Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-26
GRADUATES N LAW
Commencement Exercises Of
washington College.
-..
ADDRESS By DIR. NEEDHAM
Comforting Of Degrees by Mrs. Ellen
Spencer Mussey.
PRIZE FOR MOOT COURT WORK
Other Awards Made to Stimulate and
Encourage the Students-Persist-
emit Independent Effort.
PRIZE FOR MOOT COURT woR1

Ihe eighth annual commencement exer-
eises of the Washington College Of Law,
which. though ceeducational has for it's
primary purpose the training of women In
tbs legal profession. were held last evening
In the banquet hall OF the New willard Ho-
tel before a large audience OF students ana
friends Of the institution. DIR. Charles w.
Needham. president Of George Washington
University. delivered the address of the
evening. The degree Of bachelor OF laws
was conferred by Mrs. Ellen Spencer Mus
sey, dean of the college. upon the following:
William W. Bon Durant of Iowa, Mrs. Ger
trude Ballard Fowler of Maine Miss Grace
Garriott Of Illinois. Mrs Ella D. Gates, B.
A.. Of Kansas, and Miss Frances Mattingly
Lewis of the District of Columbia
Mr.. William w. Bon Durant was awarded
the prize for the best moot court work
class. Mrs Ella D. Gates received the first
prize. a gold medal, for scholarship cover
Ing the three years of the course. She had
attained general average Of 1886 per
cent. The second prize for scholarship was
won by Miss Grace Garrfott. with a general
average of $500 The presentations were
made by Mr.. Chaplin Brown, q member of
the board of directors. he explained that
the rewards were offered to stimulate and
encourage the students to drink deep at the
fountain of knowledge.
DR.. Needham introduced.
The program opened with selections by
an orchestra, which were followed by the
invocation offered by Rev. DR.. ]. J. Muir.
pastor of the Temple Baptist Church Mrs.
Mussey, in a brief address then presented
President Needham as an educator who
needed no Introduction to any Washington
audience. Education in it's relation to the
practice of the legal profession was the
subject of President Needhams address.
AT the outset he complimented the MEM
bers of the graduating class upon the priv
ilege they had enjoyed of associating for
three years with teachers who, he said.
were giving their best efforts and talents to
the exalted labor of instruction. The
speaker dwelt upon the great benefit which
students receive from close and constant
relations with their tutors. He referred to
Athens in the early stages of It's intellec-
tual glory. Without extensive libraries or
other specific departments of instruction
the city became the university of the world
ne declared. from the operation Of the SIM
pie system of personal tutelage. But no
matter how earnest and efficient the teach
ers he added, there was not then nor can
there be now any real education or culture
without persistent and determined indie
pendent effort on the part OF the students.
Not Mere Inspiration.
Education is not mere Inspiration, the
speaker said. but is broadening and de-
veloping of those faculties which men and
women have need to make use of In doing
well the plain things of life and In striving
after the highest attachments. Contrast
ing self-culture and abstract knowledge he
said the former Is passport to success
known and recognized throughout the
world. whereas the mere storing I'D of in
formation without the ability to make
proper use Of 1t is of little genuine value.
Edueation begins he said with self-sub
Jugation and with giving complete sover-
eighty to the will A liberal academic
course In an institution of learning Prest-
dent Needham continued Is not essential
to the making Of an educated man or wo-
man. but whether or not students pursue
q college curriculum the one needful thing
Is that they be earnest and intelligent stu
dents in the great school of life And with
true culture, however obtained he added,
there Is no need to proclaim it. for the
world recognizes 1t just as a great paint
Ing or finely chfseled piece Of statuary Is
known without label to be a work of art
Specialized learning. he said, is the high
est expression of education and is impera-
lively demanded In these times.
Graduates Must Know.
The five members of the graduating class.
he continued, must know. In order to make
success Of their profession, many things
In general. but especially must they know
things in particular about their life work.
He counseled them to follow the highest
ideals In the practice of law
The lawyer must first be loyal to law
he declared, then loyal to his CLIENT
Quoting the assertion of Edmund Burke
that 1t Is the duty of man not only to make
the truth known, but to make it prevalent
President Needham said 1t is the solemn OBJ
legation of all In the profession of law to
make law prevalent as well as known
Never give your name or influence" he
urged. ito any methods or enterprises that
do not yrlaQ ri IN fhn 1.rfv
ments of the law. Say to men seeking
through greed and avarice to injure their
fellows, thus far but no farther Never
af1x your name or lend your moral support
to any papers calculated for political pur-
poses or otherwise. to defeat the will of
the people.
President Needham spoke of the duty of
the lawyer in UNFOLDING the fundamental
principles of state. federal and interna-
tional law. He declared that it is the duty
of all to hasten the coming Of the day
when the high state of the beautiful and
harmonious order governing among the ma
terial forces of the universe will be at
tanned by the law ruling in the affairs of
men.
Profound Significance in Words.
Then" President Needham said. "there
will be a profound significance in these
words: He hath made man in His own
image -
During the exercises the undergraduates,
in cap and gown. occupied seats on the left
part of the stage, which was prettily dec
GRATED with flowers. The members of the
faculty and guests were seated on the
right side Music, furnished by Haley's or
chestra interspersed the several events OF
the program.
The reception committee In connection
with the commencement was composed OF
the following: Miss Sophie Bishop Kent.
chairman; Miss Anna Grace Burke, Clinton
r. Colyin, Howard T. Coiv1n, John W. lie
Maine. walter F. Hendricks. Wallace J.
Hfu. Clifford L. Johnson, Mrs. Edith King
man Kern, Miss Fannie I. Peter, Ernest g.
Root, William B. Thomas and Albert M.
Walker
Iust before the exercises closed Mrs Mus
sew. in thanking President Needham for his
address. said: Il shall never be satisfied
until George washington University has an
annex for the training of women In pro-