Kingsbury Hall is Dedicated

Inspirational Addresses Delivered By Dr. Marshall, Rev. Carver and Governor George H. Dern.

Kingsbury Hall, the first auditorium of the University of Utah, was dedicated at noon yesterday in one of the most impressive ceremonies in the history of the institution. The official dedicatory prayer offered by Professor Levi Edgar Young closed the services which were attended by the Governor of the State, the Board of Regents, the faculty, the student body, friends and patrons of the school.

President George Thomas presided over the first assembly in the new hall, and introduced the several speakers whose tributes and sermons made history in the spiritual and intellectual life of Utah university.

The platform was occupied by the officials and faculty members wearing caps and gowns with the insignia of their respective scholastic degrees. The program began with a selection from the combined glee clubs, directed by Professor Thomas Giles, entitled “Build Thee More Stately Mansions, O My Soul.”

President Thomas

The University President in brief address of welcome, paid tribute to Governor George H. Dern and the State for making possible the new auditorium which, he said, would make possible college activities heretofore denied the school and bring about a greater spirit of unity and loyalty in the student body and faculty.

Governor Dern and Rev. Carver Speak

Governor Dern, introduced by President Thomas as being the force responsible for the project, told the audience that the University as the cultural center and head of the educational system of the state, was worthy of the finest building in the state in which facilities for the betterment of culture and education were provided.

Representing the Board of Regents, Reverend John E. Carver of Ogden, expressed a desire that the auditorium should be dedicated to the cultivation of opinion in the youth of the state.

“Adequate, sound, and sane opinion is responsible for the strength of America's foundation of democracy,” said the Reverend Carver, and education is not complete if knowledge of fact is not supplemented with the ability to form opinions and defend their convictions.

Dedicatory Address

“In the early days when the University of Deseret was in its infancy, there were four teachers who are still on the campus today, President Joseph T. Kingsbury, Professors George M. Marshall, Maud May Babcock, and Levi Edgar Young.” Professor Marshall compared the statistics of the University 38 years ago when there were 375 students, only 25 of college rank, and 14 instructors, of which only 8 had the rank of professor; and today when 5 per cent of the population of the state, or 7,500 people, are directly influenced by the University. Today there are 196 on the faculty of the University, almost half of whom are professors; and the annual running expense is $850,000, as compared with $35,000 formerly.

“When crowds flock to mercantile stores, there is something there that satisfies them and fills a need in their lives,” Dr. Marshall pointed out. “Just so, the 13,000 per cent increaser in the registration of the University of Utah indicates that higher education is filling a need and longing in the lives of the people.”

In concluding his address, Dr. Marshall dedicated the hall to perpetuate and honor the name of the man whose fifty-two years of service to the institution has been climaxed by living to see the realization of his dreams for the University.

A brief acknowledgement by President-Emeritus Kingsbury of the honor conferred upon him, concluded the speakers on the program. President Kingsbury told of his entering the school 58 years ago as a student and accepting a teacher's position six years later, with John. R. Park and Joseph B. Toronto as his only colleagues. His wish was that the beautiful building on such a beautiful campus as Utah has would inspire students to perform more willingly and happily the duties they owe to themselves, their friends and humanity in gaining the fine cultural things of life.

An orchestra selection conducted by Arthur Freber closed the dedicatory services.