The Nashville globe. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1906-193?, 1908-04-03

On Tuesday evening, March 81, the
city of Nashville witnessed the COM
lnencelnent exercises Of the thirty-sec-
ond anniversary of the graduating
classes of Meharry Medical, Dental
and Pharmaceutical College of Wal
den University. These exercises were
given at the Ryman Auditorium and
large audience, numbering approxi
mately five thousand, was present.
Nashville has long since enjoyed the
reputation of getting together as in
telligent an audience, among its Ne
gro citizens, as can be found among
any race in the United States, with
equal opportunities, and Tuesday night
was not an exception-to the contrary
it was the rule. There are just two
great commencement days in which
the whole people of Nashville turn
out to see. One is the High School
commencement exercises, the other is
Meharry. Both are usually held in the
spacious auditorium commonly known
as "The Gospel Tabernacle" These
departments of Walden attract as no
other school in the race. They have
students from nearly every country,
and from many races, but all identi-
fled with the Negro, and on account of
such, these exercises bring thousands
of visitors each year, who come to see
a son, daughter, brother, sister, rela-
tive or friend receive diplomas and
start out into the professional world
to battle with the medical, dental and
pharmaceutical professions.
The class of 1908 has a decided dis
tinction over the former classes in
that it is the largest ever sent out
from this institution, increasing by
one hundred and five the long list ot
hundreds already pointing with pride
to Meharry as their Alma Mater
Some of the visitors in the city haC
finished from Meharry more thar
twenty years ago and were here foI
the first time since they received theiI
diplomas and went out into the worlC
to practice.
The program showed the result O
careful training. Especially is thi
true in the pieces rendered both from
students and the musical selections
At 1880 Prof. Berry began the pre-
cessional march, which brought dow
the center aisle from the right COZ
ner of the auditorium, circling tn
stage and climbing on it with dignifie
tread, one hundred and five gradu
ates. After they were seated comfort
ably on the stage, a chorus of voice
under the direction of Miss Mani
Braden, sang For His is the Sea,
from the 95th Psalm, MendelssohI
Then the Rt Rev. Isaac Lane, D. D
the senior bishop of the Colored Metl
odist Episcopal Church, of Jackson
Tenn, offered prayer. A chorus wit
solo, There is River" from the 46t
Psalm, by Buck, was rendered by Ge
trude Lewis and Glee Club
The salutatory address, "The Ari
tocracy of Medicine" was delivere
by o. W. Sheriff. He took up tn
history of the profession and by
description of the noted achievement
of medical science, showed that IL
physician must at all times have b
fore him high ideal in the domai
Of preventatives. He said this hs
been one of the greatest victories
the science, and by forcible arg
ment showed completely that the
was an aristocracy of medicine tn
was not waning; that it was increa
ing each year with all classes of p1
fessional men,
The pharmaceutical valedictori;
spoke on 'Pharfnary as a. Bllsipe
and Profession. This, was ably-re
aered By G, t. sharp, Mr. sharp "