338 
Editorial. 
Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
June,  1919. 
THE  COLLEGE  COMMENCEMENTS  AND  THE  PHARMA- 
CEUTICAL ASSOCIATIONS. 
The  passing  of  time  has  brought  us  once  more  to  that  period  of 
the  annual  calendar  that  marks  many  events  of  pharmaceutic  in- 
terest. In  the  early  summer  months  the  principal  schools  of  phar- 
macy have  their  graduation  exercises  and  these  commencements 
note  the  entrance  of  new  units  into  the  service  of  pharmacy.  About 
this  season  of  the  year,  many  of  the  state  pharmaceutical  associa- 
tions, likewise,  meet  in  annual  convention,  and  the  various  sections 
and  committees  of  the  American  Pharmaceutical  Association  are 
rejuvenated  in  anticipation  of  its  sessions. 
Someone  inquires  wherein  is  the  relation  of  these  events  and 
the  connection  between  these  two  subjects?  There  is  a  distinct 
link  between  these  two  different  occasions  and  events  pharmaceutic 
that  should  be  so  welded  together  as  to  form  an  inseparable  inter- 
locking. 
The  members  of  each  graduating  unit  should  be  thoroughly  im- 
bued with  the  sense  of  the  responsibility  of  the  vocation  in  which 
they  are  about  to  enter  and  with  loyalty  to  the  traditions  and  pre- 
cepts of  the  profession.  The  very  first  lesson  that  should  be  in- 
stilled into  the  mind  of  the  young  pharmacist  is  that  he  is  engaging 
in  a  vocation  of  professional  service  to  mankind.  That  the.  faithful 
discharge  of  this  service  will  require  continual  study  and  acquaint- 
ance with  the  highest  ideals  which  he  will  find  only  in  associating 
himself  with  the  leaders  of  his  profession.  Only  by  becoming  a 
member  of  the  pharmaceutical  organizations  will  he  keep  in  touch 
with  these  and  learn  that  only  by  cooperative  professional  work  is 
the  best  possible  service  achieved  and  also  the  greatest  benefit  ac- 
crued to  the  individual  contributors. 
The  value  of  the  associations,  local,  state  and  national,  in  the 
development  of  the  individual  pharmacist  and  the  share  of  re- 
sponsibility falling  to  each  member  of  the  calling  should  be  im- 
pressed on  the  new  graduate  and  at  the  very  first  meeting  after 
graduation  he  should  be  initiated  into  membership  and  assume  a 
part  in  such  association  work. 
G.  M.  B. 
