Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1918-05-29
DIPLOMAS FOR Is
ST. JOHNS CADETS.
Annual Commencement Held To-
day, Three Weeks In Ad-
vance Of Regular Period.
ADMIRAL EBERLE, LID.
Address To Graduates BY Hon
Oliver S. Metzerott. Honor
airy Degrees Conferred.
Prizes Awarded.

With digniiied and imposing cere-
monies, and surrounded by an atmos.
phere of patriotism, twenty-five young
men of ST. Johns College were pre-
sented diplomas this morning AT The
two huyd,ed and tweuty-first com
mencements of that historic and ven
cradle institution.
feature of the ceremonies was the
conferring of the honorary degree OF
Doctor of Laws upon Rear Admiral
Edward w. Eberle, Superintendent OF
the Naval Academy. The LID. de-
gree was also conferred upon the Hon
William II. Thomas, of Westminster
and Hon. Hammond Urner. of Fred
erick, Judges OF the Court of Appeals
of Maryland.
The exercises were held in the gym
nasium and were attended by a large
number of friends of the graduates be-
sides their relatives. To music by
the Naval Academy Band the process
sion of candidates for degrees, Alumni,
! the Board of Visitors, the orators and
the President of the College marched
| in and took seats on the platform.
The program was opened with Script
/ ure reading by the Rev. Daniel En-
mis-, followed by invocation by the Rev.
w. Herbert Burk.
Cadet H. Leroy Mencke delivered
! the oration on THE Answered Call"
| for which he was awarded the prize of
twenty dollars for the best original
oration, offered by the Alumni Asso-
citation. Cadet Mencke also won the
prize. a gold medal, offered by the
| OratOrical Association of Maryland
| Colleges, which was presented by Prof
S. S. Handy, of the Chair Of English of
St Johns College, in a few happily
expressed remarks. The prize, a gold
medal awarded by the Almuni Asso-
citation of the College for general ex-
! cellence, was won by Worden r.
| Mack. of Thomasville, Ga, and was
medal, awarded by the Alumni Asso-
| Ridgely p. Melvin, Esq. who made a
stirring address.
The Rev. James NJ. Magruder, ID.
presented the prize of $25 given by
him for the best essay on Colonial
Maryland history, won by Burleigh N.
C. Fooks. DR.. Magruder spoke en-
couragingly of the necessity for re-
search into Maryland history. and the
benefits to be derived therefrom.
The Hart prize, a set of books, pre-
sented by Mr. Walter II. Hart for the
best composition in English in the
Freshman Glass, was won by William
p. Maddox, and in presenting the prize
Mr.. Hart made an eloquent speech
The Hon. Oliver s. Metzerott deliv-
cred the address to the graduates.
Judge Robert Moss awarded the gold
medal prize TO Cadet Worden E. Mack,
for having attained the highest aver
age in academic work in the Senior
Glass. Judge Moss spoke in his usual
earnest manner
The address to the graduates was
delivered by the Hon. oliver S. Metz
croft. who spoke, in part, as follows:
Senator MetzerOtt.
State Senator Oliver S. Metzerotts
address to the graduates was punctu-
ated with patriotism, fitting as the oc-
casion demands. Having been recent
ly a member of the State Legislature
he is no stranger to Annapolis, and
was accorded a happy greeting.
Twenty years ago. he said, he
graduated and received his college
degree at another historic Maryland
college. and as he was happy on that
occasion. he felt sure the graduates
of today were happy. Today, he said
the graduates of st. Johns College
go through the Gateway of Educa-
ton to the, Highway of Achievement
You are especially fortunate that you
have been specially trained for the
high place you may occupy. There
is only one place now for that educa-
tion YOU have received. 1t is in the
army and the war 1t is Your job.
Don't let any one persuade you that
there is any other task but the one.
1t is not only duty, but it is pleas
ure. and it should be an honor TO help
the government fight the battle that
has been fought for the past three
wears by other nations. It is now your
duty to help those other nations fight
After the war is over you have TO
look TO a civil warfare, and help pre-
serve your civic life, that the battle
that has been fought may not have
been fought in vain.
i From the veterans of the war viii
leome the Presidents of the United
States for the next fifty years Thou
sands of Governors and Senators and
ICongressmen and the leaders of men
will be the men who have fought in
this war. The men who have not
tonight in this war will be too busy
exnlaining why" to take any part in
the government of affairs of nation
land state. city and town. In the past
There have been many civic slack
ers. let us hope they will be fewer
in the future. Above all, this nation
Is going to need men of worth Stick
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