1905-06 Volume 30 No 1–5 - Phi Delta Theta Scroll Archive

THE SCROLL. 121with the ever present orange and blue. Nearly every largecollege in the country and many in England, Europe andthe Orient were represented.At two p. m. the brilliant pageant filed in behind the universityband and slowly moved towards the armory betweentwo long lines of uniformed cadets, who stood at attentionwhile it passed. The armory is a little less than a quarter ofa mile from the president's house. When those at the headof the procession were seating themselves in the armory, therear was still forming before the president's house.Bishop Seymour of Springfield opened the exercises. Hewas followed by Governor Deneen of Illinois, who spoke ofthe importance of the event to the people of the state of Illinois,and especially of what the state has done for the universitysince its establisument.President BuUard of the board of trustees came next. Nearthe close of his address, taking a bunch of keys in his hands,Mr. Bullard turned'to President James and said; ''Theproperty of which I speak we turn over to you. The bestthings we have to give you, however, come not from ourpockets, but from our hearts. The people of the state giveto you the keeping of their four thousand children."Arising slowly and with much evident pain caused by a seriousindisposition which only his iron will and remarkablefortitude enabled him to overcome. President James took thebunch of keys amid tumultuous and prolonged cheering, andreplied: "l accept the trust thus symbolized. I pledge myselfto carry out the ideals of this high office to the best of myability, so help me God."He spoke with a depth of feeling and an earnestness of purposethat could not be mistaken. The vast audience whichfilled every nook and corner of the spacious armory was perfectlysilent. Outside the rain fell in torrents. The reverentsilence was gently broken by the sweet strains of achorus of girls singing: "Lord Bless and Keep Thee, GivePeace to Thee; Let His Face Shine Upon Thee."When the last wandering note of this sacred song diedaway in space. Dr. Draper was introduced. Speaking ofPresident James, he characterized him as "A true son of Illinois,with fine lineage of her best pioneers, with native pridein her history and boundless enthusiasm in all that concernsher, trained in her best schools and then the best schools inthis country and then of the world, a severe student, a virileteacher, an experienced and technical administrator, we