The Nashville globe. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1906-193?, 1918-04-19
ANNUAL DENTAL
DAY AT MERARRY
DR.. E. 7. BELSAW PRINCIPAL
SPEAKER-SPLENDD PRO-
GRAM RENDERED. ARGE
AUDITORIUM THRONGED.
BY leander r. Hill.

A 0ellgnt1ul program was drrdnSeu
by the Ewell Neil Dental Society.
Dr. Il. T. belsaw, a noted dentist OF
mobile, Ala, was the principal speak
er The auditorium was beautifully
decorated, the feature OF which was
large service nag containing llO
stars. The crowueu house was quiet
Until the speaker Oh the day mounted
the platform, when the applause be-
came deafening and lasted Tor sew
eral minutes. The applause died
away when Mr.. n. w. Tobin, presi-
denL OF the Society, arose to open
the program lie told oi the great
work done by the Society during the
first year OF its existence, he eA-
planned that the object of the socle-
ty was for the betterment OF the Den
tai Department and the glory OF
Meharry. He also urged all gradu-
ates OF Meharry to get in touch with
the Eweli Neil Dental Society. In
conclusion he paid tribute TO some
OF tae lrst graduates OF the school
wlo " ere sea.ed upon the platform.
ne futLher stated that a beautiful
. fountain lavatory given by the So
! cieLy would De presented to the
,Iool in memory of the sterling
worth AMI unti.ing efforts of DR.. j.
s. singleton, dean of the Dental De-
partment.
Inc master OF ceremonies then in
troddoed the Hon. A. N. Johnson,
! The lasc words OF the speaker could
not be heard, so great was the ap-
plalse which greeted Mr.. Johnson.
tf. Johnson delivered some historic
reAarhs relative to the greatest Ne
| gro Dental College in the world. He
congratulated the city upon having
! al institution that brought such a
high type OF young men to the city.
He placed the hospitality of the
soatn's leading city at the disposal
of Meharry's young men.
AT this juncture o solo was heard
from Mr.. Il. e. Ashe, junior dental
/ student. He was introduced as ',he
ambassador of harmony" He has a
smooth voice and gave beautiful
display of his talent.
The master OF ceremonies then in
troduced the speaker of the day, DR..
| Belsaw,' continued Mr. Tobin, lis
without a doubt one of the leading
dentists, race leaders and orators OF
the country lie is a graduate OF
our own dental college, class 1908"
| When the speakers name was
called the throng burst into a storm
of applause which only subdued
when the speaker arose to his feet
aGd was seen by the hundreds of
eyes which were focused upon him,
The speaker paid respect to Presi-
dent G. W. Hubbard, to whom honor
is due and who has served the insti'
tuition since its foundation. Through
his efforts, said the speaker, here
is a monument to do good for ages
to come" He likened Dean Single
ton and his corps of teachers to
Caesars Tenth Legion. He congrat
ulated the Dental Society and urged
them to continue the good work SO
nobly begun.
DR.. Belsaw said in part: 81 have
not come to you to name the great
Negroes of the past and to recount
all their achievements, neither do
plan to tell you of the deeds of valor
Oh the black soldiers in the wars OF
America. shall make no effort to
give you a history of the Dental
profession, but | shall talk to you
from the subject, "The Negro Doctor
Potent Factor in Racial Develop
ment.
This occasion fills me with a
pardonable pride as stand here and
glance over this beautiful concourse
of men and women who have come
here to celebrate this Dental Day, al
one of Americas greatest profes
siOnal institutions" ........ -.
IF | can impress upon single
young man the dignity and high call
ing of his profession and create
more sincere appreciation OF its lofty
ideals and firmer purpose to affair
to those ideals, | will have been
amply repaid. 1t affords me great
pleasure to address this proud-look
ing student body of my illustrious
Alma Mater; to be back upon the
scene of many a battle for knowl
edge and supremacy. From days i'm
memorial even before progressive
enlightenment had been rocked il
the cradle of thought, 1t has beer
the duty of the fortunate and stront
to defend and lead the weak. Al
: civilization reaches down the lons
! corridor of time, landmarks whicl
I we have been accustomed to know
begin to disappear familiar faces
drop out Of sight and a new genera
: tion of men and women begins t,
appear, surrounded by new condi
| ions. Such is the case with ou
race until today the mantle of dut.
and responsibility rests upon ou
shoulders. Let the sacred obligation
!. which has devolved upon this gen
; Grafton sink deeply into your hearts
Upon the Negro professional NAL
!. rests a high responsibility"
The speaker held the audienc
spellbound and was frequently inter
, rupted with applause. Continued tn
, speaker, "You will deal with pee
pie who will not only be sufferin
= from physical ills but from civic an
: political oppression; who are bein
3 woefully mistreated and who's
: spirits and whose souls are becomin
hardened" ............
you must keep abreast of tn
times and live in the present with
!. hopeful contemplation Of the future
/ We are living in stormy times. Wha
!, we are interested in is not an ord
! nary international war. This contes
is not between savage and barbarou
and untutored people. This war
clash of ideals. We are standin
t. at the bloody grave of an ideal tha
'e Is thousand years old. ..........
$, The dream of one world empire
't passed Such dream had Alexal
n der the Great and Napoleon w
are witnessing the birth of ne
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