The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1912-06-13

sounded by stately elms, 5000 people
witnessed the forty-third annual COM
mencement exercises of historic How
ard University. Diplomas were hand
ed to one hundred and fifty-one grad
yates from the various departments
embracing the schools of medicine.
dentistry, pharmacy, law, theology
the Teachers College and the Col
iege or Arts and Sciences. Seventy
tnlne certificates, -,--. covering - other
branches of the university, had been
previously granted, making in all two
hundred and twent- young men and
women started out this year to battle
With the world for a life and a living.
I>Ae classes Of 1912 embraced the lar
gest number Of graduates turned out
IN any single year in the history of
the time-honored university.
The diplomas were awarded bv
bishop w. P. Thirkield, president of
the University and his last public
function In connection with the in
stitution he is about to leave to take
up the exalted duties entrusted to
him by the Methodist Episcopal
church, took on the character of a
farewell reception to the DISTINGUISHED
educator who has done so much in
the past six years to make Howard
equal to the. best schools of the coun
try for the higher training of colored
men and women. in addition to the
parchments handed to the graduates,
nne honorary degree of Doctor Of
Laws was, conferred upon the Rev.
Carl G. Doney, A. M. Phi. D., 3D.,
OF the West Virginia Wesleyan Univ
ersity. The degree of Doctor Of Di-
vinity was conferred upon Rev. w.
Scott Wood, of Pittsburgh, Pa, and
Rev, G. Frazier Miller, of Brooklyn,
N. Y. The degree Of Master of Arts
was conferred upon NJ. w. Conner,
Jean Hamilton and M J. Mundy. The
music Of the day was furnished by
the Howard University orchestra, un-
der the painstaking direction of Prof.
Joseph H. Douglass, who has brought
this organization up to a high stand
ard Of efficiency. Its 'well-rendered
strains of classic music were inter
mingled with the twittering Of birds
In the leafy branches that waved
above the al fresco gathering.
MIR. Lewis Emphasizes Physical
Trainings as All to Education
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The principal oration of the day
was delivered by the Hon. William H.
Lewis, Assistant Attorney General of
the United States. His address
sparkled with the wholesome wit, for
which he is famous, and, while deal
ing literally with the facts of his
tory, sage philosophy and wise coun-
sci usually spread before graduating
classes, Mr.. Lewis laid especial en-
phasis upon the Importance of phys
ical, training to the man and woman
who would acquire a symmetrical ed
ucation and get the most out of life.
"A man may crowd his mind with
the lore Of the ages; re may be pro-
found scholar, versed in letters, men
tally equipped to grapple with the
greatess problems of law, church,
state or business, but if his body has
been neglected, if his physical being
has not been trained to form an en-
during foundation to his powers of
mind and soul, he will be handicapped
in the race of life. He will not be able
to stand the strain necessary to hold
his. place in the line, and ne will be
incapable Of rendering the degree of
service which his mental equipment
would lead the world to expect Of him.
To serve or to enjoy the man or woman
must see to it that he or she has
Sound mind in a sound body" 1t is
of the highest Importance that the
whole man be educated, if we'll
rounded man is to be given to work
for the common uplift."
Mr.. Lewis made an eloquent plea
for prompt establishment Of the
$4,000 gymnasium that is to be
erected on the campus through the
efforts Of the alumni and friends of
the university, and urged that phys
teal culture be made compulsory-a
required element in the curriculum Of
all of the schools for the training Of
men and women. Mr.. Lewis struck
popular chord in this advocacy, and
received a hearty note of approval
wnen he quoted an eminent authority
who believed that the conduering
power OF nations came from the de-
velopment oY the brute, man." and
held that the British victory at Wa
terloo was won On the football fields
Of Oxford, Eton and Rugby"