The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-08-09
A DEGREE WITHOUT A FEE
surprising Experience OF Young Clerr,-
man Who Finds Himself nm IN IN

VWW m Ill,
To THE EDITOR OF THE SrN-Siy, As ,,,,
have been paying some attention to the Mash,
vile College of Law" you may be- interested
in the enclosed copy OF letter received Inv ,
friend OF mine, young minister This was
called forth by his rather humorous rrspons.
to the first letter of the college, inrorn,in,
him that ii would be glad TO make him A doc
tor OF laws. Apparently the author,ts.
thought he was zone Of the good things which
they could do and so wasted n degree unon
him without the deposit of the fee The e,-
ter, il. | think. better thnn ANYTHING tb,,
has yet been published emanating from this
college. Ann
New YORK, Aug, :.
by virtue of the authority vested In mc as pr..
dent OF the Nashville College Of Law, | nave tho
honor to inform you that the honorary degree ~,
doctor OF laws d.L,DJ has been conferred upon
you by this corporation, and could your rr,.nds
feel the transformations ecstasy which peryatc.
the reccsses Of your hear, In rejoicing In your ha,
pincss. am sure they would say. 1t Is we'll and
the college In thus homo ring you has honorrd itself
Il trust that as the years may come and 70 that
your heart may be hllcd with the ccSatc 10y o an
almost satisfied ambition. ! believe II was Hard
enbcrg OF New Jersey who said Man IN all
his wide domain, hath no gf, OF honor tina, can
satisfy the lOngings OF the immortal soul Ma,
your thoughts be like unto His Who stood and
measured the world and the heights and depths
thereof and the everlasting mountains scattered
and the eternal hills did bow.
Splendid. original gifts and high intellectual
endowmcnts lavlShy bestowed. invoke human
admiration. and give TO their possesSor the Statey
tread OF the giant but am sure that no cloud Of
cgo,ism will draw Its shade across your mind and
conduct. to mlldew the proper appreciation on
your part OF the high honor We have SO graciouSy
bestowed May this token hc as a monitor and an
Inspiration TO more fully cultivate the Nncr emo
lions OF your heart the headlight cleaning along
the pathway of intellectual action in inspiring
higher aims and professional probity cndu ring
until the end.
Every human being has his Ideal OF proper
sphere In life. and wins out In the end according
TO the manner after which his Creator has Intended
but his earthly education begins and ends with
life. No man view the structure Of his lies
work after It's completion. He may raise the cor
ner OF the veil which covers 1t and get a glirppse
OF the structure nearing complexion hut tina is
all. hence. the high place given to these earthly
honors when conferred by institution Of learning
managed and controlled by gentlemen OF the high.
est and most complete moral and mental equIp.
mcnt.
"Rehectvcly: The profession OF law reminds
me OF those mstchlrSs Miltonlc symphonies Of
schItz.' There seems TO he the discord the wall
the Gerce night the struggle OF the spirits that come
together and blend In one terrific clash and con
troverSy In the life work OF lawyer and yet some
exquisite strain Of melody begins here and flashes
out there again and grows louder and louder Until
II seems TO predominant over all the rush and roar
of other sounds. and then becomes an undertone
OF harmonious bass. while high above them. hlllng
the air with ecstasy and Joy rises the dcscant Of
trumphs OF our friends and clients. and nnaly
above the wall OF sorrow and trouble in a lawyers
life rises the glad song of rejoicing.
"Our aspirations in life our longngs and yea-n.
ings and anxieties and disa ppointmcnts all thronv
together and seem to minglc In one discord, but
by and by our faith In earnest professional WORK
and CLEANS Of ultimate success take possession OF
our friends. nelghbors and clients and professional
trumphS and victories rise above these struggles
and finally the very sorrows and disappointment
which We encountered IN the early years OF our
professional life roll beneath feet only kind
OF foundation thunder on which TO lift up our songs
of Triumphant Joy.
The sun Of your life Is already slanting toward
the west and the dial finger OF Time is pointing
toward the closing scenes OF your professional HE,
and we are told that we should boast not Of earthly
titles yet. my dear sir there are few OF US who
are not proud OF earthly honors such as our col
leagues have conferred upon you In the name OF
the Nashville College Of Law.
In behalf OF the board OF trustees Of this crr
poration and for myselfn words not merely
formal. but with deep sincerity OF heartfelt mo
welcome you alumnus Of the Nashville Col Il
lege OF Law, which trust may be held by you and
your postcrity In sweet remembrance as one OF thd
worthy legal training Institutions OF our greaJ
nation, and that 1t may continue 10 prosper in All
the coming years. and that its work may ever bloom
and bear fruit like the lily OF the valley and the
rose OF sharon, fair. from anniversary to ami.
versary until 1t shall have been said, Time shall
be no more
Believe me, my dear sir. Most cordially yours.
WILLIAM FAIR, Dean
Up. S.-Upon receipt of check for the Incidental
fee OF SO 10 cover the expense of the issuance Of
the diploma and engrossing your name In same.
the diploma, to be given in evidence Of the degrees
having been conferred upon you. will be carefully
wrapped and sent to you by Adams Express as
soon as 1t is properly prepared. signed. dated and
sealed by the authorities OF the college. In order
that this may be attended TO this year. We should
hear from you at your earliest convenience,
las an honorary alumnus OF the college, tho
board OF trustees the faculty and myself shall
be pleased to have you send the college a lnrgc
portrait of yourself properly framed and suitahs
70 hang on the walls OF the college as representa-
tive from your State.
Please MI out the within record Of data care
fully, and return to this once for nlng purposes
reference.
It will be appreciated and thankfully received, Nc
remain, very truly yours
SECRETARY THE NASHVILLE CoLLEoE OF Law"