delivered the Convoca-
tion Address. 1t was frequently in
terrupted by applause. The points
were evidently greatly enjoyed by the
large audience present. The sub
stance of the address was as follows;
He took for his theme "The Uni
versity and the Commonwealth or the
relation of the University to West
Virginia." He first discussed the
subject of education by the state in
general and showed how at first that
only the most elementary education
was to be given by the state. Later
on 1t was found better to give higher
education and now it is the proper
thing to give the very highest that
can be given.
The state must educate its citizens
in order that they may give her their
best services at al times. The state
cannot avoid this and is the only pow
er that can do it adequately.
The new education is more matter
of method than Of subject. 1t is ed
ucation by doing rather than by Civ
ing the theory. In following out this
plan we have the best museums, the
workshops, the laboratories and the
scientific expeditions.
The next topic discussed was the
state and universal education. This
is the ideal which cannot be reached
under our present system but it should
as far as possible be attained. The
school system OF the state should be
articulated from the lowest to the
highest. All the parts should fit in
and be thoroughly harmonious in Or
der to get the best results.
DR.. Reynolds then took up the
West Virginia University. He told
of its history and the difficulties that
it had to overcome in it's infancy
The resources of the state were unde-
veloped. The state was young. 1t
had no railroads. 1t had been Grip
pied by the civil war and held back by
reconstruction. The location of the
University was against it, People
who had been educated elsewhere sent
their sons to other schools. Its
growth was slow and due to the igno-
rance and stupidity of the citizens of
+ no CT fa ia h of affn
at the University and not to add
drawbacks on the part of the institu-
tion. The pace that has been main
tanned has been in keeping with the
growth of the state in other respects.
y The relation Of the University to
West Virginia was taken up. 1t is
the principal education institution of
the state. 1t is first of all to educate
the people of this particular state and
then it may look after education and
culture at large. The state owns the
University. The people support it
with money and students. They con-
troll it and it is folly to ignore the
people, to Sneer at or abuse them, to
deceive or defy. The University can
go forward If it can carry the people
with it. Otherwise it cannot and is
bound to fail. Fads will not be sup
ported and they should not be. West
Virginia needs and demands the
practical.
AS to the future policy and pros
poets it may be said that the school
will grow. The sentiment is favor
able to it, wealth is increasing, popu-
lation and number of alumni are
growing rapidly. The growth of the
school is gradual but solid and per-
manent.
The requirements that it must meet
are complete coordination with the
state school system; patience, pru-
dence, concession, Cancellation, sense
of proportion of what is practicable
and practical Information given to
the people by every means. There
must be no secrecy, no sneers nor af-
fected superiority as fast as possible
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