Why We Adopted the Cap and Gown for Commencement

It has been the custom of the graduating class for the past three years at Pacific Union Col­lege to wear the conventional academic dress. When it was adopted three years ago, I first wrote to the parents of all the young women in the graduating class, telling them of our decision, and asking for their reaction. We had between forty and forty-five young women in the class, and with but one exception the parents expressed their great appreciation of the action taken by the faculty, for it had been a source of considerable perplexity, espe­cially to the mothers, to secure suitable dresses for the exercises of commencement week.

For the small sum of $1.60 our students have been provided with an academic dress suitable for the three occasions—class program, bacca­laureate, and graduation. I asked the faculty sponsor of the seniors to give me an itemized account of the graduating expenses of the sen­iors last year, including rental of cap and gown; picnic,—three meals and transportation; class gift; programs, etc. I found that it totaled $3.22 for each member of the class, which surely is a modest amount for graduation.

By the wearing of the academic gown, the rich and poor are dressed alike, and the stu­dents, especially the girls, have nothing to distract them in the way of worry about what to wear during the closing exercises of the school, but are able to do good strong work up to and including Friday before their commencement on Sunday. As far as I know little or no criti­cism of this plan has come to the college from our territory, as most of the graduates have their parents and other friends here for the closing exercises, and they can see for them­selves how it brings simplicity and dignity to the services.

So long as our colleges continue to grant de­grees and have graduating exercises, it seems to me that the wearing of the simple academic dress is quite in keeping with the simplicity and dignity suitable to the occasion. While I do not believe in an elaborate round of ceremonies, yet when we study the impressive services re­corded in the Bible, we see that they were char­acterized by dignity and form. The temple serv­ice was an example of this, and the dedication of the temple by Solomon was also a demonstra­tion of the order and system and dignity be­fitting a special religious service.

The baccalaureate sermon should bring a mes­sage of hope and faith in the ultimate triumph of the gospel, as Seventh-day Adventists believe it. It should also emphasize the privileges of the Christian life. The theme throughout the commencement address should be one that has a setting in service and the possibility of the continued development of the mind. It should also be full of hope and optimism, and pulsate with the ultimate triumph of the Christian. The programs of commencement week should center around the great ideal of Christian serv­ice and brotherhood of man, and should be char­acterized by Christian simplicity and dignity.

Angwin, Calif.