The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-05-21
Birmingham Great Place
for Big Medical College,
Says Harding
DIR. M'GAHEY FAVORS
ORGANIZING ALUMNI
Concluding Exercises of Commence
ment Will Be Held at Jefferson
Theatre Tonight When Diplo-
mas Will Be Conferred

fellowship and the consciousness that four
hard years of study had successfully ter
minated the graduates of the Birming
ham Medical college sat down to their
annual banquet last night at the Country
club and heard with close attention the
sage advice of the dean and other mem
bers of the faculty of their alma mater,
as we'll as the remarks of prominent
guests who were present.
The affair was an auspicious one and
highly successful The menu was every
thing that could be desired and the
postmaster and a generous list of speak
ers kept every moment of the evening
filled with interest.
The speakers dwelled on the vital topic
of the evening-the Birmingham Medical
college, its past present and future.
Harding Speaks
W. p. G. Harding, the president of the
First National bank. in answering to the
toast of "The Development in Birmng-
ham of a Medical Department of the Uni
versity of Alabama said Birmingham
is eminently the place for a great
| southern medical college and by the
hearty cooperation of the citizens of this
city a great institution will be built in
our midst.
Il am not doctor" said President
Harding. and, therefore, cannot talk to
you in the scientific terms used by the
members of your able faculty In pre-
pairing my remarks to make to you to-
night | consulted dictionary-a very
useful book which l keep In my Office
but finally decided to address you in plain,
intelligible language.
I'm the first place you are all cognlzant
of the trip made by hundred or more
| of the citizens to Tuscaloosa last Oc-
| tober for the purpose of making the Bir-
mingham Medical college an integral part
of the University of Alabama We had
. opposition to our intentions in the shape
of an enthusiastic delegation of Mobile
citizens who desired that the Mobile Med
| ical college should be the one chosen for
| the honor.
After much discussion compromise
| was arrived at and the Birmingham Med
1cal college becomes a graduate medical
| department of the University of Alabama
| In other words, the Mobile Medical col
| ege will handle the raw material and
the Birmingham Medical college will take
| the raw material and turn it into the
| finished product. But that is not suffi-
| cient. Birmingham is great enough
| city to have a medical college that will
| handle the raw material and turn it into
| the finished product and that day is not far
| distant. The compromise at Tuscaloosa
was merely a makeshift arrangement and
within a short time I hope to see the
| Birmingham Medical college, the only
medical department of the University of
| Alabama
| Former Lieutenant Governor
| r.. NJ Cunningham, former lieutenant
! governor, spoke at length on "What
| the Birmingham Medical College Has
Done for the Medical Education" DR.
Cunningham reviewed the changes in
| the teachings of medicine of thousands
OF years ago. of so years ago, of 25
years and the rapid changes of the
present day. He described the early
beginning of the Birmingham Medical
| college 1.-THE ideal, not dollars" said
DR.. Cunningham was the incentive
! that started the Birmingham Medical
college"
Great Profession, Says Wood
Sterling A. Wood, the lawyer spoke
in answer to the toast of. THE Trus-
| tees of the Birmingham Medical Col
| lege." Mr.. Wood devoted his remarks
to humorous comments on contact be-
| tween the trustees and the faculty. but
| in a serious vein he impressed upon
| the graduates the seriousness of the
| profession they we're about to enter
| 1T Is the greatest profession with the
exception of one" said Mr. Wood, "the
| greatest profession with the exception
| of the ministry, and L know you un-
| derstand your great responsibilities and
| the diplomas you receive tomorrow
night will reflect credit on the Bir-
mingham Medical college"
! "A United Alumni" was the toast
| oF q McGahny and ~, fou,
| words that impressed all he urged the
organization of an alumni association
| DR.. 10. p. Hogan, who spoke, also urged
| the forming of an alumni association
to cooperate with the college author
( ties in making Birmingham a great
medical center.
| Other speakers of the evening were
| Dr. w. S. Rountree, who spoke on "The
| Importance of a Permanent Organiza-
| ton of the Alumni of the Birmingham
Medical College" He forcefulIy out
lined his point which was in line with
the remarks of DIR. Hogan and Mr. Nc
] Gahey.
"The Attitude of Jefferson County
| Toward Medical Education in Birming-
ham," was the subject assigned to iJr.
| r. r. Lovelady. president of the JEFF
] ferson county board of revenue. DR..
| Lovelady In a characteristic manner
| went to the point and said "If Bir-
mingham wishes a great medical col
lege why, We'll have 1t. Birmingham
has done nothing to have Howard col
ege in its midst and yet that insti-
| tuition is here and doing grand work.
| The same can be said of the Birming-
| ham Medical college, for until last year
comparatively little interest was shown
| in it, but there is hope the people are
awakening and / think we can safely
predict a great medical college in Bir-
mingham in a few years. In speaking
| of Jefferson county L assert that it Is
| in a receptive mood to the medical col
| lege and we will help you all we can"
| In answering the toast of "The Uni
versity Dispensary" DIR. II. s. Ward
smoke of the need of philanthropist
| who would give $4,000 to build last
| ing memorial to his name by building
| a dispensary worth of the name in Bir-
mingham.
| The affair closed at late hour with
a pleasant goodnight from the dean of
| the Birmingham Medical college and the |
| toastmaster of the evening, Dr. Lewis
| c. Morris.
Programme for Tonight
The programme Of the graduating
exercises at the Jefferson theatre to-
night follows:
Invocation-Bishop j. H. Mccoy.
Music Malinda's Wedding Day.
commencement Address-James Bow
ron.
Music-Lauder's Melodies
Charge to the Graduating Class in
Medicine-Dr. J. S. McLester
Music-Midnight Choo-Choo Leaves for
Ala bama.