New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-06-15
COLUMBIA GIVES DEGREES.
DIR. BUTLER ON THINKING.
University Has f,I47 Graduates at
I51st Commencement.

Columbia Universitys largest hall was too
small yesterday to accommodate all the friends
of the institution who went to witness the lolst
commencement. Those who found themselves
crushed out of the spacious gymnasium. where
the exercises were held. contented themselves
with roaming about the grounds. The gradual
ing class this year numbered 1.14l.
The exercises opened at 1890 a n. with q
procession of the graduates and faculty and
distinguished visitors. Among the latter were
General Frederick d. Grant. Edward Everett
Hale Consul General Buenz, of Germany; Sir
Percy Sanderson, the British Consul GeneraI'
Edmund Clarence Stedman. ex-Judge Henry E
Rowland Arnold Drummer and Newton stokes.
After prayer by the university chaplain. Presi-
dent Butler delivered his annual address to the
graduates. His text this year was based on Mrs
Shelley's reply to neighbor who ADVISED her
to send her son. the poet. to an institution wnere
they would teach him to think for himself.
President Butler found danger In fndividuaAisnn
as measured by this standard and wavered Dc
tween the neighbours advice and Mrs Snelieys
reply: Teach him to think for himself7 Rather
teach him to think like other people" So he
found a middle Of the road for the outgoing
graduates. He said in part:
The university is to train men and women
This means in part to think for themselves and
! IN part TO think like other people. Ihey mus
think like other people sufficiently 10 make lnor
! thinking for themselves worth while. 1ney
! must have a fulcrum for their lever and tnat
| fulcrum is the common apprehension and COM
1 prehension of the lessons Of past human ex-
/ perience. particularly as that experience crSs-
/ talIizes into the institutions Of civilization
| It is society formed which must be taken az
the basis for society reformed. 1t IS from this
year of grace and not from the creation that ne
who is to think for himself must take MS de-
/ parture The university must IN SO far train
| it's students to think like other people; this much
assured, it must then train its students TO think
for themselves
| abora re- N
| of things and into dominion Of your own
Persons must look with their own eyes, judge
| with their minds, act with their own Wills
| To stand UP to the full measure OF manhood or
| womanhood IS task enough for any one, and 1t
is the business of the university to train you
for that task by teaching you first TO think liks
other people and then to think for yourselves.
Following his address. President Butler con-
| ferred the degrees The McKim Fellowship IN
| architecture was awarded to Lucien Easter
Smith. The fellowship carries with Il a years
art course in Europe. six months of which must
| be made in Rome In the list of those on
whom the degree OF Master OF Arts was con-
ferred was native Of India, s. L. Joshi who
Is a Hindo Brahnnin and student of sociology
and economics. He already held his B. A. from
an Indian university when he came here
Honorary degrees conferred upon tho
following:
Master Of Arthur Gqstss 81
University: George Ffancis Seven p 1 q
electrical engineering in Columbia University.
Doctor OF Scence-Wi1liam Tufts Brigham, d.
rector of the Bishop Museum of Ethnology, Homo
lulu; Robert Simpson Woodward, professor Of
mechanics and mathematical physics In Columbia
University. president of the Carnegie Institution
OF Washington.
Doctor of LettersLwiliam Dean Howels.
| president OF the University OF Virginia, conferred
| In camera, June 5, 1905; Jacob McCzavock Dickn-
| son, of counsel for the United States before the
| Alaska Boundary Tribunal.
| Doctor of Sacred Theolosy-The Rev. William
Thomas Manning, assistant rector Of Trinit,
| Church.
The comforting of the degrees the GRADUATES
was made without requiring them to go to ths
platform. The benediction by the Rev. DR.
Morgan Dix. rector of Trinity Church, closed the
exercises
. The anniversary meeting Of the alumni was
held In the afternoon. preceded by luncheon, to
which all graduates and officers Of the university
were invited
| Ten anniversary dinners given in Uni
versity Hail. on the Columbia campus. last even
, ing. Glasses celebrating reunions were 81. 81
'93, ga '95, go, 81, 9S, '02 and 04. The gradu-
ating class held its dinner in College Hail. AL
the evening the campus was aglow with colored
lights, and the court in the rear Of the library
was thronged with parading classes. Among
. the features OF the "kneipe" this year were
boxing contest between a freshman and sopho-
more, for which purpose a 16-foot ring was
erected and tug-of-war between membe<s 81
| the classes,