Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1912-05-08
DIR. HENRY LOUIS SMITH
Brilliant Address in Lee Chapel
Friday Night


DR.. Henry Louis Smith, presi-
dent-elect Of Washington and Lee
University. made his first public
appearance before a Lexington au-
dience last Friday night, the occa-
sion being an address at the annual
meeting OF the Virginia Gamma
Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa. held in
Lee Memorial Chapel. The plat
form was occupied by many distin-
guished alumni, some OF them from
distant States who were present to
receive initiation into the society.
The audience was composed of stu
dents, townspeople and some visi-
tors from out of town.
DR.. John h. Latane, president OF
the local chapter of the Phi Beta
Kappa, presided over the meeting.
After prayer bv DR.. Charles Manly,
DR.. Latane gave brief sketch of
the history. standards and aims of
organization, which was first found
ed at William and Mary College in
I775.
DIR. Jas. Lewis Howe, secretary
OF the society. announced the names
Of the alumni initiates, as follows:
Walter Lee McCorkle, '78, a ma
tive of Rockbridge, a lawyer of New
York City and president OF the
Southern Society of that city; DIR.
Thomas A. Ashby. 40, head OF the
Medical Department OF the Univer-
sity of Maryland in Baltimore. and
editor OF the Maryland Medical
journal; DR.. Edward Randall, 70,
physician and professor in the Med :
ical Department OF the University OF
Texas, in Galveston; Albert w.
Gaines, '79. a lawyer Of Chattanooga,
Tenn, and trustee OF Washington
and Lee; DR.. Walter LeConte
Stevens, Mccormick Professor of
Physics and Astronomy at Wash
ington and Lee. Two OF the alumni
were present for initiation who were
elected last year but were unable t.
be present at that time. They we're:
Col Robert E. Lee, '92, lawyer of
Washington and grandson of
General r. E. Lee; ard K. w. Bar.
rett, 49, 'S5, editor of the Birn.ing-
ham Age-Herald. Each man arose
as his name was called and rema; ned
standing until the list was COM
! pleted.
The following students, from this
years graduating class, had been
chosen for membership, and were
called to the platform: Lloyd R.
Craighill, William McE. Miller, S
Palmer Hartman. Ira Lennon, James
N. Daniel, Wear F. Milling. Robert
d. Ramsey, James Somerville, Jr.
DR.. Smith was introduced by DR..
LAtane and delivered an interesting
and instructive address on the The
Cultural Value of Scientific Train.
ing" DR.. Smith spoke without
manuscript or notes. He is a rapid
and fluent speaker, polished and
forceful, and has command of = won
derfully varied vocabulary. With
striking phrase and widely inform.
ing presentation of scientific
theme, tie speaker easily held his
audience for nearly an hour.
Following is a summary of the ad-
dress, taken from the columns OF
The Ring tum Phi:
All human endeavor, said DR..
Smith, has two aspects: one, it's eff
fects upon the mind of the individ-
ual who displays the activity, and
the other, the outward evidences or
tangible results of that activity.
Science. with it's wonderful discov-
cries, which is the dominant note OF
modern civilization, has been geper.
ally considered only from it's out
ward manifestatiOns-its possibii-
ties OF procuring bread and but.
ter" for the scientist. In refutation
Of the common belief thet scientific
studies have no educative or cultu.
raj effect upon the mind. DR.. Smith
outlined several results which such
studies produce in the individ ual
The first Of these is accuracy Of
thought. The scientist deals in inf.