Evening star., 1901-05-23
Seven Graduates Receive Degrees
From Washington College.
ONE Lone NAV ALSO GIVEN DIPLOMA
Addresses by Senator Mason, Dr.
w. T. Harris and Mrs. Mussey.
THE G. ESTS PRES EN- T

ne washington SSiSSe ol Law, eolSb-
iished primarily for the instruction Of wo-
men. last evening added it's quota Of can
ddates for honors at the bar. Three young
ladies We're given the degree OF master of
laws and four more became bachelor Of
laws. which last named degree was also
conferred on the one man who was gradu-
ated Senator Mason, whose daughter was
among the graduates, addressed the stu
dents and gave them wholesome advice
about the way they should conduct them
selves as lawyers. DR.. VIM. I. Harris.
United States commissioner of education,
spoke of Women in the Professions
The occasion was the third annual COM
mencement of the college, the exercises
taking place in the Luther Place Memorial
Church. corner of 14th and NJ streets. The
eiifice was we'll filled with the friends of
the fair Portals The invitations had borne
the injunction mo flowers, and these
were therefore omitted, but there was a
grouping of flags and palms back
ground for the fair graduates In the CEN
ter of the gallery over the platform hung
the college flag of green, with W. c. L. in
purple letters Among those upon the
stage We're Judge Shepard of the Court of
Appeals, Judge Stanton ]. Peelle of the
Court of Claims, Judge C. C. Cole. Mr.. H.
Clay Evans, commissioners of pensions;
DIR. VIM T. Harris. United States commits
sioner of education; Mr.. VIM. B. King,
Senator VIM E. Mason Of Illinois; Rev; M
Schaick, jr.. Mrs. Ellen S. Mussey. the dean
of the college: Judge E C. Foster. Prof.
Emma M. Gillett. Prof. w j. Newton.
ton, Prof. Theodore Ion, Mrs. J. Ellen
Foster of the faculty, Mrs. Nanetta B.
Paul. Miss Flora ]. Ramona, Mrs. Marga-
ret C. Lohr. Miss Gertrude E. Leonard Of
degrees. Mrs. Emma Reba Bailey, Miss
Caroline /. Greisheimer Miss Helen Fran
els Hill. Mrs. Margaret Lora Coope. Mr..
Edwin Carpenter Dutton. Miss Ruth White
Mason, Mrs. Catherine J.. North and Mrs.
Josephine c. A Page. On either side
smaller platforms had been erected. on
which were seated the undergraduates,
aking in all very attractive picture.
In the gallery Haley's Band in bright uni
form gave the needed touch of color, and
as the strains of the march of Battle OF
the Waves pealed forth the stately forms
in cap and gown issued from the three rear
doors leading to the stage, and afterWard
came the faculty and the guests. The pro-
cession WAS headed by Mrs. Ellen Spencer
Mussey, whose appearance was the signal
for a round of applause. which showed the
appreciation of the only woman dean of
law college in the world.
The Addresses.
The invocation was pronounced by the
Rev. M Ross Fishburn. pastor of Mount
Pleasant Congregational Church, and after
more music Judge Z. C. Foster introduced
the presiding officer of the occasion. Sena-
tor Mason of Illinois. The test of civili-
zation. Mr.. Mason said. was shown in the
way women are treated by men. He talked
TO the young graduates of the duties that
would confront them in their profession.
Dr. VIM. T. Harris. commissioner of eGu-
cation, spoke of Women in the Profess
sions." From 1872 to 1899, he said, the
number of women in colleges and universi-
ties increased from forty to 323 for each
million of inhabitants. The increase in the
women in such colleges 800 per cent
and of men 50 per cent.
Two years ago, he said, there Were 116
women in ninety-six law schools of this
country. He thought that Industrial comhi-
nation and the increase of wealth of the
country would increase the demand for law
yers. and that instead of having too many
there would soon be too few of them to
fill the demand for their services. The
home demands upon women being changed
as the occupations We're generalized, left
great force to be utilized by society in
other directions, and women should receive
recognition industrially professionally and
politically. Woman's influence in the pro-
fessions and in sharing government would
serve TO eliminate the rigors of the Jaw
and much Of the corruption in politics which
now PREVAILS. and woman must enjoy the
best advantages OF general as well as spe-
ctaltzed education to fit her for this
larged sphere of action. Dr. Harris was
warmly applauded at the end Of his re-
marks. the audience evidently being in full
SS IpdluS Will HIS VIEWS
Only Male Graduate Presents Flag.
A pleasant feature at this point was the
presentation of a college flag on behalf OF
the class of 1901 by Mr.. Edwin C. Dutton,
the only gentleman in the class In Speak
ing for the class Mr. Dutton referred to
the happy and profitable years spent in the
college. and in behalf of his associates de-
sired to present the flag token Of their
appreciation of the college and of the faith
fui tuition received from each member OF
the faculty.
Mrs Mussey the dean. responded on be-
half of the faculty, expressing their pleas
ure that they should have this handsome
flag with it's mace at the head as con-
slant reminder of the first class of the
twentieth century. Mrs. Mussey also re-
ferred to Mr.. Dutton a Spanish war
veteran. whose high scholarship and char
acter in the college had won for him the
highest praise.
Mr. VIM B. King was then introduced
by the presiding officer. who announced as
his subject The Lawyers Conscience"
Mr. King held the close attention of his
audience, and presented his views on the
conscientious manner in which a lawyer
should act in his profession.
Degrees Conferred.
Mrs. Ellen S. Mussey performed the cere-
mony Of comforting degrees. Mrs. Mussey
said that every one had the right to do
whatever he or she could do well, and that
the class of 1901 had done well and earned
the degrees they We're about to receives
that she was proud to be the only woman
dean of a law school, and as their mother
to be chosen in the new century to confer
the degrees To deny the benefits Of the
study of the law would be to say that the
blind man walk better with a guide
than a seeing man by the light Of day.
There was the same need of lawyers that
there was Of physicians. and 1t was an i'm
portant event which the audience had come
TO witness. In addressing the class Mrs.
Mussey said that the law was the history
OF the progress Of the human race and its
study was ennobling. That SoIon when
asked whether he had given the Athenians
the best laws possible, replied: The best
they are capable of receiving" That as
lawyers it would be their duty not only
to see that their clients received their fun
rights under the law, but that the laws
| themselves were changed to keep step with
the age. That while the ministers Of the
| gospel appeared In Gods temple one day
! out of seven, they would be the temples
| of justice six days out OF seven Mrs.
| Mussey also spoke of the special need of
| trained legal minds in the great phflan-
| thropic and educational movements of
which women are in this century to be the
vital soul.
| Members of the Classes.