It was also the second day set for the dedication of Elliott Hall, and the third day announced for a visit and address by Rev. Phil C. Baird, D. D., pastor of the First Presbyterian church of Oklahoma City. His leading and unusually happy participation in the events of the day, made his visit and services on this occasion thrice welcome and valuable.
At 2:00 p. m. Dr. Baird delivered the principal address to a large and very appreciative audience in the Academy. He chose for his theme, The Essentials of Success; and emphasized these three, namely "Labor, purpose and perseverance."
ELLIOTT HALL DEDICATED
At the close of the address of Dr. Baird, the meeting was transferred to the cozy and spacious front porch of Elliott Hall.
The story of the Hall as a grateful and permanently useful memorial of the late Alice Lee Elliott, and the generous gift of $5,000.00 on the part of her surviving husband, David Elliott of Lafayette, Indiana, now at Minneapolis, Minn., was briefly related by the superintendent. Rev. W. H. Carroll reported that voluntary offerings to the amount of $29.48 had that day been donated toward the expense of furnishing the two bath rooms. The prayer of dedication was offered by Rev. Wiley Homer of Grant, who has been a faithful annual visitor and constant guardian of the good name and welfare of the institution ever since it was founded in 1886. The benediction was pronounced by Rev. P. S. Meadows of Shawneetown, moderator of the Presbytery of Kiamichi.
CLOSING CONCERT
The program provided for the evening consisted of a vocal and instrumental concert by the students, such as had been given, with one exception, at the close of each term. Several of the selections, rendered as full choruses, were from Leslie's Ideal Class, the music book most frequently used by the superintendent in the training work of note reading and vocal culture. They included the anthems, "Break forth into Joy," "I was Glad," by I. B. Woodbury, "Before Jehovah's Throne," and patriotic Glees, "Hail to the Flag," "Now a Mighty Nation," and "Unfurl the Sail."
When the time arrived to announce the closing chorus, the superintendent, after expressing appreciation of the fact there were present so many ministers of the Presbytery, patrons and friends; and gratitude for their constant co-operation, then made known to them, for the first time, the fact that several months previous he had tendered his resignation to the Board of Missions for Freedmen, and that in due season, Rev. W. H. Carroll, the principal, would be promoted to fill the vacancy, when it occurred.
After hearing these announcements, every minister present manifested a desire to participate in the meeting, by bearing voluntary testimony to the good work that had been done at the Academy under the leadership of the superintendent. Rev. Dr. Baird was the first speaker, and he acted as a leader or chairman during this temporary interruption of the program. He bore testimony to his previous knowledge of the faithfulness and administrative ability of the superintendent, and his pleasant surprise at the results achieved at this institution. Grateful tributes to the efficiency of his work, as superintendent of the Academy, were then expressed by Rev. Wiley Homer of Grant, Rev. T. K. Bridges of Lukfata, Rev. P. S. Meadows and Rev. W. H. Carroll.
Rev. W. J. Starks of Frogville read and presented for adoption the appreciative resolutions that follow: