The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-06-06
COMMENCEMENT AT
THE POLYTECHNIC.
DR.. George L. Petrie Delivers
the Annual Sermon
REPORT OF DR.. THAcH
Cornerstone of the New Engineering
Building VIII BE Laid Today-Ex-
hfbition of Laboratories VIII
Be Made Tuesday
BY WALTER HARPER


Auburn, June 5.-(Special.) 1.-The thirty
eighth annual commencement of the Ala
barna Polytechnic institute began today
with the commencement sermon which
was delivered by DIR. Charles L. Petrie
OF Charlottesville, Va.
The Man Christ Jesus was the sub
ject of the minister's discussion. The SER
vice was in Langdon hall. which was
crowded with students and friends of the
college.
The attendance on the various exercises
of the commencement promises to be the
largest in the history of tn institution and
| the social events in connection with the
| commencement are exceptionally brilliant.
| DR.. Petrie delivered an address before
the Young Mems Christian association to-
night at o'clock.
| Tomorrow morning the junior class ora
| lions will be given at 1920 o'clock. Fol-
lowing is the programme;
| Saxon Pace Poyner, Dale county, THE
Problems OF the American Bar
| Otis Gilmer Clements, Lee county, THE
Power OF Eloquence."
Milton Marion Cardwell. Marshall coun-
ty, Americas Guiding Star"
Music
William Davis Hall, Georgia, 1.-The Pros
poets of the South
William Francis Murphy, Henry coun-
ty, public Office Public Trust
Cornerstone Laid
The corner stone of the new William
LeRoy Broun engineering building will be
laid tomorrow afternoon at o'clock. The
ceremony will be conducted by Worship
full Master Lawrence Lee of Montgomery.
Following the laying of the corner stone
will como the review of the battalion
by Gov. B. B. Conner and his staff.
| FESTIVAL of Lights by ladies' aux
| iliary of the Young Mems Christian asso-
cjalion is down on the programme for to-
morrow night at o'clock. The alumni
| banquet at $50 o'clock.
| The alumni grafton will be delivered by
| Edwin A Price of Nashville at 1880
O clock Tuesday morning. and this will
| be followed by the business meeting of
| the alumni association.
From . to o'clock Tuesday afternoon
will lie given the exhibition of mechanical
art laboratories, library. experiment sta
| ton, drawing, laboratories etc. The COM
panw competitive drill will be held at 4:aO
o'clock. The senior class orations will
be held Tuesday night at $50 o'clock,
after which will follow the awarding of
prizes.
DIR. Petrie's sermon this morning was
| full Of wholesome inspiration, and was
given the closest attention by all those
present.
| DIR. Thach's Annual Report
President c. c. Thach of the Alabama
Polytechnic institute will make his an
nual report to the board of trustees
| tomorrow.
The report is very optimistic and
shows wonderful growth In the institu-
ton during the past few years. The
attendance on the term Just now closing
| is given at 761, the largest In the his
| tory of the school. This Is as against
I717 for the previous term. showing
an increase of A. The increase during
the eight years administration of DR..
Thach Is from 412 to 161, a percentage
of increase of Sc. Every county in the
state is represented in the present
years enrolment, with the exception of
Cleburne and Winston.
The report shows 2S7 students over
81 years of age and that the average
age of all the classes is materially in
creased.
Following is the class enrolment
Graduate students, Is; senior class,
107; junior class, 1870; sophomore class,
1885, FRESHMAN class, 1873, subfreshman
| class, IA; special students, 90; veterina-
ry medicine. 81; pharmacy so.
Church denominations are represented
in the student body as follows: Metho-
dist, 296; Baptist, 219; Presbyterian,
90; Episcopal, 81; Catholic, 80; Syna-
gogue. II; Christian, 1s: Universalist,
| 6; Christian Scientist, 2; Lutheran, .;
Congregational, 1.
High Class Work
The presidents report speaks in the
highest terms of the department of the
student body for the year The work
for the year has also been of the high
est class.
The general health of the student
body through out the year has been Of
the usual excellence, Gays the report.
Only one case of measles developed
during the year, and that was prompt
/ ly checked.
The report of the president lays spe-
cial stress on the new buildings and
the increased facilities for the teach
ing of technical subjects that have been
added and provided for during the pa st
two years. The efficiency of every de-
partment of the school has been great
ly increased and the future of the insti-
tuition Is very bright.
Dr. Thach is a man of great energy
and personal ability and Is doing a
great work in the building UP here of
one of the best technical schools in the
country He believes in the man or
boy who can and will do something,
and this IL the motto of his life. He has
made 1t the slogan for the Alabama
Polvtechnic institute. and the faculty.