Photo. G. H. Martyn & Sons
Dorothea Beale, LL.D.
Sir Ludovic Grant, Dean of the Faculty of Law, thus summed up Miss Beale’s claim to a national recognition:—
‘No feature of the national progress during the last fifty years is more remarkable than the revolution which has transformed our girls’ schools from occidental zenanas into centres of healthy activity. In the great crusade which has been crowned with this most desirable consummation, the foremost champion was the cultured and intrepid lady who guides the destinies of the Ladies’ College, Cheltenham. It was largely due to Miss Beale’s indomitable advocacy, on platform and on paper, that the barriers of parental prejudice were broken down, that the ancient idols venerated by a former generation—Mangnall, Pinnock, and Lindley Murray—were shattered, and that barren catechism and lifeless epitome were compelled to give place to fructifying studies, and the futile promenade to invigorating recreations. I need not remind you that Miss Beale’s apostolic ardour is equalled by her administrative abilities. When she went to Cheltenham her pupils were counted by tens; to-day they are to be counted by hundreds, and the institution in respect of organisation and educational efficiency will bear comparison with the best of the great English public schools. Among the collateral benefits resulting from the great movement for the higher education of women, in which Miss Beale has played so conspicuous a part, not the least important is the power which the Scotch Universities have obtained of conferring their honorary degrees upon women, and therefore it is with no ordinary satisfaction that the University of Edinburgh now exercises this power by begging Miss Beale’s acceptance of an honour which has been brought within the reach of her sex largely through her own endeavours.’
Her account of the ceremony is best read in her own letter to the Vice-Principal:—
‘April 12, 1902.
‘Just a few lines while waiting for breakfast. We start at eleven for Glasgow, and I am in the midst of the agonies of packing.
‘Yesterday was a long day. We started at 9.20, as it is a long drive to the M’Ewan Hall. In the voting-room we met our Chairman and various distinguished professors—Laurie, Saintsbury, Professor Rücker—of the people I knew; but the most important of all was the beadle. In a little while our names were called, and one had to step into place. First came the Doctors of Divinity. There were six LL.D.’s, headed by the Lord Chief-Justice, who was followed by Mr. Asquith, whom I followed in every subsequent procession.... Arrived at the hall, we sat as it were in the front row below the stage in our hall. There were central steps, opposite which sat the Vice-Chancellor or Vice-Principal. Each went up and stood with his back to the audience whilst the leader of his faculty expatiated on his claims to the honours; he looked like a person being reprimanded. Then the beadle invested him with the hood, the V.-P. put the cap over his head, he wrote his name in a book, and then seated himself with other exalted persons on the platform. Various speeches followed, but none were made to ordinary graduates. Music played, no sticks or umbrellas were allowed, and no cries such as the savages utter at English Universities; the only amusement was to fly paper from the galleries; some seems to have been made into windmills, they flew rather well. Then procession again to the voting-room, where I was first to claim my box; there was nothing to compare with my shabby things—cardboard most of them, but I am persuaded that my robes were far superior to any other. Ask those who saw them from a distance.
‘Well, we next proceeded to church, and St. Giles’ looked most beautiful. The sermon I did not hear, but am assured that was because the preacher had an Aberdeen accent. One thing I omitted. Just after I had taken the degree, as I was seated on the platform, came a porter with a telegram for me. I opened it and found congratulations from the Kindergarten. Please tell them how smartly it arrived at the right moment. The others kindly sent arrived at the hotel, and I found them on my return; please thank the senders.