The bulletin of Atlanta University, 1909 no. 192

              Number 192                                      Atlanta, Georgia                                         June, 1909 Commencement Week The campus was never more beautiful nor the weather more propitious than during the fortieth Commencement Week at Atlanta University, which has just come to a successful close. There were frequent showers and some hard rain, but notwithstanding this the exercises were well attended and the response was enthusiastic. Public Day at the Oglethorpe School The exhibition of class-room and industrial work at the Oglethorpe School was worthy of the great praise it received, and the little people recited their lessons and went through their exercises apparently oblivious of the crowds of parents and friends who thronged the building. A new feature of the exhibit was the work of the boys of the sixth and seventh grades at the Knowles Industrial Building. Phi Kappa Anniversary This took place Thursday night, the address being given by Dr. J. A.Rush, pastor of the Central Avenue A. M. E. Church. The Sunday Exercises The Baccalaureate sermon was preached by the Rev. George L. Paine, Rector of St. Mary's Church, Dorchester, Mass. This was Mr. Paine's first visit to Atlanta since his election to the board of trustees. His sermon appears in part elsewhere in The Bulletin. He remained with us throughout the week, and manifested a deep interest in every department of the work and gave pleasure to all by his hearty good cheer. Class Night Exercises Under the training and management of Mrs. A. P. Herndon the Senior Class presented Sheridan's play, " The Rivals." Though the night was stormy every seat was taken, and the performance of the student players met with enthusiastic response.  The sale of tick- ets will make a substantial addition to the fund for a new auditorium. No Commencement passes without emphasis upon our need for a new hall of larger seating facilities. Again and again we have turned hundreds from the Ware Memorial Chapel because every seat was occupied. The Fourteenth Annual Conference The subject this year was ''Efforts for Social Betterment among Negroes," the same subject which was studied eleven years ago. We were disappointed in the inability of Mr. Hamilton Holt to speak to us as advertised, but were most fortunate in obtaining the services of Mr. I. M. Rubinow, special agent of the Bureau of Commerce and Labor at Washington, who, as a native of Russia, gave an address on the social welfare work among the Russian peasants. Selections from this address are printed elsewhere in this issue. The walls of Ware Memorial Chapel were lined with charts showing tabulated statistics in regard to the progress of the Negro race in the matter of social betterment. The afternoon session was given to the twelfth annual Mothers' Meeting, and was of great interest with a gathering of over 150 little children from the Free Kindergartens supported by the colored people in the city of Atlanta. The evening session of the Conference was given to Mr. Rubinow's address and to a stereopticon exhibit of methods of social betterment, which contained many helpful suggestions with reference to improving and beautifying homes. The Wednesday Exercises The exhibit of industrial work, aside from the purpose indicated, usually affords the graduates and their friends a delightful opportunity to visit the different buildings and the shop, and enjoy the beauty of the campus. Unfortunately it rained in the afternoon, but nevertheless many of the friends made the usual rounds. In the afternoon the annual meeting of the trustees was held. We were fortunate in getting a quorum in Atlanta. The presence of the trustees at the school is always a great help and encouragement in the work. The Alumni had a large gathering at their meeting Wednesday night, and at the banquet which followed it at North Hall, to which teachers and guests were also invited. Commencement Exercises There were twelve speakers, representing the College class of seven and the Normal class of twenty - eight. Places of honor on the program were assigned to James Tate Cater and Wil-lette Rutherford Banks, of the College, and to Willie L. Huguley and Annie L. Stiles, of the Normal School. The essays and orations were creditable, an unusual variety of subjects being discussed by the young graduates. The college honors announced were, in the Class of 1909: With Highest Honor, James Tate Cater; in the Class of 1911: With High Honor, Lucius Lee Jordan; With Honor, Silas Sylvester Abrams. We also announced this year Normal honors for the graduating class, as follows: With Honor, Willie L. Huguley, Ethel McCarter, Annie E. Stiles, and Anna T. Tucker. Conferring of the Master's Degree As a part of the Commencement Exercises, President Ware conferred upon William Andrew Rogers, of the Class of 1899, for graduate work successfully accomplished under the supervision of the Sociological Department of Atlanta University, the degree of Master of Arts. Announcement was also made of the honorary degree of Master of Arts as conferred by Atlanta University upon the following graduates: Carrie E. Brydie '99, for work at the University of Chicago; Augustus G. Dill '06, and Truman K. Gibson '05, for work at Harvard University. The President's Reception This brought together a large number of students, graduates, and their friends, and made a pleasant conclusion to the school year 1908-09.