The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1922-08-31

Normal school at 10 o'clock this morn
ing to attend the graduation exercises
when fifty-one students received their
diplomas at the completion of their
work in the summer session Of the
Normal.
DR.. George A. Mcfarland, the new
president OF the Minot Normal was in
Quoted into office that morning with
appropriate ceremonies, four of the
members of the Board of Administra-
ton being present. Members of the
Kiwanis and Rotary clubs attended in
a body.
Mrs. Florence Perkett, member of
the faculty, was in charge Of the first
section Of the program. The speak
ers occupied places on the platform
which was prettily decorated with
bouquets Of gladiolas and ferns. The
King, and Prof. Everett Davis read
a message from the LIST Psalms and
offered prayer.
Frank Talcott, Mr.. Muir, Miss Min
ME j. Nelson, and J. A. Kitchen,
members of the Board of Administra-
lion occupied places on the platform,
us did also Chas. Leismann, the Sec
rotary and John Lee Coulter, presi-
dent of the North Dakota Agricultural
College, and President Geo. Il. McFar-
land.
Miss Ada Lantz sang a pleasing
solo. The class address was deliv-
cred by Miss Julia McDonough, men,
Der Of the faculty ever since the Mi
not Normal was organized. Miss
McDonough was in particularly hap
py mood and delivered an unusually
strong address. She stated that
Commencement exercises in prosaic
August are minus many of the pleas
ing features of those held in roman
tic June. She referred to the Minot
Normal as an institution with an all
year plan which enabled 17S students
to graduate instead of 80 as would
have been the case had the summer
session not been held. The Minot
Normal Alumni now numbers 587 for
the nine years, representing popula-
ton larger than that Of any Of the
North Dakota villages. She COM
.nended these students for their pluck,
in attending the summer session,
seven Of the graduates finishing their
work exclusively in the summer ses-
sions. Miss McDonough was given
continued applause.
Miss Beulah Mowers rendered a
particularly difficult and pleasing pi-
ano solo.
President Muir of the Board of
Administration, was called upon to
present the diplomas, but gracefully
turned the privilege over to Miss
Nelson, State Superintendent of Pub
lie instruction. The graduates took
their places on the platform while
this part of the program was in prog
Anti pf
diploma to one young woman, she
stopped and shook hands with her,
explaining that she had presented the
9Th grade certificate to her in Barnes
county years ago.
Announcement was then made that
teachers might confer with Miss Mel
son concerning their certificates that
afternoon. 1t was also announced
that the fall term of the Minot Nor
NAL will begin Oct. 10.
The second part of the program
was given over to the induction Of
President Mcfarland, into office as
president. President Muir of the
Board of Administration was in
charge of the exercises. He told
President Mcfarland that the Minot
Normal was the pride of the North
west and that the Board was turning
the institution over into his sacred
keeping. He was assured of start
ing in with the good will Of an ex-
perienced, capable faculty, a vigilant
alumni and an enthusiastic body of
students. He was pledged the heart
lest cooperation on the part Of the
board and the citizens of Minot and
the Northwest generally.
Miss Nelson then spoke at some
1orcrtb of praciIor+ McEo c1oro1 q
neighbor. Her home for years has
been in Valley City where for 26
years Mr.. Mcfarland was president
Of the Valley City Normal. She said
that as resident of Valley City, she
might feel just bit jealous in giving
the Minot Normal a president of Mr..
McFarland's calibre. She looked up
on this in a broader sense however.
She spoke of him as neighbor, who
lived near her home for many years.
As a gardener, he is unexcelled and
according to what Miss Nelson stated,
the new president will have host of
friends about the time that early rad
ishes and head lettuce will have ma
tured. He was Superintendent of the
Sunday school in which Miss Nelson
taught.
In accepting the important position
as President, Dr. Mcfarland stated
that he had no decisions as to his re-
sponsibilities. The institution cannot be
operated with q magic wand. He
predicts that the day will come when
students will be numbered by the
: thousands instead of by the hundreds,
when the stone steps leading into the
building will have been followed. by
their footsteps. He asked the facul-
ty and alumni to accept him into the
fold, promising to devote whatever
community. He asked for co-opera
ton from the community and thanked
the board for their promise to cooper
ate with him. He said he was pleas
ed to see so many of the Minot bust
ness and professional, men in the audi
ence. 1t means that they are inter-
ested in the welfare of the institution.
II take my hat off to the Minot bust
ness and professional men for their