The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-04-25
Friends of the Institution and Grad
mates Fill EngIisb's Opera
House.
ADDRESS OF DR.. GEORGE HARRIS
TALK OF AMHERST's PRESIDENT TO
THE YOUNG DOCTORS.
Diplomas Conferred by Addison &.
Harris-A Reception mt the Co.
Iumbia Club.

Englishs Opera House last night. marked
the comforting of the degree of doctor of
medicine upon one of the largest classes
that has ever finished the course of the in
stitution- The roster of the class shows
seventy-two names, of which four are
young women and the remainder men,
The programme of exercises was unusually
interesting and attractive In honor of
the important occasion the great stage of
the theater had been decorated with rare
taste and beauty The predominating fea-
lures of the decorative scheme were flags,
cut flowers and ported plants. The grad
uating class was arranged in the form of
a rectangle inclining from the point just
back of the speakers stand at an easy
angle upward and back almost to the rear
of the stage. The three sides of the rec
tangle were outlined in natural green,
which contrasted with the somber black
worn by the young men and the white of
the young womens dresses. the whole
brought into sharp relief by the flood Of
dazzling electric radiance presented an ex-
ceptonaIly striking picture.
At the base of the rectangle sat the
members of the faculty. the board of trus-
tees and the speaker of the occasion, the
Rev. DR.. George Harris. president of Am
herst College. The exercises were pre-
sided over by DR.. Henry Jameson dean of
the college. After a programme Of popu-
lar musical selections by the orchestra. the
invocation was pronounced with eloquence
and impressiveness by the Rev Joshua
Stansfield. pastor of Meridian-street NJ. E.
Church Other enjoyable musical numbers
were contributed at intervals in the pro-
gramme by the Amphion Clubs double
quartet, conducted by Alexander Ernest
inOff
PRESIDENT HARRIS'S ADDRESS.
The principal speaker of the evening. DR..
Harris. was presented by Dr. Jameson.
The subject of DIR. Harris's address was
Ideals and Progress" He prefaced his
discussion of this topic with a few interest
ing remarks on Evolution" in the course
of which he created a mild sensation by
declaring that the fact of the evolution of
human species from some animal species
not now existing is universally accepted.
He qualified this statement by saving that
religious people are no longer alarmed. for
they perceive that the derivation of man
from animals by an age-long process is as
consistent with a divine purpose as would
be his separate instantaneous creation of a
few centuries ago. Plunging into the heart
of his discourse DR.. Harris said:
The distinctive characteristic of man
which makes Improvement or progress
possible IS the power to perceive and to
pursue ends. He perceives ends, sets them
before his mind-endS which NAV require
years for realization-or in other words ne
has ideals, whether they be false or real
The rest of the universe, what we call its
lower stages, the inorganic and plants and
animals, is apparently unconscious of pur-
pose or end. But, however ii may be with
the lower order, ii certainly is true that
man perceives and pursues ends. He does
more than to satisfy casual wants. He
makes plans for a year. for lifetime, both
for himself and for and with the society
OF which he Is a member. Man cannot in
deed pursue any and every end. He cannot
make journey TO the north star nor as vet
TO the north pole. He cannot be an angel
man cannot be a woman, much as he
might like to be. [Laughter.l He is under
limitations, yet he proposes certain ends to
himself. can choose one rather than an.
other. In this man is distinguished from
all other beings. The exception is an enor-
merOus than any of the vertebrates and ex-
tends TO all parts of the earth where any
of the other orders are found.
REALIZING AN IDEAL.
There is no person that does not have
an ideal that he is seeking to realize 1t
may be fanciful, mistaken, impossible, but
it is perceived and pursued. Every one of
these young doctors conceived years ago
the ideal which he realizes here tonight
Every man stands before a magic glass
which, he peers into it, reflects person
somewhat like the one who stands before
it. yet different-with attachments. qualities
dignitfes of which he deems himself capable
or which at least he desires. AS a convex
mirror gives a distorted image yet an
image reflected from the beholder so the
N N
nobled, an enlarged more refined image
of the ideal that il actually may become
If observers could only see that other self
the eminent scholar. the social leader. all
actions and self-denials would be explained
Could those on the platform see all these
ideals of the audience. how amazed they
would be. IL is sometimes said How sur
prised we should be if we could see our
selves as others see us. / suggest an
emendation OF that by saying. How sur
priseG others would be if they could see
us we see ourselves ."
The concluding portion of Dr. Harris's
address. i'm which he described the promi-
nent characteristics of a good physician,
created profound impression. DIR. Harris
said:
Did you ever know a good doctor who
not a cheerful man. A physician
knows more than other men about suffering
and disease. but in the use of skill to al
leviate suffering thoughts of its amount
and intensity retreat into the background
of his mind, and his beneticent service both
absorbs his conscious thought and makes
him the most CHEEKY of men. The doctor,
who is constantly i'm the presence of sick
ness and death. is hardly a sad and solemn
man. or. if he is. ne is out of place i'm the
SickroOm. He should be in some other Oc-
cupatiOn. although 1 do not know of any
occupation that calls for sad and solemn
mien. ! have said that every good doctor
is mind-cure practitioner. and that is
true. He ministers to the body through the
mind. and always with good cheer.
MADE RAPID ADVANCE.
NO profession has made such rapid adj
vance in the last thirty years as the medi-
cal profession. Hospitals which used TO be
the dread of the poor and. indeed of all
sick persons. are now preferred to homes.
I think sanitary improvements due chiefly
TO the doctors. as. for instance. Havana.
which. from a pest breeder. has become one
of the healthest cities in the world.
Surgery performs delicate operations for
the saving of life which were impossible
ten years ago There is the bigoted doctor.
who belongs TO school and sees no good
in any other school. who resists innovations
and outdOeS the the narrOwest clergyman
in intolerance. But the ideal doctor is ever
learning. discovering. advancing. He proves
all things and holds fast that which II
good The medical profession is one OF the
best Illustrations of my subject Its ideal is
not only noble but II constantly realized.
The picture can be- drawn from life-life-
size. too. Everyone of those now gradual
ing has. | am sure such an ideal before
his mind and will ever strive To realize il.
for men who perform great service are
greatly beloved. To only two three of
the scriotural characters Is this term be