Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-06-01
COL UMb|AN RARAD[
Students and Professors in
University Procession.
MARCHED TO THEATER
NEW CUSTOM ATTENDING BACCA-
LAUREATE SERVICES.
Rev. DR.. B. II. McKim Delivers Ad-
dress to the Graduates-Rresident
Needham Presides.

NeSOQ6" 14SSA0cSs
A notable incident in the commencement
exercises of 1903 of the Columbian Univer-
sity occurred yesterday afternoon, when
several hundred students. candidates for
degrees, professors and trustees of the in
stitution marched in procession from the
university buildings to the National The
alter, where the baccalaureate services
were held The playhouse was almost en-
tirely filed and the exercises were pre-
sided over by DR.. Charles w. Needham,
president of Columbian, and Rev. Dr.
Randolph H. McKim, rector of the Church
of the Epiphany, delivered the baccalaure-
ate address.
The procession was something of an in
uovation in the regular customs of the uni
versity and aroused an unusual degree of
interest. The students assembled at their
several schools at 3 o'clock and the pro-
cession was formed at $3.50 o'clock in three
divisions-the undergraduate students, the
graduating classes and the members of
the faculties and officers OF the school.
Heading the line were the undergraduates
in their regular garb. The graduates were
arrayed in their caps and gowns. and the
professors, who brought up the rear of the
procession wore caps with golden tassels
Indicate the special branch Of study in
which they had obtained their doctors de-
gree The blue represented philosophy; the
green, medicine, and the red, divinity.
Arrangement Of the Procession.
DIR. Claiming Rudd directed the arrange
ments for the procession and was marshal
of the parade. The first division included
the undergraduate students of the depart
ments of law, Jurisprudence and diplomacy,
a. S-A- II. CT
School, Columbian College and the school
of graduate studies.
The second division comprised the can
didates for degrees from the various
dred. The third division. which numbered
almost as many, included the instructors,
members of the faculty, the presidents
council. board of trustees, the president
and guests
The collegiate parade proceeded in double
file down 18th street to Pennsylvania ave-
nue. and thence to the north side of E
street in front of the theater, where the
column halted and divided. the lines facing
each other with space of about six feet
intervening. AS President Needham and
the members of the faculties passed be-
tween the files the students removed their
hats. Among the gentlemen in the process
sion were Justice Harlan and Justice
Brewer of the United States Supreme
Court, Judge Peelle OF the Court of Claims
and Hannis Taylor.
AIter the 1acuIty naQ passed the more ad-
vanced classes fell in behind In pairs. The
first of these were the candidates for the
degree Of doctor of civil! law. Instead of
the nine who are eligible for the degree,
however, only five were in line. Mrs. Emma
Reba Bailey was one of these, and was
greeted with applause as she walked along
by herself. s5-sE.d
National Emblem Conspicuous.
On entering the theater the faculty, uni
MT TO MIA
upon the stage, while the students occupied
seats in the main body of the playhouse.
American flags were displayed in profus.on
and formed the most conspicuous feature
of the decorations, while the school and
class cOlors were draped at intervals about
the balconies. Above the center of the stage
on a large banner was the inscription, &c.
u. 1902
After the gathering had been called to
order by President Needham, Rev. ]. Mac
Bride Sterrett D. D.. read the Scriptures
and led the students in recting the Apos-
ties Creed and the Lords Prayer. Mr.. j.
Walter Humphrey sang bass solo, God
So Clothed the Grass and the University
Glee Club led in singing Onward. Chris
tan Soldiers
ians, 16; ID: "Quit you like men, be strong"
During his sermon, which lasted for over
half an hour, the speaker commanded the
closest attention of the audience. He said
in part:
DR.. McKim's Address.
1.-The words Of the text have a marital
ring. They are such as Caesar might have
addressed to the 10th Legion, and they
were, In fact, addressed by Paul to "a brave
band of Christian soldiers in COrinth, who
were battling for purity in profigate city.
1 would address them to you young men.
who are just going into the arena of life.
Hitherto you have been fostered within the
walls Of a university but now the conflict
of life Is soon to begin. The responsibilities
and the freedom of young manhood mark
the beginning of the real battles of life. 1t
Is in the early dawn of manhood that the
hardest battle must be fought to secure
moral victory. The use then of the term
battle is not a mere figure of speech for
there is no more real warfare than that
waged by the young man who is graphing
with temptation and trying to climb to
what Is high and pure. This conception Of
life Is a true one. and is referred to by
Christ and by Paul.
LAS you pass the threshold of manhood
would ask you to look at the life of
Christ, to consider Christ not as the sub
lime and the majestic, but as a man, as
the embodiment of love, charity, sympathy,
courage, denunciation of evil, contempt for
hypocrisy. He Is the model patriot, teach
err guide and friend of men, AS He grew
in stature. knowelge and wisdom He also
battled with temptation as you have to do.
and He overcame by prayer and human
strength, not by divine power. Remember
also that Christ was discouraged lonely,
misunderstood forsaken and crucified while
still young man
Christ Source Of Inspiration.
such, then, is the standard of human
ity for manhood, but whence is to come
the inspiration and the strength needed to
strive after such a standard. 1t is one
thing to accept standard and another TO
live by it. Here comes the conflict between
good and evil. Both Inspiration and strength
are to come from Christ -crucified. They
| can be obtained by study of all that hap
pened to Christ from the time that He
| stood before PLATE up until His death on
the cross In that life you will find In
| spiration for high and noble life You
will get power and strength such as you
| get from no other source. Christ cructfied
| Is the incarnation of wisdom and power.
''The next consideration is by what prAc-
teal methods are we to govern our lives n
order to live by this standard. Believe IN
| your divine origin and divine significance;
| that life is worth living remembering that
| life Is a gymnasium of character. Believe
In the dignity Of labor Remember that
religion is as the arch of heaven stretching
h over all life. Believe In the mobility OF