Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-31
ARTS AND SCIENCES
Closing of George Washing
ton University Exercises
THIS AFT Err ON
CANDIDATES FOR DEGREES PRE-
SENTED TO PRESIDENT.
Address by DR.. Needham Feature of
the Program-Those Given Diplo-
mas of Graduation.
THIS ARTERY DON

of the George Washington University came
to an end this afternoon with the gradual
ton exercises of the department of arts and
sciences.
Continental Hall, where the exercises have
been held beginning last Monday, was well
filled with the relatives and friends of the
graduates, when the latter, with cap and
gown, marched into the hall and took seats
Immediately in front of the stage. The
faculty and officers of the university
headed by President Needham, preceded
the graduates and took seats upon the
stage.
The exercises this morning were some
what difference from those that had pre-
ceded and the Investment of the graduates
in philosophy with the robes of their de-
grees was an interesting feature
Then there was the announcement of
President Wilbur of the successful High
School candidates for scholarships and when
at length they were made the hall resound-
ed with cheers of the High School boys
and girls.
After the Marine Band had rendered several
selections, President Needham introduced
Kew. Samuel H. Greene, DID, LID. who
oHered the benediction. President Need
nam followed with a scholarly address,
taking for his theme THE University"
He said
BY the generosity and courtesy of that
splendid body of patriotic women the
daughters of the American Revolution we
are privileged to meet in this building.
erected and dedicated as a memorial to the
Vaior and patriotism of the men of the days
of the American revolution Patriotism is
the synonym for heroism. self-sacrifice and
all civic virtues: it places the nation as n
great organic whole. : its past, it's present
and its future glory and welfare above
personal ana selfish interests. This spirit
IN all OF Its movements and manifestations
cannot be too much emphasized nor too
strongly inculc9ted in the minds of the
youth of America. II is also a matter of
me sentiment With us. that this building
adJolns the new site of the university,
whcre within a few years, we hope TO be
permanently settled in new buildings, con-
tnuing the work of higher education 1t is
iitllng, therefore, that under the roof and
inspiration of this beautiful Memorial Con-
tinental Hall we should hold our eighty
fourth commencement.
A New Era.
eve are entering upon a new era of in
stitutional life The past, covering a period
OF over three-quarters of a century has
peen honorable and is worthy of the re:
spect and veneration of men; We have
agreed to enter upon a new and larger
life; to make the institution a university
IN the broadest and best sense, and have
reorganized upon a foundation broad
enough for all to stand upon who are inter
ested in higher education at the national
capital: With supreme purpose to make
the university worthy of support the equal
of the best institutions in our country, we
turn our faces today, with a courage and
hope, toward the future.
The university: There is a manifest diff
ference between the American conception
of a university and that which has pre-
vailed and perhaps is still held in other
countries Speaking in reference to the
Scottish universities Mr. Mill said: 1t is
not a place of professional education. Uni
versities are not intended to teach the
knowledge required to fit for some
special mode of gaining their livelihood
Their object is not to make skilful lawyers
or physicians, or engineers, but capable and
cultivated human beings If we go back
to the earliest university we shall find it
at Salerno closed, 1t is true, in 1877 but
extending back from that period nearly a
thousand years. 1t was strictly medical
school, or at least that was the principal
subject taught
Other Ancient Models.
1.-TWO other ancient models are those of
Bologna and Paris; the former making law
and the latter theology its chief concern
The University of Paris, from its beginning,
had four faculties theology, canon law,
medicine and arts, and it is interesting TO
note that art regarded as preliminary
10 the others. Three years of study were
required for the degree of master of arts,
and five years more for the first degree in
theology.
Following these are the great universe
ties of England at oxford and Cambridge,
and those splendid institutions in Germany
While the subjects of law and medicine
are taught In these institutions it is not
that technical work intended to fit men for
the practice of a profession.
''SpecialiZat ion.-The second object of the
university Is to give special and deeper
knowledge of particular subjects This is
for graduate students-those who have Sc
cured the wider knowledge and mental
training and now seek, in narrower field,
to go more into the details of an art or a
science. In these modern days when in
dustrialism and commercialism largely
dominate individual and national life, the
requirement of a special fitness for a
special service is essential to the highest
success.
Technical Training.
And here let me call attention to the
technical training in law and medicine and
engineering, now a part, and rightly So Of
the work of every American university
The method of teaching and study in the
best professional schools has entirely
changed. Subjects are studied historically
and comparatively; the phenomena, life and
laws are investigated and the principles
lying behind them, creating and controlling
them sought out and mastered. This
work is in the highest sense graduate work.
1t requires a trained and disciplined mind.
In America this graduate work includes all
arts and sciences; those pertaining to physi-
cal nature, to physical well being, to po-
lttical organizations. to systems of juris-
prudence and law, to morals and religion.
And so 1t has come to be that the univer-
sity in America includes the broad, system
attic culture work of the east, and the
highly specialized education of the west.
Discovering and Developing.
"Research.-There is still another activity
which represents university life, and that
is the work of discovering and developing
knowledge. 1t is the last stage in univer-
sity education. 1t is the philosophical
study of the methods of the sciences. 1t is
the exercise of The modes in which the
human intellect proceeds from the known
to the unknown Here the student dis |
covers the real facts of the world; the
things, and the laws of things; and from |
these arrives at facts, laws and con-
illusions. Doubtless this is the crown and |
the contamination of a liberal university |
education.
Special Departments.--Let us notice now
some subjects which should receive special |
attention in this university because of its |
environment. Graduate work in politics !