The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-03-17
AYCOCK CHEEREDBY
SHAW'S STUDENTS
He Delivered Diplomas to
Graduating Class.
DR.. MATTHEW'S ADDRESS
The Commencement of the Medical
and Law Schools.
DR.. MEsERVE GIVES GOOD ADVICE
The Occasion Was One of Interest, and the
Chapel Was Packed. % Students Were
Graduated From the Profess
sionaI Schools.


siona Schools.
The graduating exercises of the Medical
and Law Schools of Shaw University took
place Thursday The exercises consisted
of an address by Rev. Shailer Matthews,
Dean of the Theological School at the
University of Chicago, the delivering of
diplomas to the graduates, twenty-three
in number, by Governor Chas. B. Aycock
and the delivery of medals and the closing
address by DR.. Chas. f. Meserve.
On the platforms were Governor Aycock
Mr.. R. H. Battle, of the Law faculty
and the Medical faculty as follows: Drs.
Hubert Royster, William Simpson, R. H.
Lewis, A. w. Knox, w l. Royster James
Mckee, K. P. Battle and Drs. Pickle and
Goodwin. Other prominent citizens pres
ent were: Gen. Thos. f. Toon, State Su-
perintendent of Public instruction; Su-
perintendent w. G. Clements, superin-
tendent E. P. Moses and others.
The entire program passed off smoothly
the addresses were all timely, we'll con-
sidered, pertinent and in good taste not
a single sentence being spoken the eff
feet of which could do aught but help in
placing the relation of the two races on
harmonious footing.
Governor Aycock's short address to the
graduates rang clear and was applauded
to the echo. DR.. Meserves address was
along lines calculated to do much good
His reference to Governor Aycock as "the
silver-tongucd orator and apostle of edu-
cation for the masses was received with
loud and continued applause. He advised
the graduates not to aspire to politics,
and to cultivate friendly relations with
white men. He expressed the opinion that
the failure of the proposed legislation
dividing the school fund along race lines
was a hopeful sign.
DR.. Matthews address on "The Duties
of Educated Men in Periods of Transi-
ton" was thoughtful and we'll delivered.
He is a man of prepossessng appearance,
and is thoroughly at ease on the platform.
He is easily one of tho first scholars Of the
Union. His effort received close atten-
tion and has been highly complimented.
His rhetoric was faultless, his diction
pure. and the address was one of the
most notable ever delivered at COM
mcncement in this State.
He said that this is period of transi-
tion along economic social and intellect
ual lines.
The duties of the educated men in
such periods are to keep sane to act
as leaders to others, and to have faith
and hope. He closed by declaring that
no age of the world has been more worth
living than the present, and the Chris
tian scholar never had an opportunity
of bringing about the Kingdom of God
more goriously than he has today
Every period, said DR.. Matthews. ''is
period of transition. Human life is not
fixed quantity, one age passes on it's
achievements to the succeeding age. But
some ages of the worlds history have been
peculiarly marked by change. Such a
period was that which saw the close of
the Roman Empire, or the age immediate
ly preceding the Reformation, or the
French Revolution, or our own Revolution.
These periods preceded revolutions, but
revolution does not necessarily follow a
period of transition. Whether this sue
ceeding period shall be revolution or
evolution depends upon the wisdom dis
played by the educated men of the time.
During the period Immediately pre-
ceding the French Revolution, discomfort
was uppermost in the peoples breast,
and somehow the idea of rights became
involved in their reckoning, and under
the strenuous impress and impulsiOn of
this idea of right they began to formulate
and demand their rights. Robspere never
intended for this idea to be carried to the
wild excess it finally reached and three
months before any blood had been shed
declared if had reached its extent, and
the remember to be done was to secure
and rerpetuate the rights secured.
Men in q neriod of transition may be
so retroactive in their feeling and SO
swayed bv feeling that they force a revo-
luticn. The American Revolution was
similar in its inception TO the French
Revolution. When during period Of
transition large man arises and guides
the neriod wisely and with an equal and
steady hand. it may be followed by
period of evolution, or progress that is
good and healthful for humanity
The sneaker then declared that the
present age is one of transition. Whether
it shall cuIminate in evolution or revolu-
tion dnnonds upon the wisdom and sanity
of our educated men.
ECONOMIC MOVEMENT.
Ho continued. "There are three clearly
marked sets .of transitional movements.
One Of tbese is economic. pretty sharp