Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1911-12-08

The Inauguration of Thomas E.
Hodges as president of West Virginia
university, which occurred November
to 4, was the most brilliant occa.
sion in the history of the university,
and the unanimous way in which re.
gents, faculty, student body, alumni
and prominent men of the state
pledged him their support augurs well
for the increased usefulness of the
university.
The weeks festivities opened with
the address of President Taft on Wed
nesday morning. After viewing the
city, President Taft breakfasted with
Dr. l. C. White, president of the Nor.
gantown board Of trade, then address.
ed 1000 school children of the city,
who were gathered on the lawn. AT
II o'clock the president addressed the
university and citizens, giving mem.
orable address on World Wide
Peace" in which he very clearly ex.
planned the arbitration treaties with
England and France, which he is urg'
ing the United States senate to ap
prove. The people believe in Presi
dent Taft's peace program, and his
clear statement Of the matter was
warmly welcomed. The president and
his party, Gov. Glasscock and his staff
the board Of regents, and the board OF
control were then entertained al
luncheon by President Hodges.
Thursday evening was occupied by
an educational program and was pre-
sided over by M. p. Shawkey, presi
dent Of the board of regents. AID
dresses were made by DR.. Dresslar
representing the United States bureau
OF education, and President Alderman
OF the University of Virginia.
DR.. Dresslar's theme was the re
lation of modern scholarship to hu
man life and to the national life.
scholarship the end and aim of which
Is service He defended the thesis
that the people have right to look
for help and guidance from the state
university along all lines of investi
CATION which may lead to the discov
cry of truth
President Alderman made a strone
plea for the university being the ex
ponent of true democracy, which he
defined as spirit, a religion, a mystic
faith, belief in man. He held that
thls democracy needs not only
strength and courage, but beauty, dig.
nifty, good taste, grandeur, that in fact
the business of democracy is to trans
form itself ultimately into an aristoc
racy in the best genealogical and his.
torical sense of the word, aristocracy
On Friday morning occurred the
Presentation of greetings of the dele
gates of some fifty Of the leading col
leges and universities from Maine to
Dakota, including Harvard, Yale and
William and Mary colleges, the oldest
institutions in the country. The large
attendance of these delegates from
the leading institutions was a very
distinct compliment to DR.. Hodges,
and a great honor to the university.
promptly at 10 o'clock, led by the
cadet band and members of the cadet
corps marching two abreast, the AGA
uemic procession moved from Martin
nall around the quadrangle at the uni
Versity, down Front street and up the
steps to the rear of Commencement
nall Here the cadet band halted and
stood at attention, while the cadet
corps formed in line on each side, and
'he procession of robed scholars filed
slowly through. This academic pro
ceSSlon was brilliant affair The
delegates and university faculty were
u academic gowns, the colors of the
moods showing their degrees and in
stitutions.
on Friday afternoon occurred the
ormal installation exercises, Gov
william E. Glasscock presiding.
Following his installation charge
resident Shawkey, of the board of re
gents, first called upon the members
VI the board of regents to rise tc
'lelf feet, followed consecutively by
SS,'u4lar requests to the members OF
we state board of control, the univer
a''y faculty, the student body of the
SalHerslty, and finally the remainder
tne audience, and asked them tc
'v,uuorse the wisdom of the regents in
"e selection of Thomas r. Hodges.
III an instant loud cheering broke
W. u and continued for two or three
a-II Iules' followed by an enthusiastic
no"ege yell from the student body.
VI Hodges arose and in few words
"aV'ously accepted the office. This