The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-06-05
IWENTY-SIX GRADUATES
Eight of Those in the Graduating
Class Ladies.
WINNER OF THE WILEY GRAY MEDAL
The Young Tennessean Who Won it Once
Before Again Receives the Prize,
The Past ard Present and
Future of Trinity,
Especial to News and Observer,

Durham. N c., June affinity, the
old and the new. what a difference. and
yet what close relationship exists be-
tween the two.
The old Trinity that nestled in the
rural forest of Randolph, with everything
meager and inadequate. except character,
purpose and achievements; the new Trim
ity built in the midst of a stirring city
with everything complete and adequate,
including character, purpose and achieve
ments. Craven, the founder, the self
made scholar, the great tutor and maker
% men; Duke, the perserver the self
made king of commerce, the maker of
money, the philanthropist; Pegram, the
tie that binds together the old faculty
and the new. The church, the great
Methodist church, which stood guard in
the days that have passed over the old
institution in the Randolph forest, and is
standing guard today over the great, new
educational structure on the western
border of the States magic city.
As I look upon the scene here today as
this beautiful morning-as bright as the
prospects of Trinity are bright-ushered
in another Trinity commencement, l re-
call the first commencement ] ever at
tended at old Trinity in Randolph. There
is a difference Oh, yes, in some par
ticulars there is a vast difference, but in
the most important essentials there is
no difference. There were more of the
old circuit riders at the old Randolph
commencement and perhaps fewer pre-
siding elders, and there are more presid
ing elders here today and fewer circuit
riders, but may be this is a natural con-
sequence. There is about as many peo-
pie in the beautiful new auditorium here
today as there was in old Trinity hall.
The crowd at the old commencement
were full of joy, inspiration and hope
the vast crowd here IS, if possible, fuller
OF joy, enthusiast I'D hope. On the
stage at old Trinity sat Braxton Craven
the founder ard tlilder of old Trinity
on the stage here sits Washington Duke,
the preserver and benefactor of new Trim
ity, each Of taem striking examples of
most wonderful self-achievement. Native
and to the Eancr born, each starting life
without wealth. social or other distinction
each climbing up different rugged roads
10 the rirr aele of fame. Craven became
the mastot Of intellectual science, the ex-
pounder Of Gospel truths, genius of
learning p Ter Ct the worlds most classi-
cal men and the founder of a great in
business science, great expounder of
practical knowledge, genius of finance
and commerce, a peer of the worlds most
successful business men, and the preserv-
or of the great institution that Craven
founded. No man need write the bio
graphies of these two North Carolinians.
They are engraved in the very founda-
ti0ns upon which this college rests and
has rested. Their lives are interviewer
into the very fabric from the
beginning until this bright DAY.
ard viii remain there so long as Trinity
lives and that will be so long as time
lasts. Here be history that is fit to study
Here be biography to inspire youth. Here
be patriotism, toll struggles, beneyolence
and charity fit to emulate Here be
greatness, individual greatness attained
by few and surpassed by none. Here be
"reminiscences Of the past as fragrant as
ever bloomed in memory's garden. Here
are present realizations that elicit our
loftiest gratitude ami appreciation, and
here be future prospects that will with
stand opposition, evolution or, if need be,
revolution.
George l. Seney was asked by friend
after he became poor, what was the
greatest treasure remaining to him.
lie replied "The money I have
given away Had some friend
asked the late Dr. Craven the same
question just before he passed away, his
reply would perhaps have been. 'The
sacrifices I have made for my fellow
men," and l could see on the countenance
Of Trinity's benefactor, Washington
Duke. today a like expression, and / have
no doubt of the fact that instead of his
mind being on the great manufacturing
industry he planted just a block away,
instead of firing his weary brain by
counting or recounting to himself his
available thousands or millions, he was
regarding the scene about him, which he
has done so much TO establish, as the
richest of all his accumulated treasures.
The old Trinity was a maker OF men,
strong men, useful men, men who have
heen and are being heard and felt along
every avenue of our industrial, profess
sional and religious life. The new Trini-
tv is making men of like strength, of
like ability, who are being heard from
ord will hereafter be felt and appreciated
along these same avenues of life.
Df the former I might recall Simmons,
ne senator; Norman, the Pastor; Brown,
t,e Banker; Lockhart, the Jurist; Barbee,
\the Cotton Merchant; Berry, the Con-