Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-05-11
HONORS CONFERRED
GRADUATING xxERCIsEs O.
HOWARD UNIvERsITY.
Medical and Dental Students Receive
Diplomas From the Hands
Of President Gordon.

The 1904 commencement exercises OF the
medical department Of Howard University
were held last night at First Congrega-
tional Church, when sixty white and col
ored students Of the medical school, seven
OF whom were women, were given diplo-
mas. The auditorium and galleries Of the
church were crowded to their utmost ca
pacity, every seat being filled and all the
available standing room being occupied
by friends OF the graduates. Addresses
were delivered by Rev. DR.. John Gordon,
president of the university, who also con-
ferred the degrees, and by DR.. Robert Rey
burn. local physician and instructor In
the medical school
American flags and patriotic bunting con-
stituted the chief feature of decoration
and the customary display Of palms and
flowers was noticed about the platform.
Preceding the addresses a musical pro-
gram was furnished by the Hoffman or
chestra-
The invocation was offered by DR.. Cor
don, who afterward conferred the degrees.
In his brief address DR.. Gordon spoke of
the suspicious circumstances under which
the medical classes this year graduated.
Among other things, he mentioned the leg
islation recently enacted. providing for the
receding to the university OF the eleven
acre tract of land near the institution, on
which the new Freedman's Hospital Is to
Future Prospects.
"As the class completes its collegiate ed
ucation." he said, 1.-The medical department
of the university is on the verge Of having
at its disposal what will prove undoubtedly
one Of the most remarkable additions to
the facilities of any medical college In the
whole world.
These exceedingly bright prospects Tor
the institution foreshadow those OF this
class of graduates.
THE real purpose OF education is not
only to make good doctors, but to teach
a man how to live. The tendency OF the
new psychology Is not only to make good
scholars, but good citizens, l venture to
make the assertion that education means
two things-learning and character.
Dr. Gordon then presented the diplomas
to the large class, each OF whom was
called forward in turn to receive the priced
certificate.
Following this interesting ceremony Or.
Robert Reyburn delivered the charge to the
class, speaking Of a physicians duties OF
citizenship.
DIR. Reyburn said, in parts
I'm regard to what Is known as meoicaA
ethics which regulate the intercourse De-
tween YOU and your professional brethren
many persons in the community OUTSIDE OF
the medical profession seem to think there
is something occult or mysterious IN them.
This Is not the case. Medical etnlcs are
between physicians and the avoiding OF
anything like unfair dealing toward each
other One thing is objectionable In
young physician-and that Is Tor MIN 10
look upon his profession merely as trade,
whereby so much money can be made. This
Is a base and low idea of the profession OF
medicine, and one which l would earnestly
enjoin upon you to abhor and despise. But
it may be said physicians are like other
render certain services for
which they receive an equivalent compensa-
ton. While this is partially true. yet, like
many other partial truths, 1t is worse tnan
a falsehood.
Duty to Patients.
IT would most earnestly enjoin upon you
as a cardinal rule in beginning your prac-
tice never to give up patient who desires
your services simply because the case is in
durable. 1t is wrong in principle and a
thing you have no right to do The great
est skill of the physician and surgeon Is dis
played in just such cases. To correct this
or that symptom of Ill omen, to mitigate
the inevitable suffering during the progress
of incurable disease is a vocation that is
almost divine in its scope and object.
1.-THE practice of medicine, while many OF
its duties are irksome, fatiguing and dis
agreeable, has on the other hand. so many
that it is, to my mind by far
the most desirable of the three learned pro-
LESSONS for young man to enter. In the
d
qualifications and Is Industrious, persever-
ing and of correct habits. is absolutely GER
tain of a livelihood II not Of a competence.
Do not misunderstood me or think that L
mean to say that success is easily obtained.
By no means; the lives of all successful
Of medicine are alike In this
Enthusiastically are all laborious and
workers In their profession. Many
started far behind them in the race of life
far surprising Them and never discover
until too late that the fault IL in them
selves.
Remember also that the standard Of In
telligence among the mass of the commu-
nifty Is much higher than 1t was during the
past generation. The physician Of our day,
If he would maintain the position he ought
to occupy among educated people, must not
only know medicine, but must also know
many other things az well. or, in other
words, must be an educated gentleman.
Intelligent people will not long retain q re-
spect for or confidence in any physician
who is their inferior In intellectual acquire
ments.
mo secret can be hidden from the doctor:
to him human hearts and actions are read
as easily as an open book. The daughter
with faltering accents will whisper to you
what she will not tell even to those nearest
and dearest to her; the husband what he
from his wife; the wife what she
cannot or will not reveal to her husband.
need not impress upon you the fact that
The man who would reveal what he has
learned during the intimacy of professional
life would be so vile and base that his
name would be a byword of infamy and
everlasting contempt. / would say even
more than this, that / believe that you
ought not to reveal the secrets of your pro-
fession even to the mandates of court of
justice, unless by not SO doing you are con-
WINGED that You are thwarting the course
or justice or aiding In injustice and oppres-
Sion In fact, in many of our courts the
and fitness of the sanctity of pro-
secrets Is becoming tacitly ac-
knowledged. and the physician Is rarely
asked concerning matters that are unbe-
coming in him to answer"
The exercises were concluded by the hem
ediction offered by President Gordon.
List of Graduates.
The names Of the graduates follow.
Medical-Mary E. Minor Armistead. Sam
uel Jones Bapfield, A. B.. Lincoln; George
Henry Bowling, Sara Winifred Brown. B.
g.. Carroll; Samuel 8. Burlington, Hayes
Joseph Burnett, Lloyd Harrison Cox, James
Edward Foster. James M. Fraction, Walter
Robert Franklin, Wilbur Clarence Gordon.
Charles F. Green, Alonzo T. Griffin, Sum-
ner Garrison Holmes, Lloyd Lyston Jones.
Willis Wharton Jones. Allen N Levy, John
William Mcclellan, A. B., Fisk; Ulysses
Simpson Mccoy, William Clarence Nc
Neill Charles w. Maxwell, A. B., Bfddle:
David M. Munroe, William Thomas Nelson.
A. B., Howard; Taylor Henderson Nichols.