Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1915-06-16

GTAQuati0n ceremonies of venerable
/ St. Johns College were held this
morning in the gymnasium. in the
I presence of large gathering of rela-
tives and friends of the graduates, as
we'll as Of the institution
Sixteen young men received their
diplomas. including one Baltimore boy
John Lawrence De Marco.
This years ceremonies attendant
upon commencement at St Johns
/ were of more than usual interest, due
/ to the fact that larger number vi it.
/ ing alumni were here than on any pre-
/ vious occasion for many years, and
/ there was a reunion of class 1905,
nearly the entire class being present.
Another feature Of especial local in
terest at today's commencement was
the comforting of the degree of Doctor
of Laws upon Rear Admiral Fullam.
/ the Naval Academy, and the same de-
| gree upon Judge John G. Ross Of the
| United States District Court, of Bal
timore, and upon Professor William
| Woolsey Johnson Of the Naval Acad-
| emy, and author of text books and a
mathematician and scientist.
Prolonged applause was given Rear
Admiral Fullam as he arose from his
chair to have the hood placed about his
neck, and a similar orvation was given
Judge Rose and Prof. Woolsey John
son.
The procession of candidates for
| degrees, alumni, the Board of Visitors
and Governors. the orators and he
President of the college entered the
| hall at exactly 1890 o'clock. the hour
scheduled for commencement. All the
official party were seated upon the
platform.
| The program was opened with read
ing of the Scripture by the Rev. Mar
| tin Aigner. followed with Invocation
by the Rev. Carlton D. Harris.
| Following a musical selection q
handsome silver cup the gift Of the
Alumni Association was presented by
MIR. j. Howard Fox, of Fullerton, Md,
to the Philokalian Society, winners of
the debate, who were Cadets Walter
L.. Nelson and Herbert e. Jump, for
the negative.
The Senior Grafton, won by MIR.
Orville M. Moore, whose subject was
international Arbitration. was then
delivered by Mr.. Moore, to whom a
prize of S25 for the best original essay
was offered 10y the Alumni Associa-
tion, was awarded
The award was made on behalf of
the Alumni by the Hon. Emerson c.
Harrington, of Cambridge. (Class 1884
st. John's) State Comptroller and
Democratic candidate for Governor.
President FellSintroduced the orator
of the occasion, the Rev F. L. Humph-
reys, S. T. D., General Chaplain Of the
Order of the Cincinnati, who made a
forceful address.
Following music after the address to
| the graduates, the Hon James NJ.
Munroe, L. L. D., of this city,
awarded the gold medal for the High
est Honors in the graduating class, in
a happily expressed speech, to Mr.
w alton R. Nelson, of Hebron, Md
St. Johns Commencement exercises
this year have far excelled those Of
many previous years, both in interest
and enthusiasm. The entire ceremo-
nies were of much higher degree Of
excellence in minor details as well as
in the important festurs Of the exer-
cises.
Never has a greater ovation been
given any candidate for a degree than
that showered upon Rear Admiral Full
am, Superintendent of the Naval
Academy, when the college conferred
upon him the l.. i, D. The applause
was prolonged and it was quite some
time before the degree could be CON
ferred after the Admiral arose to re-
ceive it. The audience to a man woman
and child, applauded TO the echo, both
before and after the degree was con-
ferred upon the popular Superinten-
dent of the Naval Academy, thereby
demons trating beyond doubt his pop
ularity in this community where Ad-
mirai Fullsm is held in the highest
esteem and veneration.
The scene was wild, dramatic and
enthusiastic and the Admiral was
obliged to respond, which he did in a
happily expressed little speech. in
which he said he liked TO call himself
a Marylander, as he had spent so many
years of his life here.
DR.. Humphries, the orator. made a
brilliant address. He said he was not
here for any merit Of his own, but be-
cause he was related to three men
named Humphries, one had been the
Rector at St. Anne's, one was Aide
de camp to Washington, and one was
President of ST. Johns College.
He hoped to bear out the traditional
name.
DR.. Humphries took for his theme.
''The Value Of Tradition in Manners.
Morals and Civilization.
He said a nation or a people who
loses its manners. soon loses fts morals.
and then its civilization goes. He