Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-06-15
HAVERFORD GIVES
ITS DEGREES TO AZ
Retiring President, Isaac
Sharpless, Tells of Quiet
War Work at College
HONORS AND PRIZES
DR.. Crothers Delivers Annual
Commencement Grafton
to Graduates

The conflict between the impulsve rush
Of students to their country's service and
the restraint Of the Quaker convictions Of
Haverford College was pointed out by Dr.
Isaac Sharpless, retiring president of the
college, in his address to the forty-seven
graduates at the commencement exercises
today in Roberts Hall.
He said that seventeen of the under
graduates have Joined the ambulance unit
Of the Pennsylvania Hospital and are now
in France, ten are in the officers training
camps, several have enlisted in various
military organizations not yet called out,
and a number more have gone into agri-
cultural work.
Eight Of the graduates received their de-
grees "fn absentia." Two who are with
Base Hospital No. 10 in France are Law
renee NJ. Ramsey captain of last years
football team, and Herbert L. Jones. Those
who are at officers training camps are w.
l.. Baily, Jr., Horace b, Brodhead, De Witt
c. Clement, William c. Little, Robert b.
Miller, John w. Spaeth, Jr., at Fort Nj
agara, and Joseph w. Green, Sd, and Ed
mund T. Price at the Harvard training
camp. Spaeth and Ramsey were recipients
Of the highest honors. Thirty of the gradu-
ates all told are enrolled in some form Of
national service.
The wooden spoon, presented in front of
Founders Hall Immediately after the exer-
cses by the class of 1916 to the man who
has done most for Haverford in the year
was conferred on Lawrence NJ. Ramsey.
Carl NJ, Sangree accepted for him.
Our problems have been peculiar" said
Doctor Sharpless. while in common with
other true Americans we have all sympa-
thized with the purposes and objects Of our
Government in its opposition to the dicta-
torial and ruthless operations of the Teu-
tonic countries, when it came to methods
there might have developed an excellent
opportunity to create discord and disunity
"A common ground was found in the
recognition of each mans right to follow
his own line of duty when seriously and
deliberately considered, and Nthe college
gave on this basis its benedction to all
classes. 1t asked this deliberate and Sc
rious consideration and that youthful ardor
should not take boys in their teens away
from preparation for their life work.
ut provided course oe physical train
ing, intellectual instruction and moral dis
cipline which we have all concluded, after
eight weeks of trial has been an excellent
preparation for any branch of national serv-
ice Work with motOrcars and machinery
with the problems of camp life, with pick
and shovel, with matters pertaining to hos
pital service and aid to the injured, to-
gether with long cross-country Walks, all
done under strictly imposed discipline. has
absorbed the energies of four-hfths OF our
students, who, with a number of faculty
members, have gone into this training with
a heartiness and persistence most insplr-
ing"
Doctor Sharpless spoke of the probable
depletions in the college classes next year
as well as the increased expenses or the
institution. To meet this partly he said the
board Of managers has raised the price oi
tuition S25 per student
In regard to DR., William w. Comfort
the presdent-eect of Haverford, Doctor
sharpless said, "he has the ancestral and
personal qualifications for our service. HIS
father was a graduate and for long time
secretary Of the board of managers. lie
himself is a graduate and has been pro
iessor in the college. With q collegiate
training broadened by several years ol
graduate study at Harvard and in Europe
and an experience in college management
gained by eight years as the head OF the
large and hourishing department OF ro'
nance languages at Cornell, he brings every
augury of success with him."
Dr. Samuel McChord Crothers, of Cam
prloge, Mass, in his commencement address
made strong defense Of liberal classlca
education, which he said is the best prep