The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1916-06-10
CLEMSON MEN GET DIPLOMAS
CLASS OF 1f8 COMPLETE COURSE
AND FACE WORK IN WORLD.
DIR. j. Il. Coulter Of West Virginia De-
livers Annual Commencement Ad.
drcss-Dr. Riggs in Farewell Re.
marks Gives Graduates Advice.

marks Gives Graduates Advice.
Clemson College, June 6.-The
graduation exercises and the delivery
of diplomas to the 118 young men of
the class Of 1916 were held in Me-
mortal hall this morning beginning at
1890 o'clock. On the stage were DR..
w. M. Riggs, president of the college;
DR.. j. L. Coulter Of West Virginia, the
orator Of the day, the two senior class
speakers, the entire faculty of the in
stitution and a number of the board
of trustees and other distinguished
visitors.
DR.. Riggs welcomed the vast assem-
blage in a few fitting words and in
troduced the two senior representa-
tives, w. A. Morrison of Clemson COL
lege, whose speech was on THE Ben
efits of War;" and r. B. Waters of
Rock Hill, whose subject was "Prac.
tical Patriotism" X
DIR. John Lee Coulter of Morgan
town, w. Va, then addressed the
senior class in very scholarly but
practical grafton. His address was
notable one full of that kind of elo-
quence that sinks into the minds and
hearts of people rather than that of
the fowery declaiming speech maker.
DR.. Coulters address was on "Indi-
vtdual Preparedness" He spoke of
the great mass Of discussion nowadays
on national preparedness, but said he
wanted to talk of the necessity of be-
ing individually prepared to take ones
place In the worlds work and its op-
portunities and duties He discussed as
elements of individual preparedness
the qualities Of thoroughness, persist
ence, foresight and the heart qualities
that makes man love ond consecrate
himself to his sphere of activity. Alan
Johnstone, chairman Of the board Of
trustees, spoke briefly authorizing the
faculty to confer the degrees and then
Or. Riggs made a brief farewell talk
TO the class. The class Of 1915 Is the
3lsEEsst aver szsd duatsd frcmA AtAasss ssns&
institution and an impressive sight it
was to see 118 young men march upon
the stage by course groups and re-
ceive their diplomas at the hands Of
DR.. Riggs in the simple but effective
manner characteristic Of him.
Following the address of DR.. ]. L.
Coulter. President w. M. Riggs ad-
dressed the senior class of 11S men
with the following words Of advice:
1T is your good fortuce, young men
of the graduating class. to finish your
education in year when the country
is very prosperous. 1t is a rare time
for trained men, for under present
conditions, opportunity readily ripens
into success.
"The old idea in education was to
impart culture, its purpose to train
the individual for greater enjoyment
of larger life-its viewpoint was in
dividualistic and selfish. The modern
idea in education is to train for SER
vice-its aim to qualify the individual
to make a maximum contribution to
the sum total of human knowledge
and human progress.
I'm peculiar sense, every educated
man owes the world a service, and the
college has failed of it's purpose if it
has no implanted in your hearts a
Willingness to serve and what is equal
ly important qualified you for that
service.
For education is not an exit from
the field of labor, but an entrance to
It, 1t is not a release from toll but
deliverance from that one remaining
form of human slavery-ignorant and
undirected toiling.
THE cause of education is the cause
Of freedom against the tyranny Of ig-
norance. knowledge against mere ira
Ni'Aoi', IhC SduSC vi HOnCSC government
against the Vaccinations of dema-
Sogues and knaves.
"As educated men 1 would have the
people Of your community think of
you in the terms in which President
Wilson expressed his idea of what
America should be as a neutral ma
tion-'fit beyond others to exhibit the
fine poisc of undisturbed Judgment
the dignity of self-control. the effi-
cheney Of dispassionate actions
clemson college, which has sought
to help prepare you for a useful life
has right to expect you to be her
loyal sons In the State there is much
Ignorance regarding the college that
needs to be dispelled, some prejudice
that needs to be cOmbated. some nm