Commencement Exercises of the American Medical Missionary College
The fourth class graduating from the American Medical Missionary College held its closing exercises at the Tabernacle, Monday evening, June 16.
The church was decorated with flowers and the college and class colors, in the midst of which was conspicuous the motto “Reasonable Service,” from Rom. 12:1, and a full house gathered to celebrate the occasion with the class.
Prof. W. W. Prescott, who presided at the exercises, in the absence of the president, Dr. J. H. Kellogg, at present in Europe, Elder Evans, and the speaker of the evening occupied the platform behind the bank of green foliage and white flowers, and the faculty and students sat in the center of the house.
The delegation from the nurses’ class, though not as large this year as on some former occasions, nor as large as we hope to see on future ones, always makes a pleasant adjunct to the medical school, in their fresh uniforms of blue and white, and with their cheerful, interested faces.
The music was furnished by the Germania10Orchestra, which is equivalent to saying that this feature of the program was excellent.
Elder I. H. Evans offered prayer.
The address was given by Dr. William Malcolm, who was for ten years a medical missionary in China, and was driven out by the recent uprising. In introducing him Professor Prescott said that it seemed fitting that at the commencement exercises of this, a distinctively missionary college, the address should be given by a practical missionary. A portion of Dr. Malcolm’s address will be found elsewhere in these columns.
After Dr. Malcolm’s address the class was represented by Mr. A. C. Selmon and Miss Mary E. Britton, each in a brief address.
Professor Prescott presented the diplomas to the class, prefacing the presentation with apt remarks. Among other things, he said: “A diploma or a ‘degree’ in itself confers no power for service. Unless this power is already won, a diploma will not be of use to-morrow. A diploma or a degree simply opens a door, or an opportunity, for service in a legal way. It is the work of years of patient, plodding labor and study that determines whether or not the opportunity can be met.
“The very picture that has been presented to us in the address this evening is an inspiration,—a call to a great field for service,—a most emphatic call for service. Let it be heeded, and the opportunity for service be improved. It is a call for men and women prepared to render to mankind the greatest service, under God, that it is possible for humanity to render,—help for the body, help for the soul,—deliverance from the bondage of physical disease, and deliverance from the greater bondage of sin. That is the call.”
The class of twenty-four then filed across the platform, and passed down the opposite side, receiving their diplomas as they went.
A selection by the orchestra followed, and Elder I. H. Evans dismissed the audience, many of whom lingered for a few words of congratulation to the graduates.
As many of the alumni who attended the commencement were to leave early Tuesday morning, the exercises were followed by an alumni meeting and reception to the members at the home of Dr. May Habenicht, on Champion Street. Dr. E. L. Eggleston, president of the association, was chairman of the meeting. The officers elected for the coming year were as follows: Dr. J. F. Morse, President; Dr. J. M. Keichline and Dr. A. C. Selmon, first and second Vice-Presidents; and Dr. Julia White, Secretary and Treasurer.
Before another day most of the class had scattered, awaiting the completion of the arrangements which will send them to their several fields, home and foreign.
