The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-05-25
MILES MEMORIAL COLLEGE
Scenes from Great Plays Yesterday
Feature In Commencement Exercises

One of the most interesting features
of the Miles Memorial college COM
mencement SO far held was the rendi-
ton last night of three scenes from
the Merchant of Venice" one from
schiller's Mary Stuart" and a declam-
atory and oratorical contest by four
students of the normal department 70,
the Bray medal on the subject, 9Th G
Higher or the Industrial Education OF
the Negro"
The exercises were participated In
only by the members of the normal
department and were witnessed by a
large audience of prominent negroes
from the city and others who had come
a distance to the commencement ex-
ercises. The Bray medal is an annual
gift from the president of the institu-
ton by DR.. James Albert Bray.
Besides the rendition Of the num-
bers mentioned special music was fur
nished under the direction of Music
Director W. E. Lew, among them be-
ing Gounods Faust" by Ruth Had
net, Alice Mason and Osceola Aldridge
Balfe's Gypsy Chorus" by a select
number: instrumental solos by Alice
Mason and Ruth Hadnet and another
instrumental duet by the same persons
The three scenes from the Merchant
Belmont and the street court scenes
The cast of characters were: Portia
Mary Knox; Nerissa. Earnie Bonner
Antenia, H. w. Evans; Bassania. Her.
bert Langford: Gratiano, John Knox
Shylock, William Palmer; Salarino, AL
fred Harris.
In Schiller's Mary Stuart" the char
ecters were: Queen Elizabeth. Gussie
Rue Harris; Kent, Phillip Holland
Shrewsbury T. c. Rivers; Burleigh
William Palmer; Mary Queen of Scots
Addie Logan; Margaret Curl, Robbie
Pope Melville. Mansel Thompson; Han
nah Kennedy, Willie Knox
In the declamatory contest one young
woman and one young man discussed
each subject. Osceola Aldridge and II
w. Evans discussing the industrial
Education Of the Negro" while Leander
Breeding and Sadie May Bonner dis.
cussed, the Higher Education of the
Negro"
The exercises closed with a panto.
mime drill by the normal girls.
The annual report of the-presiden'
| will be read to the board Of trustees
| in it's annual meeting today. Bishop r
| s. williams of Augusta, Ga, presid
| ing 1t is expected that the presen
incumbent, DR.. James A. Bray. WI
| be reelected to the presidency OF thu
| institution.
In connection with the closing exer
cises Thursday night In the college
Oh APPEL at vineville. a mammoth recep
| ton will be held In honor OF the new
ly elected bishop of the Sixth Episco
| pal district, which district includes Ala
bama. This will be the first tim'
that a colored bishop has been eiecte'
from the state of Alabama and addi
tional interest is manifested In this re
| ception because Of the fact that unit
his election Bishop Stewart has beel
| q member of the trustees board
| Miles Memorial college, and mas peel
connected with the institution eve
since its beginning in Thomasviiie
Ala. Bishop r. s. williams OF Az
susta, Ca, the retiring bishop OF thi
diocese, will also occupy seat
honor on the rostrum as will also rev
DR.. v. Washington of Birmingham, wn
was elected general secretary OF mis-
sions of the Colored Methodist Epis
copal church at its last general CONFER
ence.
Prominent negroes from all demon
nations In and around the city Will de
liver addresses and special music VII
be furnished by the Miles college mus
classes. DR.. James A. Bray, presioen
Of the Institution, will act as maste
Of ceremonies. Special cars VIII o
provided by the traction company 10
| the commodation OF persons from IN
city who desire to attend the Ihurs
dav evening exercises.