. Rentschler)]

President Hutchins desired to resign the Presidency in 1914, at the end
of the term fixed by him in his letter of acceptance, but the Regents
were unanimous in their desire to have him remain in office. He again
asked to be relieved of the duties of the office in 1916, but once more
action was postponed and it was not until March 12, 1919, that his
resignation was finally accepted with the regret of the Regents, who
expressed "their sincere appreciation of his wise, efficient, and
devoted services in behalf of the University." This was to take effect
June 30, 1919. The Board thereupon took immediate steps to secure a
successor to President Hutchins, but were at first unsuccessful, and
once more prevailed upon him to remain in office. This he consented to
do reluctantly and only because of his interest in the institution he
had served so long and faithfully, postponing yet another year his
well-earned rest.

Several noteworthy celebrations have served to emphasize the
University's progress. Two of them marked her semi-centennial and her
seventy-fifth anniversaries, comparatively brief periods, perhaps, when
contrasted with Harvard's celebration of her two hundred and fiftieth
year, shortly before Michigan signalized her fiftieth, but symbolizing
nevertheless an extraordinary and impressive transformation; the
progress of a little backwoods college into one of the greatest of
modern Universities. This was the inspiration that underlay these two
occasions, made peculiarly significant through the congratulations and
messages of good will borne by distinguished ambassadors from other
institutions, and through elaborate memorials sent by the Faculties of
European Universities, to whom the University's accomplishment was a
greater marvel than it was to those more familiar with the conditions
which had brought it into existence.

The fifth of June is the natal day of the University and therefore both
celebrations were most appropriately held during the Commencement Week
of the anniversary years, 1887 and 1912. A Commemoration Oration, in
which President Angell surveyed with wise sympathy and a just pride the
University's record was the special feature of the first celebration.
Somewhat more ambitious was the seventy-fifth anniversary which took
place twenty-five years later. Owing to the fact that Hill Auditorium
was still unfinished, and the old University Hall was by no means large
enough to shelter all who