The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-06-06
KIRKLAND TALKS AT
 BIRMINGHAM SCHOOL
Vanderbilt Chancellor Speaks at Owenton Commencement
MEDALS ARE AWARDED
The Report of the President of the Board of Trustees Is Full of Enthu- siastc Prophesies of Greatness
 of Birmingham College.

An immense crowd gathered yesterday morning to hear the graduating exercises | of Birmingham college in the college chapel. The exercises began at Il o'clock, and by that time even standing room was at premium.
 1 The committee on decoration deserves great credit for it's work in embelnshing the chapel for the occasion.
 The huge audience bowed as one when Dr. Brandon emphasized the sacredness of the day.with a beautiful and impressive prayer.
 Robert Shepherd, the senior class rep resentative, was the first speaker. His appropriate subject was "The Rise of America" He, for the second time during | commencement week demonstrated his ability as an orator of the first rank. | The audience was not slow In giving l him his well-earned applause and at the conclusion of his speech the student body still further honored him by giving him the college yell thrice repeated. The next feature of the programme was the well rendered piano solo of Miss Lucia Barcift.s
 William Marvin Woodall as faculty rep l resentatiye delivered an oration on 1 ''Wealth Against the Commonwealth" The young speakers excellent oration and delivery elicited much applause from his hearers during the course of his speech.
 The valedictorian of the class, William Homer Spencer, next delivered an address a portion of which was directed to his classmates, admonishing them to ever re- tain their love for the college and their desire for its prosperity. In the body of his speech he pointed out the demand for | high ideals and outlined the great oppor- l tunities which are open to young men and the great problems to be solved.
 The baccaIaureate address by Chan cellor Kirkland of Vanderbilt university followed the vocal solo by Miss Icie Body. pr. J. H. McCoy's speech of introduction is worthy of special mention. He spoke of Chancellor Kirkland as one of the fore most educators in the south. Among other things he referred to Vanderbilt univer- 1 sity in glorious terms, advising Birming- ham college graduates wishing to pur- sue postgraduate work to attend the course offered by Vanderbilt.
 Dr. Kirkland chose for his subject "Obli-
 gations of American Life" As is now the custom with most public speakers he read
 from manuscript. In graphic manner he
 traced the rise of the American nation.
 He admitted the fact that arts and sci-
 ences had a higher development in Eu- rope than in America, and he declared 1 that they were Europe's inheritance and that what Europe had inherited 1t was necessary for American to achieve He suggested that no time like the present had ever presented such grand opportun- | ities to the youth of the nation, and 1 America was gradually ovecoming the lead of Europe in the higher arts and sciences,
 Dr. Kirklands entire address abounded in deep thought and rare style, and at its conclusion he was given a hearty round of applause.
 1 The diplomas were presented to the five members of the graduating class by Dr. 1 Mccoy, president of the college. The grad uates were: Robert Herbert Shepherd, B. s.; William Marvin Woodall, B. s.; Will 1 liam Homer Spencer, B. E.; Omar Ruskln Burns. B. s., and John HosmeE Howell,
 
 B. s.
 l The medals for the several contests dur | ing the week were also awarded. The freshman medal for Reclamation was won | by Frederick B. Jones, Huffman.
 The sophomore medal by Claude Hill man White, Huntsville.
 The junior oration medal by William Montgomery Buchanan, Riverton. l The Dr. Howell Hefiin medal given in the historical symposium contest was awarded to Paul Schoaf, Columbus, Miss. Robert Herbert Shepherd, senior class representative won the trustees medal. The Professor Hammond medal In Eng fish was won by MT. Williams. In the announcements made by the pres
 dent of the board of trustees 1t was | stated that the trustees had decided to | raise a fund of s100,00O in order to place the equipment of Birmingham college on | footing equal to that of the foremost | of the southern colleges. It was announced that s25,0o0 would be given by this dis | trict to the Methodist college for girls In Montgomery. The president of the board spoke in sanguine terms of the future of the college, saying that the | dark days of the college were thing of the past and only bright days were ex- | pected in the future.
 Several changes and additions are to be made in the faculty.
 Professor Giddens of the Southern uni versity at Greensboro will i'll the vacant chair of mathematics.
 Professor Colbeclk also from Southern university will fill the chair of ancient l language.