Distinguished Sanders Gathering Pays Eloquent Tribute To Eliot

Distinguished gatherings have thronged Sanders Theatre in the past,--at commencement exercises and inaugural ceremonies. But never before has there been such an assembly of prominent scholars and citizens as that which met yesterday afternoon to pay their tribute of devotion and affection on his ninetieth birthday to President Eliot,--the man who transformed Harvard from a little New England college to one of the greatest universities of the world.

The ceremony did not start until 3.30 o'clock, but a full hour earlier crowds packed around the doors of Memorial Hall awaiting admission to Sanders Theatre. By 3 o'clock the auditorium was nearly filled, although the platform was still deserted. The seats on the main floor were completely filled by the officers of the university, the chosen representatives of the student body, and the officers of Harvard Clubs throughout the country. In the central section of the balcony were seated the family of President Eliot, and to right and left around the gallery were ranged prominent alumni of the University. The second balcony as well as nearly filled when, at ten minutes past three, the doors were thrown open to the public and a crowd of students and alumni who had been unable to obtain reserved seats, thronged in, taking every vacant place and crowding into the aisles.

Crowd Hushed As 3.30 Approaches

As the moment approached for the arrival of President Eliot and his distinguished train, the crowd which packed the hall became hushed. There were several minutes of tense, expectant silence, then the orchestra in the narrow balcony over the platform began the soft notes of the entering march.

From either side of the hall a marshal, in cap and gown of black and scarlet, walked slowly to the central steps which led onto the platform. The door at the left opened and as President Eliot entered, accompanied by Hon. Edward T. Sanford '85, President of the Harvard Alumni Association, the entire assembly rose and stood in silent tribute. Silently they watched the President-Emeritus mount to the platform and walk slowly to his seat of honor in the center. Then came a sudden spontaneous burst of applause. The music of the orchestra became louder as the rest of the procession walked slowly into the hall before Chief Justice Taft and President Lowell, followed by Dean Briggs and President Angell of Yale, headed the long line of notables who slowly mounted the platform and took their places on President Eliot's right hand.

Faculty Delegates Enter

Then the door to the left opened to admit the representatives of the faculty. Deans, department heads, and professors-emeritus followed in long array, each man in cap and gown, wearing the scarf of colored silk which betokened his degree. To the somber black of frock coats and black gowns was added the flash of scarlet, blue, and orange as this group of distinguished scholars and educators took their seats upon President Eliot's left.

As President Eliot sat down, the whole assemblage resumed their places. The Sheriff of Middlesex County,--a white haired old man in the dark blue uniform of a civil war veteran, walked to the center of the platform and pounded three times upon the floor with his gold-hilted sword as he said "The assembly will now come to order."

After a brief introduction by Jerome D. Greene '96, Chairman and Chief Marshal of the Executive Committee, Rev. Francis G. Peabody '69 opened the ceremony by an Invocation. Then followed the series of congratulatory addresses by men who gave their greetings to President Eliot on behalf of the nation, the state, the other universities of the country, and every branch and department of Harvard University.

Hon. Edward T. Sanford '05, Supreme Court Justice of the United States, spoke first for the Harvard Alumni Association, of which he is president. At the close of his address he presented President Eliot with a morocco bound copy of the Harvard Alumni Directory, containing the 43,000 names of the alumni of Harvard University.

Choir Aids in Celebration

A cantata by the choir under the leadership of Dr. A. T. Davison '06 was followed by three brief speeches by President Lowell, George Wigglesworth '74, President of the Board of Overseers, and Dean Briggs, speaking for the Fellows, the Overseers and the Faculties of the University.

The greetings of the students of the University were then conveyed to President Eliot by Charlton MacVeagh '24, orator of the Senior class. Following him, Charles T. Greve spoke on behalf of the Associated Harvard Clubs.

Then followed a second chant by the choir, and a speech of greetings on behalf of other colleges, universities and learned societies by President Angell of Yale, at the end of which he gave President Eliot a bundle of testimonials from many institutions of learning throughout the country.

After these greetings to President Eliot as a scholar and an educator came two tributes to him as a citizen of the United States. The first was given to him in a speech by Governor Cox of Massachusetts, speaking for the Commonwealth, and the second by Chief Justice Taft, former President of the United States, on behalf of the American public.

The greatest surprise of the ceremony was next furnished by Rev. William Lawrence '71, Bishop of Massachusetts, in a brief speech announcing to the public for the first time a gift of $1,250,000 made in honor of President Eliot by Harvard alumni for the support of "certain departments of the University."

Throughout these speeches of tribute and affection, President Eliot had been sitting very straight in his chair with a serene smile of happiness on his face. As he got up to make his speech of response, the audience again rose to its feet, and only after several minutes could he make himself heard above the clapping and applause. Then he stepped forward on the platform, and with his hands clasped before him, spoke in a quiet, restrained voice.

The light in the theatre had become dim and throughout the hall intense faces leaned forward to catch President Eliot's every word and expression as he spoke of his experiences as a student, a teacher and an officer of Harvard. As he ended with his appeal to the graduates and undergraduates of Harvard to serve their country "with devotion and sacrifice in peace as well as war," the applause broke out again and lasted until long after he had left the platform with his escort to proceed to the Yard and receive the greetings of the student body.

The text of the various speeches follows:--

Sanford Welcomes Guests and Salutes the "Happy Warrior"

Salutation to the Assembly and Guest of Honor--

We have met to celebrate the 90th birthday of Dr. Charles William Eliot, President Emeritus of Harvard University--clarum et venerabile nomen. In behalf of those under whose auspices this meeting is held, I salute this distinguished gathering of scholars and citizens, assembled here today to felicitate our beloved guest upon this glad-some anniversary, and to bear witness to the honor, reverence and affection in which he is held among all the sons of Harvard, in the world of scholarship and letters, and throughout the length and breadth of our Republic. We greet you, one and all, with most cordial welcome.

Illustrious and Venerable Guest:-All these assembled here salute you. We welcome you with rejoicings; we greet you with congratulations; we delight to do you honor and to pay you the tribute of our devotion.

Of your services to Harvard, to education, to scholarship, to the higher life of men, it will be the privilege of others to speak today. Yet I may give voice to one feeling deep in all our hearts; the joy that as the advancing years have given you so richly of their wisdom, they have endowed you also with continuing strength.

"Valiant Soldier of the Truth"

You have been ever a valiant soldier of the truth; a "Happy Warrior", strong, serene and steadfast, in the full meaning of the poet's phrase--with, I imagine, something of the Puritan's delight in the joy of righteous conflict. We rejoice that you are still clad in your shining armor; that your soul is radiant with the spirit of youth.

Your voice is calm in a hurried and restless age. It tells us of life's abiding happiness and enduring satisfactions; that they lie not in pride of place and power, in greed of gold and vain display, but in simple and elemental things; in the love that glorifies the home; is health of body and mind; in labor that is of service to our fellowmen; and in the joy of work well done. You teach us to be honest in thought; steadfast and true; tolerant, of open mind, and just; and to be of courage and good cheer, having faith in the power of truth, faith in our fellowmen and in democracy, faith in God and in the increasing purpose that through the ages runs.

Shaped Lives of Harvard Men

I bring you, Sir, with especial gratitude and tenderness, the greetings of Harvard men. Your thought, your devotion, your wisdom, have entered into the very making of Harvard, into the deepest foundations of its life, as we have known it and as it is and will be; your visions are inwrought in the structure of its stately orifice, embedded in its strength and gleaming in its beauty. You, through Harvard, have shaped the courses of our lives.

We recall today the memorable phrase in which you have described the University graduates as "the living Harvard force." And as our birthday gift it is my privilege to present to you, in behalf of the Alumni Association, a symbol of that "living force" a copy of the new Alumni Directory, bound in crimson leather, containing the names of all living Harvard men, numbering more than 43,000. We trus, that it may be to you a fireside friend, speaking to you as the voice of Harvard; and that in the sunshine of the morning and the quiet of the evening this voice may murmur to you, in a melody charming as the harp of Orpheus, of the admiration, gratitude and love of the men of Harvard, and breathe to you their prayer that your years may be long in the house of your