The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-01
COMMENCEMENT At
TUSKEGEE NOTABLE
Demonstrate PracticalWOrk
on the Stage
AUDITORIUM NEEDED
Diplomas Given to $50 Graduates By
Principal Washington = Enor-
nous Crowd Present at
the Institute

in the thirty-second commencement
exercises of the Tuskegee Normal
and Industrial institute, and May 20
marked the good day when the founder
and principal of the famous negro indus
trial plant stood before class of $50
young men and women and after passing
to each graduate parchment certifying
the completion of prescribed academic
and Industrial work, Booker I. Wash
ington extended to the happy group words
of congratulation. counsel and benedic-
ton.
The commencement exercises witnessed
by 25OO persons, hundreds of others being
unable to obtain admission to the spa
cious chapel, closed at 4:30 p. m. Thurs
day after a powerful sermon Sunday aft
ernoon by DR.. JohnPE White of Atlanta,
a strong and appropriate address Monday
night to the graduating class of Phelps
Hall Bible school, by Dr.. P. w. Walls of
Birmingham, and the principal address
today, remarkable for eloquence and wis
dem by DR.. Robert E. Jones of New Or
leans. editor of the Southwestern Chris
tian Advocate.
At an early hour in the morning pedes-
trians, persons on horseback, in buggies,
in wagons and occupying all manner OF
vehicles, began to arrive on the campus
from all parts of Macon and adjacent
counties Special trains from Montgom-
cry and Opelika reached Tuskegee at 8
O'clock Soon, acres upon acres in the
bottom between the chapel and White
memorial building were literally covered
with mules, horses and wagons, resem-
bling the scene at a great camp meeting.
Some of the people had come distance
of 15 miles to witness the exercises.
Promptly at 9:45 O'Clock procession
was formed of students representing the
years enrolment of 1913 young men and
women aud 200 teachers and instructors,
led by the famous institute band of 90
pieces, in charge of Prof. N. Clarke Smith.
bandmaster. The procession marched
from the drill grounds by way of the An
drew Memorial hospital to the chapel.
The procession was composed of stu
dents from 80 states of the union, Africa,
and is other foreign countries of Central
America, South America and the West In
dies, including Prince Charles 7. Wardah
from the west coast of Africa, and Prince
Lattevi Ajayi from Lagos West Africa
The procession represented students in 4o
different Industries taught at Tuskegee in
stitute.
The $50 graduates in the procession in
cluded rs young women, 81 post-gradu-
ates, 10 Bible students and seven trained
nurses, three of whom were young men.
Marching in uniforms, the student body
followed by the teachers presented an I'M
pressive scene which elected applause
from the thousands who thronged the
passage 70 the chaRel.
WITH banners, bunting and flags floating
from a hundred buildings on the campus
and in the Greenwood settlements, with |
an ideal day and ideal weather, COM |
mencement exercises were never before |
more auspiciously launched
Big Crowd Assemblies
More than 1000 persons had assembled |
on the campus when the first part of the |
programme opened at 10 o'clock in the
One section of the spacious chapel was
occupied by several hundred white visi-
tors from the town of Tuskegee, and from |
Montgomery and Opelika. The auditorium |
and galleries were packed with anxious |
visitors who were fortunate to gain ad-
mittance, THOUSANDS being crowded out.
Never before was it more apparent that |
the proposition to construct pavilion TO
seat 5000 persons was based upon neces-
sity.
1t was evident yesterday from the
crowd of visitors and the elaborate para
phernalia on the platform used by stu
dents to illustrate their oratlons, the ex-
tensive agricultural exhibits displayed
under a shed in the depression of the |
campus and the thousands who were
necessarily turned away, that large
structure built upon modern plans to ac-
the Tuskegee crowds and COM
pine all the exhibits, equipments ana eX-
ercises under one roof, would be IN Keep
ing with the growth of Tuskegee and the
of commencement services aid
the other annual exercises
aXprp1GpG
were divided into two parts, the morning
being devoted to illustrated addresses by |
graduates closing with an address DyJ
w. j. Edwards, principal OF Snow hill m
stitute, who after finishing his nne ad-
dress presented the school with check /
for $1,000 as a donation from the class OF
1893, which he represented.
After dinner was served to the visitors,
the white people being served at Dorothy |
hall. the second part of the programme
began at O'Clock in the afternoon and
consisted of illustrated orations by grad
yates, q spectacular moving snow on the
stage showing students at work In the
shops and fields, an eloquent has.srly ao-
dress by Dr. Robert e. Jones of New Or
leans. the presentation of diplomas to the
graduates BY Principal Washington. clos
ing with inspiring addresses by represen-
tative white visitors
A feature of the exercises thoroughly
entoyed by several hundred white people
was the fine singing by the trained choir
of 100 voices.
Commencement exercises at Tuskegee
institute must be seen to be appreciated.
Every step of the Grafton by graduate
is illustrated or perhaps better still, DEM
onstrated before the audience.
The blacksmith places shoes on horse;
the carnenter builds and hangs a door;
the housekeeper arranges the furniture
to the different rooms OF
4 room house, and simultaneously the an
vii rings sparks fly. the sign Is painted,
the trucker works his garden, the piggery
is nut in sanitary condition, the whistle
on The stage blows and Tuskegees AZ diff
ferent industries in miniature pass in llv-
inc nanorama before the entranced audi
encc. |
Another impressive scene is the process
sion of 1870 graduates marching past tine
nrincipal of the school as he stands on
the stage with Large basketful OF dipio-
mas at his side and each graduate in
ma ssing as his name is called receiving
his narchment from the principal.
Ard ZOO. the exercises are a revelation
to visitors of the magnitude of the practi-
cal work Of this unique institution for the
training of negroes.
The Commencement Sermon
The commencement sermon preached
SUNDAY morning on 1.-The Coming People,"
bv DR. John e. White, pastor of the Sec
ord Raptist church, Atlanta, Ga, was
one of the most inspiring and helpful dis
courses ever heard at Tuskegee institute
during its history of 80 years. DR.. White
axnnunded the text, "The Meek Shall In
herit the Earth" and declared, among
ether things that 'only the Golden Rule