The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-07-04
Tho Honorary Degree. At harvard

few wears ago az every commence
ment season n vas n" fashion for the
press to poke fun AZ honorary degrees
They " ere ridIculed a. meaningless aud
inConGrlous as M snm" instances max
ing a little institution great by connect
ing It's rame with that II a prominent
public ,harartcr amt m other instances
giving an insignificant man prominence
by the hcStowal 1T AN honor upon him
from a great institution
II Is gratifying 10 he able 10 record
q change ~ public sentiment in this
matter II ~ beginning tn be under
stood that honorary degrees do stand
for something in this country In the
reign OF commercialism IL - worth while
to pave public honors that no. amount Of
money and no monevcd nfu"uc" will
buy hut which can be- achieved only hy
merit IN some field of endnavor. az
course mistakes ma" he made ~ con
ferrIng honorary degrees a. ~ every
thing else IN life. but on th" whpl'. 'his
method Of recognizing character and
moral and intellectual worth and service
10 mankind comes nearer To- III" ''-tab-
hshment ~ a genuine order 81 merit han
anything else that Is Dosslble under a
republican form of government
II - particularly satisfactory - note
that these honors are PRICED bv all
classes and conditions Of men There is
not man IN this country or Great Brit
ain who would not be- proud to rc"eiv p an
honorary degree from his own college II
h. happens to be a college man. or from
HarN ard Yale Columbia Princeton. or
many others which We might name. #
h. ~ not The degree - n mere empty
title II Won pleas. and IS . never bring
him a dollar. bur " mcJ that men Of
light and learning w"r nas" no selfish
purposes 10 prompt" /, IN he recipient
worthy of special recognition among
his fellows for srm"'hlN.- that he has
ACCOMPLISHED which - wu.th while.
Take for example 'hc honorary de-
grecs which were conferred NJ Harvard
on "Wednesday The doctors of laws
were j PIFRPoNT MOEGNN. HoR,CI
PoRTtR CHARLES T. HrGHFs. RICH,Rp
c MNCLAURTN and SNMUFL WILIISToN
Mr. M"RG ~ wa- justly characterized hv
the pubic orator a. patron Of liter
ature and art. prince among merchants
who bv hi~ skill hS wisdom and hi,
courage has 'wio" in times of stress
repealed a national danger 81 financial
panic General HoRNCE POTTER was
described n "A soldier. ambassador and
author who has served his rountE. and
earned her gratitude in many fields
Governor III GHF : - a lawyer. Governor
and .Iudc" who b"Sct Nv foes has fought
for right ~ Con CAV" him 10 sec the
right President M'rLlUHIN ct the
Massachusetts Institute Of Technology
~ a scholar distinguished IN three con
tinents for hl- knowledge 81 the laws Of
nature. and SlMUFL WILrISToY. rra-
fessor IN the Harvard I.nw school ~ a
brilliant master and keen t.ich"r IT rh-
oommca law
Tho pS--iml-t may -" that none Of
thes" men - any greater t-"a,l-" h. h,.
been nado n doctor of Laws W Harvard
University Tho TILE Ia no. added one
jot or 'i'tl" ~ hI- power 10 - precisely
;h~ man that Ee wa- bofor. But tho
pcSsim'st l. wrong Tho recognition 81
merit j. and always has been one of The
stronGc-' y oen',vel 70 righteous action
When y comes from a ,olIrc" where
there can h. no suspicion a. 10 the
motives which induce ~ when u i a.
nearly certain A. anything IN the world
can ~ that It proceeds from a genuine
appreciation 81 good -ervi"e rendered
tia influence can tend only 10 encourage
generous eud"nvor and hence 10 pro.
mote the general welfare Of mankind