Evening star., 1909-06-09

Charles w. Needham.
The eighty-eighth annual commence
ment exercises of George Washington
University were held this morning in the
Belasco Theater, which was taxed to its
capacity by the many relatives. friends
and classmates of the students. who came
to witness the comforting of the degrees.
Shortly before 1880 o'clock the students
in black gowns and caps. formed in line
in front Of the building, marched into the
theater in pairs. and took seats in the
auditorium near the stage. The entire
center of the theater was taken up by the
candidates for degrees. distinguished
from the audience by their black gowns
and caps.
Members of the faculty and of the
board of trustees and several guests
occupied the stage, seated on either
side of President Needham. who pre-
sided at the exercises and presented the
degree TO each candidate The theate.'
was tastefully decorated with flowers,
ferns, palms and the university colors,
buff and blue. The entire front of the
stage was banked with floral decora-
tions. contributed by the friends of the
graduating classes.
The university colors and coat If
arms were draped around the boxes,
the gallery railing and the back of he
stage. Deus Nobis Fiducia, the uni
versity motto, spelled out in single
words surrounded by wreaths, was
hung above the stage. A large Ameri-
can flag and the university banner
We're draped on either side of the
stage. Every seat in the theater was
occupied with men, women or children.
as in many cases entire families at
tended the exercises to see the son or
daughter or brother or sister receive
the diploma.
Students Deliver Orations.
After several selections were played by
the United States Marine Band the ex-
ercises commenced with an opening
prayer by Rev. DR.. Robert NJ. Moore.
President Needham then introduced the
students who had been selected as repre-
sentatives of the university to deliver the
commencement day orations. He ex-
planned that these students had been
chosen by the members of the faculty
after successful competition with their
AS James William Berry, representing
Columbian College, was called to the
stage by President Needham he was
greeted with loud applause from his fell
low-students, which was soon joined in
by the entire audience. Benedict Ar
mold" was the subject of Mr.. Berry s
oration and he gave an interesting and
instructive account of the real services
rendered to the revolutionary cause by
Arnold before his great treason.
President Needham then introduced
Raphael Henry Bakesley Of the depart
ment of law. who delivered an Grafton
on Mastery of Mind Not to be out
done by their fellow-students of Co
lumbian College, the students of the
law school applauded their representa-
tive loud and long as soon as he ap-
peared upon the stage. Mr.. Blakesley
spoke of the power of mind over mat
ter. and Of the value of will power in
enabling one TO realize his ambition III
life. Both class orators received many
congratulations from their fellowship
dents as they returned TO their places
among the candidates for degrees.
After President Needham's address the
comforting of the degrees began. The
dean of each faculty in turn, with the list
of the successful candidates in his hand
arose and addressing the president of the
university, informed him that the candi-
dates for the different degrees had dis
charged all the obligations required of
them, were present in person, and then
requested the president TO confer upon
them the degrees to which their work en-
titled them. Several of the candidates
were not present as their names were
ca He'd but in each case they had OBJ
tained permission to be absent from the
exercises and their dean read their names
and received the degrees for them.
Young Woman Graduate First.
The degrees of bachelor of arts were the
first to be conferred. At word from
President Needham the candidates rose in
their places. marched in line upon the
stage, were presented to DR.. Needham
who handed them the much cherished
diplomas. The first candidate to be pre-
sented was Miss Vera Elsie Adams, who
earned the degree of B.A. with distinction.
AS President Needham congratulated her
she was applauded by the entire audience
AS each diploma was presented the
successful candidate was applauded by
friends relatives in some particular
part of the theater, and of the long list
of graduates there did not seem to be
single one who did not have some of
his friends or members of his family
among the large audience. Extra ap-
plause marked the appearance of the par
ticularly popular students such as class
presidents, base ball players, we'll known
debaters or others who had distinguished
themselves in one way or another during
their college course.
The deans of the different faculties
were also given popular demonstrations
as they rose to address the president
for their candidates. AS Dean Phillips
of the department of medicine presented
his candidates for the degre of NJ. d.
he was greeted with applause which last
ed nearly d minute. his students at
tempted to show their appreciation of
his instruction, knowing that he was
about to retire from the faculty.
Dean Vance of the law department was
also much applauded as he came forward
to present the candidates from the law
school.
Toward the close of .he exercises, just
before the announcement of the prize
awards for the year the honorary degree
of LII ID. was conferred by President
Needham on Charles Herbert Stockton.