Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-06-05
HONORS CONFERRED
Commencement Exercises OF
Georgetown College.
EIGHT ARE GIVEN DEGREES
Address by Justice Stafford of District
Supreme Court.
THEMES OF THE GRADUATES
President of Georgetown University
Makes an Address and De-
livers Diplomas.
THEMES OF THE GRADUATES

Degrees were conferred on eight students
OF Georgetown University al CASTOR Memo
rial Hall last night. 1t was quite as large
and distinguished gathering that on
the previous evening when the law students
finished their course Justice Wendell Phil
lips Stafford delivered the address of the
evening and wished the students godspeed
on their start in the active walk of life
Judge Stafford himself received the degree
of doctor of laws. and was greeted with
hearty cheers from the students, with whom
he is very popular.
The bachelors Grafton was delivered by
Albert Briscoe Ridgeway, who spoke on
'Denominatonal Schools" He deplored the
unstable RELIGIOUS tendency of the modern
non-sectarian school and spoke of the need
of improved teaching in the primary
schools.
Reason tells u.s." said Mr.. Ridgway.
that man is distinguished from the brute
inasmuch as ne possesses an intellect and
free will. Experience tells us, however,
that the value of these attributes depends
entirely upon the education We receive.
He then spoke at length of the higher edu-
cation of man and later said: Now. what
is our view of the school question? 1t is
clearly defined it is well known. Our
objection primarily TO the public system Is
that il takes a partial view of education.
Unlike all other finite beings, man was Gre
ated for supernatural end. Hence re-
lgion becomes a vital element in the train
ing of the young and to treat 1t as though
1t was but incidental phase of mans life
is to blunder in matter of the highest ana
most serious import. Hence, according to
the Catholic view, which is the Christian
view. that theory of education is partial
and incomplete, and consequently abso-
lutey false. which proposes to train the
child and leave this vital factor out OF con-
sderation To our minds a complete man
10 nm. w mind
lightened. bu, he is a complete man who
has had all of his faculties developed
Denominational Education.
Alphonso Ganahl who delivered the mas
ter's grafton, spoke in the same line on
"Denominational Academies" He outlined
the work as carried on in the undenomina-
tional high schools contrasting 1t unfavor-
ably with the work of the regular secta-
rian schools.
Mr. Ganahl said "In the matter of edu-
cation a most important factor Is the hlgh
school. Often the high school is the actual
conclusion of a chids education, for 1t Is
estimated that only one-sixth of its gradu-
ates pursue a collegiate course, so that hVe-
sixths of its pupils receive their nnal
training within it's walls. But the chief
Importance of the high school is in the fact
that its proper function and inevitable duty
Is to train the character of the young for
life. Not merely the teaching of algebra,
writing, speaking, singing and athletics,
and, in short, not merely instruction is the
proper aim of the high school. Its course
should be of training with thorough in
struction, mental and moral development,
breeding culture and manhood, and, in a
word, making lifelong character. You can
not rightly train the mind and will of a
man, except by means as revealed ain re-
ligion. You to train the mind and
man for what? For exhibition? No, for
life. And what is life? A struggle for
existence? a joy for the strong and
sorrow for the, weak? No, in all its phases
Is the service of God and the preparation
for happy eternity"
Colleges Discussed.
The UNCONVENTIONAL College" was the
subject of Thomas Mccain. when
young man has launched forth from the
UNCONVENTIONAL high school," he said, "a
question of paramount Importance presents
Itself to the parent. His education Is not
yet complete and 1 will of necessity
turn again to the proper understanding of
that evasive and much-abuSed term educa-
ton. In its broadest and narrowest sense
ii can have but one meaning-the training
OF And who after all, is man? Is
he not the master of the whole visible
world the lord of creation, having, in COM
mon with the animal, a oody, but Also in
common with the very angels, soul?"
The speaker then told at length of the need
OF an education that was above that given
In the high school, and in conclusion called
attention TO that former abode of happi
ness and sunshine, France" Continuing.
he said: DO you see the shoals upon which
her ship of state is being wrecked? 1t is
the inevitable result of the Goddess educa-
ton. Free thinking and license the
gods of their schools and truth and moral
lily have been sacrificed in order to vent
their hatred upon everything holy and
sacred.
Degrees Conferred.
Father Buel, president of .e university,
who conferred the degrees. spoke briefly of
the nature and meaning of each and said
that the authority of the university to con-
fer them granted under a special act
OF Congress. The university, he said, was
anxious to live up to the highest ideal in
thus setting the seal of its approval on the
workers in the various lines of science and
literature but it wished to confer honorary
degrees not merely on men whose accept
ance would reflect glory on the university,
but on men who had earned the degrees by
hard work.
Rev. Charles ]. Macksey presented the
degree of doctor of laws to Justice Stat
ford amid wild applause from the students
The degree of doctor of philosophy
conferred on Joseph Maria Cuenco, Francis
stanton Montgomery. Charles Vincent
Miller and lguaciO de ICaZa. The master
of arts was conferred on AlphOnso Ganahl
and James Joseph Schahy, while the fol-
lowing received the degree of bachelor of
arts: Charles William Byrnes, John Her
bert Doyle, Leonard Francis Geneste.
Thomas Mccain, Joseph Justin Mccarthy,
Albert BrisCoe Ridgcway, Francis De Sales
Roach and John McHugh Stuart
Justice Stafford's Address.
After the degrees had been conferred the
president introduced Justice Stafford, who
made brief address to the graduates and
spoke some words of thanks to the rector
of the university.
He said. in part: Il feel that / am in
the house of friend. and you young
men who beginning your journey
through life let me say God-speed. There
is something about a 'God-speed' that
prompts to say II at the commencement
of every journey. to the little child in its
cradle in the last moments of life. and
yet there may be pathos in H. for journey
may end in failure. II you wish to be sure
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