His funeral was attended and in part conducted by the George H. Thomas Post of the Grand Army of the Republic, of which he was a member.

The judges of the Circuit Court, whose estimate of him as a jurist has been already given, also said of him:

A kindly Christian gentleman has gone from our midst. We revere his memory and mourn his passing away. He will be greatly missed by his associates for his sage counsel, his inspiring presence, and manly virtues. We thank God for the gift of his noble and exemplary life.

An attorney was once asked: "What manner of man is Judge Smith ?" His answer was extraordinarily apt: "A physical portrayal of substantial justice." Of medium height, heavily built, his head big and bald, his face clean shaven except for a heavy mustache, broad of chin and firm of mouth, his appearance without the slightest air of pretention was dignified and impressive and his title fitted him perfectly. He was every inch a judge.

If I should attempt a further estimate of Judge Smith I should only repeat what has already been said on some page of this sketch. He rendered an important service to the great city by his sixteen years on the bench as a just and able judge. He once said: "It is my ambition to be a good judge rather than a great one." And as one of the best of judges, he was exceptionally useful to the community he served.

But he rendered a vastly wider service than to the community of the great city, a service that carried his influence far abroad and will perpetuate it through many generations to come. By his influential relation to the University of Chicago he ably assisted in the beginnings and the development of a movement that we may well believe will continue with increasing power to bless, not a single community, but the world as long as civilization endures. He aided efficiently in founding and shaping the policies of an institution that will train the minds and mold the lives of succeeding generations of students who will extend its influence to the ends of the earth. Such long-continuing and wide-extending influence, growing in power as it continues and expands, attaches inevitably to those who become by their services or their gifts a part of the life of a great institution of education. This is doubly true of those who, like Judge Smith, by both services and gifts become a part of that expanding life. On the foundation stones of the University of Chicago the letters of his name are cut deep.

UNIVERSITY COMMISSIONS

To replace the University Congregation, which was established at the annual meeting of the Board of Trustees in June, 1896, and which has long ceased to function, the Board of Trustees has established fourteen University Commissions. The Congregation was a large body comprising all officers of administration and instructors above the rank of Associate, all Doctors of Philosophy of the University, officers in affiliated colleges when elected by the Congregation, and representatives of the Doctors and Bachelors of Law, Bachelors of Divinity, Masters and Bachelors of Arts, Literature, and Science. This large body was to consider subjects referred to it and to make recommendations to governing bodies. It had the power to interpose a temporary veto of an action of the Faculty. The Quarterly Congregation Dinner through lack of interest became an annual dinner. Even this was not well attended. Soon the Congregation ceased to function.

The Congregation, however, had one responsibility that as Dr. Goodspeed has pointed out in his History may become vitally important to the welfare of the University.

As long as things go well the Congregation may be said to have no functions. . . But if the time ever comes when things go wrong, when the "governing bodies" fail to guide the policies of the institution wisely, the Congregation can make its voice heard. True, it can only recommend. But it will represent such a constituency that its well-considered recommendations urged and perhaps insisted on, with the University and fifty or a hundred thousand alumni behind them, would reach a governing body with something very like authority. This, it is true, is a far cry; perhaps a very remote possibility. It is, however, the one thing that may make the institution of the Congregation an important event in the history of the University.

On recommendation of the President of the University the president of the Board of Trustees at a meeting October 14, 1919, appointed a committee to consider the advisability of creating a body to take the place of the University Congregation. This committee comprised Harold H. Swift, chairman, T. E. Donnelley, and C. W. Gilkey. This committee reported at the June meeting, 1920, and at the meeting July 13, the Board adopted a plan for University Commissions. Feeling that one of the primary needs of the University is a more active participation in its affairs by the alumni and the development among them of a keener sense of responsibility for its well-being, believ

ing also that with the rapid growth of the University points of contact between the Trustees and the members of the Faculties need to be multiplied in order that each may better understand the point of view and purposes of the other, confident, moreover, that the future prosperity of the University must depend to no small degree upon its success in enlisting the intelligent interest of leading citizens of Chicago and the Central West who do not happen to be among its alumni and Trustees, the Committee briefly formulated the objects of the Commissions as follows: to promote the interest of the University of Chicago by (1) fostering a closer relationship between the alumni and the University; (2) developing a closer relationship between the Faculties and Board of Trustees; (3) developing more actively the interest of representative Chicagoans in the University.

The duty of each Commission is to study the work of its school or group and from time to time to make suggestions to the Board of Trustees as to the manner and means of improving the work of the school or group. These suggestions are to be sent to the Board of Trustees through the President of the University who shall transmit them to the Board with his recommendations.

There will be fourteen University Commissions, one for each of the centers of interest in the University life: The Law School, The Medical School, The Graduate Medical School, The Divinity School, The School of Education, The School of Commerce and Administration, The Colleges of Arts, Literature, and Science, Women's Interests, Historical Group (Political Economy, Political Science, History, Sociology and Anthropology), Modern Language Group, Classical Language Group, Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics, Geology and Geography, Biological Group (Zoölogy, Anatomy, Physiology, Botany, Pathology, Hygiene and Bacteriology). Of each of these Commissions the President of the University is ex officio member. On each Commission there will be two alumni, one of whom is to be elected by the Alumni Council, the other to be appointed by the president of the Board of Trustees on recommendation of the President of the University; two or more residents of Chicago or vicinity not connected in an official capacity with the University who will be appointed by the president of the Board of Trustees upon recommendation by the President of the University; two members of the Faculty who, whenever practicable, will be heads of departments or Deans closely associated with given departments and will be appointed by the Board of Trustees on recommendation by the President of the University; one member of the Board

of Trustees and an alternate member to be appointed by the president of the Board of Trustees. It is to be noted that when one Commission is appointed for two departments one Faculty member of the Commission shall be appointed from each department. If the group is composed of more than two departments then one member shall be added from the Faculty to represent each additional department. The term of office is to be two years. One-half of the membership immediately to be appointed will be named for one year.

Each Commission is to meet at least once each quarter excepting during the Summer Quarter, and at least one meeting each year is to be with the teaching force of all departments of groups represented. There is to be at least one joint meeting of all the Commissions and the Board of Trustees of the University during the Spring Quarter of each year. Special meetings may be called in accordance with such regulations as may be provided by the Commissions or upon the call of the chairman of the Commissions. At these meetings the work of the group is to be considered from all points of view represented. Suggestions for improvements may be made at any time by the Commission to the Board of Trustees through the President of the University.

A further effort of the members of the Board of Trustees to come into closer contact with the members of the Faculties appears in a new by-law of the Board of Trustees establishing an annual dinner in honor of members of the Faculties. The first of these will be held October 4, 1920, taking the place of the usual Faculty dinner.

The establishment of the University Commissions affords an interesting device for constructive criticism of the several parts of the University organism. It is to be hoped that the Commissions will perform a real service in improving the University of Chicago.

EVENTS: PAST AND FUTURE