The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-06-18


 Tn the distinction which was conferred this week by the Northwestern univer- sity upon Mrs Leonard Thurlow Beecher Birmingham should and does feel hon. ored, in that it claims her as its own. But few years has Mrs. Beecher made Birmingham her home but in even so short a space she has won the admiration of the hundreds who have come under the spell of her wonderful personality. She is not only great artist in the particular line of literary work which she has enveloped with her own charm and made different from that of any other interpretative reader of the day she Is something else-a great teacher, using her remarkable gifts in the promul- gation of some of the most beautiful and most needful moral lessons of the times. Her appearance before a large audience the past winter when she explained the purpose of the Drama league and advo- cated an organization here, was notable for the nobility of sentiment which the ideality of her own life always suggested. The M. A. degree which was conferred upon her this week by the Northwestern university was the first honor of this nature to be bestowed The ground for he honor announced by her presenter was for ''masterful interpretation of the best authors" Mrs. Beecher, in speaking of her work once explained its purpose this way: "The printed paper is as deficient fin conveying the thought of the author without the expression of the human voice to aid it as the sheet of music is lacking without instrumentation It is for the excellence of these interpretations that her degree was conferred.
 The exercises at the university were most impressive and beautiful. The graduation of 595 students was witnessed by over 5000 persons. and many other: were turned away. The commencement exercises were preceded by a parade oi students and faculty from Swift college building across the campus to the Patten gymnasium. where the ceremonies were held. The students. clad in caps and gowns, were at the head. To distin- .,gfish the various colleges, vari-colored tasses were aworn, and the colleges sup posed to lead the school were placed at the head. The formation was as follows Law school, purple; School of Pharma- cy olive School of Liberal Arts, white and black; Dental School, lilac; Medical school, green; School of Music. pink; 2; Nurses Training school white and green, and School of Commerce, drab.
 Behind the students the faculty, num- bering 150 marched, and after them the unofficial guests and assistant profes- sors.
 The deans of the various colleges pre- ceded the trustees and other dgnitaries of the school. President Harris, with Bishop William Frazer Mcdowell ending the procession, which was more than half a mile fin length. It was after this large body had taken seats in the gymnasium that the commencement exercises were given. The honorary degree which was conferred upon Mrs. Beecher, has a dis tinctive ceremony.
 President Harris, in his official gown of royal purple, sat upon dais to the foot of which the presenter, in Mrs Beechers case Professor Cumnock ad- vanees and presents the name of his candidate. Dr. Cumnock said:
 For distinguished service in English literature and for masterful interpreta- ton of the writings of our best authors present to you, Isabel G. Beecher, for the honorary degree of master of arts"
 As President Harris gave his beautiful charge to the graduates. asking them to remove their caps and hold up the right hands tse they repeated after him the pledge which is so solemn and impress sive, the scene was said to be especially thrilling, and when his benediction was completed the choral blessing which had been written for the occasion by Profess sor Lutkins chanted softly by the choir. The charge and pledge which pr. Harris administers to the graduating classes are follows:
 In admitting you to degrees, I have admitted you to the honored company of graduates of Northwestern university; and I have done more, for I have made you members of the great company of scholars everywhere, a fraternity en- trusted with a noble inheritance. A uni- versity is not mart in which men buy learning. paying the cost. What here you have received is not. to be bought end you have not paid for it. You are made the heirs of the ages Men of gen. erous mind have labored and you enter into their labors; prophets and sages scholars and men of science, poets and men of affairs, have given themselves dreaming, searching, singing, and what