New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-11-01
DEGREES TO SO GRADUATES
FOUR COMMISSIONERS.
Record Number Of Alumni at CoIum-
bias Celebration.

Columbia University OF the 150th anniversary
of the foundation OF Kings College, from which
Columbia sprang was the university convOca-
tiCn yesterday afternoon in the gymnasium. It
attracted the largest number of alumni Of Co
Iumbia that ever had been brought together.
If the crowds at yesterdays celebration were
not large as had been expected, they were
composed alrlost exclusively OF Columbia's sons
and daughters. The general public had not been
asked TO attend The convocation was Of pecui-
lar interest to the Columbia alumni because Of
the scholarly anniversary Grafton Of President
Butler and because honorary degrees were con-
ferred on thirty-three men Of prominence who
are graduates of the university.
A most imposing academic procession wound
its way from the library to the gymnasium at
p m. It was procession of men and women
| In cap and gown, the prevailing black being
Heved occasionally by the colored hoods of the
! gowns worn by men who had taken degrees
| from English universities
The exercises in the gymnasium began with
the prelude to Wagner's Die Meistersinger,"
played by an orchestra. After prayer by the
university chaplain. President Butler began his
| Grafton. There were frequent outbursts of ap-
pleUsc while Dr. Butter was speaking He said
in part:
On October 81, 1854, James De Lancey, Lieutenant
Of New-York, signed the charter AND attached
thereto Col
lege Tor the instruction and education OF youth IN
the learned iang9uages and liberal arts ana sci
Joyfully celebrate to-day
SAMUEL JOHNsON-s PIONEER WORK.
The presidency rendered to Samuel Johnson
one of the most remarkable of his time, and it
was he who gave to the new college its educa-
| uonai torm' Its controlling tendencies and its
first ideals Open minded and catholic DR.. John
and with Jonathan Edwards he takes rank as one
OF the Two really powerful and constructive Amer
suited with him as to the plans for the projected
| college at Philadelphia and urged him to become
its head. But johnson was more strongly drawn
toward New-York, in whose projects for a col
lege he had long been Interested counsellor, and
for which his friend and philosophical preceptor
thusiasm. Dr. Johnson sole lecturer, began in
fore the charter was granted. in the Yestry
Of the schoolhouse adjoining Trinity Church, Of
college had TO struggle for its life The amount
.aised by lottery Increased somewhat by small
legislative grants appears to have been spent upon
ne first building and in the purchase Of those ma
terials that were necessary to the institutions
Trinity Church was valued at 1900 or 5000. but
II lay beyond the limits Of the inhabited portion
ductive It did howeyer afford a commodious and
convenient home for the college.
Finally. In 1874. came the action which, through
meant SO much to US Upon a petition of the
granted by. earlier governoTs had been lost to the
Of the boundary dispute; the legislature granted
the college the SOCd!ICd IOSaCK Botanic Garden
Cmprising the land In the city OF New-York now
bounded by Fifth-ave. on the east, by FCrty-sev-
sntl-st. the south. by Fifty-rst-st. the north
and by a line distant about 100 feet from the
asterly line Of Sxthave. the west. 26c city lots
ALL then valued at S75 COO David HOsaCk, whose
me this property bore, and who had conveyed it
the State for botanic garden, had been pro-
gsor Of botany in Columbia College from 1885
NJ and was man of marked distinction in his
Therefore the historic endowments Of the
ollege which these later days have become
ain support Of its rapidly expanding work are
Its, the one from the church and the other from
.a state. TO the urDulding and defence Of both OF
mich the college has bent its every energy from
ne day Of its foundation. IN the Kings Farm, or
lower estate, and in the Hosack Botanic Garden.
upper estate. Columbia holds tangible evidence
of what religion and civil government have done
foI learning IN this community. and # gratefully
acknowledges its heavy obligation to them both
with the accession 10 the presidency OF Barnard
O. Il the greatest figures, in many ways the great
guTe, in the whole history Of our American
alton. FIis active and restless mind which
e neither old nor tired, planned INCREASINGLY
nai is the greatest prophetic figure in the history
of l0GerR education.
zee I'm history the pursuing city has driven
Us home. The Kings Farm seemed far
ava from the centre Of the small town 17o4
The Aadison-a grounds were indisputably dis
tant from the resident section OF 1857 But
"a id have been the strides Of this metrnDolitan
community that nothing less than the islands
crown could suffice for COlumbia's permanent need.
Here soil where patriot stTove and where Ma
our university has made its permanent home with
face bent upon historic past but eagerly expect
ing a historic future well. No viii fl seek
TO avoid a citys embrace, but upon q hin where