The bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1919-06-13
BY II. w. Thompson.

Secretary Lane and Bishop Harding
DR.. Durkee's Phenomenal Progress.
BY r. w. Thompson.
Especial to The Bystander.)
Washington, d. c., June Under
ideal skies and amid stately elms on the
broad campus, the fiftieth annual com
mencement Of Howard University was
held Wednesday afternoon, with the
largest attendance known in many
years. President j. Stanley Durkee,
making his first appearance sn an occa-
sion Of this kind, was greeted with pro-
longed applause when he arose to begin
the impressive ceremonies. The process
sion, including the graduating classes,
the faculty and the Alumni of the Uni
versity, was CLINT of bright colors in
the sunlight as it wended its way across
the grecnsward from Carnegie Library
to the al fresco auditorium near Clark
Hall. The scene was picturesque and
imposing.
Secretary Lane and Bishop Harding
Give Wise Counsel.
The orator of the day was the Hon.
Franklin X. Lane, Secretary of the In
terror, the branch of the government
having control of the University. In
his able address, Secretary Lane empha-
sized the futility of force and unlawful
acts in the solution OF great social and
economic questions and counselled his
hearers to appeal to the power of time
and right systems Of education to bring
permanent peace among peoples and ma
tions. The present unrest throughout
the land he attributed to the too preva-
lent desire of groups of individuals to
get something without work. No en-
during success nor any real happiness
can be built upon a foundation OF idle
ness or any get-rich-quick nostrum. The
Secretary laid stress upon the value of
good citizenship, Of the necessity for
practical training to meet the RESPONSE
.bilities of life, and gave as pertinent
example Of the failure Of false stand
ards in the striving for power, the
downfall Of the ;autocratic German En-
pire.
The Right Reverend Alfred Harding,
Bishop of Washington, was introduced
by DR.. Durkee, and spoke along the
lines laid down by Secretary Lane. He
declared service to humanity to be the
royal road to progress and happiness.
He paid a glowing tribute to the valor,
skill and loyalty displayed by the col
orcd soldiers who aided in the recent
war for liberty and democracy, and in
sisted that the Stars and Stripes should
wave for all Americans alike, from
ocean to ocean. He was proud OF the
record made by the millions of Negroes
since emancipation, and lauded Howard
University as one Of the uplifting agen-
cies that ~would continue to leaven the
lump of intellectual and moral darkness
that make for the hardships and ine-
nomic leaders of the age have to deal.
Both Secretary Lane and Bishop Hard
ing were liberally applauded.
Music was furnished by section of
the regimental band Of the 368th In
fantry, and patriotic airs were played
at intervals throughout the program, in
Guiding ''The Star Spangled Banner
which brought the immense throng to
it's feet in spontaneous enthusiasm. Rev.
Walter H. Brooks delivered the invoca-
ton and Rev. A. G. Garner pronounced
the benediction.
President Durkee Confers Degrees.
President Durkec, by authority vested
in him by the University, conferred de-
grees upon one hundred and twelve
graduates, constituting the "Class OF
1897 In the College of Arts and Sci
ences thirty-four candidates received
the degree of Bachelor Of Arts and sew
enteen the degree of Bachelor of Sci
ence. A touching incident in connec-
ton with this part of the program was
the award of the degree of B. s.. to
John Ephriam Williams, who passed
away just few days prior to his grad
uation, but had fully won his honors.
The entire class stood uncovered as
President Durkee sclemnly conferred
the post -mortem distinction upon their
departed fellow student. -Four young
men were given special mention and
honor because Of their military service,
and financial consideration will be given
them by the University that they may
later gain the degree they desire. This
class was presented for honors by Dean
Kelly Miller. In the other departments
the following awards Of degrees were
made: In the Teachers College, :" A.
B. in Education seven; s'B. s. in Ed
ucation,'' nine. In the School Of The
ology, "Bachelor Of Divinity three.
In the School Of Medicine, "M. d.,
twenty-one; Dental College, d. D. s.,
one. (The course in dentistry was
heightened from three to four years.
III the Pharmaceutical College, degree
Of HPhar. d. five. In the School OF
Law, degree Of Bachelor of Laws, four
teen. In Graduate Work. the degree Of
Master of Arts in the Field of Educn