The Lectures Finished.  Tennessee Medical College’s Commencement Exercises next Week

The lectures at the Tennessee Medical college were concluded yesterday afternoon, and the written examination of the students will commence to-day, closing next Wednesday.  Then oral examinations will be order.

The commencement exercises will take place at Staub’s theatre, Thursday the 19th.  The Rev. D. D. Sutherland will deliver the address, and Dr. C. M. Drake of the faculty will deliver the charge to the graduates.

Crouch’s full orchestra has been engaged and will play some beautiful selections, arranged especially for the grand and auspicious occasion.

Seventy-five students, representing thirteen states, are now attending the Medical college, and it is confidently expected that there will be a large graduating class.

An elegant program will be arranged when it is known who the successful students are, and to the exercises at Staub’s the public are cordially invited.

At the conclusion of the exercises, the students will be banquetted [sic], at which hotel it has not yet been decided by the faculty, thus completing a pleasant year’s course in the successful and rapidly advancing Tennessee medical college.

Source:  Knoxville Daily Journal and Tribune, March 13, 1891, page 4

 

Commencement Exercises of the Tennessee Medical College To Be Held To-Night

The Est Tennessee Medical college holds its commencement exercises to-night at Staub’s theatre.

The following students will receive their diplomas:  In the medical department, J. C. Anderson, L. A. Copenhaver, A. W. Dale, V. C. Dale, N. C. Ellis, H. S. Fisher, T. F. Fitzgerald, J. W. Gritard, J. D. Henderson, O. P. Lawrence, A. E. Lydy, J. D. McPhetridge, J. D. Nichols, H. V. Pennington, A. B. Raegan [sic], S. S. Royster, J. R. Thomas; and in dental department A. S. Booth, D. O. Foley, H. F. Henderson, J. A. Keener, S. B. McBride, J. K. Moose, J. W. Smathers.

Following is the program of the exercises:

Orchestra.
Divine Invocation by Rev. J. H. Frazee.
Orchestra.
Address by Rev. R. R. Sutherland, D. D. Orchestra.
Awarding diplomas to graduates in medical department by Col. E. J. Sanford, president of the board of trustees.
Music.
Awarding diplomas to graduates in dental department by Col. E. J. Sanford, president of the board of trustees.
Music.
Awarding diplomas to graduates in dental department by Col. E. J. Sanford, president of board of trustees.
Orchestra.
Charge to graduates by Prof. C. M. Drake, M. D.
Orchestra.
Awarding of prizes by master of ceremonies, Prof. J. W. Hill, M. D.
Music.
Benediction.
Auld Lang Syne.

Source:  Knoxville Daily Journal and Tribune, March 19, 1891, page 8

 

They Bid Good-Bye to Their Alma Mater the Tennessee Medical Collage.  The Second Annual Commencement of that Institution Celebrated at Staub’s — The Banquet

Staub’s opera house was filled last nigh [sic] with a large audience, the occasion being the second annual commencement exercises of Tennessee medical college, dental and medical departments.  The program was opened at eight o’clock with a march performed by Crouch’s orchestra.

Rev. J. H. Frazee, D. D., then delivered and [sic] appropriate divine invocation.

Address by Rev. R. R. Sutherland, D. D., of the Second Presbyterian church.

Dr. Sutherland opened his address by expressing the close relations which existed between the professions of medicine and theology.  Ministers, doctors and undertakers are closely allied.  The professions of medicine and theology have much in common, except wealth.  In an ideal society the two professions would appear combined.

The most illustrious example of a teacher and healer was Christ, who made the lame to walk, the blind to see, and cleansed lepers.

The seat of much of the world’s skepticism is the stomach.  A diseased soul can proceed from a diseased body.  Man of a physician’s patients need peace with God more than quinine.

The future faculties of medical colleges may contain ministers, and the logical seminaries may give chairs to physicians.  The woeful ignorance of many ministers as to the wants of the body materially prevent from ministering to the wants of the soul.

An orthodox minister with a heterodox body is not fully equipped for the work of the Lord.  A sunny, cheerful religion cannot proceed from a dyspectic [sic] minister.

Muscular Christianity on the part of ministers is advisable; to wear out a mayor some times, as did Brother Sam Jones.  But the ministers of Knoxville might hesitate on this score as this city has three mayors.

Dr. Sutherland then dwelt upon the conflict which in the past existed between science and religion but a happier era was dawning when science and theology might go hand in hand.  The church of the past was largely to blame for the coldness which existed.

The church referred to that tabernacle of God, the body, as the vile body, and priests resorted to the grossest superstitions to cure its ailments.

Science has had its martyrs.

Great men now canonized were formerly cannonaded.  Ambrose Perry, Jenner and other great discoverers in the realm of medical science were the subjects of persecution.  In later days the church and science stand allied, and the students of science are possessed with the Spirit of Christianity.

The speaker urged upon the members of the graduating class the necessity of aspiring to high aims, and begin professiona life with souls filled with a high ambition.  Study men, there will be more for every young doctor to do than to write prescriptions and collect bills.

Dr. Sutherland concluded his admirable discourse with some very timely advice to the class of young physicians just on the threshold of their profession.  With words of humorous commendation to the young graduates in dentistry.  Dr. Sutherland closed his address with a beautiful tribute to the memory of Dr. C. C. Lancaster.

The next feature on the program was the conferring of the degrees of Doctor of Medicine upon the graduates in the medical school, and Doctor of Dental Surgery upon the dental graduates, by Col. E. J. Sanford, president of the board of trustees.  With a few fitting words, Col. Sanford conferred the degree of M. D., upon the following graduates:

J. C. Anderson, Virginia; L. A. Copenhaver, Virginia; A. W. Dail, Tennessee, V. C. Dail, Tennessee; N. C. Ellis, Tennessee; H. T. Fisher, Tennessee; T. F. Fitzgerald, Tennessee.  J. W. Gothard, Tennessee; J. D. Henderson, Tennessee; O. P. Lawrence, Tennessee.  A. E. Lyday, South Carolina, J. D. McPhetridge, Tennessee; John D. Nichols, Tennessee; J. V. Pennington, Tennessee; A. B. Reagan, Tennessee; S. S. Royster, North Carolina; S. R. Rodgers, Tennessee; J. R. Thomas, Texas.

Degrees of D. D. S. were conferred upon the following graduates:  R. S. Booth, North Carolina; D. O. Foley, Kentucky; H. F. Henderson, Virginia; J. A. Keener, Tennessee; J. K. Moose, North Carolina; T. B. McBride, Pennsylvania; J. W. Smathers, North Carolina.

The charge to the graduates was then delivered by Prof. C. M. Drake, M. D.

Dr. Drake said to the classes before him that if there was a time in the lives of the graduates to be proud of, it was at this moment.  To the graduates in medicine he extended his congratulations that they had entered upon the pursuit of one of the oldest and noblest of professions.  Faithfully had the members of the medical and dental classes attended the lectures in their respective departments, and now had they received their well-earned rewards.  But the diplomas awarded were merely certificates of the fact that the graduates had prepared themselves for entrance upon pursuits that showed the noblest achievements.

Now, as the graduates were about to sever their connection with the college, it was fitting to say to them that the world of professional life before them was no Eldorado, but each mad’s [sic] endeavors must lead to his own success.  If weighed by public opinion and found wanting, an adverse verdict must be expected.

With words of kindly warning as to the responsibility each one was to assume, Dr. Drake closes his appropriate address.

An interesting feature of the program came next, the awarding of prizes to the students in the two departments who had attained the greatest proficiency as determined by their examinations.

The following prizes were awarded by Dr. J. W. Hill:

Gold medal offered by a friend of the college for perfect proficiency in anatomy, awarded to J. F. Fitzgerald, of Tennessee.

Two volumes on surgery, for best standing in theory and practice of surgery, awarded to A. W. Dail, of Tennessee.

For greatest proficiency in gynechology [sic], surgical instruments, awarded to J. D. McPhetridge, of Tennessee, and J. D. Nuchols, Tennessee.

Best examination in operative surgery, the Rogers, Tedford & Co. prize, to H. V. Pennington, Tennessee, surgical instruments; to J. D. Henderson, Tennessee, surgical instruments; and to J. R. Thomas, Texas, medicine case.

The best dessection [sic] in anatomy, case of instruments to M. M. Stapler, Florida, first course.

Best dessection [sic] of ligatures, case of instruments to E. J. Miller, Tennessee.

Judge Henry Gibson then delivered the prizes won by members of the Dental department as follows:

Gold medal offered by Prof. R. N. Kesterson for the best examination in operative dentistry, awarded to R. S. Booth, of North Carolina.

Gold medal offered by Prof. John S. Cottrell, best examination in mechanical dentistry, awarded to H. H. Henderson, of Virginia.

Gold medal offered by Drs. Kesterson and Cottrell, for the best examination, students of first course, awarded to T. P. Donnelly.

It was then announced that one student excelled in all branches.  Thomas Francis Fitzgerald, of Tennessee.  A presentation of handsome flowers was then made by classes, the flowers being the gifts of friends.

Dr. J. W. Hill then paid a handsome tribute to the memory of Dr. C. C. Lancaster, a member of the faculty who had passed to the great beyond during the college year.  This was followed by the unveiling of an oil portrait of the deceased doctor by Dr. Sam R. Rodgers, which was accepted by Dr. Hill in the name of the students and faculty.

Benediction by Dr. Southerland closed the exercises at Staub’s.  Throughout the entire program the music of Crouch’s orchestra was neatly interspersed.

As soon as the exercises at Staub’s were over, those who had been favored with invitations to the annual banquet adjourned to the hotel Vendome, where covers for about seventy-five persons had been laid.

Judge Gibson was the toast master of the evening and when all had seated themselves around the festive board, and had thoroughly enjoyed an elaborate menu, arranged for the occasion, the toastmaster introduced the subject, “Our new institution, what it has done and what remains to be done,” and called upon Dr. J. C. Cawood to respond.

The speaker went on to tell how much the institute had been needed in Knoxville the good work it was accomplishing, and the vast field which now was spreading out before it.

The next toast was “The Graduating Class,” responded to by Dr. Sam R. Rogers.  He said he was too full for utterance.  Every professor, he knew, had the respect of all the members of the class; they had passed a pleasant and instructive period at their Alma Mater.

Dr. Dice, of Morristown, was next.  He responded to the toast of “The Medical Profession of East Tennessee.”  The speaker commended the university to the support of the graduates, that it should be an object of their future interest and warned the young members of the medical profession not to expect too much on the outset and illustrated his remarks enumerating several of his own personal experiences.

“The Molars and Incisors” was responded to by Dr. Drake. He eulogized Dr. Cottrell as a member of the dental faculty and in his usual good style made a fine talk talk [sic] to the young graduates with reference to their future pursuits of the profession.

After several of the gentlemen had been called upon to respond, the banquetters [sic] left the festive board, and the celebration in connection with the second annual commencement exercises of the Tennessee Medical college were at an end.

Source:  Knoxville Daily Journal and Tribune, March 20, 1891, page 8