Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-06-21
COMMENCEMENT At
M|DDLEBURY OPENS
Class Exercises Held-President
Thomas Delivers Annual
Sermon.

mencement exercises Of Middlebury Col
iege opened yesterday morning with the
festivities OF class day. The forces in cap
and gown interspersed with the khaki of
the army and the blue of the navy made
a charming spectacle as they filed into
the Mccullough gymnasium between
double lines Of chanting flower girls.
The opening address of welcome was
given by the class president. Harold NJ.
Davis, who commented briefly upon the
unusual conditions, due to the war, under
which the class of 1917 was to celebrate
it's last days Of college life.
Miss Marjorie Leach presented an his
torical sketch Of the four-year career of
the class. William Edmunds. in the class
Grafton, discussed the significance Of
Americas entrance to the European war;
and struck a popular note when he de-
clared that Middlebury was ready to give
her last man to the service of America
and of humanity. The class poem. a very
clever bit Of versifcation. was read by
Miss Doris Richards.
In the reading of the class prophecy. Roy
Sears and Miss Katherine Ball kept the
audience In an uproar by their keen OBJ
servation and witty thrusts. The class
essay was then presented in an able man
ner by Miss Ruth Hall.
After the reading OF the class will by
William Slade. Jr., in which the junior
class was given sundry privileges. the
class adjourned to the Old Chapel.
where the historic custom of planting
the ivy was carried out.
The ivy Grafton was given by Harold
Hollister. His remarks were strongly
colored by the war atmosphere. and his
appeal was that everyone should do
their bit. II not In actual hghting. then
in helping the fighter fight. Glass day
| was concluded by the observance of
several old college customs.
The following announcement of hon
ors was made Saturday by DR.. Thomas
valedictorian, Webster E. Miller, Pitts
field, Mass: salutatorian. Miss Made
line K. Foster, Walpole. NJ H. honors
in biology. Miss Marion Holmes; honors
in chemistry. Charles R. Lee, Jr. Row
land v. Kicker. Arthur T. Vaughn {;
honors in English, Miss Elizabeth Bar
! rett, Miss Katherine Ball; honors in
Latin, Miss Jennie Craisue, Miss Gladys
Frost, Miss Marjorie Mackenzie; high
honors in French, Miss Violet Richard
son, Miss Marie Champagne; high hon.
ors in German. Miss Ruth Hall; high
honors in home economies. Miss Mary
Bowles.
The following Phi Beta Kappa cleo
tions were made: Misses Cussons.
Heaphy. Jeffords, Thomas. Plat. and
Foster.
Several degrees were granted cum
laude:' Mr.. Miller and the Misses
Bowles. Hall. Harding. Jeffords. Rich
ards. Richardson. Degrees magma cum
laude were conferred on Miss Pratt
and Miss Foster.
The awarding Of prizes for the year
was then announced. The first prize
for excellence in Horace was awarde ed
to Mabel P. Rising. 10: the second
lprize to Ella Fellows. 10. and the third
|prize to Louetta Haynes, 10. The first
prize in pedagogy was given to Wini.
fred Jefforda II: and the second
prize to vinton w. Mitchell. II. The
Deacon Boardman peace prize was
awarded to Harold F. Drew. rs.
President John NJ Thomas delivered
the annual sermon this morning al
services held at the Mead memorial
chapel at 10:45 o'clock.
In the course Of his baccalaureate ser
mon. President Thomas pointed out the
falsity Of Frederick Naumann's Mite
Europa theory which the German govern.
ment is now trying to carry out. The
events of the present war he said, are
a condemnation of Naumann's doctrine
however the palace walls may seem tc
rise in the near future. if the British
navy should be swept from the sea ano
tribute staggering humanity should
be exacted from London, Paris and New
York, even then life within those palace
walls could not be joyous while all the
world outside hates. and scorns, and plot:
vengeance. Cruelty can never have q
joyous heart. Security that rests upor
the sword never knows real peace. Mar
has risen. not by brute force, but by
powers Of mind, and visions Of the soul
and dreams Of beauty and Of love. The
only welfare for the children Of men il
in further rise in the things in which
progress has already been accomplished
1t cannot be we'll with men when the,
turn their backs on the noblest inheri
. tances Of the race. on gentleness ant
kindness and unselhshness and love
Man must press his way upward in TIN
direction of the noblest and wisest o
his attainmerts hitherto, by the aid o
J the visions of his prophets and tn
, dreams Of his artists and poets. He lief
long ago the stage when force coult
bring him joy and peace. Its only U.s.
now is for protection and security. l
can never again build a palace wherein
men shall feel freely and joyously a
home"
In conclusion DR.. Thomas said:
= %. Never was a greater opportu
nifty nor a higher duty presented to TIL
American college. 1t is for us to shoy
the spirit of service. the spirit of cour
age and self-sacrif1ce. without waverin
and without fear. He that saveth hi
life shall lose 1t. and he that loseth |
for the sake Of honor and truth shal
nnd it. 1t is for US also to welcome
yet larger number. If we may. Of thos
: whom we may strengthen and inspire be
l fore they take their places in response t
! duty's imperious call. It Is no time I
: close college halls. but to open the door
5 more widely and to intensity and vitaliz
. the work within them. that we may rails
= up men who are At for the task the ma
: ton has to do. 1t will take courage an
= strong faith to pursue in the endeavor
whose results may seem more tame an
common. in comparison with service wher
deadly danger lies. but the results wi
prove eventually that no work is of great
or value to the nation or OF higher homo
to those who do II well.
1T is also for the college to interpret t
the world the real significance Of the ma
tion's present task. to set forth the spir
y itual meaning Of 1t all, to make clear tina
2 we struggle not for gain and conquest
nor yet merely for the freedom of tn
seas, nor for rsparation and vengeance
but for the brotherhood of man on tn
level Of man at his best and in the fellow
h .htv, with Cso6