Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1911-06-16
MEMORIAL TABLET TO PROF.
SCHMITT PLACED In UNI
vERSITY Of TENN.
(From the Knoxville. Sentinel, May 2e)

From the Knoxville, Sentinel, May 29)
Commencement exercises at the
University of Tennessee following the
baccalaureate sermon last night, cen
tirued today in the memorial in COM
memoration of the life and services of
the late Prof. Cooper D. Schmitt,
dean of the university, who died sud-
denly on December 6.
Following this feature which con-
tinued for two bours, the univer-
sity chapel in Science hall, the an
nual meeting of the board of trustees
was convened in the Office of DR..
Brown Ayers, president of the univer-
sity. The deliberations of the trns.e I
will continue throughout the day.
The memorial address, which was
the chief feature of the exercises this
morning was delivered by Dr.. George
F. Mellen, a retired professor OF
Greek at the university and now a
member of the editorial staff of The
Knoxville Sentinel and The Chatta
nooga News. 1t was followed by the
formal presentation of memorial
tablet in Prof. Schmitt's memory
Pro J. D. Hoskina, acting dean.
made the presentations address and
DR.. Ayres accepted it on behalf of the
state and the university. The
gift is that of the faculty and student
body and was made in love and re-
spect for the memory of the decsas d
professor, who was one of the most
popular men who has ever been con
nected with the institution.
The tablet is located in the east wall
of the chapel to the right of the ros-
trum. 1t is about three feet long and
one half deep, and is of Tennessee
gray marble. 1t bears the simple il :
scription of the life and services OF
Pro Schmitt, giving tine dates of his
COuucCtlOu Will VIC uHiNSlo lty
The exercises in the chapel were
augmented by special musical pro-
gram by the combined glee clubs OF
the university, the voices of the young
women and young men being blended
in pleasing effect. The bereaved
family, including DR.. Bernadotte A.
Schmitt, a professor in the North
western Reserve university, and elder
son of the deceased, occupied reserved
seats in the chapel.
The ceremonies were those of a
formal university event, the faculty
leading the student body into the au.
ditorium. The former wore the caps
and gowns of their respective alma
matters, with the colors of their ma
tive states, while the senior classes
which followed the faculty also wore
tie black caps and gowns of the grad
uate. Following this class came the
undergraduates, and all proceeded to
the sections reserved for each body.
Prof. Schmitt, as attested by the
many expressions of love and loss, in
his death, heard on ''the hill' today.
was much beloved by the faculty
menu ers and student body. His death
came suddenly, being stricken while in
h,S lootnro coopo IL, Cnntb ColIara q ', Il
dying a few hours later at his home
on White avenue.
Prof. Hoskins, in presenting the
memorial tablet and DR.. Ayers, in &C.
cepting it, spoke of these things in
their respective addresses. They re-
ferred to his active life in the lecture
room and on the campus.
His death was referred to by all as
an irreparable loss to the university.
Rev. James Park, u. D., pastor enc
r.tus of the First Presbyterian church
the Divine invocation on
the exercises while Raw. Josiah Sib-
ley concluded the exercises with a
DIR. MELLEN'S ADDRESS.
In his address, DR.. Mellen said in
part:
Thomas Carlyle, addressing the
student of Edinburgh Univerity,
to them the noble desire
to honor The late Prof. William
James. the eminent psychologist of
university, speaking to Rad
:liffe college students, said that the
higher education should enable us to
know good man when we see him.
The springs of action that prompt US
today fulfill Carlyle's recommends
ion. The demand imposed by James
of the higher education is
ully met IN this public acknowledge
nsnt of esteem and love for him whose
life and service we this hour COM
nemorate.
Cooper Davis Schmitt, son of
Bernadotte and Barbara won
Schmitt, was born December
I, 1859, at Woodstock, Virginia. His
oaternal grandfather, DR.. John>God-
rey Scbmits, was a native of Switzer-
and. and came to the United States
u 1916. AS army surgeon, he was de-
1oted to the person and fortunes of
He showed his 10y atty
md admiration by abandoning Europe
vhen Napoleon's victories were turned
o defeats and by naming three sons
.fter his marshals. The maternal
John Ignatious Won
was commander of Washing
on's bodyguard in the revolutionary
var and the progenitor of the large
Effinger family found today in the val
ey of Virginia.
EARLY DEVOTION To STUDY.
He first attended school in his ma
i've town, in which his father was a
lruggist. All were attracted by his
thickness to learn, his ambition, and
lis devotion to study. At ten years