New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-06-05
President Nicholas Murray But
Ter in Address to the Gradu-
ates Urges Thoroughness
as the Primal Essential
for Success in Life.
MANY DEGREES CONFERRED
Dr.. Butler Mentioned by Senator
Sutherland as Successor to Viii
son-''Boat Race" and Bull
fight" on Campus-The
Prize Winners.

With the graduation of 2.1H students
yesterday. Columbia University brought
TO a close the greatest year in its history.
In every respect the 159th annual con-
mencement set a record which has never
before been equalled in this country.
on time to the minute. the academic
procession moved slowly out of the uni
versity library a. 1925 and began the
short march across the campus TO the
gymnasium. The Columbia seniors. clad
in cap and gown. were followed by the
graduates Of Barnard, their gowns dis
playing the white of their frocks set off
by a corsage bouquet Of rosebuds or car
nations
At the end Of the parade the place OF
honor was reserved for the class of 1888,
which was celebrating its twenty-ffth an
niversary and the class Of 1863, which
was celebrating its semi-centennial. The
faculty members, in silken gowns and
hoods Of orange and black, crimson, blue
or purple and green, denoting degrees
from Princeton, Harvard, Yale. Dart
mouth or Williams, frightened the last
part Of the procession. The trustees were
last in the line. President Nicholas Muir
ray Butler, in an oxford gown. following
them alone.
DR.. Butler Urges Thoroughness.
When all had been seated in the gym
nasium. with President Butler in an old
armchair that had belonged to Benjamin
Franklin. on a dais in the centre, the Rev
RAYMOND c. Knox. chaplain Of the uni
NJ m
annual address, said:
''Thoroughness grows more neces-
sarv as il becomes less fashionable.
The patient examination of evidence Is
not easy at a time when trial by news
paper elbows TO one side the slower
process Of trial by jury. The caretu!
study of all that is involved in pro-
posal for some new sort OF action IN
morals. in politics or in society is at
disadvantage when public attention is
dragged quickly from one point OF the
emotional compass to another, and when
masses Of men. intent only on what they
wish to get away from, have no sort d
care for what they are going toward.
.It is of vital importance for those
who are lust now forming their HABITS
of mind and Of conduct and who are
making for themselves a view OF the
world to ponder all this and 10 TeailZe
what il means.
IF this university has not taught 20
everv graduate the lasting lesson Oh
thoroughness II has in so far failed. no
matter what else IL may have done 1or
him. He who has schooled himself TO go
N the bottom Of things, to follow up
every hint and TO pursue TO It's END ea'h
implica ton has begun TO get a true no.
,ion of the interdependence or nature
and Of life.
THE thorough-edged intellect is one
that has learned these lessons and that
has formed the habit Of acting upon
,nor II is my earnest hope that these
Lessons of thoroughness have been SO
vol learned and so pondered that they
u.in shane the life and conduct of eacn
one of YOU, and thereby bring ne"
s,renptb and new satisfaction both 70
yourselves and to the communities that
YOU serve. .a
NAV success and happiness attehd
YOU. one and all