The Washington times., 1904-06-17
TmHEOLOGIANS TAKE
DIVINITY DEGREE
Commencement at Virginia
Theological Seminary,
"A VENERABLE INSTITUTION
Subjects Discussed By the Seniors at
Exercises in Alexandria-List
of Graduates.

The eighty-first commencement of the
Virginia Theological Seminary at Alex
andria was held yesterday. and the class
of 1904, twelve strong. went forth from
alma mater TO the ranks of iIlustrious
alumni which has numbered many of
the greatest American churchmen, and
today includes hundreds of prominent
bishops and p%resbyters.
After prayers in prayer hall the pro-
cession of seniors. undergraduates. pro-
fessors and clergy marched TO the chapel
where the graduation exercises were
held. The program began with essays
by seniors. The Right Rev. Gibson.
Bishop of Virginia. and president Of the
board of trustees, presided.
The first essayist was Alfred Rives
Berkeley, II. A, who spoke on william
White. Bishop of Pennsylvania, and His
Influence IN the Organic Development
Of the Church" lie was followed by
Churchill Gibson Chan erlayne. whose
theme was The Development of the
Episcopate; Its Relation to Church
Unity" Perhaps the most impressive
address was the last. delivered in a quiet
but eloquent manner, a resume of The
Victories of the Cross" by Walter How
ard Meyers.
Following the essays the lists of IN
dergraduates passing for advanced
classes were read. after mic the
diplomas of graduation were presented
by Bishop Gibson to the following stu
dents:
Certificates of graduation-Frank
Nhittle Hardy, George Floyd Rogers.
Samuel Rogers Tyler.
Graduates-Alfred Rives Chamber
layne. Custis Fletcher, Hunter Lewis.
James Luther Martin. Walter Howard
Meyers, James Albert Massey. Penn
broke Walter Reed. William Matthew
Merrick Thomas. and Roger A. Wake.
Comforting of Degrees.
The degree of bachelor OF divinity was
conferred on a number of the grad
yates. also on the Rev. Mr.. owen. of
st. Paul's Church. L~ynchburg. Va. The
Rt. Rev. Lucien Lee Kinsolving. Bishop
Of Virginia, then spoke to the class.
His charge was impressive and given
in the spirit OF an older soldier of the
church TO new recruits. Benediction
was pronounced by Bishop Gibson. after
which a recess was taken until -
O'Clock, when the noon-day mission SER
vice was succeeded by the annual meet
ing Of the alumni.
Important measures adopted were a
resolution of respect to Dean Crawford.
who has been voted a years leave be-
cause OF falling health; the adoption of
a plan TO elect two alumni trustees for
terms Of five years on the board; in
~vestrnent of the Packard Memorial L.
brary fund, and of Bishops Cheshire
and Johnson. and the Rev. Mr.. Mott,
of Washington, as honorary alumni OF
the seminary.
The essay before the alumni was read
by the Rev. w. ID. Smith, of Fredericks-
burg. Va, the newly appointed arch
deacon Of Virginia. and "A man of grow
ing prominence In the Virginia church.
HIS address was graceful and eloquent.
anc delivered with an evident sincerity
that wholly claimed the attention OF HIS
hearers. The tex was simply THE
Larger Faith" and demanded that the
church recognize her own power more.
a striking passage claimed that the
reason fewer men We've offering them
selves TO the church.. particularly the
mission field. was because of inadequacy
of funds they feared a reluctant re-
fusal.
AT 1870 O'Clock adjournment was taken
and the annual alumni dinner eaten.
After-dinner speeches were made by
the bishops present. old alumni, and tho
newly graduated seniors.
The Trinity ordinations were held this
morning with the TT. Rev. Boyd Vim
cent, Of southern Ohio. as the special
preacher.