The chaplain, in the hush that followed the seating, rose, came forward and in a voice husky with emotion urged: "Friends, let us pray for the honor, success, glory and steadfast manhood through life of the young men who are about to go forth with their diplomas." Every head was bowed while the chaplain's petition ascended.
When the prayer was over the superintendent, in full dress uniform, stepped to the front of the rostrum and made a brief address.
Sailors are seldom long-winded talkers.

The superintendent's address, on this very formal occasion, lasted barely four minutes.
But what he said was full of earnest manhood and honest patriotism.
Then the superintendent dropped to his chair.

There were not so very many dry eyes when the choir beautifully intoned: "God be with you till we meet again!" But now another figure appeared on the rostrum.

Though few of the young men had ever seen this new-comer, they knew him by instinct.
At a signal from an officer standing at the side of the chapel, the members of the brigade broke forth into thunderous hurrahs.
For this man, now about to address them, was their direct chief.
"Gentlemen and friends," announced the superintendent, "I take the greatest pleasure that may come to any of us in introducing our chief---the Secretary of the Navy." And now other officers appeared on the rostrum, bearing diplomas and arranging them in order.
The name of the man to graduate first in his class was called.
He went forward and received his diploma from the Secretary, who said: "Mr.Ennerly, it is, indeed, a high honor to take first place in such a class as yours!" Ennerly, flushed and proud, returned to his seat amid applause from his comrades.
And so there was a pleasant word for each midshipman as he went forward.
When the Secretary picked up the seventeenth diploma he called: "David Darrin!" Who was the most popular man in the brigade of midshipmen?
The midshipmen themselves now endeavored to answer the question by the tremendous explosions of applause with which they embarrassed Dave as he went forward.
"Mr.Darrin," smiled the Secretary, "there are no words of mine that can surpass the testimonial which you have just received from your comrades.

But I will add that we expect tremendous things from you, sir, within the next few years.