The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1907-11-21
" BY r. w. Thompson.
Staff correspondence.

~ aHo .lHroVRu the inspiring exerS
c1ses OF today and Yesterday, which
marx the fortieth anniversary OF his
torlo Howard University and the for
maj installation Of Rev. Wilbur Pat
terson Thirkteld, D. D., IL. D., as
president OF that Institution. =.
The history Of Howard University
runs IN parallel lines with the his
tory of the Negro in this country IN
der the banner Of freedom. ,$H The
school was founded by Cen, Oliver o.
howard, and was opened April 18th,
Bf S67, In oonsonance with an act or
MCongress, approved by President An
WreW Johnson, to provide an oppor-
'tunity for the greatly neglected high
or education OF the race that had
been emapcipated from slavery in the
District Of Columbia lust Ave years
before "..' 80 -.
Instruction was commenced in q
small building on old Pomeroy street,
formerly used as a saloon and dance
mouse, but ere long the students were
housed In comn1odious structure on
its present commanding hill, and It's
development has been so steady and
substantial under the fostering care
or the United States Government and
many philanthropic friends that af-
ter forty years Of struggle and tri-
umph, 1t stands, as 1t has stood from
the beginning, the foremost institu-
'lon on the continent devoted to the
training Of the intellectual, profess
Slonal and spiritual leaders for the
Negro people. ,.r
Howard University has had, up to
TINS time, thirteen presidents and
acting presidents, and during three
OF its four decades, it's affairs have
been administered by two Of the best
friends the race$has ever had-Presi-
dents w. w. Patton and Jeremiah
Games Rankin. Although not form
ally Installed until yesterday, Presi-
dent Thirkield took hold OF the work.
year ago with Arm grasp, and his
advent at critical stage in the life
Of the University was hailed as the
dawn OF new era Of prosperity and
good feeling. The new president has
had long and honorable experience
In dealing with the peculiar problems
that hedge about the educational and
economic: advancement of the col
ored people, North and South, and
the high expectations aroused by his
coming have been more than realiz-
ed. Never before has the outlook for
thereafter Howard been so replete
with golden promise; never before
has there been more universal
recognition of the necessity for the
or OFT hot
and conserve the industrial skill u
the masses. President Thirkield,
therefore, begins his administration
under circumstances Of the most aus
piciCus character,
Anniversary National in Scope.
Inauguration Day" was the pivot
upon which the anniversary season
turned. All roads led to Howard Hill
and by 2 p. M, the main building,
campus, and every available inch Of
space were thronged with the beauty,
intellecR and fashion Of the nations
capital, supplemented my many
distinguished visitors from abroad,
including the alumni Of How
ard, fraternal delegates from
sister institutions, and friends
Of both races interested in the
educational uDlift Of the Negro.
The day was ideal. Long before the
time announced for the beginning
Of the exercises, the picturesque vine
clad Andrew Rankin Memorial Chap
el was crowded A more brilliant
audience never filled that beautiful
edtdce.. "A sight long to be remem-
bered was the impressive procession
o. MEN distinguished IN scholarship,
SCIENCE, the various professions, and
the affairs Of the world, which
marched from the presidents Office
TO the chapel The red, green and
purple hoods of the honorary college
degrees flashed in the sunlight, and
somber caps and gowns and churchly
robes, formed a galaxy Of rich color,
framed in setting Of solemnity, ap-
propriately emphasizing, the impor-
lance of'the occasion. Forty colleges
were represented. The arrival Of
President Roosevelt, who was el~
Dected, was the signal for tumu1tu-
Gus applause, in which hearty well
come Mr.. Andrew Carnegie, who
came wholly unexpected shared most
literally.
The anniversary and Inauguration
took on a national, if not interna-
uonal, aspect. On the stage, in add
ton to the President or the United
States and the beloved Laird Of Ski
DO Castle" were the Hon. James
Bryce, the British Ambassador; Rt.
Rev. Henry Yates Satterlee, Bishop
Of Washington; Hon. James r, Gar
field, Secretary Of the Interior; DR..
Elmer f. Brown, United States Com
missioner Of Education: Dr. William