Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-06-18
MSTREET HIGH SCHOOL
Diplomas Conferred Upon 1874
Graduates.
SCHOLARSHIPS w ON
THE CLASS GREETED BY A LARGE
AUDIENCE.
Addresses by Commissioner Macfar-
land, Mr.. j. F. Bundy and Rev.
Walter S. Brooks.

The Lafayette Square Opera House was
filled from the pit to the dome and from
the stage to the doors last evening with the
representative colored residents OF Wash
ington, the occasion being the annual COM
mencement of the M Street High School
and Manual Training School No. . One
hundred and twenty four colored young
men and women Of these respective institu-
tions were the recipients Of diplomas from
the hands of Mr.. Henry B. F. mcfarland.
president Of the board Of Commissioners
Of the District
The graduates occupied the major portion
of the stage. being seated on platform
and arranged in tiers, while the guests Of
honor and the speakers occupied chairs i'm
mediateIy back of the footlights. The in
tereSt in this picture was heightened by a
view Of the large number Of huge palms,
the ferns and the monster bouquets. the
gifts of friends and parents to the grad
yates. The young men graduates were all
attired in full evening dress. while the
young women were gowned in white Or
candle.
Besides Commissioner mcfarland there
were seated on the stage Rev. Walter 8.
Brooks. the principal speaker of the even
ing; Rev. F. ]. Grimke pastor of the Fiji
teenth Street Presbyterian Church; Superin-
tendent A. T. Stuart of the public schools;
DR.. Francis r. Lane. director Of the high
schools; j. F. Bundy of the board of educa-
ton. and the presiding officer of the even
ing; General George H. Harries, vice presi-
dent of the board of education; DIR. Bruce
Evans, principal of manual training: Mrs.
A. J. Cooper. principal Of the NJ Street High
School; J. Hodsworth Gordon, member of
the board Of education; Dr. A. D. Mays.
Mrs. j. r. Francis. member of the board
OF education, and w. s. Montgomery as
SiStant superintendent
Among those who occupied boxes were
General H. V. Boynton president of the
board of education; w. F. Roderick, secre-
tary of the board of education; Mrs. l. G.
Myers, assistant superintendent Of schools:
j. H. Chamberlain. director Of manual
training, and Mrs. II. b. F. Macfarland.
The Opening Address.
The exercises were opened with musical
selections by the Columbia Orchestra, I'M
der the leadership of Mr. Sylvester Thomas,
after which Rev. F. ]. Grimke, pastor of
offered prayer
The opening address was made by Mr.. j.
F. Bundy, who presided. Mr. Bundy said
the guests were invited to the theater last
night to witness the graduating exercises
of the Colored High School. According to
the report of the commissioner Of educa-
ton, the attendance upon this grade of pub
lie instruction has, he said, increased by
more than twenty fold during the last quar-
ter of a century, and has more than doubled
itself during the last ten years. The speak
er said the high school is the poor mans
college. The Manual Training High School,
he said, Is comparatively recent addition
to the scheme of public instruction. 1t Is
gratifying, Mr.. Bundy declared to note
that the Colored High School of Washing
ton has splendid history. He stated that
many of the most useful and eminent col
ored men In the community had received
their training in that institution.