The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1911-01-30
chicago's Newest Woman Pastor is
Made Subject of Interesting In
tcrview for Chicago Rec
ord Herald.
STRUGGLE FOR DEGREE
Something Of Remarkable Attain
ments of Former keokuk Pastor
Arc Told-America Place to
Work She Says.

The remarkable accomplishments of
NJ. Rowena Morse D. D. Phi. D.. Chi
Cages newest woman preacher, who
was formerly pastor of the Unitarian
society in Keoku1. are depicted by
Mary O'Connor Newell under the cap
ton, "A Conqueror OF Old Conven-
tons, appearing in SUNDAYS Chr
cago Record-Herald An entire page
is devoted to the story accompanied
by large portrait of Rev Morse
taken in cap and gown. The latter
part of the article is devoted to Rev.
Morse's own story of the difficulty in
securing her degree. She says:
We'll, was born at Ithaca, N Y.
It's nice of you not to ask when. I
took the scientific course at Corner.
Physiology was my major. Yes,
Professor James did say something
very kind about my thesis.
''He pronounced it the best contri-
button to the psychology of habit
that had yet appeared Music? Well,
you see, my musical studies went
right along with my college work in
a conservatory at ithaca. AS rule.
the charge of the music in the church
falls to me-
After receiving Cornell degree |
taught science for five years in high
school at Omaha. That was fine
faculty. Ever since met that faculty
| have respected teachers. From one
Sunday that l was asked to speak in
the Unitarian church in Omaha dates
my ambition to become a preacher. |
was born to Unitarianism, for my pa
rents were members of that denomi-
nation The moral human problem
has always interested me, More and
more, as experience widened, the ap-
palling problems of human suffering
attracted me and longed to work in
the ministry. Finally came to Chi
cago and entered the divine school
at the university, after the usual
three years study receiving degree
Then it was to Europe to study phil
doctor of philosophy from the Uni
versity of jena"
Wasn't there something very flat
tering added to the fact of the degrees
magma cum laude,' or the like
IF you insist on kno-ving all,' il
was 'summa cume laude.' There are
four grades of q degree, you know
and 'summa cum laude' is the highest
The happiest memory | have Of it al
was the pleasure the faculty showed
in giving it to me. after the prelim
inaries were settled
Tell me more about it," l urged
for DR.. Morse needed Except wheI
defending her loved German profes
sors from the imputation of havin!
been bullied into a change of front
persuading to talk about herself.
Things are different over there
/ They move in an orderly, precise
4 we'll considered way. Now 1T was rec
ognized that giving degree to
woman was an important and fal
reaching step Hence matters move
slowly and vita deliberation. Firs
the question was one simply of breal
ing the traditions of German univeri
ity life. Then it became consider;
ton entirely of whether woman wa
capable of doing the work required
A There were conferences and consu
:. tations. first among the faculty itsel
then between the faculty and the go
eminent. The faculty, after thre
months deliberation over the questio
and study Of my thesis, stood for a
hitting me as candidate for d
gree. Correspondence was then he
with the government at Berlin, whie
argued it should have vote in d
Gliding a question so fraught with co
sequences. A royal duke, if you pleas
was dispatched to Jena to look I'M
the matter.
I'm formal session the governmel
and the faculty sat upon the cas-
The faculty was in way pledged
me. 1t had heartily recommended n
work, so heartily that the governmel
submitted thus 1ar, that III inc eAdi
nation was taken with sufficient po'
er the degree might be given al
women be admitted into the uniye1
ity Upon that was called into Il
session. we We're in full dress, Il
royal representative in regimenta
faculty in caps, gowns and hood
the candidates in evening clothes al
white gloves For FIVE hours w
examined orally. In German?
course
DO you think it was harder e
animation than would have be-
. given to man,
"a more careful examination
. should prefer to call it" replied I
Morse. "There was no prelude
graft or the like. 1t was recogniz
, as an important and far-reaching ste