p. 19 | Graduation Exercises by L. A. H.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park, Washington, D. C. · Sep 19, 1912

Graduation Exercises

By L. A. H.

THE graduation exercises of the sixth class of the Washington Sanitarium Training-school for Nurses took place the evening of September 5, in the chapel of the Foreign Mission Seminary, a class of fifteen members receiving diplomas. There was also graduated the first class of the Seminary-Sanitarium Postgraduate Course. The occasion was perhaps of sufficient general interest to our people to permit a report of it for these columns.

The attendance of friends from home and away was such as to overcrowd the place. Telegrams of congratulations from others who could not be present were received and read. A number of handsome floral offerings were received by the class and its individual members. Everything indicated a deep interest in the occasion on the part of friends.

The principal address of the evening was given by Elder F. M. Wilcox, who has had long and practical association with sanitarium work. While every other number on the program received applause, and justly so, the address was received with a stillness that spoke of solemn and serious acceptance by hearts impressed with its full-laden truth. Comment can add nothing. We have requested the privilege of having it printed, so it appears in this department under a heading of its own. It will prove interesting and profitable to all readers.

The address to the postgraduates was given by Prof. M. E. Kern, and was filled with earnest counsel to those who would respond to the present-day call for workers of proficiency as well as consecration. Attention was called to the remarkable development of the postgraduate work, especially in connection with

the Washington Sanitarium City Dispensary, where is given such wide opportunity of practical training in clinical and house-to-house experience. Judging from the expressions of those taking the course, great satisfaction is found in the actual doing of relief work as well as in the increased efficiency thus gained. Prospects for the future are promising for this course, and a number of persons are entering it, and others planning to do so.

An unusually interesting class history was given by Dr. H. N. Sisco, superintendent of the training-school. He gave also an apt delineation of the characters of the class members, and foretold the possible future of each, all giving evidence of a close observation of each student nurse. The presentation of diplomas was also made by the doctor, in the absence of Elder W. T. Knox, president of the board of trustees.

Music, instrumental and vocal, was supplied by local talent. A class poem of merit, which is published in this department, was given by a member of the class, Miss Berenice Smith. A class song was rendered by all the members. With lights out, an electrically illuminated class motto, "Work to Win," was shown, arranged by one of the Seminary students, Mr. Henry Transtrom.

The following is a list of the class members, with their States and countries: Anna S. Osberg, New York, class president; Thomas Brown, Canada; Sarah A. Charlton, England; Esther B. Fenton, Canada; Eva M. Faust, Delaware; Jensina E. Hansen, Maine; L. Oleva Ingersoll, Michigan; Eva L. Lindeberg, Sweden; Margaret I. McCullough, Ohio; Hulda E. Olsen, Sweden; Anna F. Pengelly, Canada; Daisy F. Roth, Pennsylvania; Berenice S. Smith, Connecticut; Dorothy J. Spicer, District of Columbia; Elsie F. Sewell, Maryland. The members of the postgraduate class were: Miss Margaret Ramsay, Canada; Miss Evelyn Lothrop, California.

Some of these graduates will leave at once for other fields, while others remain with the Sanitarium. Considerable talent is represented by the class as a whole, and this addition to our force of trained workers should add proportionately to our accomplishments. It would be a great loss indeed to use three years in earnest work, in anxious care on the part of the institutional management, in careful training by instructors, and many hours of study on the part of students, if the results should be lost to our cause. Greater loss would it be should any of these young people drift to the world, in spite of the unusual advantages given them. Sad it is that such as this does happen. May prayer and counsel help to safeguard all these and others who should be responding to the urgent call for consecrated and capable workers.

L. A. H.