The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-05-22
commencement OF
MEDICAL COLLEGE
Young Doctors Are Given
Diplomas at jefferson
FLORAL OFFERINGS
Entirely Cover Front of Stage.
Alumni Association of Depart
ment of Pharmacy Elect Off
cers-SnOw Is President

good-sized crowd almost filing the
lower floor of the Jefferson theatre wit
messed the commencement exercises of
the Birmingham Medical college last
night. in spite of the rain.
The audience paid close attention to
the commencement address by James
Bowron and the awarding of the diplo-
mas to the graduates by the officials of
the college. A feature of the exercises
were the many, beautiful floral tributes
presented as each man received his di-
ploma When the exercises were con-
cluded these bouquets covered the entire
front of the stage from wing to wing.
Mr.. Bowron dealt entertainingly and
sklfully with the life upon which each
of the young physicians was entering
lie stated that one of the noblest pro-
fessions of man was that of medicine,
the very fibre of which was one mans
aid to another.
THE medical profession" he said has
witnessed wonderful development but it
seems to me that 1t has developed more
IN my lifetime than through all the ages
before | can remember many of thu
crude methods of earlier days. 1t seems
hard to believe at times when one hears
of some of the feats of modern surgery
and medicine
And Alabama has taken conspicuous
part. An Alabama man has made pos
sihle the work ON the great Panama ca
mai and there are many chances that
some OF the young men graduating here
tonight may some time be engaged in a
work of as much value to humanity.
Medicine has driven the horrors of yell
low and malaria fever from our midst
and In the course of time the young men
VINO are entering the profession now VIII
lind way to drive the deadly sleeping
sickness out of Africa and redeem to the
world that enormous and wealthy en-
pire.
To-day there is probably no single
cause which gives rise to more ills than
rundown or deranged nervous system.
And | want to take this opportunity OF
telling you that the greatest doctor in
the world is the Great Physician. Re-
lief can be found in God because of the
rest which follows in every peaceful mind
after communion with the Master There
Is no life harder than the life a doctor
has to lead, and many times you will
need the Great Physician yourself. Close
relationship with God will cure many a
case of nervousness which otherwise
would carry men to the grave"
DIR. j. S. McLester delivered the charge
TO the graduating class in medicine. Il
merely want to talk to you a minute
the rules of the game" he said. your
course in college has really only given
you an introduction to a medical career.
You will now have to begin to build on
that and as you build so will you sue
ceed. There are two things necessary to
make any man successful doctor. He
must work and he must have character.
Few men are born. The majority of great
men haye to make themselves and while
IN some otherNprefessions it--is possible.
to succeed in part at least, yet In this
profession you must work and you must
nave character or you will fail utterly"
DIR. l.. C. Morris conferred the degrees
and presented the diplomas, with a few
appropriate remarks as to the signif-
canoe of the act and the noble profess
sion upon which the graduates were en-
tering
DR. Charles A. Merrill, dean of the
school of dentistry, delivered the charge
TO the dentistry graduates and presented
them with their diplomas. DR.. Merrill
said that the art Of dentistry had be-
come one of the greatest single factors
in the matter Of health, that the mouth
mad become in way the guardian of the
body and the care of it determined to a
large extent the health of the body. Dr.
Morris then conferred the degrees and
presented diplomas to the graduates in
pharmacy and chemistry. After the ex-
eroises theF graduates in dentistry en-
joyed banquet at the Hotel Hillman
Several times during the evening men,
tion>was made by the different speakers
to the fact that this fall the Birmingham
Medical college will become a part of the
University of Alabama and that the fu-
ture holds for the institution a bright
destiny The young men who graduated
last night compose the largest class In
the history of the school,
At thennnual meeting yesterday morn
ing of tho Alumni association of the de-
partment of pharmacy of the Birmng-
ham Medical college the following Off
GERS were elected for the coming year:
President, II. r. Snow, Phi. G., Phi c.