The Washington times., 1914-05-27
PRESIDENT At NEW
UNIVERSITY OPENING
State and Church Dignitaries
Attend Formal Ceremonies
This Afternoon.

Attended by a distinguished gatherin
Of state and. church dlgnitaries, includ
ing President Wilson, Secretary of Stat
Bryan, Secretary of the Navy Daniel:
and five bishops of the Methodist Epis
copal Church. exercises in connection
with the formal opening of the Ameri
can University are in progress on tn
campus of the new institution thi
afternoon.
Secretaries Bryan and Daniels mad
addresses. President Wilson. accordin;
to announcement made at the Whit
House. shortly after noon is not sched
uled to make a set address. He ma,
make an informal talk following the ex
ercises.
One OF the pretty features of the cere
mony was the flag raising, following the
address of Secretary Daniels. while
The Star-Spangled Banner" was sung
by the thousands present.
Thousands Here for Event.
Here to attend the opening exer,
cises of the institution, projected
twenty years ago by Bishop Hirst
are more than 1000 prominent mem.
6g
Many of the visitors have come from
California. Maine. and other distant
states. Every train that arrived al
the Union Station throughout the
morning brought more churchmen
for the exercises.
Another event of interest to every
citizen Of the District is marked by the
exercises. Today the new electric rail-
road which traverses the university sec
ton and connects at Wisconsin and
Massachusetts avenues with the Rock
Vile car line was opened. Cars are run
ming over this line regularly today.
Preparations have been made by the car
line officials to handle the large crowd
attending the exercises. and q five
minute car service direct with the uni
versity from Fifth and F streets north
west Is announced.
The formal exercises began promptly
at 2:3O o'clock, when Bishop Earl Grams
ton. henior bishop Of the Methodist
Washington. called the meeting ito order
and presided. -
The bishop of Washington, Rt. Rev
Alfred Harding delivered the invocation.
after which Faith of Our Fathers was
sung.
Tho first address was by Bishop
William Fraser Mcdowell of Chicago.
Bishop John William Hamilton, Of Bos-
ton. will follow him. and the third ad-
dress was by Secretary Daniels, Of the
Navy Department, whose topic was PRO
Dec ct Patria-"
Following Secretary Daniels remarks.
the hag-raising ceremony was held.
John B. Hammond. superintendent of
the university grounds, holsted the
Secretary of State Bryan delivered an
address, following which America"
was sung. At this juncture President
Wilson formally opened the university,
after which the gathering sang the
Doxology.
Benediction By Bishop Wilson.
The benediction was delivered by
Bishop Alpheus Waters Wilson, senior
bishop of the Methodist Episcopal
Church South.
The plans Of the university are as fol-
lows: First, fellowships for graduate
study; second, a director Of research
work for the service OF students wish
ing to avail themselves of the resources
of Washington: third, lectureships in
Washington on important matters;
fourth, lectureships at educational CEN
ters elsewhere under the auspices of
the American University; fifth, the
publication Of significant volumes of
lectures and theses.
The formal opening of the university
does not mean that the scholastic year
of the institution will begin row. The
annual convocation of the Methodist
Episcopal Church in this section is be-
ing held at the university and il WAS
thought appropriate TO hold the formal
opening exercises of the institution dur
ing the conyocation. The scholastic
term of the university will begin in the
fall, the date Of the TERMS beginning
10 be set later.
AIready annIIcations from roors than
l,510 students for admission 70 the uni
Tersity have been received. Plans to
accommodate more than 2.0oO students
at the beginning of the first scholastic
term OF the new institution have been
made.
The main building. which comprises a
hslf-dozen magnificent granite and
marble structures is at Wisconsin ave
nue. and Loughboro road. The build
ings of the institution are located in a
beautiful section OF the northwest sub
urbs. within easy reach Of the city.
especially since the new railway lire
opened today II in operation
The Rev. William 4. Haggcrty, pas
TOT Of the Petwcrth II r.. Church. and
president OF the WASHINGTON Methodist
marshal at the exercises. He was as
sisted by tho following ministers:
The Rev. John T. Ensur. Of Calvary
Baptist Church: the Rev. Lucius C.
clark, Of HaTlinc Church: the Rev. w.
W. Barnes. OF Douglas Memorial
Church; tie Rev. a. II. Thompson. of
Waugh Church: the rev. y. n Martin.
Of Dumba rton Church: the Rev. G. L
White. Of Anacnstia; the Rev F. c.
Powers Of Tenleytpwn Church: the
Rev. L. .. Wise. nf Iowa Avenue
Church: the Rev. Merritt Earl. OF Con
Srcss Heights Church: the Rev z A
Shrcve. % 3rrren Church; the Rev. c. A.
Vincent. Of tho Mt. Pleasant Cnngre-
g:.tionaI Church; tho Rev. c. Fl. Butler.
Of the Columbia Lutheran Church: the
Rev. Paul Hickok. Of Metropolitan
l'resby terrain Church: the Rev. f. NJ
Mott. Of the Church OF the Advent:
the Rev. G. A. Miller. OF Ninth Street
Christian Church: The Rev. Louis Ran
dali. OF Rhode Island Avenue Methodist
I'roteStant Church: the Rev J.D. BuIrr-
eT. Of First Reformed Church: the Rev.
c. z. FultZ, Of Memorial Tinted Rreth-
ren Church; The Re-. T. r. Clark. of
Friends Church ~" Rev. L. X. Hardin.
az Mt; Vernon Place Methodist Episco-
pal Church South