COMMENCEMENT, 1918
Almost four weeks earlier than usual the College gathered for its war-time, week-end Commencement. This early date, the last week-end in May, was made possible by the elimination of all holidays in the second semester, the compression of the examination period, arid all other possible economies of time. The events, though following rapidly one after the other, were not hurried and a general impression of dignity and distinction resulted. From the organ recital on Friday evening, until the last number of the Commencement Ball in the small hours of Tuesday morning, every moment was filled, but there was time for everything. The older alumni were back in gratifying numbers and no explanation was necessary for the scanty representation from the recent classes. As in the 1917 Commencement the graduating class was distinguished by the number of men in service who had been able to return for the degrees which had been accorded them by action of the Trustees.
Sing Out and Wet Down
The pre-Commencement events as usual consisted of Wet Down and Sing Out on the Saturday and Sunday of the final week of regular college work. According to the old 'traditions the classes marched through the town, stopping at the familiar spots for a cheer and a word -of greeting. It is worthy of notice here that this year at least half of the procession consisted of the freshman class. Returning to the campus the keg of refreshment was disposed of in the usual way and the three lower classes submitted to the ordeal of the gauntlet. Rights to the senior fence were then transferred and President Hopkins made the award of the Barrett cup for all-round achievement to Harvey P. Hood, 2nd, of the graduating class. The senior then adjourned to the Grill, where it was entertained at dinner by the Trustees. President Hopkins presided and introduced the speakers, Professor Bartlett, senior class officer, Mr. Frank S. Streeter for the Board of Trustees, H. P. Hood for the graduating class, Professor E. F. Clark for alumni activities, and Dean Laycock.
The final regular chapel exercise of the year was observed the following day, Sunday, May 12, as Sing Out, and was conducted by President Hopkins.
Friday, May 24
After a period of ten days of quiet and concentrated effort on the part of the undergraduates the official program was resumed on the evening of Friday, May 24, with an organ recital in Rollins Chapel by Musical Director Philip Greeley Clappe The organ, unusual for its power and quality, is the gift of Mr. Frank S. Streeter of the Board of Trustees.
Meeting of the Alumni Council
After the organ recital the Alumni Council met for its semi-annual session in Wentworth Hall, with President C. B. P. Little in the chair.
Roll call showed the following men present:
New England States Fred A. Howland '87 Albion B. Wilson '95
Middle and Southern States Luther B. Little '87 Henry P. Blair '89
Central States None
Western States James A. Vaughan '05
Rocky Mountain and Pacific States Richard C. Campbell '86
For the Faculty Eugene F. Clark '01
Elected by Class Secretaries Edward W. Knight '87
Members by Virtue of Official Relationto the Alumni Homer E. Keyes '00 Joseph W. Gannon '99
Elected by the Council William M. Hatch '86 Arthur L. Livermore '88 Clarence B. Little '81
The minutes of the previous meeting were read and accepted.
The date and place of the next meeting were discussed, and it was Voted: That the next meeting of the Council be held in Philadelphia, November 8th and 9th.
It was further.Voted: That former members of the Council be invited to sit at meetings of the body.
The election of a Councilor to succeed Arthur L. Livermore, whose term of office has expired, resulted in the unanimous selection of Wesley G. Carr '84 of Pittsburgh.
The Secretary announced the ratification by the alumni of the nomination of Edward K. Hall '92 as Alumni Trustee by 802 votes, and the ratification of the selection of the following Councilors for a term of three years each:
New England States Edward H. Trowbridge '81 788 votes
Middle and Southern States Randolph McNutt '71 771 votes
Central States Henry A. Haugan '03 777 votes
Western States Robert F. Leavens '01 772 votes
Rocky Mountain and Pacific States Clinton H. Moore '74 769 votes
For the Faculty Eugene F. Clark '01
For the Secretaries William D. Parkinson '78
The Secretary made a general report on the state of the Alumni Fund. It was Voted: That of the proceeds of the Fund, in accordance with established policy, $5,000 be devoted to liquidating the alumni debt on the gymnasium; and that, of the remainder, following the deductions required by the conditions of the Fund, and previous votes of the Council, such part as might be necessary be offered to the Trustees for liquidating the war deficit of the College for the year.
It was further Voted: To approve expenditures of the Secretary of the Council in behalf of the Fund, and to express the appreciation of the Council for his faithfully performed labors.
Nominees to be recommended for election by the. Alumni Association at its forthcoming meeting were chosen as follows:
For Member of the Council on Student Organisations
John R. McLane '07
For Member of the Athletic Council tosucceed Dr. John C. O'Connor, resigned, for the balance of his term
Laurence H. Bankart '10
For Member of the Athletic Council forthree years to succeed Harry R. Heneage '07, whose term expires June, 1918
Harry R. Heneage '07
The Committee on Schools reported through Chairman Hatch of the effort being made to arouse the interest of school boys of New Hampshire and Vermont in Dartmouth College.
There followed a discussion of the time and place of a meeting of Class Agents in New York City previous to the meeting of the Council in Philadelphia. The night of November 7th was finally agreed upon.
The meeting thereupon adjourned.
HOMER EATON KEYES Secretary,
Saturday, May 25
In the new commencement schedule Saturday corresponded closely to the Monday of earlier commencement weeks. The events of the day were opened by a review and flag-raising on the campus by" members of the Freshman Battalion with Lieutenant Pickett in charge. While the faculty in Parkhurst Hall were taking the last steps toward voting the graduating class its degrees the annual meeting of the Alumni Association was being held in Dartmouth Hall.
Meeting of the Alumni The annual meeting of the Association was held in Room A, Dartmouth Hall, at 9 A.M.
Joseph W. Bartlett '98, Vice-President, was in the chair
Prayer was offered by the Reverend Tesse G. McMurphy '68.
Minutes of the prevous meeting were read by the Secretary and duly accepted.
Following a few introductory remarks, the Chair appointed the following
Nominating Committee Albion B. Wilson '95 James R. Chandler '98 Joshua B. Clark '11
The Treasurer's report was presented, showing receipts and disbursements.
RECEIPTS Balance from year 1917 (as per last report) . . . . $752.19 Cash received from Homer E. Keyes, Secretary . . . . 1211.50 Cash received from Dartmouth Savings Bank, Dir. . . 9.24 $1972.93
DISBURSEMENTS Paid Dartmouth College: Clerk hire $377.50 Paid Dartmouth College: supplies . . . . . . 234.13 Paid Dartmouth Press: Printing reports, etc . . . . . . 221.30 Paid R. P. White: Printing envelopes . . . . . . . 1.50 Paid, Postage and envelopes . 366.64 Paid, telegrams and express . 2.04 Paid, dues, Ass'n of Alumni Secretaries . . . . . 5.00 $1208.11 Balance for 1918-19, deposited in Dartmouth Savings Bank . $764.82
The report as made by Treasurer Bugbee was accepted.
There being no matters of business from the Executive Committee and no communications from the Trustees, communications from the. Alumni Council
The Secretary reported on nominations by the Alumni Council to be transmitted through the Nominating Committee of the Association.
The Semi-Centennial. Class of 1868 was now called to the platform. Professor Charles F. Emerson, Secretary of the Class, acting as spokesman, introduced the men present
The Committee on Nominations now reported the following slate of officers.
President—Ozora Stearns Davis '89
First Vice-President—Pitt F. Drew '99
Second Vice-President—Harry B. Johnson 04
Secretary—Homer E. Keyes '00
Treasurer—Perley R. Bugbee 90
Statistical Secretary—John M. Comstock 77
Executive Committee—Edward K. Woodworth '97, Chairman Edwards D. Emerson '84 Ernest S. Gile '95 Frederic H. Leggett '98 Lafayette R. Chamberlin 05 Samuel K. Bell '09 John R. Burleigh '14
For member of the Athletic Council tocomplete the term of John C. O'Connor, resigned, whose term of twoyears expires June, 1919—Laurence H. Bankart 10
For member of the Athletic Council forthree years ending June, 1921, to succeed Harry R. Heneage— Harry R. Heneage '07
For member of the Athletic Councilfrom the faculty, as nominated by thefaculty, for three years to succeed Leland Griggs— Leland Griggs '02
For members of the Athletic Councilfrom the Sudent Body— The managers of football, baseball and track (ex-officio).
For Alumni member of the Council onStudent Organizations-John R. McLane '07
On motion it was voted that the Secretary cast a single ballot for the officers as nominated.
The meeting then adjourned.
HOMER E. KEYES, Secretary.
Phi Beta Kappa Meeting
The afternoon was opened by the annual meeting of the Phi Beta Kappa, which elected four new. members from the class of 1918 and new officers for the ensuing year. The new members, bringing the total membership from the class to sixteen, were W. K. Chen, J. B. Donahue, H. Huang, and L. H. Riley.
The new officers chosen were: President, Professor E. J. Bartlett '72; vicepresidents, Hon. S. W. McCall 74 and H. B. Closson '79; secretary-treasurer, H. G. Rugg '06; auditor, C. P. Chase '69; executive committee, the president, the secretary, Professors N. E. Gilbert and P. O. Skinner and Registrar H. IVI. Tibbetts '00.
Class Day Exercises
Led by the band and escorted by visiting friends the senior class made its usual round of farewell visits through Colege Yard, and the Bema to the Old Pine. The guests of the class and College were welcomed by the president o the class, H. P. Hood, who was followed by R. P. White in the address to the President. After President Hopkins had responded, W. H. Bemis delivered the Class Day Oration.
At the Bema the Sachem orator, J. A. Converse, in regalia suggestive of Dartmouth's early days, predicted the careers of his classmates and T. Groves read the class poem.
The address to the Old Pine was made by C. W. Carvell, and following the singing of the Dartmouth Song and the breaking of the pipes on the stump of the Old Pine the class returned to the Senior Fence.
The interstices of the day were well filled with various forms of athletic and non-athletic entertainment. In the morning following the meeting of the Alumni Association a procession was held to the Alumni Oval and visitors were given the pleasure of seeing the varsity baseball team gain a lead over Amherst in the first inning and conclude the game with a four to one victory. In the evening band concert followed closely on "hum" while the later evening hours were filled with a most successful performance of an operetta, "Heave To," written by T. Groves '18 and W. Janssen '21, and presented by the Dartmouth Dramatic Association.
Sunday, May 26
Baccalaureate Sunday found the class as completely assembled as at any time during Commencement days when men were coming and going on limited leave. As usual the class marched into the College Church to the strains of "War March of the Priests," where the Baccalaureate Sermon was delivered by Reverend Willis H. Butler, Associate Minister of the Old South Church in Boston. An innovation in this year's services was the valedictory to the class by President Hopkins.
The close of the afternoon was devoted to an organ recital in Rollins Chapel and a memorial service in honor of the nineteen Dartmouth men who were known to have died in the war up to that date. After a brief tribute to the ideals and devotion of these men President Hopkins read the names and made a brief statement regarding the circumstances of the death of each man. At the request of the Class of 1915 the hymn "For All the Saints Who From Their Labors Rest" was sung in memory of fallen classmates and for the Class of 1918;, "The Son of God Goes Forth to War."
In the evening most of Greek Letter Fraternities held informal receptions at their chapter houses.
Monday, May 27
Commencement Day broke lowering and showery but soon cleared enough to permit the procession which formed around the campus at the conclusion of the morning chapel. With each group somewhat smaller than in recent years the procession measured the length of the campus, passed through split ranks of seniors and freshman color guards, and into Webster Hall. After prayer had been offered by Reverend William Hamilton Wood, Phillips Professor of Biblical History and Literature in Dartmouth College, and the congregation had joined in the singing of Milton's paraphrase of the one hundred and thirty-sixtr Psalm, President Hopkins introduced the Commencement speakers, Harold Sanford Glendening, Salutatorian, whose subject was "Accurate Knowledge and Modern Culture"; Richard Peregrine White, "Tendencies of Modern Education"; Wei kuang Chen, "China and America After the War"; and Guilford Payson St. Clair, Valedictorian, who spoke on "The War and Literature."
After the singing of Richard Hovey's "Men of Dartmouth" the candidates for the bachelors degree were presented by Dean Craven Laycock. The degree of Bachelor of Arts was conferred on forty-one men and forty seniors became Bach- elors of Science. In accordance with the yote of the Trustees on March 30, 1918, the degree of Bachelor of Arts to men in service was conferred on sixty-eight men with the class of 1918 and six with the class of 1917 and similarly to men in service, the degree of Bachelor of Science to ninety-eight men with the class of 1918 and to eighteen men with the class of 1917.
Two men who would have received their degrees at this time were recorded as having died in the service, Winfield Skidmore Knowles 1917 and Harold Field Eadie 1918, while Herman Kotzschmar Whitmore 1918 was held as a prisoner in Germany.
Particular interest was lent to the Commencement exercises by the presence of the parents of some of the men in service who were unable to return to receive their diplomas. These were given to the parents by President Hopkins in person later in the day.
One candidate also received the degree of Master of Science.
The recipients of honorary degrees were then presented by Professor William Patten. The words of presentation and the characterization by President Hopkins follow:
"Mr. President, at the request of the Trustees, and in their behalf, I present to you JOHN FRANCIS SCULLY, teacher and superintendent of public schools in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, successful servant in an educational atmosphere where success means more than local service, for the honorary degree
Master of Pedagogy."
"John Francis Scully, illustrating in your own career the fact that higher education of maximum potency is not confined to college halls; noteworthy advocate of learning that trains the heart as well as hand and head; recognized leader in the schools of a neighboring state; and not least in importance, father of a son in service abroad, to whom the College has just awarded his degree, I confer upon you the honorary degree of Master of Pedagogy."
"Mr. President, at the request of the Trustees, and in their behalf, I present to you ROBERT FLETCHER, Engineer; first and only Director of the Thayer School in its first half century, Godfather to builders of highways, shelters and homes; master-weaver of the industrial and defensive fabric of the nation, for the honorary degree
Doctor of Science."
"Robert Fletcher, graduate of the United States Military Academy fifty years ago and for but little less than half a century a constructive worker in establishing and maintaining the high standards associated with the name of the Thayer School of Civil Engineering, to whose Board of Overseers you are newly elected; teacher extraordinary; I confer upon you the honorary degree of Doctor of Science."
"Mr. President, at the request of the Trustees, and in their behalf, I present to you EDWIN JULIUS BARTLETT, loyal son of Dartmouth, and son of Dartmouth's one-time President. Chemist; master of the Analytic Art; guide to users of chemical forces; warden of Nature's poisons. Steadfast and righteous appraiser of spiritual, as well as material values; lucid and happy expositor on frequent occasions, for the honorary degree
Doctor of Science."
"Edwin Julius Bartlett, in conferring upon you the highest degree within the field of science, to which you have devoted your talents, the only expression available to the College of affection and appreciation, not only for what you have done, but for what you have been, it would be easy for a time to diverge and to dwell on the debt owed by Dartmouth to the son of an honored President whose contribution to the College was so vital! The action of the Trustees, however, taken at the request, among others, of your associates in the Faculty, pertains to none other than yourself. Therefore now, at the completion of forty years of fruitful service as a professor in Dartmouth College, during which time you have utilized your fine scholarship to enhance your genius as a teacher, have kept abreast of the best thought within your rapidly developing field, and have made your department a close-knit unit effective in transmitting knowledge, I confer upon you the honorary degree of Doctor of Science."
"Mr. President, at the request of the Trustees, and in their behalf, I present to you FRANK HERBERT SIMONDS, distinguished son of Harvard University, journalist, soldier in the Spanish-American War, illuminating critic of current military affairs, for the honorary degree
Doctor of Letters."
"Frank Herbert Simonds, student of world thought and the multiform motives of various peoples; painstaking seeker of knowledge of national tendencies ; lucid in expression, which gift you use to interpret complex problems to an eager people; independent in judgment and action; quick and accurate in conclusions and definite in statement; I confer upon you the honorary degree of Doctor of Letters."
"Mr. President, at the request of the Trustees, and in their behalf, I present to you RALPH DORNE HETZEL, President of New Hampshire State College, educator, Director aforetime of extension service in Oregon, now our own new instrument of democracy. With his aid New Hampshire hopes to extend her sustaining educational arm to every hamlet and home, making the State a college campus, the forest and the farm a classroom and a laboratory, for the honorary degree
Doctor of Laws."
"Ralph Dome Hetzel, bearer of our sister college within the State of the virility and progressiveness of educational ideals of the Middle West; experienced not only in college administration but in the practical methods of making learning available to large constituencies; leader in a field of education where wise development will make contribution to the nation's welfare well nigh beyond the bounds of imagination; we welcome you to your position of educational leadership in New Hampshire; we congratulate you upon your opportunity and we proffer you personally as well as officially the fellowship of Dartmouth men, in token of which I now confer upon you the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws."
"Mr. President, at the request of the Trustees, and in their behalf, I present to you KENNETH CHARLES MORTON SILLS, President-Elect of our historic sister-college in the State of Maine, and rightful heir to leadership at Bowdoin. Successor to one of three* great Presidents of a day that has passed, Hyde, Eliot and Tucker. To this new generation of Presidents, to which you, Sir, belong, we now look for creative leadership, and for that new birth of college life the new world of today demands, for the honorary degree
Doctor of Laws."
"Kenneth Charles Morton Sills you succeed to the presidency of the College from which came to us the great president, Nathan Lord, and to which went from Dartmouth your two earliest predecessors, Joseph McKeen and Jesse Appleton. The mutual relationships between these colleges have been close. It is therefore a right we assume at Dartmouth to be particularly happy that you come to the presidency of Bowdoin at such a time as this, when the colleges of liberal arts so greatly need to be assured continuance of the wisest sort of constructive leadership. You have had intimate contact with one of the masters; you have long knowledge of the functions of the cultural college; you have the love and solicitude of a son of your Alma Mater; and you have the scholastic training and the academic experience adequately to supplement all these. As has been said, you are the rightful heir. In behalf of the Trustees of Dartmouth College I take great pleasure in conferring upon you the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws."
After the singing of the Doxology the Benediction was pronounced by the Reverend Lucius Waterman, Rector of St. Thomas's Church, Hanover, and the procession formed again for its march to College Hall and the Alumni Luncheon. After the luncheon President Hopkins introduced the presiding officer, Joseph Bartlett '98, vice-president of the Alumni Association, who called on W. H. Bemis '18 as the first speaker. Mr. Bemis announced the election as honorary members of the class of 1918 two members of the semi-centennial class, Charles F. Emerson '68, Dean-Emeritus of the College, and John K. Lord '68, Trustee of the College.
The presiding officer then introduced the newest Trustee, Sanford H. Steele '70. Mr. Steele paid a tribute to those who stay as well as those who go, and emphasized the duty of our educational institutions to mobilize the intellectual life of the nation.
Mr. Bartlett then announced the results of this year's competition for the class cup as follows: 1908 25%, 1888 31 %, 1893 37%, 1868 76%. The cup was therefore awarded to the class of '68. It will be of interest to recall here that the cup was won last year by the class of 1887 with a percentage of 39. As a representative of the winning class John K. Lord was next introduced. After stating that the Trustees had renewed their vote taken earlier in the year to the effect that the College must spare President Hopkins for the ensuing year if he was needed by the Government, he read the following telegram which had just been received, entirely unexpectedly, by the Trustees:
"Washington, D. C., May 27, 1918.
"The Trustees of Dartmouth College, "Hanover, N. H.
"May I take this opportunity of expressing the indebtedness to Dartmouth which the department, and I personally, feel, for the service which President Hopkins is rendering to the Government. The value of his work been in in- verse ratio to his own appraisal of its usefulness. I trust he may without too serious a sacrifice on the part of the College continue the work for which he is. qualified almost without equal.
"Newton D. Baker, "Secretary of War."
Mr. Lord, then speaking for the class of 1868 and 1918, spoke of influences sending men into the service and the force which leads a man to sacrifice all for an ideal.
Mr. H. E. Keyes '00, Secretary of the Aluipni Association, announced the reelection of E. K. Hall '92, his nomination by the Alumni Council having been ratified by the alumni by 802 votes and then transmitted to the Trustees. He also reported the latest figures on the Alumni War Fund, which showed the fund on that day to be approximately $40,000.
The concluding speakers were Guy W. Cox '93, representative of the twenty-five year class, Joseph J. Donahue '08, for the ten-year class and Frank H. Simonds, recipient of the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Letters who spoke of scenes at the front and the moral and material force which the United States must exert to win the war. The exercises were concluded by the singing of 'America'.
The final events of the day were social, beginning with the President's reception in the afternoon and concluding in the early hours of Tuesday morning with the close of the Commencement Ball. Tuesday afternoon saw a deserted Hanover in the dignity of its empty halls and the beauty of its silent campus.
