Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1918-06-20
Shepherd College Commencement.

TIE forty-ffth annual commencement
of Shepherd College State Normal
School was held in the college audi
torium last Friday morning in the
presence Of large and attentive audi.
ence, including several distinguished
State officials. The programme, which
was of unusual interest, was in charge
of Principal Thos. c. Miller. The
principal address was delivered by Hon.
Stuart F. Reed, the popular Represent
alive in Congress from the third west
Virginia district. Mr.. Reeds address
was one of the most impressive and
eloquent that We have ever heard in
this town, and was applicable and en-
couraging alike to the graduating class
and to the people generally. His thought
was that circumstance and environment
nor any difficulty need be obstacles to
accomplishment and success, and II IS
only by our own failure to realize con-
ditions and TO grasp opportunities that
we are prevented from doing the things
that count big in service and progress
siveness. While the address was i'm
pressive in its lessons and instructive
because Of the learning and wisdom
exercised in its preparation, II was also
full of wit and humor, and the audience
was so interested that no person wanted
to miss a single word OF the splendid
lecture.
Following Mr.. Reed, the diplomas
were presented to the graduating class
by Hon. George S. Laidley, Of Charles
ton, representing the Board OF Regents,
who spoke earnestly in a patriotic vein
that appealed strongly to the people.
Mr.. Laidley referred TO the great epoch
in the worlds history through which
we are row passing, and Of the duties
and opportunities that are before the
young, and with solemn wisdom he
counseled them to do their part in the
great drama now being enacted.
Hon. James S. Lakin, member OF
the State Board of Control, a visitor to
Shepherdstown who is always welcome
in our community, was present end was
also called upon to talk to the grad
yates. Mr. Lakin is popular with the
class of 1918, which named itself the
Lakin Glass, and he was received with
great applause. His speech was force
full one, in which he told the plain truth
as he sees it in regard to certain fea-
lures of the great war, and he stirred
the people with his appeals for the
united effort and sacrifice that will be
necessary to win the war for democ-
racy.
A pleasing feature of the program
was honorable mention" OF the varl-
Gus patriotic activities of the school in
addition to its regular work. Prof. A.
D. Kenamond with much feeling gave
a brief history Of the boys Of Shepherd
College who had answered their coun-
try'S call to service in the Army or
Navy, and referred touchingly to the
two gold stars in the service flag Of the
school; Prof. w. M. Duke told of what
the school had done in the sale Of Lib
erty bonds and of the activity of the
Boy Scouts in this work; Mrs. Gardiner
spoke of the Red Cross work; Prof. J.
D. Muldoon made a strong appeal for
full duty in the Thrift and War Savings
Stamps campaign; and Miss Violet
cambridge told of the efforts Of the
corn testers.
Prof Miller summed up the work OF
the school in brief, and also gave words
of counsel TO the graduates who were
about to begin a new period in their
life's work.
The music for the exercises was Of
unusual excellence, including selections
on the piano by Misses Georgia Phelps,
Elizabeth Sperow, Iva Bishop and Olive
Patriquin, and quartette by Misses
Eta Williams, Gertrude Denison,
Glenna Carper and Rama Bayer. The
prayer and the benediction were by
Rev. S. L. Flickinger, of the Reformed
Church. Several patriotic songs were
sung by the audience and the students.
We think that Shepherd College has
never had more impressive and in
teresting commencement programme.
The patriotic sentiments found synpa-
thetic response and the speakers and
the audience were in close accord in
all the exercises. A fine spirit was
manifest throughout.
After the exercises the graduates
were congratulated by their friends
and all Of them received acceptable
presents, the young ladies being over
whelmed with beautiful flowers.