Franklin's paper the statesman., 1911-06-24
COMMENCEMENT AT WESTERN
UNIVERSITY.
Special to Statesman

Special TO StdleSu1du.
The Fifteenth Annual Comence-
ment exercises of Western univer-
sity, which began on Wednesday,
May 31st, and closed June Sth, were
the most successful in the history of
the Institution.
The band concert under the direc-
ton of Mr.. John Sellers, was a sue
cess and the band deserves much
credit for the splendid rendition of
the program. Mr.. Sellers has made
good as a leader
On Thursday evening, Miss Eva B.
Jones of Denver, Colo, gave her grad
uating recital, which was one of the
grandest and most elaborate affairs OF
the exercises. She was ably assisted
by Miss Carrie Joseph of Denver, Mrs.
S. E. Jackson and Mr.. Frederick Fair
fax of Kansas City, Mo.
The annual address to the COM
bined literary and religious organiza-
tions by Rev. Jno. A. Gregg of st.
Joseph, Mo-, was full of practical ad-
vice and gave ample food for thought
along both lines.
Sunday, at 11:00 a. m, the Bacca-
laureate sermon was preached by DR..
Healing. 1t was indeed a scriptural
gem and pronounced by all to have
ben the most finished and effective
discourse ever delivered before
graduating class in this section.
A new feature of the school wor'
under DR.. Kealing's administration
was the industrial demonstrations by
the various classes from the trade de-
partments The tailoring department
presented young men On the platform
making trousers; blacksmiths forging
and welding iron and putting up min
iature fire-escapes, samples of what
they will install in the buildings on
next year; carpenters making tables,
furniture, etc.; printers running
cards of rthe visitors who thronged
the shop. The dressmaking and mil
linery department presented young Ia
dies cutting and making dresses
trimming and finishing hats which
we're passed out into the audience for
inspection. The commercial students
had a novel exhibition of relay work
in shorthand and typewriting and
manipulating the Neostyle machine,
which proved success on It's initial
trial. The domestic science class
gave an interesting show OF serving
a six-course dinner, as we'll as serv-
ing refreshments in the department.
The exhibits in the trades hall
were above Tue hNtldoC anu "SiS
very unique in display.
The class night exercises were we'll
rendered, as was the play, A Doctor
In Spite of Himself"
The annual oratorical contest for
the w. d. Cook medal was won in
period of oratorical flights by Mr.. Earl
Hatcher of Joplin, Mo.
The Commencement program in the
forenoon was as usual far above the
ordinary. The arations and music
(by both chorus and band) were rem
dered with much precision and ease.
The address by Lieut-Gov. r. j. Hop
kins, was ineed a masterpiece. 1t con-
tanned not only advice, but practical
and sound reasoning. He said in part:
You will note that | make honesty
one of the first of the elements for
the foundation for the apprentice
ship of life" Not only will honesty
reap its reward but there is nothing
that will satisfy ones conscience so
much as to be absolutely honest in all
his dealing with his fellow men. An
other element to which ! especially
direct your attention and one that will
have as much to do in your course
of life as any other is, that of right
thinking. Thought is said to be the
is upon the statute books was one day
a thought in some mans brain. No
great reform was ever inaugurated ex-
cept that some thinker blazed the
way There was never a time in the
history of the world when so much
dependsd upon what each Individual
thinks as today"
Bishop Parks in presenting the di-
plomas and certificates to the 10
Young men and women who had com.
pleted the normal and various trades.
gave them some very discouragins
words in going out in the large and
busy world.
Pres. Healing presented the follow
ing prizes and medals to the success
full winners: The Embry-Vernon Me
mortal medal for scholarship to Miss
Maggie Waite; the 3. F. Watson prize
for original composition in music to
Miss Eva B. Jones; the J. W. Sexton
prize for efficiency in stenography to
Miss Helena Bickford; the ]. c. c.
Owens prize for efficiency in cooking
to Miss Frances Solomon and the D..
w. Oakes prize for efficiency in black
smith to Mr.. Carl Brown.
At 9 o'clock the large and spacious
tent was crowded to its utmost capac-
ity. Fully $500 people thronged the
grounds to lend ear to the lofty trib-
utes to be paid by eminent personages
to the martyr, John Brown, he of Kan
sas, whom they hanged. The cere-
mony was noteworthy and truly mark
ed an epoch in the history OF the Ne
gro race. Upon the platform sat Miss