The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-05-29


President F. NJ. Roof has declined to
accept the presidency of Howard Col
lege for the coming year. He was re-
elected yesterday with the other mem
bers of the faculty. but stated 1t was i'm
possible for him to accept because of the
fact that the salary was not sufficient
for the arduous duties required. He said
he loved the college and had done five
years of the hardest work ever performed
in his life, but could not continue. His
decision not to accept was made known
at the graduating exercises yesterday
morning.
The exercises were preceded by bac-
calaureate address by DIR. John r. Sam
pey professor of Hebrew and Old Tesla
ment Interpretation of the Southern Bap-
fist Seminary, Louisville. The announce
ments of the board of trustees were also
made.
The awarding of the degrees was done
by President F. NJ. Roof, who followed
the presentations by a short, earnest talk
on the work of the college, and the man
ner in which the young men were i'm
pressed with the belief that being a man
was the highest ideal.
The Salutatory Address.
After selections of vocal and instru-
mental music. the salutatory address was
delivered by Mr.. Dewitt Fancett. one of
the graduates of highest distinction. Mr..
Francis E. Chambers spoke on Today"
pointing out some of. the particular work
of the present time being done by the
colleges of the country. Mr.. Thomas v.
Neal, who was to have delivered an ad-
dress on the Material Benefactors of
Mankind" had been Ill for several days
and could not speak. The valedctory ad-
dress was delivered by Mr.. Robert A.
Lambert.
The baccalaureate address was deliv-
cred by DR.. j. R. Sampey. a former
graduate of Howard College, but now one
of the most prominent theological teach
ers In the south. He had for his subject
Robert E. Lee-the Soldier and Man."
and spoke In feeling manner.
He first spoke of time, twenty years
before when as orator of the Franklin
Society of Howard College. then at Ma
rion, Ala. he had made an address on
the subject of "Stonewall Jackson, the
Military Genius OF the South" He said
he had not studied the life Of General
Lee at that time as much as he had since,
man, and would make only one change in
the title of that boyhood address. 1t was
to say a military genius.
Review of Lees Life.
A studious review of the life Of General
Lee was then made by the speaker, in
which the assertion was made that no
man had ever lived In this country other
than George Washington and Robert E.
Lee who was man of no vice. mo man
in the North the South has ever
charged that General Lee did one thing
that he could not tell his mother, his sis
ter or his wife without the slightest
blush"
After pointing out the great feats of
by General Lee and paying him compli-
ments such as are rarely ever paid any
hero, DR.. Sampey closed his talk with
the broad assertion that Napoleon, Caesar,
Wellington, all other great military he
roes and geniuses, had their vices, sins,
with the exception of the father Of his
country, George Washington, and the
leader of this Southland, Robert e. Lee
These two he placed higher than all 9TH
ers, because they so closely followed the
life and pathway of Christ.
Diplomas Awarded.
Diplomas were awarded the members
Of the graduating class by President F.
M. Roof as follows:
A. M. Caine, A. B.
Dewitt Fancett A. B., highest dis
tinction.
H. G. Laird. B. C. E.
j. C. Smith, B. s.
H. w. Thompson. A. B., distinction.
F. E. Chambers, A. B.
r. A. Lambert. A. B., highest dis
tinction.
T. v. Neal, A. B., distinction.
p. D. Stewart. B. Lit.
B. Roden, Jr.
Post Graduates-J. L. Adams, A. NJ,
J. X. Smith, A. NJ.
DR.. A. C. Davidson, president of the
Board of Trustees, then announced that
honorary degrees had been awarded to