Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-02-20
ANNUAL C0NF0CAT|ON
First Affair by George Wash
ington University
LAFAYETTE aGoTHEATER
TO OCCUR ON wAsHINaToN's
BIRTHDAY ANNIVERSARY.
Change in Date for Comforting Degrees
Decided Upon-Precedent to
Be Established.

dents, faculty, officers, trustees and alumni
of the George Washington University will
take place Wednesday morning at Lafayette
Square Theater. In the future George
Washington's birthday will be the red let
ter day in the history of the university The
trustees have directed that the courses in
each of the several departments, colleges
etc. be so arranged that after this year the
comforting of degrees and other exercises
incident to the end of the college term shall
take place on February %. This cannot be
accomplished at once, but it is hoped that
the arrangement Of studies to suit this time
can be made gradually until all the depart
ments and colleges have complied with the
plan. The convocation of the university
will have a meaning. in the future. it has
not yet attained. A precedent is to be set
on Wednesday for like gatherings in years
to come, and it is the intention of those in
charge to make the celebration of such i'm
pressive character that those in future
years will be compelled to follow suit.
The program that has been arranged for
the event includes the formation Of the
trustees faculty, students and alumni at
the university building, from whence they
will march in a body, robed In their aca-
demic caps and gowns, to the theater build
ing President Needham will head the pro-
cession, and there will be more than LOCO
students and 200 members of the faculty
alumni who will take part. AT the theater
the exercises will be opened with a prayer
by Bishop Satterlee.
The most important feature of the days
exercises, aside from the comforting the de-
grees ETC., will be the unwilling of the
university flag, designed and presented by
Mr.. Frederick D. Owen, and the presenta-
ton of the university seal, also designed
by Mr. owen. Mr.. Owen Is well-known
here, being the chief engineer in the Office
of the engineer officer in charge Of public
buildings and grounds. For many years
past he has given much of his artistic work
to the various institutions OF the District,
free Of charge. He is chairman of the
committee on street decorations for the
Inauguration. Mr.. Owen will make the
presentation of the seal himself.
Invitations Sent Out.
Invitations to the convocation have been
sent out to about 1900 persons, and the
seating capacity of the theateuTw will be tax
ed to the utmost. President Needham, the
trustees. invited guests, alumni, candidates
for degrees and the student body will as
semble at the university building at $50
am, and, as soon as the line. can be ar
ranged, will march to the Lafayette
Theater. where seats will be reserved. The
United States Marine Band, under the di-
rection of Lieut.. William H. Santelmann,
has been engaged to furnish music and
four popular selections will be played pre-
ccding the exercises until the line of march
has entered the theater.
The University Glee Club, under the lead
ership of Mr.. Roland Roderie, will sing
over the Hills at Break of Day." This
will be followed by the unwilling Of the
George Washington University flag, which,
to the student body, will be an interesting
feature of the occasion. The flag is In the
university colors, buff and blue and con-
sists of a field of buff, bearing the st.
George cross in blue, with the seal of the
university in gold in the center Of the
7 G Pennpr president of the senior
law class and president of the Association
of Glass Presidents, will unveil the flag,
and while he is doing so the Marine Band
will play 1.-THE George Washington March,"
the official Presidents march during the
administration Of President Washington.
Next will follow the presentation of the
new university SEAL
The new seal bears design of shield in
outline, like the national shield. Upon the
upper half is an open Bible, the page being
the first chapter in the Gospel of st. John,
and the words In Greek, I'm the beginning
was the Word, and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God" are clear and dis
tinct. In the lower half of the shield is the
face of Washington, after the Stuart por-
cia,' is reproduced on the new shield.
The seal will rest for presentation to Pres
ldent Needham upon a standard made from
the base of a column taken out of the White
House when it was remodeled two or three
years ago.
The two features of unwilling the flag and
presenting the seal WILL it is believed. be
impressive. Everything has been done to
make them stand out prominently and to
awaken in the hearts of the students col
lege spirit and patriotism such as has never
before been known in the university.
Address by Mr.. MacVeagh.
Mr.. Wayne MacVeagh, chairman of the
board of trustees, will make short intro
ductory speech, at the conclusion Of which
he will present the orator of the day, Mr..