Six Institutions Graduate 492 Students in Grand Theatre; Address by Judge M, J. Helmick Shanghai, June 25.
'OINT commencement exercises were held yesterday morning in the Grand Theatre by the East China Christian Colleges and Univer es, namely, Ginling College. Shanghai Unit Woman's Christian Medical College, Hangchow Christian College, Soochow University, University of Shanghai and St. John's University. It was an impressive and instructive ceremony attended by 492 students graduating from both middle schools and colleges of the above mentioned institutions and about 2,000 guests and professors of different nationalities.
An inspiring commencement address was delivered by Judge Milton J. Helmick of the United States Court for China, Before the meeting was called to order music was played by the Band fof the Fourth United States Marines by courtesy of Col. 3. C. Fegan, Commanding OMecr, followed by the profession of guests of hour, faculties and feandidates. The programme consisted of National, Anthem, Invocation by President ¥. L, Hawks Pott of St. John's University who later also made speech on behalf of college presid~ ents" present as a charge. to. the {raduating youths, commencement dress, awarding. of middle school cer lineates, conferring of degrees. and roading' of the list of prise winners by various scholars, It is interesting {0 note that 21 students of St. Zohn's University obtained digress of doctor of medicine, a rather new branch of Study in institutions in this country.
Judge Helmick spoke as follows:—Most commencement addresses fall into two general themes—one con cerning the graduates" obligation to humanity, the other concerning the graduated changes for personal sue ess in life. This morning T hope to touch briefly on both familiar themes.
Never before was education so necessary both for world order and for personal advancement. In the short space of, let us say 7S years, the world has had such amazing mechani-col_-and™ scientific' progress—that Hhumans have not been able to as-simulate and digest the modern things they have created themselves, Seventy five years is but a fash oF fan instant compared with the time humans have lived on this planet and 75 years 1s but a fecting season in the Life of the Chinese nation. Yet the so-called "progress" and develop ents of hose Last 7 years have Ullerly changed the manner of living {ind the minds of men that this world laner to the world which ex! planet Mars would seem to could explore it This mechanical and scientific flash Hnich has struck us has produced a strange confusion, Tt may mean self destruction or it may be the birth pangs of a new. and enlightened world, We may reasonably assume that perhaps it is not a mere momentary Mash but that science will endue and machines and devices will con-time to be produced, It 89, the problem becomes one of direction. By whom and for what are se modern processes and formulas be controlled and used? It seems, in this crisis, that the type of tality which is to take charge is of terrifying Importance, Medieval mentality utilizing modern methods and tools. spells a horrible world catastrophe." And herein ies the concern the young graduate of today. and the concern of the whole world and of civilization
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.