The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-05-25
|DR. EVANS SPEAKS OF ''G|LDED AGE" Baccalaureate Address at
 Howard College IS GIVEN DIPLOMAS Pelham Chapter Medal Awarded to J. D. Thompson and Ministerial
 Class Presents Pinson
 With Cane

Fitting exercises were held yester- day morning at the Howard college chapel on the occasion of the com- mencement of that institution. Eighteen young men received their diplomas and degrees as graduates of the college and several post graduate degrees were awarded.
 The feature of the exercises was the baccalaureate address delivered by pr. W. E. Evans, rector of the Episcopal Church of the Advent Dr, Evans sub ject was The Gilded Age"
 The class oration, delivered by J. M. Rogers, was another enjoyable feature. The address to the graduating class was delivered by Dr. A. P. Montague in conferring the degrees upon the graduates
 The following young men received their diplomas as graduates of Howard: W. M. Pitts, W. L. Thomas, M V. White, | B. o. Bentley, T. c. Jester L. H. Ses sions, J. E. Embry, J. A. Denver, R. K Hood, J. M. Cook, J. M Rodgers, B. H. Walker. J. W. Yam, C. c. Nasty M w Mims, E. W. Hagood, J. G. Pinson, W. L. Porter
 Medal Awarded ] Judge Feagin made the presentation speech, awarding the medal given by the Pelham chapter of the U. D. c. to the best essay written on the sub l ject of The Rights of Secession" The contest was only open to members of the sophomore class and was won byN J. D. Thompson.
 1 The members of the ministerial class presented J. G. Pinson, who graduates with the class of 1911. and who Is to- tally blind, with a handsome gold headed cane. MT. Pinson replied feel ingly to the words of presentation of MT. Rogers.
 "The Gilded Age" | Dr. Evans address dealt with the commercializing tendency of the pres ent age, and the prodigious potency 1 of gold in the life of the average man. l The speaker called attention to the alarming fact that men prostitute their greatest gifts in the pursuit of riches and that price is placed on every thing, even the life and happiness of a young bride.
 ITO gild, according to the Century Dictionary" said pr. Evans, lis to cover with gold, to give the appearance of gold to a substance, to saturate with gold. The gilder's art is a commenda ble one; for that which least appeals ) to the eye, he makes attractive to the beholder. He covers the less worthy quality. with that which Is of larger value.
 But it Is my purpose to speak to you of a condition, mode, purpose of life. quite the opposite of this; for we live in an age when the very best, and loftiest things in life. are subordinated I to and covered over by gold. the word gold standing for money. Dominates the Nation l "One of the conspicuous characteris- tics of our age Is the money making spirit. The greed of gain, the haste to be rich, the burning gold-fever, the indescribable scramble for money, dominates the nation, as nation. And I speak to you on this subject. for the reason, that, scores and hundreds of our college men are turning their backs upon the dignified, but poorly paid
 
 I literature, and even the sacred ministry of our Lord, to plunge into commer- cialism, ranching, railroading and speculations of every sort The get rich spirit Is in the very atmosphere. Our young men all too often want to begin life where their fathers left off. The antecedent toll, the long years of self-denial. the plain and humble way of living characteristic of father and mother who thus managed to save little something for the evening of , life, they are not willing to endure The money must come now, and to it there must be added more. Often men are caught by the mad current, and onward, pell mell, they are borne towards what they think is the goal of gold. Everything is staked , upon the ticking of the telegraph. By 1t fortunes are made, or by 1t there . are crashes of misfortune that destroy 7 homes and characters. Bonds, stocks and realty become the subjects of con- versation in the home, until the chill dren learn to think, that, the highest things in life are profits from invest ments. The bright-eyed boy turns all thought of Christ's ministry out of his mind. because it does not pay and the daughter in the home learns to look for a man of means to whom she might ally her destiny. She learns to dis count old-fashioned love, and will marry only where money in abundant. And in this, her false conception of the holiest relationship of life. she is often encouraged by the father and mother, A marriage service Is said the wedding bells peal, two lives are lived together, when neither cares for the other. Where do they live? In a home? No; but in a splendid vault whose atmosphere Is damp as a grave. The tragedy is gilded over by gold
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