The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-09-07


The banquet given last Thursday night
by the Auburn Alumni at the Dlnman
hotel in honor CT President Tnaen was an
event of no ordinary significance. In
many respects 1t was one of the most
notable gatherings that has ever as
sembled at the Hillman. It was a dis
tinsulshed company that gathered about
the festal board that night--a company
consisting eff men representing various
lines Of business and professional life.
as wei. as a large number of men who are
today moulding the industrial destiny of
this district and Of the state. It was es-
pecially significant because II was an ex.
preston of enthusiastic devotion for a
great institution which now leads in the
great Industrial movement which is
sweeping over our state. 1t was not a
body of men to indulge in narrow ard
selfish congratulations upor the success
CT their alma mater; their enthusiasm
was rot hased upor pride or the success
full issue of an athletic game. Through
out the assemblage there was manifest
high and broad spirit Tie keynote to
this general sentiment was admirably
given by Mr.. w. x. Terry in mis- excel
lent address when he said that President
Thach had not been selected for his high
and respo nsiole position because he is m
Als bamian. nor yet because ne was an
alumnus of Auburn, but for the reason
that in the estimation OF the BOARD OF
trustees he possessed within himself in a
high degree those qualifications which
rendered him worthy to occupy the chair
of the lamented Dr. William Leroy
Broun. This Is the spirit that elevates
Auburn to the place occupied by great
institutions everywhere.
Thach's Address.
President Thach was very happy in his
address and emphasized the ideals which
the institution over which he presides
attempts to present TO the young men
of the state. He traced the development
of Alabama's great archaeological school
from its infancy to the present time and
outlined with a master hand the elements
that have created the inspiring atmos-
phere of the college. The enthusiastic
loyalty of the Auburn alumni is not a
matter of personal attachment or of
friendship; the devotion manifested here
is not for men but for an institution
an institution that exerts a noble inf1u-
ence because 1t embodies high and noble
ideals. The ideals of Auburn are the
products of such men as Dr. Brown, DR..
Smith, DR.. Bupton and many others
whose lives have become part of the In
stitution. The educational ideal of Au-
burn is that of an educated manhood.
This high ideal embodies all others
While Auburn prepares it's students to
become either civil, electrical or mining
engineers. merchants, lawyers. doctors
or preachers, 1t first of all prepares them
to be true men, loyal to right and duty
whatever their sphere in life. Auburns
first aim is to develop manhood. The
man must be greater than his trade or
profession. Auburn's ideal combines the
culture of the old classical education
contained in the humapities with the use
fulness and productlveness of the new as
exemplified in our modern sciences. The
influence Of a great man cannot be con-
fined to his own community. to his own
state, or even his own section. The Ala
bama Polytechnic school Is already
greater than the state. Its influences
through its graduates are extending to-
day into every state of the union-into
almost every continent on the globe The
graduates of this institution are already
found carrying It's ideals into Mexico,
South and Central America, China, ia
pan and South Africa. President Thach's
speech shows that he combines sound ed
ri,
Judge Banks Tribute.
The tribute paid by Judge Banks, the
toast master, to DR.. Otis D. Smith was
most touching, and the expression of
love and affection from the alumni pres
ent brought tears to the eyes of the ven
cradle professor. DIR. Smith is loved and
honored by the alumni of Auburn to a
degree enjoyed by very few men. Dr.
Smiths address to the alumni who had
profted by his instruction, was full of
wise counsel and affectionate interest
DIR. Phillips In his address gave a
strong vindication of Auburns ideals,
and Of the effectiveness of the institution
as a part of the states educational
agencies. He emphasized the unity of all
educational factors from the hndergar-
ten to the university. Auburn, through
her faculty and alumni, have always
worked in sympathetic touch and har-
mony with the common schools of the
states The purposes and processes of all
of our educational institutions are prac-
tically one, the aim being to secure for
the state an educated manhood which
shall include an educated citizenship. He
said that educators must raise a note
of warning against certain dangerous
tendencies which are detrimental to the
development of high and noble citizen
ship. The first tendency is that which at