The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-06-07
CLOSING EXERCISES OF THE STATE
UNIVERSITY
THE FIFTY-TWO GRADUATES
Given Their Diplomas and. Degrees.
The Annual Address by DR.. J.. n.
Kfrkland-The Contest for the Man.
tx
l gum Prize In Oratory-Presfdenr
Yenable's Report-Banquets by Fra.
IDENTITIES The commencement Rail-
Closes the Day-Close Of a Most Pros.
porous ear.
Especial to The Messenger.o

Chapel Hill, n. c., June 5.
Today was commencement day and it
has proved to be one Of the most en-
joyable and interesting occasion of the
kind ever held. The weather has beer
almost ideal, n everybody seems to
be in true commencement spirit. This
is a great OCCASION for all North Car
lima gA u
This morning at 1915 o'clock the
academic procession was formed in
front of Gerard hall. Headed by the
First Regiment band, of Virginia, the
long procession of faculty, alumni,
graduates and students formed an i'm
pressive sight as they slowly marched
to the great auditorium of Memorial
hall.
When the assembly vas seated DR..
f. p. Venable, president of the univer-
sity. called the body to order. He very
heartily welcomed all the guests to this
period Of commencement time. The
first thing was the orations by mem
bers of the graduating class.
The orators and their subjects were:
w. H. Swift, 1.-The Organization of
Capital; D. S. Thompson, 1.-THE Oppor-
tunity of a State; c. P. Cable, "Indi-
vidualism-A Word Movement; G. c..
Willis. The Individual and the Trust"
These speakers are contesting for the
Mangum prize in oratory.
At IL o'clock the nnu address be-
fore the university was delivered by
the distinguished DR.. J. H. Kirkland,
chancellor of Vanderbilt university.
His effort was an earnest and forceful
one n was we'll received by the large
audience. 1t was a plea for a better
government and an educated citizen
ship.
At the conclusion of DIR. Kirkland's
address, President Venable made his
annual report. It showed very clearly
how progressive the university has
been. The departments lave been
strengthened, new courses started and
the intellectual life of the university
improved n bettered.
Governor Aycock then presented
diplomas to the graduates and conferred
the degrees upon them. There were
two Doctors of Philosophy, Messrs.
Archibald Henderson and j. E. Mills.
Six seniors received degree of magma
cum laude and seven others that of
cum laude. There were nineteen appli-
cants for the degree Of Bachelor of
Arts, nineteen for Bachelor of Philos-
ophy and ten for that of Bachelor of
science. Several of last years class
received their Masters degree. Along
with the diplomas, according to an an
cient custom here, all the graduates
were presented with a copy of the
Bible.
With these exercises the commence
ment proper was over and then began
the gayer festivities that will last
through tomorrow night. This after
noon Pi Sigma gave a most enjoyable
german to their young lady friends or
the "HilT'. The dance lasted for sever
al hours and was the first of the COM
mencement dances.
In the early evening, the Sigma Alpha
Epsilon and Sigma NJ fraternities gave
banquets to their friends.
At night the annual ball, given by
the chief ball manager and subs, COM
plimentary to the graduating class,
was held in Commons hall. A large
number Of this and neighboring states
fairest daughters were in attendance.
The dance lasted Jour hours and it was
in every way a perfect success. The
chief ball managers was W. A. Murphy,
of Morganton; subs, H. G. Turner, of
Raleigh; NJ. Makely, of Edenton; j. B.
Ramsey, of Rocky Mount; Louis
Graves, of Chapel Hill; J.. ]. London,
of Pittsboro, and Frank Smathers, of
WayneSville.