Evening star., 1937-04-18
QUEz0N RECEIVES
DECREEFROMG.U. c.
Cites Hopes of Nation After
Being Honored at Found
ers' Day Rites.

ers' Day Rites.
President Manuel L. Quezon OF the
Philippine Commonwealth, proclaimed
last night at the annual Founders
day observance of Georgetown Uni
versity that the Filipino people aspire
to independence and place in the
brotherhood of nations, with love in
our hearts for all mankind and
prayer on our lips for the salvation of
humanity"
A few minutes before he spoke the
first President of the new common
wealth had received an ovation from
q distinguished international audience
assembled in Castor Hall. as Very
Rev. Arthur A. O'Lesry, S. j., presi-
dent OF the university, conferred on
him its honorary degree of doctor Of
laws.
Seated in q front row of the hall,
pleased and happy, were Mrs. Quezon
and members Of their family. There
were the young Misses Aurora and
Zeneida and the diminutive 10-year-
old Manuel L. Quezon, jr., who ar
rived for the evenings celebration in
a natty English top hat of shiny silk.
He evinced keen interest in the many
historic relics displayed in the halls.
Others Get Degrees.
Honorary degrees also were con-
ferred on two prominent Georgetown
professors, Dr.. D. Percy Hickling of
the School of Medicine and Charles
Albert Keigwin of the School of Law.
President Quezon passed through
sabers of young r. o. T. c. officers.
Bearing the Philippine and American
flags, they formed an escort for the
distinguished visitor and the univer-
sity president as they followed at the
end of an academic procession to the
accompaniment Of roll Of drums
and the blare of trumpets.
Ministers of nine foreign govern
ments and lesser diplomats of many
others, symbolizing the international
bond of education attended the i'm
pressive ceremony There were also
a large number of Government offici-
ais, all the members of the Philippine
party and several hundred alumni.
After the Georgetown choir had sung
the invocation, John Charles Donnelly
of Detroit, president of the senior class,
extended greetings on behalf of the
student body.
Calls Roll of Founders.
DR.. Edmund A. Walsh, S. j., chan
cellor of the university. read the con-
gressional charter of 1915 and then
followed a solemn moment as Right
Rev. Patrick Joseph Mccormick, vice
restor of the Catholic University Of
America, called the roll of six George
town founders.
AS he read each name-Fathers An
drew White, John Altham- Gravenor,
Thomas Gervase, Thomas Copley Fer
dinand Poulton and lastly Archbishop
John Carroll of Baltimore, the builder
of Georgetown-a single clear note in
memory was sounded from the historic
bell of old st. Mary's Church.
Only once year, on founders day,
is this relic of the first English Cath
olic Church, established in this coun-
try 303 years ago on Maryland soil,
taken out Of the college archives. For
over 100 years it has been entrusted
to Georgetown's keeping. To DR.. John
G. Bowen, assistant to the president,
now falls the annual duty Of tolling it.
In awarding the degree to President
Quezon and in reading the original
Latin text, DR.. OLeary cited him as
follows:
For years tireless proponent of his
peoples aspirations for independence,
Manuel L. QueZon, as first President
of the Commonwealth of the Philip
pines, has shown in word and unspar-
ing self-sacrifice a noble ambition to
build traditionally Christian people
into nation unshakably supported by
the strong girders of social justice and
securely founded on the only bedrock
Of peaceful perpetuity, the law of
Christ, and thus to present to nations
of the world an excellent and initable
model of happy and prosperous
modern state"
Heads Neurology Department.
DR.. Hickling, who is professor and
head Of the department Of neurology
and psychiatry, was awarded a degree
Of doctor of science as one who has
won renown through scientific
achievement"
To Prof. Keigwin was awarded the
degree Of doctor Of laws, as one who
''tn these days of social unrest, when
even the foundations Of justice are so
frequently questioned has long
labored for more comprehensive
understanding, more widespread
respect and more profound apprecia-
ton among all our citizens Of the civic
institutions Of our nation"
In a brief response at the con-
clusion Of the ceremony, President
Quezon said:
''It Is with very deep sense of
gratitude that accept the honor
which this high institution of learn
ing is comforting upon me. T take it
not 50 much as the measure of your
appraisal of my worth as an individual
and public servant, but rather as
the cause in the service of which I
have devoted my life is just and
q noble one.
More than this. to me this dis
tinction which I am receiving from
your hands means that in the esti-
nation Of Georgetown University,
the Filipino people have attained the
dignity of nationhood and have de-
servedly won their right to nation
hood.
Oldest University.
by the grace Of God, the Filipinos
are followers and disciples Of our Lord
Jesus Christ. Theirs is a Christian
civilization. Most of their scholars,
for the last $50 years, have drank
from the fountain of wisdom as ex-