42nd Commencement Exercises With fitting pomp reminiscent of the older ceremonials of University life, St. John's University on Saturday celebrated its 42nd annual commencement.
The march of a procession head ed by past and present students, and followed by distinguished guests and speakers to the main hall was the signal for the opening of the proceedings. The assembly filed slowly past the Rev. W. P. Roberts, who addressed them in prayer. The president of the institution, Dr. F. L. Hawks Pott, then gave his presidential address.
Upon the prizes being distributed, 42 degrees, three of which were honorary, were conferred in recognition of services rendered to China. Dr. David 2. Yui was made the recipient of the hon, degree of Doctor of Laws; Dr. C. C. Wang, of the Ministry of Communications, became a Doctor of Laws and' of Philosophy, and Prof, R. McNutt McElroy, 2 Doctor of Philosophy (in abstentia). Prof. McElroy was the first exchange professor to China, being sent over here by the U. S. Government in 1916.
Among those present were Mir. C. F. Hsu, Commissioner of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Edwin 8. Cunningham, U. S. Consul-General, the Rey. Dr. Darroch, the Rev. A. N. Rowland, Mr. Y. 8. Ziar, member of the Advisory Board of the Municipal Council, Dr. T. K. M. liao, formerly president of the Alumni Association, Drs. Way-sung and William New, and Mr. W. Lockwood, of the Y. M. C. A.
Neep ron Blow Tprats.
The Rev. A. N. Rowland, addressing the students, said the question that confronted them was how to establish themselves in the outer world, and how to elevate the world when they found it. They could not go very far unless they were supported by high ideals. The problem of education was to relate the inner with the outer so that the ideals would be strong enough to lift the world and become adjusted to the world's actual needs. It was significant that the year 1921 had marked the centenary of two great men in history. Dante was a master of the inner world and Napoleon, of the outer world. Dante created a unique work of imagination and had political ideas, but was denied the chance of putting them into effect. He composed his work in exile, in despite if not in despair, Such a career was not to be imitated nor was it to be desires Napoleon was in masterful conflict with the world from his teens. He made statesmen "roll up the map of Europe," but sacrificed the claims of the inner life. These two tragic careers left two questions to be answered: How to build up the inner life and how to use and spend it. The speaker then gave examples of the life and work of Emerson and Mazzini, and said that the former declared that "great things were never done except by the rejection of individualism and the sacrifice. of self.' Emerson was especially qualified to guide the mind of an educated young China.
Mr. Yui emphasized the need for development in young China. Education, he said, developed conversely with national progress and the permanence of the foundation of a nation depended on_ the proper attention to educational problems. They wanted specialists and the adoption of really universal education. Most graduates turned out by universities and schools were not fit for work. Modern trades demanded specialists. Were the colleges supplying these needs?
Tue PresipentiaL AppREss, In the course of his presidential address, Dr. Pott said that a new departure had recently been made in the work of administration. Prof. J, A. Ely had been elected Dean of the College of Arts and Science.
The past year had been one of the best in the history of the institution and the work had gone on without interruption, News had just been received! of a gift of Tls. 17,000 from-Mrs. J. F. Seaman. in memory of her husband, the late Mr. J. F. Seaman, who' was for 40 years a highly' esteemed resi: dent of the Settlement. The sum of G.$10,000 already given by Mrs. Seaman with the promised donation would be used for a new building contemplated. to be called Seaman Hall.
Speaking of the range of the curriculum, Dr. Pott said it had been proposed to introduce a course of journalism in connexion with the teaching of English.
Like all educational institutions many limitations were imposed by the lack of funds, It was hoped, however, providing the support of the alumni and both Chinese and foreign philanthropists continued, that St. John's would reach further stages of development and become of greater service to China. True service to that country was the object for which the institution existed.
Tue prize in the long distance race between Tokio and) Shanghai proposed by the Japanese Imperial Aviation Association to be held in November next, will be Yen 50,000.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.