The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-06-04

san 70 gather and long before the open
~, hour the chapel in Meldrim Audi
.orinnn was packed with intelligent coll
ored people from Savannah and neigh
.orine cities and towns. A number of
the leading white citizens were present
&c interested spectators of the days,
.vsrcises The chapel was decorated
with flowers. Over the center was the
class motto in large letters: I'VE Ac-
ouire Strength by Doing"
The programme as carried out was
as follows:
overture. "Lakota waltzes, College
Band.
Chorus, unfold Ye Portals" (Gour-
nod). chorus class.
Grafton. Influence of Great Men,"
BENZ A. Judkins.
piano solo, Norma Fantastic Bril-
,antie." Juliet G. Munroe.
rssav. "Dressmaking," Hattie L.
Riley.
Solo. ION Golden Wings" Nellie
Smith.
c. Few, Jr.
Alumni grafton, L. B. Thompson, A.
B., 1899
Renort on Farmers Conference, Rev.
R. H. Thomas.
Music, selections from Stabat Mater.
commencement address, Rev. M. c.
p Mason. D. D., of Cincinnati, o.
Chorus. "Credo," St. Cecelia's Mass.
Presentation of diplomas, Judge w.
R. Hammond.
The essay by Hattie L. Riley on
Sewing" was illustrated by work
ino model A dress was stretched on
q frame and it was shown by the young
woman lust how to make every part OF
If The audience was greatly entertain
cd and highly pleased by this evidence
Of the practical sort of education which
the authorities of the negro college are
irving to implant in their students. the
address by j. C. Few of the college
course was on Works Not Words,
the motto of the school, showed great
forethought on the part of the youthful
speaker.
class Of '99 set forth in bright and
interesting way the many facts con-
nacted with the work of the former
graduates and students of the school.
Not one has disgraeed the school, and
all are at work, a large proportion be-
ing engaged in trades learned in the
school.
Rev. R. H. Thomas set forth the
great influence for good which has
gone out from the Farmers Confer
ence. He said that out of this con-
ference will come a state fair man
aged entirely by colored people. He
said the people who attended the con-
ference are improving their homes, do
ing better farming and they charged
this work to the good influences Of the
school. He complimented the COM
mission and declared that it represent
ed the best blood in the best state in
the Union.
The entire commission was present
at the exercises. Col. Meldrim, Hon.
w. r. Hammond, Supt. o. Ashmore,
Col. Morrell Col. Brooks, and Col.
Kline. Chancellor Hill of the Uni
versity of Georgia was also present.
DR.. NJ c. B. Mason of Cincinnati,
O., the corresponding secretary of the
Freedmen's Aid and Southern Educa-
ton, was introduced in very happy
manner by President Wright.
AS an orator DR.. Mason's reputation
is national, and ne easily sustained
the reputa ton. His subject was mot
Honor, but Service" He gave a thrill
ing account of his emotion accustomed
by visit to the battle field of Water
loo and the inspiration which came
over him as he stood on the spot where
Napoleon sat on his charger and
watched the changing scenes of that
eventful day.
II you were to ask me what is the
central thought for which this institu-
ton stands" he said, II would answer
you without hesitation-to prepare
young men and women, not for honor
but for service.
Ambition for honor aYd faY,oo ma
oeen the death of many a man. Take
NAPOLEON, who as Phillips aptly said:
MADE his way to empires over broken
oaths and sea of blood Napoleon,
VINO IN order to win fame and honor, to
become the Car of all Europe, made
Kings and queens bow before him as
crouching slaves before their master,
yet with all his genius and wonderful
personality, died on the Isle of st.
HeIena, an exile and a beggar.
II you would be honored," said DIR.
MASON, "be willing to labor. Your
work here, then, has been not simply
70 master books, or to master trades,
selves.
The young man or woman whose
euucation has not brought him to the
point OF moral consciousness by which
ne discovers himself and secures con-
uol of himself, the man or woman
"Ho mas not reached that point, has
scarcely begun his education. and his
Uploma, though secured in the North
VI IN the South, at Harvard or Yale,
Ut the Georgia State School for Col
OIed Youth, is scarcely worth the paper
upon which it is written.
Inc education that educates must
IalSe men and women to the point of
moral heroiSm. When one has reached
me point of moral consciousness he is
70 a ic q
Ight road to usefulness. When one
ieacnes the point of moral heroism, he
Is a man, full grown, tall, symmetrical,
ana mature. He is all that earth and
heaven can do for him. For here he is
Mo.ilIlng to work, to suffer, If need be, to
ule that others may live.
ne question to-day is, not what
can the negro learn, nor what shall be
uone with the negro, nor that other
question so often talked or, what will
me negro do with himself?'
something must be done; something
thought out by sweat, by tears, by
1000, by life itself. Something that
WIN challenge the considerate attention
VI mankind everywhere. Let this be
SU9e, and the problem will assume
Inherent phase.
10 not be discouraged because you
are negro, and for the present must
u.uergo certain prescriptions. Be proud
vi yourself; be proud of your race; be
tloud OF your color. Take your place
n the race of life, and do your best
Were you are. and rernafnher that the