The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1937-06-18
Commencement Week At West
Nottingham Academy

envy opened the commencement sea-
son with the annual Oratorical and
Public Speaking contests. The pro-
gram, which was presented in the
West Nottingham Presbyterian
Church, was opened with an organ
selection by Mr.. Charles L. Edwards,
after which the Academy orchestra
played Medley Overture" by Baines.
The first speaker in the public
speaking contest, ]. Stanley Frazer,
Earleville, Md, recited some famous
lines from Shakespeare. Robert G.
Roush, of Princess Anne, who was
adjudged first prize winner, gave
Robert w. Services poem 1.-THE Gre
nation of Sam McGee." The next
speaker was Edward M. Rider, OF
Baltimore, who recited "MacDonald's
Raid-178O" by Paul Hamilton
Hayne. The final speaker in the
contest, E. Thomas White Stahl, of
Baltimore, captured second prize
with Oliver Wendell Holiness "Old
Ironsides".
During the intermission between
the Public Speaking Contest and the
Oratorical Contest, the Savoy Stomp
ers entertained the audience with
several selections.
Melville A. Kitchin, Greenville, S.
c., first speaker in the Orator1cal
Contest, won first place with his ora
ton ON the Academys motto, "Nihil
Sine Lahore. Carl K. Hansen, OF
Oxford, Pa, gave an interesting dis
cussion on the question, why So
Many Air Accidents -, after which
James C. Fulton, Catonsville, Md,
gave the grafton which took second
place, Strikes in America.
Robert H. w. SALESMAN, of Cations
vile, delivered an grafton on "The
Evolution of Athletics", and Benja-
min Hewitt, of Hollidaysburg, Pa,
spoke on 1.-THE Russian Revolution.
The final speaker was Robert c. Res
pess, of Gainesville, who discussed
the timely question, Does Europe
Want War;"
While the judges, Mr.. George Gif-
ford, Principal, Calvert High School,
Calvert, Md; Rev. Otis P. Jefferson,
Pastor, M. E. Church, Perryville,
Md, and Mr.. Robert Lee Gill, Esq,
Eltkon, Md, were celebrating the
academy chorus sang several songs.
In response to hearty applause by
the audience they also sang several
school songs.
After Mr.. J. Paul Slaybaugh,
Headmaster of West Nottingham
Academy, had made a few remarks,
the chairman of the judges, Mr.. Gift
ford, announced the decisions, and
commended the speakers upon their
splendid showing. The orchestra
brought the program of the evening
to a close with a selection, "Sola"
by Bennett.
The annual Alumni Luncheon was
held at noon, Saturday, June 5. At
ter enjoying the tasty luncheon serv-
ed by the school commisary in the
dining room of the Magraw House,
the acting chairman, DR.. Ernest Row.
land of Liberty Grove, Md. convened
the business meeting.
The first part of the meeting was
given over to a short but impressive
memorial service in memory of the
Reverend John A. Nesbitt, Of Cations
vile, Md, who died recently while
President of the Board of Trustees.
Speakers included the Reverend A.
Brown Caldwell of Baltimore, Mr..
John Conner of Trenton, N. j., and
the Headmaster, Mr.. j. Paul Stay
baugh.
The second event of the meeting
was the tribute paid to Mr.. John
Connor, acting President Of the
Board Of Trustees, for his fifty years
of outstanding service to the Acade-
my as Headmaster and as Trustee.
1t was Mr.. Conner who introduced
football at the Academy back in
1883.
On recommendation Of the nomi-
mating committee, headed by Mr..
Cecil Squire, of Port Deposit, Md,
the following officers were chosen
for the coming year: President, DR..
w. G. Jack, class of 1900; First Vice
President, DR.. Ernest Rowland, class
of 1895; Second Vice President, Mr..
B. Frank Eby, class of 1882; Third
Vice President, Mrs. Howard Wilson,
class of 1907; Secretary-Treasurer,
Miss Esther Maxwell, class of 1911.
Reverend william Chalmers Gov
ert, retired moderator of the Pres
byterian General Assembly. delivered
the Baccalaureate sermon at the