This Week in Texas Methodist History May 17

SMU Celebrates 21^th Graduation Class With Week of Religious Ceremonies  May 1936

Southern Methodist University’s opened in 1915 and because some entering students brought credits from other colleges, it awarded its first degrees after the Spring 1916 semester.   The Dallas institution grew rapidly in enrollment, construction, and degree programs.  The 21^st commencement in May 1936 marked a significant milestone—especially for the graduates of the School of Theology, later to be named Perkins School of Theology. 

Most Texas Methodist preachers in the 1930s did not have post-graduate theological studies.  Men (all men at the time) could become full conference members through the course of study that had been the main route to ordination for well over a century.  When they received a license to preach, they would be given a list of books to study.  They would be examined on those books at Annual Conference.  After completing four years of such semi-independent study and acceptable service as a probationer, they could achieve full ordination. 

There were always a few aspiring preachers who wanted a more formal theological education.  A fortunate few had the means to attend Vanderbilt or one of the northeastern universities---maybe Harvard or Yale—sometimes Wesleyan in Connecticut—rarely Princeton because of its Presbyterian roots.

SMU’s opening changed all that.  Texas preachers-to-be could attend Theological School in Dallas and support themselves as part time pastors in nearby churches.  As Texas Methodist laity became more educated, they demanded more educated clergy, and SMU was ready to supply them.

The last week of May celebrated the accomplishments of the Class of 1936 with a full week of services.

Sunday, May 24 started with a communion service at 7:00 a.m. in Kirby Chapel.  Dean Eugene Hawk presided.  Hawk was fairly new to the job, having come  in 1933. His experience as a local church pastor meant he had contacts through the region—which was a good thing since his office served as an unofficial employment agency obtaining church jobs for the students.  He served until 1951.

That same Sunday at 11:00 the graduating Theology students attended church at Highland Park Methodist and heard William Daniel Bradfield (1866-1947)  Bradfield was retiring after 13 years on the faculty where he taught Christian Doctrine.  The senior class  presented him with a golden cross bearing the seal of the university. 

The following Sunday, May 31, worship moved to McFarlin Auditorium and the preacher was Bishop Frederick Deland Leete (1866-1958).  Leete was a church historian and a bishop of the MEC who had taken a leading role in the attempt to unify the MEC and MECS.  In addition to his preaching the commencement sermon, SMU awarded him an honorary LL.D at this commencement. 

At 6:30 p.m. that same Sunday there was an outdoor vesper service on the steps of Dallas Hall—President Umphrey Lee presided.   The graduating seniors presented their senior gift and then marched back to McFarlin Auditorium to receive their diplomas.