Case Western Reserve University - Lux / Differential Yearbook (Cleveland, OH)

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Samuel Mather, Cleveland ' s First Ci!i::i ' ii and Resen ' c ' s (ircalesi Benefactor. Mr. Alallicr iirrscntcd the cimlrdl and nianaj HMiK-nt of this liuildiiii; to the faculty, but he also presented to the science iif Medicine and to the world a laboratory which can not be measured in ilollars and cents. In clu ini.; his speech Mr. Mather said, 1 realize, as 1 am sure that the faculty of the Medical School realize, fully, that it is not bricks and nicn-- tar, Mr. C ' h.iirnian. that, makes a successful medical school or contributes over much to the success of an institution oi learn- ' u g. It is the character and (|uality of the men who carry on the teachings and instruction in that building, whu turn out the well (|ualitied students from that building, who carry on and make ])ubltc researches that will bring forth new medical facts and knowledge for the benefit of the world . President Vinson, receiving the gift on behalf of the Uni- versity, said, I do accept this trust with gratitude to God and to you, liis servant ; and do dedicate these buildings to instruction and research in the science of Medicine. Dr. Harvey Gushing, of the Peter Brent Hospital of Boston, and Professor of Medicine at Harvard Universitv, then traced the history of the Western Reserve, the ideals which prompted it, and the energy which made it possible. He showed the connection of Western Reserve University with this movement and outlined the history of this institution. Gleveland in the beginning, he said, was not a very healthful place and the need of trained physicians soon became very apparent. Gradually through the untiring efforts of the few doctors in the comnninity a medical school was begun on a very small scale. From this small beginning the school has evolved and progressed until it now ranks as one of the three leading medical schools of the country. Dr. Gushing depicted the hardships through which the school passed be- fore it finallv reached its goal. He told in a personal way of the work of the founders and early professors. He recalled the traditions of the school and showed the profound influence that the clergy of Gleveland had in the development of medical training. Dr. Gushing asserted that the early death of Leonard Gase, Sr., was all that prevented the combination of Gase School with Western Reserve University and the Medical School, then a separate institution. In concluding his speech Dr. Gushing expressed his hope and belief that Reserve and Gase would combine to form one of the greatest universities of the country. The new Medical Building was then opened for inspection. It was the ideal materialized. It was a monument to the founders and early professors of the College, who lived and died that such a consummation as this might come about some day. How dift ' erent was this dedicatory ceremony from the first one held in fleveland back in 1882! At that time brief services were held in a Presbyterian church close by the cam])ns. Ex-President Rutherford B. Hayes made the dedicatory speech. The assemblage then adjourned to the campus, where a rough platform had been constructed. From this platform Amasa Stone presented Stone Hall, now the Main Building of Adelbert College, and the Dormitory, to the University. Stone Hall was rather crude and had been hastily constructed. Almost immediately two liay windows had to be built on the front to keep the wall from falling in. . few ears later the building was renovated by a Mr. Polk and made to look as it is today. The new medical buildings presented on this day will not reo|uire bay windows to keep the walls from falling in, nor will they require complete renovating in a few years. Western Reserve has proven itself woi ' thy of the money to build suitable structures to house the ramify- ing student bodies under her tutelage, and modern conveniences make the pursuit of an educa- tion in Cleveland today seem a very lei.surely procedure as contrasted with the wracking hard- ships of our alunnii of ;i century ago. 24

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O God ()ui I U-Ip In Aijes Past . ' Hie nui ic tilled the i;yiiiii;i- siuni, spread to the outside and tlorited u[) thniuj h the crisp autumn air. 1, the old master, liy virtue of power given unto me, present and declare that Robert Ernest Vinson is President of Western Reserve University and of its affiliated schools; and 1, the old master, tjive the best blessini;- of heart and of mind and of soul to the new master . Thus did Prexy Thwing, three decades of fruitful endeavor for the University behind him, leave in his place another to hold on high the torch so bravely carried by him thru the long term of his presidency. Then came the new master to state his ideals and ambitions for Western Reserve and to enjoin cooperation looking to their fulfillment upon the multitude before him. After tracing the growth of higher education in America, he pointed out the most prominent criticisms, qualified them, presented his own expecta- tions, and appUed them to Reserve. In closing he expressed his appreciation of the honor which had been bestowed upon him and jjledged himself to the greater future of the University. As a fitting epilogue to the impressive rites of the morning, the new President conferred upon Mr. Samuel Mather, Cleveland ' s first citizen and Reserve ' s greatest benefactor , the degree of Doctor of Laws, saying, as he did so, Western Reserve desires to present you to the oncoming generation of her students as the type and example of that which she is endeavoring to produce. Then the orchestra played The Coronation March and the academic procession slowly filed out. Soon the gymnasium was empty. A worn but precious rectangle of silk fluttered on the speakers ' stand in the breeze that came thru the open doors. It was the flag with eighteen stars that draped the cornerstone laid at Hudson at the founding of the University, a century ago during the presidency of John Quincy Adams. Only a scrap of silk, but symbolic of how much that every Reserve man and woman holds dear! Dr. Cushiny, uf Harvard, and President Vinson. THE DEDICATION OF THE MEDICAL SCHOOL At 2:45 P. M. the academic procession again filed into the gymnasium. This service was in honor of an inanimate object, a tool, which was to be formally placed in the hands of the faculty. This tool, the new Medical Building, had been made possible by the generous donation of Mr. Samuel Mather. The exercises meant far more than a formal presentation of a building and equipment. It meant far more than a gift worth two and one-half million dollars. It meant the fulfillment of a dream more than ten years old. This was a presentation of the fruits of more than a decade of planning and working. Mr. Samuel Mather Reeeifes the Degree of Doctor of Laivs. 2Z

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Till ' : BANQUET The formal and ceremonious jiart of the day had l)eeii completed and now was the time for the free and joyous celebration of what the ctTeiimnies had sii niiticd. This affair was held ill Adelbert Gymnasium also. City Manager William R. Hopkins. Adelbert ' ' Xi. Law Scho(jl ' 99, spoke for the men aluimii of the University. He expressed the pride which the alumni hold in their Alma Mater and the li(ii)e which they all felt on this memorable day. He reiterated the ideals stated by Presi- dent in iin in his Inaui ural. and stated a few of the desires of the Cleveland alumni. Mrs. II. 1 . C ' ollacott. College for Women ' 94. spoke for the women alumni, miilining the evolution of women ' s rights from a mere nothing to a place of equality in all things educational with men. She pledged the support of the University women to President Vinson ' s plans. Professor Herrick, speaking in behalf of the faculty and student body, congratulated the new President and promised the support and loyalty of all in the University. Mr. Samuel Mather, representing the Trustees, told of the difficulties in choosing a presi- dent, of the time and energy expended, and then of the success in getting the right man for the job. He commended Dr. Vinson ' s executive ability and illustrated what he meant by an e.xcerpt from the classic Cappy Ricks stories. Dr. Charles Howe, President of Case School of Applied Science, pledged his cooperation to President Vinson and promised that Case would carry on its work in complete accord with the Greater University idea. Dr. Livingston Farrand, President of Cornell University, making the principal address, brought the congratulations of all the colleges and universities of the country to Reserve and President Vinson. He warned against standardization of the L ' niversity and [jainted a glowing picture of the future Western Reserve as he saw it. The new President was the next and concluding speaker of the evening. I think of this dav. ladies and gentlemen, as a great day, not so much becau.se of the inauguration of a President, which to my mind is purely incidental, but 1 think of it as the inauguration of a new movement in the University itself, the coming of new life, the doing of greater if not of larger things, and it is from that angle that this day appeals to nie. It is because of the fact that our minds have been gradually crystallizing in the direction which we trust the University now will take and having reached these conclusions it has given us great pleasure to ask our friends of the academic world to share with us something of the vision of the oppor- tunity which this institution presents, and to come to us and to wish us God speed in carrying out these plans. To all representatives of sister institutions both here and abroad, to all representatives of learned societies, who have given us their presence and their encouragement today, I wish to express our grateful appreciation of the interest which you have taken in the new life of this great institution, and to pledge to you along with the citizens of this community our best eflforts to do something here which will make you more and more glad to have us associated in this great efYort of which we all are a part in this countrv and the world over. It is a wonderful thing to stand at the heart and soul of a situation as an institution of higher learning does; to have the teeming young life of the nation about you, replete with power and possibility and character, and to feel the constant pull of that kind of thing upon you for the days to come, and if it weren ' t for that it seems to me it would be impossible for any man to endure the things that have to be done in the carrying on of a work like this. It is a hard work but it has its compensations, compensations which are all its own. which no man, who has ever been able to secure any of them, would exchange for any other kind of compensation which the world has to offer. Ladies and Gentlemen, on behalf of Western Reserve University I thank you for your presence with us today, for the interest in our problems which it manifests, and as we ) ' ■. Durand of Stanford. Presidcnl separate I bid vou each in vour separate work God speed! Emeritus Thiving and President Birgc of Hisconsin. 25