Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-02-24
80 Congress Members
Join in American j,
AnniversaryProgram
Charter Celebration
Continues Tonight
With Pageant

Congress joined in the celebration
of the 50th anniversary of the char
tering OF American University today
when about 80 Senators and Repre-
sentatives met with faculty members
and trustees at a breakfast in the
womenS residence hall of the
university.
Senator Austin, Republican, of
Vermont delivered greetings on be-
half of Congress. One of the origi-
nal founders of the university was
former Gov. Redfield Proctor of
Vermont.
Host at the breakfast was Bishop
Adna Wright Leonard chairman of
the uniVersitys Board of Trustees
and resident bishop OF the Methodist
Church in Washington.
Pageant Scheduled Tonight.
Speeches Of welcome were made by
Bishop Leonard and President Paul
F. Douglass of American University.
The schools chapel choir sang
several numbers.
The anniversary celebration will
continue this afternoon and tonight,
with midyear convocation scheduled
for 5 pm. and pageant of univer-
sity history at pm. Twenty-Five
OF the 80 active bishops of the
Methodist Church in the United
States and one retired bishop will
attend the ceremonies this evening.
Thor Thors, Minister from Ice
10 will he
cation in the Metropolitan Lemo-
rial Church TO accept fellowships
and scholarships offered by univer-
stiles all over the country to stu
dents from Iceland. An Icelandic
girl is already studying at American.
Six honorary degrees will also be
conferred at the convocation. The
university has kept names of the
recipients secret.
d. c. Leaders TO Attend.
Besides the bishops and members
of Congress, dozens of District edu-
Gators and civic leaders will be
guests of honor at a supper to-
night between the convocation and
historical pageant.
In addition, universities and edu-
cational organizations throughout
the country have designated repre-
sentatives to march in the academic
procession and to be guests of honor
of the university at the supper in
the womens residence hall.
The pageant, called The Found
ers." was written by Prof. M. C.
Batchelder. 1t will depict the "a
year struggle TO get the university
built and opened after Bishop John
F. Hurst first conceived the idea in
1890 OF "a great national university
dedicated to Methodism."
Dean George Woods will play the
part of Bishop Hurst and other
faculty members will portray such
personageS as Presidents Mckinley.
Theodore Roosevelt and Wilson.
The pageant will be held in the
gymnasium and is open to the public.
Bishops Here for Event.
The Methodist bishops who will
attend the convocation tonight are
James c. Baker. Los Angeles; r.
Baxter, Portland, Greg; John c.
Broomfeld, Los Angeles; Ralph S.
Cushman, st. Paul: Charles w.
Flint. Buffalo. N. Y. w E. HAM
maker, Denver: Ivan Lee Holt, Dali
las, Tex. Paul B. Kern. Nashville,
Tenn, Tdus Lowe. Indianapolis:
j. Ralph Magee. Des Moines, Iowa:
William C. Martin. Omaha. Nebr.::
Francis J. Mcconnell New York
City; Arthur j. Moore, Atlanta: G.
Bromley Oman, Boston; William
w Peele Richmond, Claire Purcell,
Charlotte. N. c.; Charles C. Selec-
man. Oklahoma City; A. Frank
Smith, Houston. Tex; H. Lester
smith. Cincinnati. Ohio: James H.
Straughn, Pittsburgh Raymond j.
WADE. Detroit; Robert E. Jones.
Columbus. Ohio; Lorenzo H. King.
Atlanta: Edwin F.. Lee. Philippines:
Edwin Holt Hughes, retired, and
Bishop Leonard.