Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-06-16
TEACHERS GRADUATE
CLASS OF THIRTY-SEVEN GIVEN
DIPLOMAS TODAY.
Commissioner Mcfarland Extends
Congratulations-A by
Gen. II. v. Boynton.

The annual graduation exercises of the
CoIored Normal School. No were held
this morning at 10:3o O'Clock at the Miner
School building, corner 18th and Madison
streets northwest. The large assembly
room on the third floor of the building was
completely filed with the parents and
friends of the thirty seven graduates who
received diplomas from the hands of Gen
George H Harries, vice president of the
board of education.
On the platform in the west end of the
room sat a semi-circle of persons either
connected with or interested in educational
matters in the District of Columbia, among
the number being Commissioner H. B. f.
Mcfarland, Gen. H. v. Boynton, president
of, the board of education; Gen. George II.
Harries. Mr.. A T. Stuart, superintendent
of public schools; Mr.. w. s. Montgomery
and Mrs. /. G. Meyers. assistant superin-
tendents; Mr.. A. d. Mayo, Mr.. James F.
Bundy and Mrs. b. G. Francis, members
of the board of education: Miss E. L. Mo
ten, principal Of the school, and Revs. o. M.
Waller and Sterling Brown. Mrs. b. G.
Francis presided over the exercises and in
troduced the speakers with complimentary
remarks.
Flags draped at the front and rear of the
platform and about the pillars in the room,
and numerous palms arranged about the
platform formed appropriate decorations
rectly in front of the platform The
speeches were notable for their brevity
and condensation, none of them being over
six minutes in length.
Congratulations Extended.
The program opened with march by
NJ. L. Europe. followed by the invocation
by Rev. o. NJ. Waller, after which the
graduating class sang a song and 8. E.
Shorter delivered a vaIedictory. Commits
NJ
said he did not come to make an address,
but he wished to offer his congra tulations
on this occasion. Continuing. Mr.. Macfar-
land said: Il wish to testify to my per-
sonal deep interest and to the deep interest
of the Commissioners of the District of Co
lumbia in the work of this school and in
that Of all the public schools Of the Dis
tr1ct. l am glad to be with you on this
occasion, and to congratulate the teachers
and the students who have so successfully
finished the course of instruction as laid
down."
Miss Lola Johnson sang a solo. ''Nymphs
and F'awns. after which Gen. Boynton
made few remarks to the graduates.
Gen. Boynton's Address.
Gen. Boynton said in part:
ITO me there are no more hopeful or in
spring scenes for every patriot to look
upon than such as the schools of this COM
munity and of all communities throughout
ulations. Among all of these such gather
ings as this, which tell of the rapid pro-
gress and uplifting of race possesses a
deeper significance to me than those of
larger and more general establishment
which since the foundation of our govern
ment have been it's glory and contributed
largely to it's strength. The public school
system Of the land has not in former years
been as free to all as it is today. The pen
dulum beats of the years are now success
sively recording steady and most hopeful
progress for all In every section of the re-
public.
the lesson that all labor is honorable that
skilled labor dignhies. Every blow of labor
aids the development and the strengthen
ing of the nation. On the other hand it is
not so with the efforts of educated mind
unless that mind is trained in proper chan
nels and its blows are directed by high pur-
pose. Otherwise. mind culture may be the
reverse of public benefit, as. for example
when men Of the widest culture and the
exalted standing which such culture gives
strike at the very foundation upon which
the republic rests and commit a moral
treason which Is more pernicious and dan
gerous to the public welfare than that con-
stitutional treason which consists in taking
arms against the nations life.
High Ideals of Patriotism.
1T belongs to such as you 10 instilI into
the minds Of those who. year after year,
Will come under your influence high ideals
Of patriotism and civic morality.
LAS the Sunday schools are the nurseries
OF the church. so the common schools of
our country. in all their grades, are the
nurseries of the republic: and the commu-
MON of the schools should be as carefully
guarded from every influence that degrades
as the communion of the church. And
upon all who introduce. tolerate or con-
done demoralizing influences in school Or
CARNATIONS. be they officials, high or low,
teachers scholars later hut
surely, there will be pronounced by the pre-
ponderatfng morality of every community
the same solemn and crushing verdict that
the church utters against such as defile her
courts-Let them be anathema.
ITO you it will be given to guard many
avenues Of the beautiful temple of our
fuences; to train troops of children for the
duties and burdens which await their ma
turer years: to lift them up, year after
year. toward higher levels of manhood and
womanhood. With the good will and
blessings Of your teachers. go forth to the
work which will be assigned you. Be pa
tient with weakness. be persistent in we'll
doing. be strong. be brave, and the thanks
Of those to whom you minister and of the
community which you serve will be with
you at every step in your high calling"
Diplomas Presented.
Following Gen. Boynton's address Mr. c.
c. White played violin solo. after which
the graduates. In his few remarks before
this ceremony Gen. Harries said it was too
warm to make a speech. "All things that
should be said have been said" the speaker
remarked, land now l do not propose to
say those things which should be left I'M
said" He assured the students and teach
ers Of the school of his interest in the work,
after which he presented the diplomas
Mr.. Ford Dabney then played a piano
solo and the graduating class
Spring Song after which Rev. Sterling
Brown pronounced the benediction. and the
parents and friends offered their congratu-
lations to the members of the class of 1902.
The graduates are as follows: Robert
Brown. John Catiett. Ellicott Madden,
Chester Turley, Leon Turner. Josephine
Amos, Mary Brodie, Julia Brooks, Eva
Brown, Lucinda Brown, Mary Chase. Har-
riet Collier, Martha Cromwell. Rachel
Daley. Eva Dean, Mary Dodson. Mary Eu-
rope, Estelle Gray, Julia Gray. Mary Green,
Eva Hunt. Estelle jackson. Maude JOINT
son. Sarah Lancaster, Mary Pollen Susan
Quander. Edith Savoy Sarah Shorters Irene
mn