The Washington herald., 1910-06-09
G. v. ]. GRADUATES
RECEIVE DIPLOMAS
Institution Holds Eighty
ninth Commencement.
CANDIDATES IN CAP AND GOWN
Procession TO Theater Forms One Of
Interesting Features OF the Cere-
lnOnies-President Charles Needham
Presides and Delivers Last Adj
dress as Head of the University.


for degrees received their diplomas at
the eighty-ninth annual commencement
exercises OF George Washington Univer-
sity at the Belaseo Theater yesterday
morning.
Dressed in academic cap and gown. the
graduates occupied section Of the or
chestra seats. while the rest Of the the
alter was crowded with hundreds OF
friends and relatives Of the students.
President Charles w. Needham pre-
sided and delivered his last address as
head OF the university. His resignation
takes effect before the opening OF the
next school year. The students present
ed DR.. Needham a gold-headed cane at
the conclusion OF his address.
The procession of the candidates be-
gan at 1890 o'clock. and formed one OF
the interesting features OF the eeremo-
MES Hundreds OF people lined the side
walks as the graduates. wearing the
academic dress. filed into the theater.
Rev. Samuel II. Greene offered invo-
cation at the beginning Of the exercises.
He was followed by William Gordon
Brantley, OF the law department. who
delivered an grafton on THE present
need" Ernest Otto Schneider, jr., spoke
on The direct primary. after which DR..
Needham delivered his address.
President Needham spoke on the serv-
ices that a university may render to the
government, saying in part:
President Needham's Address.
The influence OF great universities at
the centers of population, and especially
at the seat Of government, are forces the
Importance of which cannot well be over
estimated.
Take for example the University of
Berlin, with its 500 professors and teach
ers and nearly 1900 students. From all
parts of the empire scholars are flocking
10 Berlin TO perfect their education In
the arts and sciences, and to observe and
study the science and functions OF gov
eminent No important measure or pol
| icy. no official conduct escapes criticism
/ and free discussion by that body Of virile
/ and independent thinkers.
They consider and pass Judgment upon
/ .hese matters from a free academic posi-
/ ton. II is a great dynamic agency al
tile very heart and nerve center Of that
marvellous empire.
Its direct influence in producing a
| strong. honest. and patriotic administra-
/ ton of the government is very great
while the indirect influence, exerted
through its graduates and scholars
throughout the empire, is a constant
Matchmaking force.
Services to Country.
what marvellous influences have beer
exerted by Harvard and Yale, Columbis
and Princeton and the other great insti
tutIons Of learning throughout this land
Their services TO the country can no more
be measured than can the sunlight, and
the air and the rains and the dew.
we know that seed time and harvest
are dependent upon these elements o
nature, but whose hand can put meas
uring rod upon these elements and tell Ii
! their extent and power? And so it Il
with the spiritual influences that flow on
from these great centers Of learning.
They hold the richest treasures Of the
past and give 10 men a heritage; the.
throw a flood OF light upon the problems
Of life and make a higher civilization
Who shall count their riches or numbe
their benefits? How miserably poor
/ nation would be without them!
IN the light Of these facts we may wei
wonder why the National Capital OF thi
republic is not thoroughly enriched by
flourishing university, amply endowed, o
maintained by the generous support o
the nation for the District Of Columbia
Here is a field of educational endeavo
uneaualed in the nation and marveloGsl
rich in its stores of knowledge.
Field for EndeaVOr.
There is no other educational oppoT
tunitv In the world like it. There is n
place where there is greater need for FIRE
academic discussion of public questions
Nowhere is there a city better fitted
be the home of great schools. There
no city that can be named that will Civ
a finer body of students.
.sNo place in the union would attraC
. A greater number OF scholars from tn
. whole country and the world, and Their
is no place that has more pressing nee
for the advantages which higher educs
ton gives.
This field Of endeavor should be n
longer neglected by Congress; the praC
tice of economy in supporting educatio
at the Capital is a political blunde
amounting almost 10 a crime"
Deans Present Degrees.
Degrees were presented in the variou
departments by Dean Wilbur, College {
Arts and Sciences; Dean Hodgkins. Co
/ llege of Engineering; Dean McBain, Co
llege of Political Sciences; Dean Hougl
| | Teachers College; Dean Vance depar
! ment of law; Dean Borden. departmeI
OF medicine; Dean Walton. department
dentistry, and Dean Munroe. under II
faculty of graduate studies. Followin
the awarding Of degrees, President Nees
] ham announced the winners of warrior