Papurau Newydd Cymru

Chwiliwch 15 miliwn o erthyglau papurau newydd Cymru

Cuddio Rhestr Erthyglau

7 erthygl ar y dudalen hon

[No title]

Newyddion
Dyfynnu
Rhannu

Through the courtesy of the Editor of the North Wales Chronicle we are enabled to publish the following report which appeared in the special edition of the Chronicle last Saturday. THE CEREMONY OF CONFERRING DEGREES. MR LLOYD GEORGE "CAPPED." (By a Special Correspondent.) Mr Lloyd George having been escorted from the station to Professor Lewis Jones's house, pro- ceeded later to the "capping" ceremony, or as it is officially called, "The Congregation of the University of Wales." The streets were lined on each side with crowds of spectators patiently awaiting the arrival of the man whom the whole country that day delighted to honour. It was only by the persistent efforts of the police that a passage way -was kept clear to the approaches to the place of meeting. This was the Old Taber- nacle Methodist Chapel, but transformed, except as to the walls and galleries, beyond recognition. The pulpit and deacons' pew had been removed, their place now being occupied by a spacious double decked dais reserved for the University officials. Around this dais were congregated the Senate and Court of the University and members of the Guild of Graduates. The centre of the gallery facing the dais was filled by the cele- brated Canorion, under the able leadership of Mr now Doctor Lloyd Williams, assisted by a small f band of string instrumentalists, who rendered a choice selection of Welsh airs at intervals during the procoedings, much relieving the monotony ot a function carried on with great formality. The remainder of the available space was allotted to students and the general public. Having regard to what had taken place else- where on a similar occasion, an attempt had been made to divide the students up into scattered groups with the view presumably of presenting aoncerted action. But the irrepressible under- graduate was not to be denied. There appeared to exist a well understood code of signals, the re- ault of the elaborate arrangements being that in- stead of one volume of sound arising from one I portion of the building several bodies of sound I rose simultaneously from half a dozen different quarters, making the ordinary confusion on such Occasion still worse confounded. To the credit of Bangor dtudents, however, be it said that their jokes were all in good humour if sometimes of questionable tast-the only exception perhaps being the repeated references to Sir Marchant Williams, who was made the pointed tratt of lUider-graduate wit. It will be remembered that Sir Marchant some time ago scathingly reviewed Professor John Morris Jones's Welsh Poems, and particularly his Welsh version of Omar Khayyam. The genial Welsh professor is nowhere more popular than at Bangor, and the students to-day repaid with in- terest Professor Morris Jones's debt to the Stip- endiary of Merthyr. "Who wants to be Senior Dopuhy Chancellor?" they shouted. "Sir Marchant Williams," came the volume of voci- feration. "Will he get it?" "No," and the audience roared. Then we had a variant of the theme with refer- ence to what occurred at Cardiff a few weeks since. "Who wants to smash our National Uni- versity?" was the challenge. "Oh! Sir March- ant!" was the wailing response. "Will he suc- ceed?" "Oh, dear! Nu came the chanted replj, and again the audience laughed. This was followed in due course by yet an- other rariiint. "Wake up, Marchant!" was a Enq,.Louay repeated challenge varied by: "Who I is tit.. best man in the room?" "Professor Morris Jones," and then eime the name of his boine sung to oue of the air* idready rendered bj the choir: "Lhu>'airpwil{rwyngyUgt>gory- j ofewymdrobwinLmdysiliogogogoch." The effect tra indiscribabiy imijcroQA and sent the packed avdianc* into repeated roars of laughter. This tj-* students then followed up with a chorus of vbich the nftxia was: MBaok op, John Morris, Back op, John Morria; He'll whack Sir Marchant Williams." For a guaranteed cure for jaundice commend me to a meeting such as this. where the tmder-graduatea take their Sing. stately procession, headed by the mace bearer caused the audience to believe that the hero of the day was corn- iD4J- Every one rose excitedly prepared feo cheei, and the members of the Town Coun- cil blushed at the unexpected honour thus thrust upoa them. The ntudents soon recovered Ibemsolres, and the inevitable chaffing began, w-Wh* is that taking Lloyd George's se"? Chuck j him out," etc., made the City Fathers more un- comfortable than ever. Mrs Lloyd George made her appearance on the scene early, being accompanied by her hostess, Mrs Lewis Jones, and escorted by a quartette of her husband's Parliamentary colleagues, Mr Herbert Lewis, Sir Francis Edwards, Mr Wm. Jones, and Mr Ellis Da vies. The formal proclamation, usually undertaken by the Registrar of the University -was on this oc- casion performed by Mr D. S. Owen, a student of Bangor University College, a very unusual honour. The proclamation has to be in Welsh, and D. S. Owen acquitted himself with great credit. He is a native of Colwyn Bay, an old pupil of Abergele County School, a National Eisteddfod prize-winner for recitation, and took the leading part, that of Caractacus, in the Welsh historical play Caradog, some time since. On all these counts he was exceptionally well qualified for the task entrusted to him to-day. It may be added that later in the day he was invested with the degree of B.A., having had quite a success- ful course at Bangor University College. Following this interesting incident came the monotonous round of presentation of candidates for degrees. Dr. Ethe, of Aberystwyth, with his marked German accent, performed his duties as THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER. (Right Hon. D. Lloyd George, L:v.D.). sponsor with eclat and aplomb, his sonorous voice being well suited for the task, the laughter and jokes of the students utterly failing to drown it. A striking and indeed unprecedented incident was the capping of a Breton nun, Madamoiselle Marie Isabelle Hunaut, a student at Aberyst- wyth University College, who, in her white nun- nery robe, afforded a striking contrast to the black-gowned candidates, among whom she stood. She performed her task-a very trying one under the circumstances-with great composure and self- possession. The students found in these presentations abun- dant food for fun. One bashful youth happened to be the only male in a group of four students called to appear at the same time. The students immediately struck up "Why can't every man have three wives!" to the discomfiture alike of the poor graduate and his three blushing lady companions. Another lot as they approached the dais were greeted with "Now, then! The next lot of prisoners!" And as they left the platform did so to the doleful strains of the "Dead March," which their malicious though not malevolent under-graduate colleagues at once struck up. A group of lady graduates were greeted with the cry of "Are these suffragettes? Chuck them out!" a clear indication of what must have be- fallen the shrieking sisterhood had they put in an appearance. Fortunately they did not, though it was reported that a strong detachmont of them was in town. The policfe arrangements, however, were excellent, and if the suffragettes were in Bangor the public were not troubled by them. Two important and interesting incidents re- main to be related. The University had decided to confer the degree of Doctor of Science upon Principal Griffiths, of Cardiff, and Mr Lloyd Williams, the leader of the Canorion Choir, who is also on the Bangor College Staff as a lecturer in botany. This is the first occasion on which the University of Wales has conferred the coveted degree of D.Sc. Principal Griffiths' claims are too well-known to need mention, but it is not so generally known that Mr Lloyd Williams is rerfognised on the Continent and in America as one of the highest living authorities in botanical research. Principal Griffiths met with a flatter- ing reception, being loudly and repeatedly cheered as he advanced to receive his degree. But Dr Lloyd Williams's reception surpasses all des- cription, and for some considerable time it was impossible to proceed with the business so deafen- ing and enthusiastic and oft repeated were the shouts and acclamation. Having rCfceived his de- gree on the dais, Dr. Lloyd Williams hastened back to his Canorion on the gallery, where ho received yet another ovation. Then came the event of the day-the capping of Mr Lloyd George. The "oration" customary on such occasions was entrusted to Prof. John Morris Jones, who, in sonorous tones and well- rounded periods to which no translation can do justice, delivered the address in Welsh, which moved the audience to a high pitch of enthusi- asm. It was frequently punctuated with applause and followed by deafening cheers. The learned professor then descended from the dais to act as sponsor to the new Doctor of Laws, who now came forward from a retired corner where he had been unnoticed by the throng. His appearance proved the signal for further tributes of public enthusiasm. The rest of the ceremony was tame and formal. The degree was duly conferred. But notwith- standing resounding cries of "Speech! Speech!" none was forthcoming, and at a signal the choir struck up the Welsh National Arthem, the whole audience rising to its feet. The English Anthem followed, and then the crowd wended its way out to the street, where further ovations awaited him.

JVIr. Lloyd George's New Degree.

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THE RECIPIENTS OF DEGREES.

MR LLOYD GEORGE AND THE STUDENTS.

THE BANQUET.

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