32 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



On the assumption that funds would be provided, the committee early 

 ordered invitations from Tiffany, New York. These consisted of two 

 forms, one for individuals and the other for institutions, organizations, 

 etc. These were mailed to all alumni and former students whose post- 

 office addresses, by persistent and painstaking efforts, had been secured 

 during the past year, to the prominent citizens of the State, and to other 

 educational institutions and learned societies of this country, and a 

 few to similar institutions and organizations in foreign lands. 



The exact date of the anniversary is May 13th, but this date seemed 

 too early for convenience and comfort, hence the committee decided on 

 the last week of May as the best suited for this occasion. It was neces- 

 sary to place the date sufficiently late to assure comfort, and early 

 enough to avoid conflict with the commencement exercises of the other 

 colleges, which would desire to send delegates. 



The committee decided to hold the regular baccalaureate service on 

 the preceding Sunday, and to graduate the senior class at the closing 

 session of the exercises. The celebration was to extend through three 

 days — Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. The first session was to be 

 known as a state meeting. The Governor of the State and representatives 

 of the various organizations of farmers, engineers and state institutions 

 were to speak. The afternoon meeting was to be held in honor of the 

 memory of the builders of the college. On Wednesday evening was to 

 take place the musical event of the week — the rendering by the college 

 chorus of Hayden's great oratorio, the Elijah. Thursday morning was 

 to be held in conjunction with the American Association of Agricultural 

 Colleges and Experiment Stations, and was to be devoted to a summing 

 up of the educational and investigation work done by the land grant 

 colleges during the last half century. 



The alumni banquet was to be held at one o'clock, after which the reg- 

 ular literary program of the alumni triennial meeting was to be ren- 

 dered. 



As this was Decoration Day, it was deemed eminently proper to have 

 a short dress parade by the battalion at four o'clock, to be followed by 

 an address by a prominent ex-soldier. 



On Thursday evening was to be held the students' parade, the il- 

 lumination of the campus, and the public reception. On Friday fore- 

 noon a jubilee meeting at which representatives of the different sections 

 of the country were to speak, and at two o'clock in the afternoon Presi- 

 dent Roosevelt was to speak, after which the conferring of degrees of 

 the graduating class and a few honored guests was to take place. So- 

 ciety reunions and banquets were given Friday evening. 



The baccalaureate sermon was given by the venerable Dr. Buckham, 

 president of Vermont University. Five of the Lansing ministers were 

 present and assisted in the exercises. The Armory was used for this oc- 

 casion, and was filled with faculty, students and visitors. The ser- 

 mon was a very carefully prepared and strong address. It will, as well 

 as the other addresses of the jubilee, be found in the memorial volume. 



During Monday and Tuesday many delegates and alumni arrived. 

 The weather was far from reassuring. The season was exceedingly 

 late. The leaves on the maples and elms were not half developed; the 

 oak buds were not larger than the proverbial '^squirrel ear'' size. Furnace 

 fires were continuously in use until this week, and rains were of almost 

 daily occurrence. 



