Record Class Receives Degrees
545 Graduates, Nearly All Veterans Representing Classes from 1936 to 1949, Participate in Commencement Exercises Ending the 178th Year of the College
THE TRADITIONAL DARTMOUTH LUCK, meteorologically speaking, held for the 178th Commencement Exercises last month. Friday, June 13, was clear and warm for the Class Day exercises in the afternoon and for the reception for seniors, their families, alumni, faculty, and guests given by President and Mrs. Dickey in the evening. Saturday, it rained steadily all day, but the only main outdoor event washed out was the scheduled baseball game between Dartmouth and the University of Maryland. Sunday was cool, slightly overcast and blustery, but the Commencement program went off as scheduled at 11 in the morning, despite the sudden and unexpected appearance of fifteen more graduates than the Dean's Office had planned for.
Although not ideal, Sunday's weather was an impressive addition to the exercises, heightening the serious, and, at times, somber note of the addresses by President Dickey, Supreme Court Justice Robert H. Jackson, and Albert Jay Colton II '47. A common note was sounded by all three in offering the thought that though a time o£ great suffering and common danger, World War 11, was past, there still was the actuality of great danger and the possibility of great suffering abroad in the postwar world which lies under the huge, mushroomshaped shadow of the atom bomb. With the wind sending sudden gusts of chill racing through the Bema and fairly low rain clouds scudding overhead, the atmosphere was one in which the high seriousness of these words could not easily be ignored.
JUNE GRADUATES TOTAL 469
The total of 545 men participating in the exercises set a new record in numbers for Dartmouth. But a hitherto untried system was in effect and, strictly speaking, there were only 469 new graduates added to the Dartmouth alumni body, the remainder having graduated previously, most of them at the end of the summer or fall terms of the just-finished academic year. Since there was no Commencement at the conclusion of either of these two semesters, the men who graduated then were invited to participate in last month's exercises. For those interested in statistics, here is the breakdown of the 545 total: 449 June A.B.'s, so June B.S.'s, one June M.A. (Richard W. Young '46), ten June medical diplomas and 65 previous graduates from the September and June semesters.
All of the prewar color was evident as the prospective graduates filed from Rollins Chapel in double ranks, led by senior class marshals Arthur R. Young '47, Daniel T. Carroll '47, Andrew P. Carstensen Jr. '45 and Robert DeO. McLaughry '44. In accordance with tradition, they swung across campus and up Wentworth Street in the wake of the white-clad Dartmouth Band and, near the entrance to College Park, formed split ranks through which the President, the Trustees and the honorary degree recipients, the Faculty and the members of the 50-Year Class passed.
The events which led to the final and most important one, Commencement started with the Class Day exercises on Friday afternoon. The seniors, with representatives from twelve classes from 1936 through 1949 in their ranks, formed at the Senior Fence and marched to the lawn in front of Dartmouth Hall. There Allen I. Bildner '47, president of the senior class, opened the program with an address of welcome from the steps of Dartmouth Hall. Charles T. Duncan '46 then delivered the Class Day Oration, pointing out the great gulf between what Americans think and what they do and calling for "a new synthesis of thought and deed."
Following Duncan's speech, James G. Pulliam '46, Class Poet, delivered the Class Poem. In the final address in this setting, the Address to the College, Joseph F. Marsh '47 declared that the acceptance of a degree meant the acceptance also of a responsibility to society. "College gradu- ates of former years," he said, "have gone out to face national problems; today we know that a world outlook is necessary. We must take a firm stand on the great issues of the day."
At the conclusion of Marsh's speech, the seniors proceeded to the stump of the Old Pine, where Frank W. Hartmann '43 delivered the Address to the Old Pine in which he urged the sacrifice of personal sovereignty for the general welfare and said that "the proof of our education will be in the doing."
The final address of the day was the Sachem Oration delivered by E. Neilson Beard Jr. '47, following which the seniors filed past the stump of the Old Pine and smashed their clay pipes in traditional fashion. Other events of the day included the customary concert by the Class of '79 Trumpeters from Baker Tower, a concert on the campus by the Dartmouth College Band, the President's Reception, a concert by the Dartmouth College Glee Club in Webster Hall, and a senior-alumni dance in the Alumni Gymnasium.
Following a meeting of the Dartmouth Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa Saturday morning, the General Association of Alumni met in Webster Hall with members of the senior class and their fathers, the 25-Year Class, the 50-Year Class, and older classes in attendance. President Dickey welcomed the seniors, alumni and guests; Sidney C. Hayward '26, Secretary of the College, spoke on alumni activities: Allen I. Bildner '47 represented the senior class; James A. Hamilton '22 spoke in behalf of the 25-Year Class; and William H. Ham '97, delivered the 50-Year Address. Francis H. Horan '22, vice-president of the General Association, presided.
During the alumni meeting, John M. Comstock '77 of Chelsea, Vt., Alumni Editor Emeritus of the MAGAZINE, was introduced and was tendered a fine ovation as the oldest alumnus present. Representing in his person 50% of the living members of his class, Mr. Comstock was attending his 70th reunion, an occasion which was signalized by the reading of the following resolution at the Alumni Association meeting: In reporting on matters of outstanding importance in Dartmouth alumni affairs tribute is paid to one of our Grand Old Men. This month marks the 70th anniversary of the graduation of John M. Comstock of Chelsea, Vermont. Mr. Comstock has served for 70 years as secretary of the class of 1877. During this entire period he has also been Statistical Secretary of our General Association of Alumni which in earlier years was a great labor of love for the Collegebecause he maintained com- plete alumni records at his Vermont home. When the ALUMNI MAGAZINE was established in 1905 Mr. Comstock became alumni editor, a position which he continues to hold in an emeritus capacity! Dartmouth awarded him the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws in 1932 and we honor him today, at the age of 88— without a peer among Dartmouth's life-long workers.
Two cups were presented at the meeting for prize-winning efforts in alumni attendance at the first reunion weekend. The Class of 1897 won the Class of 1894 Cup for highest percentage of members in attendance, with a figure of 65%; and the Class of 1922 won the Class of 1930 Cup for the greatest numbers of members at reunion, with 114 members present.
With the rain cancelling a repeat performance by the Class of '79 Trumpeters on Saturday evening and making impossible the second outdoor concert by the Band, the remainder of Saturday's program was hastily, but effectively, rearranged. The Band concert was shifted into Webster Hall and held in the afternoon, and two extra showings of Dartmouth movies were held in the afternoon to supplement one already scheduled for Saturday night in 105 Dartmouth. The various classes held their reunion banquets that evening and the day's program closed with a presentation of the farce, "At Yale", by The Dartmouth Players in Webster Hall.
At the final Commencement exercises on Sunday morning, seven honorary degrees, all of Doctorate rank, were awarded. They were: Doctor of Science, Ralph A. Sawyer '15, Professor of Physics and Dean of the School of Graduate Studies, University of Michigan. Doctor of Humane Letters, Mrs. E. K. Hall of Hanover, President of the New Hampshire Citizens Council for the General Welfare; and the Very Rev. John W. Sliney, pastor of St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church, Laconia, N. H., who for 25 years was pastor of St. Denis Church in Hanover. Doctor of Letters, Roscoe Drummond of Washington, D. C., Chief of the Washington Bureau of The Christian Science Monitor. Doctor of Laws Omar N. Bradley of Washington, D. C., General of the Army and Administrator for Veterans Affairs; James Forrestal '15 of Washington, D. C., Secretary of the Navy; and Robert.H. Jackson of Washington, D. C., Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court. Their complete citations will be found elsewhere in this issue.
CLASS DAY EXERCISES ON THE CAMPUS: For the first half of the program which opened Commencement Weekend on June 13, the graduating class assembled in front of Dartmouth Hall. Above, Class Marshal Arthur R. Young '47 is speaking to the class just prior to the transfer of the exercises to the Old Pine.
SENIOR ALUMNUS REUNING IN HANOVER LAST MONTH: John M. Comstock '77 of Chelsea, Vt„ observed his 70th Reunion here during Commencement Weekend. Mr. Comstock, Alumni Editor Emeritus of the "Magazine," is shown with President Dickey at the meeting of the General Association of Alumni.
