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Africo-Americitn Presbyterian “AND YE SHALL KNOW THE TRUTH, AND THE TRUTH SHALL MAKE YOU FREE.”-John viii:32 NO. 22. THE 69TH ANNUAL COMMENCEMENT OF JOHNSON C. SMITH UNIVERSITY PRESENTS FOUNTAIN BY PBOl'. K. I,. l)Ol!ta,ASS A group of seventy-seven seniors, the largest class in the history of the institution, was graduated at Johnson C. Smith University, Tuesday, May 26th, when seventy-one from the School of Liberal Arts and six from the School of Theology were presented diplomas by President H. L. McCrorey. Dean Dwight Oliver Wendell Holmes, of the Graduate School ^ ot Howard University, Washing ton, D. C., delivered the annual address. Thrilling music was furnished by the University choir. The list of graduates follows; COLLEGE OF ITBERAL ART'S: Bachelor of Arts, Magna Cum Laude: Ethel Doris Johnson, Colum bia, S. C. Castle Cathryn Williams, Cot ton Plant, Ark. Bachelor of Arts, Cum Laude: James Julius Abney, Colum bia, S. C. Eugene Arthur Adair, Ches ter, S. C. Francena Goodwin Clarkson, Columbia, S. C. James Andrew Gaulden, Jr., Mansfield, La. Mrs. Minnie Walker Johnson, Columbia, S. C. Cecelia Mae Toatley, Chester field, S. C. Eugene Webber Wall, New Castle, Pa. Bachelor of Arts: James William Barnette, Pineville, N. C. Ushrv Walter Best, Kinston, N- C. ‘ ^ , Mrs. Ada Octavia Hoyden, Charlotte, N. C. Ora Inez Brown, Charlotte, N. C. Edward Earl Cannady, Ox ford, N. C. Alfred Daniel Coleman, Cor- dele, Ga. Otis Cullen Davenport, Ashe ville, N. C. Booker Thomas Davis, Lan caster, S. C. Mrs. Lelia Mildred McPher son Davis, Charlotte, N. C. Charles Philip Dusenbury, Youngstown, Ohio. Dorothy Martelle Dusenbury, Greensboro, N. C. Roberta Beatrice Ellis, Due West, S. C. James Peter George, Sardi nia, S. C. Paul Lawrence Dunbar Glov er, Oxford, N. C. Venetta Fannie Grier, Char lotte, N. C. Vernon Castle Grigg, Char lotte, N. C. Zoel Sylvester Hargrave Charlotte, N. C. Corrie Elouise Hart, Char lotte, N. C. Otis Hannibal Augustus Hawkins, Franklinton, N. C. Mrs. Thelma Harris Hunt Charlotte, N. C. LaNelle Jackson, Dalzell, S. C, John Nathaniel Ladson, Charleston, S. C. James Watkins Lynch, Ruth- erfordton, N. C. John Emanuel McKenzie, Cordele, Ga. Alta Mae McKnight, Char lotte, N. C. John Henry Moore, Charlotte, N. C. Shepard Stephen Moore, Clarkton, N. C. Sterleta Ogeechee Perrin, Charlotte, N. C. Ollie Barnwell Pratt, Due West, S. C. Edward LeRoy Price, Leaks- ville, N. C. Lillian Lucille Rudisill, Char lotte, N. C. Vivian Beatrice Shute, Char lotte, N. C. Howard Edward Sims, Win ston-Salem, N. C. Claude Allen Walker, Knox ville, Tenn. Odie Greene Walker, Jr., At lanta, Ga. Ethelyn Marie Wilson, Che- raw, S. C. Tom English Wilson, Bishop- ville, S. C. Paul Wylie Wright, York s c. Robert Pharaoh Wyche, Jr., Charlotte, N. C. Bachelor of Science, Cum Laude: Charles Edwin Greenlee, Marion, N. C. Henrv Aaron Hill, Chicago, III. Andrew Rendell Howell, Ox ford, N. C. Cassius Means Plair, Rock Hill, S. C. Mary Helen Stinson, Char lotte, N. C. Mrs. Olive Johnson Tate, Charlotte, N. C. Bachelor of Science: Joseph Charles Belton, Co lumbia, S. C. Minnie Alma Blake, Char lotte, N. C. James Thurmos Boyd, Dur ham, N. C. Henry Weldon Brown, Char lotte, N. C. Claudia Mae Cathey, Char lotte, N. C. Robert Arnett Denson, Bir mingham, Ala. Henry Coles Dugas, Char lotte, N. C. Hubert Arthur Eaton, Win ston-Salem, N. C. William Florace Gaines, Jr., Seneca, S. C. John Knox Hailey, Charlotte, N. C. Asburl Louis Holland, Sene ca, S. C. Joseph Willis Parker, Rocky Mount, N. C. Gertrude Geneva Plair, Mor- ganton, N. C. Lucinda Rita Russell, Columbia, S. C. Claude Eugene Sloan, Ashe ville, N. C. James Howard Smith, Crock ett, Texas. Clarence DeWitt Turner, Washington, N. C. SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY Bachelor of Divinity: William Frissell Cannon, B.S., South Carolina State A. & M. College, 1928, Laurens, S. C. Obra Jeffrey Hawkins, A.B., Knoxville College, 1924, Was- kom, Texas. Elliott Lawrence McAdams, A.B., Johnson C. Smith Univer sity, 1934, Anderson, S. C. William Tycer Nelson, A. B., Johnson C. Smith University, 1934, Mayesville, S. C. David Solomon Pogue, A.B., Johnson C. Smith University, 1934, Sumter, S. C. Calvin Monroe Young, B.S., South Carolina State A. &. M. College, 1934, Anderson, S. C. HONORIS CAUSA: Doctor of Pedagogy: Hardy Liston, A. B., ’ll, Knoxville, Tenn. Doctor of Divinity: Suder Quilerford Mitchell, A. B., ’ll, S. T. B., ’15, Char lotte, N. C. Benjamin Congleton Robeson, A. B., ’ll, New York, N. Y. world’s progress to attract fav orable consideration.” The speaker said there are three types of white people— those that just do not like the Negro; those that are philan thropic; and the third class who will do the fair and square thing, but know absolutely nothing at all about the colored man. Again, he said, the race must be optimistic, must ha.ve confidence in its own possibili ties. Humanity moves forward by climbing each one upon the shoulders of the other. 'The Dean was intensely interesting throughout his discourse, occa sionally dropping into a vein of humor much to the delight of his large audience which ap plauded vigorously in apprecia tion of his pleasing address. The Baccalaureate Services The baccalaureate services were held in the University church Sunday morning. May ■23, at 11 o’clock. The sermon was preached by the Reverend C. Marshall Muir, D. D„ pastor of the Bellefield Presbyterian church, of Pittsburgh, Pa. He selected as his text Dan. 5:27, his theme being, “Weight Mak- eth the Man.” The speaker said it is but natural that we should desire to count for some thing in the opinion of our fel- lowman. Many of life s efforts are directed towards that end, even to the matter of personal appearance. We should en deavor to be one whose person ality, whose word, and whose character would mean^ much among our associates. To suc ceed we must live the simple life. Most of the great men of our age such as Spinoza, the philosopher, and Shakespeare, the poet, were men of simple tastes. They practiced a Sim plicity that went down beneath the surface and kept them in touch with the plain people. Let us be men and womeh, said the speaker, ot strong con victions of right and wrong, and who will not lose their "sense of honest conduct, and who will not be infiuenced by political ex pediency. We should be inter ested in what the people are thinking, except as it may con cern ourselves. Only once did our Saviour make inquiry as to what the people were thinking about him. These are some of the prerequisites necessary for one to have in order to be a person ot weight. Daniel had them. Belshazzar did not. Finally, let God take you by his strong hand. His strength will sustain you. It’s God’s weight and not yours that will count in the struggle of life. The sermon itself, delivered in its simplicity, was a practical illustration of the truth the minister was trying to teach. Prof. E. L. Jackson, the coach, a.warded the prizes and a mem ber ot the group responded. Names of the girls receiving- awards are: Francena G. Clarkson, Colum bia, S. C.; Cecelia M. Toatley, Chesterfield, S. C.; Ethelyn M. Wils.ji, Cheraw, S. C.; Minnie A. Blake, Charlotte, N. C.; Ger trude G. Plair, Morganton, N. C.; Roberta B. Ellis, Due W.est, S. C. Dr. J. M. Miller, tor the Charleston, S. C., chapter of the Alumni Association and the Rev. D. C. Costner, for the Shelby, N. C., chapter, gave President McCrorey substantial sums for the dormitory fund. A letter accompanying the gift fro7n Charleston said that the women down there had become somewhat disgruntled and had to be taken into their organiza tion. The name now is the Johnson C. Smith University- Barber-Scotia chapter. 'Fhe Rev. Dr. W. L. lines, of New York, and Rev. Dr. Muir, of Pittsburgh, were present and when called upon for remarks responded most happily. Meeting of the Alumni The alumni met in its annual session Monday morning. May 24, at 10 o’clock. The usual routine of business was trans acted. President McCrorey was presented and spoke briefly of the drive for dormitory funds. The members appeared enthusi astic and pledged him their sup port for the project. Some cash was received and several subscriptions reported. All of ficers were re-elected for anoth er year, and the Reverend H. L. McCrorey, Jr., of Macon, Ga., was chosen guest speaker for next year. At a meeting held Tuesday it was agreed that a campaign tor roganize chapters through put the country be begun, and -Do that a bulletin be publish ed regularly to secure a closer cooperation between the va rious groups. By Dr. Kelly Miller Annual Address Dean Holmes did not an nounce a subject upon which he wuold base his remarks, but he discussed educational mat ters in general and succeeded in giving the graduates some wholesome advice. He paid a fine tribute to old age, saying it was the pathfinder to the world’s prgoress. Old age maps out the route along which youth may attain success. “Success,” said he, “is a relative thing. Each individual is responsible for his own success. Four years in college should be a wonder ful experience. Most reforms come from those that are down. The well-to-do are too content to make the effort. There is no use for the Negro to attempt to win fame by commercial gain nor can he hope to get all of his rights by force. He must make some contribution to the The President’s Reception to Graduating Classes and Alumni The annual banquet given by President and Mrs. McCrorey in honor of the alumni and mem bers of the graduating classes, is an event of great social dis tinction during commencement week. The banquet was held in the University dining hall at 6 P. M. Monday. The menu was all that one needed to wish, there being some fancy dishes that the writer was not ac quainted with. The guest speak er was Mr. Newton L. Gregg, ’27, of Greensboro. He was listened to with a great deal of interest as he spoke of the re ciprocal responsibilities of the University and its alumni. He made some very practical sug gestions by which the best in terests of both might be con served A very pleasing incident that occurred during the banquet hour was the dedication of a journal to President and Mrs. McCrorey by the Charlotte chapter of the alumni. Dean Hardy Liston, of Knoxville Col lege, President of the General Alumni Association, made the presentation address to which Dr. McCrorey responded; and Mrs. McCrorey was prompt with a “Me, too.” Six young women members of the senior class who played on the basketball team were brought forward land awarded bracelets for their Class Day Exercise The commencement finals be gan Friday afternoon, the 21st, when the Seniors held their class day exercise in Bid dle Memorial Hall. The pro gram consisted of the usual va riety of numbers common to such occasions, as college songs, speech making, and those fun producing features that always create a bit of merriment at the expense of the professors and of the members of the class. A part of the exercise took place on the campus near the Carnegie library where a drink ing fountain erected by the class was dedicated and presented to the institution. Mr. Clarence DeWitt Turner, class president, made the presentation speech and President McCrorey accept ed the gift tor the school in a few well pi’epared remarks. The ceremony was closed with prayer and the benediction. Junior Prize Contest Immediately following the President’s reception, Monday evening, the Junior Prize Con test took place in Biddle Memo rial Hall. The contestants were five young men and one young- woman who had won out in the preliminaries over their class mates. They were competing for a gold medal given annually by the Alumni Association for the best oration delivered by a member of the Junior Class. In awarding the prize the commit tee are to take several view points into consideration. The following is a list of the con testants with their subjeccts: “The Impending Crisis ot the American Negro,” John Louie Logan, Marion, N. C. “Aspects of International Trade,” Norman Morton Patter son, Lenoir, N. C. “Farm Tenancy As a Social Factor,” Elsie Lucile Grier, Bel mont, N. C. “How Many Centuries of Progress?’’ Howard Gaither Wilson, Bristol, Va. “The Scholarship of Athens During the Classical Period,” John 1). Rockefeller died May 23, ]9:S7, at Ormand Beach, Florida, at the age of ninety- seven. During his lifetime he accumulated a larger personal fortune than had fallen the lot of any other member of the hu man race in ancient or modern times. In the domain of business en terprise and material exploita tion he stands at the head of his class. After exerting his rugged individuality in accu mulation of a fortune beyond the dreams of avarice, he de voted his remaining years to the promotion of charity and philanthropic enterprises. While building up his mammoth for tune he crushed out his rivals with a ruthlessness exceeded only by that which they would have executed upon him had the tide of advantage turned their way. He played the game according to the rule ex isting at that time, but the laws of the game were rather those of the jungle—red in tooth and claw—rather than the Golden Rule by which Christian con duct is supposed to be guided. If the devil took the hindmost, he would never catch John D. Rockefeller. At the cost of suc cess he brought down upon his head curses and maledictions of unmitigated virulence. Newspapers, magazines and books poured out vials of wrath upon his head, noted authors made their reputations by de nouncing him. Proffer of his money was refused by sundry churches and religious organi zations because its ill gotten gain was looked upon as filthy lucre and tainted money. This was the reward of that portion of his life devoted to the accu mulation of treasures on earth where moth and rust doth cor rupt and thieves break through and steal. But, during his later years, when he translated his corrupt ible wealth into incorruptible human service, the tide of con demnation was reversed and he was esteemed and extolled as a great benefactor. He donated to charity and philanthropic en terprises more than half a bil lion dollars, a larger sum than has ever been contributed by, any single individual of the hu man race. If we measure phil anthropy by the amount rath er than the motive, John D. Rockefeller’s name will lead all the rest. The parable of the widow’s mite pales into insig nificance by comparison with his millions. to the dying souls of men. /The sous follow'ed the lines of their respective fathers; Rockefeller following the God of Mammon and Armstrong the God of love and mercy. The individuality of Arm strong was as rugged and his life as strenuous as that of Rockefeller. At first the two were motivated by wide apart aims and ideals. They both reached the loftiest peaks in their several fields of endeavor. Armstrong died at fifty-four. Rockefeller .survived to nearly twice that age, but he had ac cumulated his fortune and com pleted that phase of his life’s work about the time of Arm strong’s death. From the beginning, Arm strong devoted himself, with out stint or reserve, to the re clamation and uplift of the poor and needy. He never devoted one moment’s thought to the accumulation of personal wealth. “He drank deep of the nectard anodyne of selflessness.” When he died friends of the cause which he had served, lovingly provided for his family. The whole Negro race is Armstrong’s everlasting debtor. This apostle of industrial educa tion infused the spirit of sanity and sobriety into the emotional philanthropy of his day and taught the Negro that he must work out his own salvation through .industry, thrift and economy rather than by reli ance upon charity and alms. Hampton Institute stands as the monument to one who may clearly be called America’s greatest educator and practical philanthropist. His life fulfills Walt Whitman’s definition of true philosophy: “When 1 give, I do not give lec- tures of a little diarity, But wlien I give, 1 give myself.” Which of the twain has chos en the better part? Rockefeller has wrought well, but Arm strong has wrought more excel lently. The world praises the billionaire for his good gifts, but loves Armstrong for his work and worth. Solomon tells us a good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favor rather than silver and gold. The name of Rockefeller may go down in history as an ex emplar of rugged individuality who accumulated and distribut ed millions of wealth, but Arm strong will go down as one who loved his fellowmen and was beloved bv them. (Continued on Page 2) It is probably forgotten, it it was ever known by the bulk of the readers ot this column, that it was a Negro, Booker T. Washington, by name, who in duced John 1). Rockefeller to contribute his first million dol lars towards the formation of the General Education Board. His first intention was to con tribute that amount directly to the education of the Negro, but under Mr. Washington’s persua sion the Foundation was estab fished for broader educational purposes. After Mr. Washing ton’s suggestion had been ac cepted and adopted in the form ation of the General Education Board, he was refused a place among the directors because of his race. The late Mr. William H. Baldwin informed me that he intended to see to it that Mr. Washington was placed on the Board, but he died an untimely death before this piu’pose could be consummated. Both Armstrong and Rocke feller figured importantly in the fife of Booker T. Washington, who embodied and exemplified the spirit and purpose of phil anthropy beyond any other member of his race. Charles Chapman Armstrong and John D. Rockefeller were born the same year, 1839. They sprang from the same social grade and level of society. Rockefeller’s father devoted himself to barter and business shrewdness. Armstrong’s fath er became a missionary to the Hawaiian Islands, to minister S'l'A'l'E SUPREME COURT HEARS ARGUMENT IN CASE OP NEGRO STUDENT Jefferson City, Mo.—May 21. —The appeal of Lloyd L. Gaines against the decision of the Mis souri circuit court refusing him a writ of mandamus against the University of Missouri to compel the university to admit him to its school of law, was argued before the supreme court of Missouri May 18 and taken under advisement. Gaines filed suit in April, 1936, against the University of Missouri after the board of curators had rejected his appli cation for admission to the school of law solely on the ground of color. The case was tried in Columbia, Missouri, the seat of the university, July 10, 1936, and decided against Gaines. The appeal argued to day was from that decision. Counsel for the university raised the question of social equality and attempted to ex cuse the University of Missouri for refusing a Negro law stu dent on the ground that the State had appropriated millions of dollars for Lincoln Universi ty (colored) and had arranged for scholarship provisions for Negroes to study graduate and professional courses outside the State. The University of Mis souri lawyers also contended (Continued on Pag-e 4)
Africo-American Presbyterian (Wilmington, N.C.)
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June 3, 1937, edition 1
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