Parents’ Parting Ceremony to join:
“Humanity’s Heroic Search for Knowledge”
Entrance of the Class of 2029
Friday, August 15, 2025
Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel
“Over the heads of her students, Morehouse holds a crown that she challenges them to grow tall enough to wear.”
John Hope ‘07 (Hon.)
Dr. Howard Washington Thurman ’23 Educator, Minister, Theologian, Philosopher, and Author
The Howard Washington Thurman Memorial obelisk on the Morehouse College campus is a celebration of the process of enlightenment, achieved through the deliberate acquisition of knowledge, understanding, and the slow revelation of cosmic wisdom.
The monument rises near the footprint of the Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel and marks the resting place of Thurman, a 1923 Morehouse graduate and nationally-respected theologian. Thurman was considered a forerunner in the religious movement which celebrates the unity of all people and embraces a religious spirituality that is intercultural, interracial, interdenominational, and international.
Historically (1580-1200 B.C.), the obelisk was a sun and light symbol, embodying the transcendence immanent in God’s light. The soaring lines of the obelisk were meant to evoke this transcendence, and its capstone, often coated in gold-silver alloy, reflected light that could be seen 50 miles away. The ancient priests believed that light, consciousness, and understanding were synonymous.
The obelisk remains a symbol of man’s creativity and wisdom. At Morehouse, the monument serves as a beacon for scholarly pursuits, visionary leadership, compassionate service, and a worldview that inspires positive change.
THE RITUAL OF LEAVING-TAKING AND INDUCTION
Affirmative Excellence through Tradition, Transcendence, Transformations, and Transition
The Mystique of Making Moral Men
The Summons by African Drummers to Gather Round
The Entrance of the Class of 2029
The Summons of the Village Elders: Mentors of the Mystique
Mr. Henry M. Goodgame ‘84
Distinguished Alumnus Representative
Mr. Edwin Corley Moses ‘78
The Testimony
“I Know I’ve Been Changed” (as performed by LaShun Pace Rhodes)
Mr. Darius Devon Paulk, Gospel Recording Artist
The Exhortation
The Chief Elder of the Village
President F. DuBois Bowman ‘92
The Passing of the Baton
The Academic and Admissions Elder
Mr. Michael Devin Gumm ‘10
The Freshmen Elder
Mr. Illya Eliphis Davis ‘89
The Celebration of High Expectations
“Dun Dun Da (Dance of Strength)”
Metropolitan Atlanta African Dancers & Drummers
The Dance Elder
Sister Omelika Kuumba
The Call for Determination
The Student Elder
Alonzo Louis Brinson II ‘27
The Chapel Elder
The Reverend Dr. Lawrence Edward Carter Sr.
The Distinguished Alumnus Representative
Mr. Edwin Corley Moses ‘78
The Lighting of the Carey Henry Wynn II ‘70 Urn*
*Carey Henry Wynn II ‘70 is the sculptor of the ceremonial urn.
THE RITUAL OF LEAVING-TAKING AND INDUCTION
Affirmative Excellence through Tradition, Transcendence, Transformations, and Transition
The Call for Moral Cosmospolitan Commitment and Release
The Petitions to Enter the House
The Student Services Elder
Mr. Kevin Russel Booker ‘90
The Pageantry of the Thurman Chest
The Parents’ Representative Elders
Selected First-Year Student Parent(s)
The Induction
The Morehouse Mystique Elder
The Reverend Dr. Winford Kennadean Rice Jr. ’14
The Parting of the Parents
“I Release and I Let Go”
Word and Music by Michael and Rickie Byars Beckwith
The Music Elder
Mrs. Chanda Leigh Adeogba
The Departure of Cosmic Citizens from the Arena
The Magic of the Ben Ben Stone
It was the tendency of the ancient monument-builders of the Nile to codify their symbolic teachings in stone. Thus, for those who knew the "language," the physical structure and placement of a monument, temple, or other sacred building unveiled a deeper story.
The Ben Ben, or "obelisk," was such a significant monument that, during the New Kingdom (1580-1200 BC), it came to symbolize Kemit itself. The Ben Ben was clearly a sun and light symbol, dedicated to Ra, embodying the transcendence immanent in Ra's Light. The Ben Ben's soaring lines were meant to evoke this transcendence and its connection to the solar light was imbued in the capstone or pyramidion, coated in a gold-silver alloy called nubhedi ("electrum"), with a brilliant reflection could be seen 50 miles away on a clear day.
The term Ben Ben is a doubling of the old Kamite word ben meaning "man, phallus, beget." It is the source of the Hebrew ben or Arabin ibn meaning "son of." The ancient Nile dwellers clearly understood that the rays of the sun fructified the earth and all life upon it and therefore made that all important
heavenly body the archetypal symbol of the Heavenly Father whom they called Ra. The Ben Ben, though, is more than a mere "phallic symbol"; it is a sign of the sun (or Ra's) fructifying light-ray materialized in granite.
In the mind of the ancient priests of the Nile, light, consciousness, and understanding were synonymous. Thus, the Ben Ben codified the process of enlightenment, achieved through the correct acquisition of knowledge and the slow revelation of cosmic wisdom.
The Ben Ben yet retains its power to inspire the imagination, and to encapsulate transcendence. Again and again, the modern architect re-erects obeliscoid forms because the elegant, geometric harmony of the Ben Ben speaks a language that continually excites the creative instincts of man. Time and again, we return to this ancient architectural form not because we lack other models, but because it expresses for us the cosmic imperative of our indwelling spirit. Through the Ben Ben, we pay homage to the Light Bringer, the Father of All, and the best of His Creation.
By Dr. Charles Sumner Finch III
Former Director of International Programs, Morehouse School of Medicine
THE RITUAL OF LEAVING-TAKING AND INDUCTION
Affirmative Excellence through Tradition, Transcendence, Transformations, and Transition
The Cloud of Witnesses Encircling the Ben Ben Stone
The Ferrymen and Watchmen Bearing Witness on the Wall
II Samuel 18:24 (NIV) and Ezekiel 33:7 (KJV)
The Opening of the Howard Washington and Sue Bailey Thurman Crypt
The Entrance of the Parents’ Representative Elders with the Thurman Chest of High Expectations
The Tolling of the Thurman Bell and the Roll Call in Witness to the Thirteen Chief Elders of the Village
The Ringing of the 1787 Silver Bluff Springfield Baptist Church Bell to Begin the School Year
The Freshmen Singing the College Hymn
“Dear Old Morehouse” by J.O.B. Moseley ‘29
The Benediction
The Founder’s Representative Elder The Reverend Hardy Spurgeon Bennings III
“Walk among the hills listening to the Voice. Then, become the Voice.” (1979) “Morehouse, do not make God repent for having created you.” (1980) -Howard Thurman
The Opening of the Gates to the World House
The Freshmen start to soar on the path of “The Infinite Way” to being moral cosmopolitan leaders in the Global Commonwealth of Citizens. “He who does not look ahead always remains behind.”
-Nigerian Proverb
On Children
And a woman who held a babe against her bosom said, Speak to us of children.
And he said:
Your children are not your children. They are the sons and daughters of Life’s longing for itself. They come through you but not from you, And though they are with you, yet they belong not to you. You may give them your love but not your thoughts, For they have their own thoughts. You may house their bodies but not their souls, For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams. You may strive to be like them but seek not to make them like you. For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday. You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth. The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite, and He bends you with His might that His arrows may go swift and far. Let your bending in the archer’s hand be for gladness; For even as He loves the arrow that flies, so He loves also the bow that is stable.
By Kahlil Gibran
The Tragedy In Life
“It must be borne in mind that the tragedy in life doesn’t lie in not reaching your goal. The tragedy lies in having no goal to reach. It isn’t a calamity to die with dreams unfulfilled, but it is a calamity not to dream. It is not a disaster to be unable to capture your ideal, but it is a disaster to have no ideal to capture. It is not a disgrace not to reach the stars, but it is a disgrace to have no stars to reach for. Not failure, but low aim is sin.”
Dr. Benjamin Elijah Mays, ‘67 (Hon.)
The Prophet (New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1923) 17-18 President of Morehouse College (1940-1967)
“There is an air of expectancy at Morehouse. It is expected that the student who enters here will do well. It is also expected that once a man bears the insignia of a Morehouse graduate, he will do exceptionally well. We expect nothing less... May you perform so well that when a man is needed for an important job in your field, your work will be so impressive that the committee of selection will be compelled to examine your credentials. May you forever stand for something noble and high. Let no man dismiss you with a wave of the hand or shrug of the shoulder...”
Charge to the Graduating Class of 1961
By Dr. Benjamin E. Mays President, Morehouse College 1940-1967
There is no chance, no destiny, no fate, can circumvent or hinder or control the firm resolve of a determined soul
Gifts count for nothing; will alone is great; all things give way before it, soon or late. What obstacle can stay the mighty force of the sea-seeking river in its course, or cause the ascending orb of day to wait? Each well-born soul must win what it deserves.
Let the fool prate [talk idly] of luck. The fortunate is he whose earnest purpose never swerves, whose slightest action or inaction serves the one great aim. Why, even Death stands still, and waits an hour sometimes for such a will.
The Tragedy In Life
SOLO
There was a time in my life I thought I had to do it all for myself
I didn’t know the grace of God was sufficient Didn’t know the love of God was at hand
But now I can say if you are discouraged Struggling just to make it through another day
You’ve got to let it go, let it all go and this is what you have to say:
CHORUS
I release and I let go
I let the Spirit run my [his] life and my [his] heart is open wide Yes, we’re only here for God
No more struggle no more strife
With my faith I see the light I am [He is] free in the Spirit Yes, we’re only here for God.
Dear Old
Morehouse
Dear old Morehouse, dear old Morehouse, We have pledged our lives to thee; And we’ll ever, yea forever
Give ourselves in loyalty.
True forever, true forever, To old Morehouse may we be; So to bind each son the other Into ties more brotherly.
Holy Spirit, Holy Spirit
Make us steadfast, honest, true, To old Morehouse, and her ideals, And in all things that we do.
J.O.B. Moseley ‘29
Words and Music by Michael Beckwith and Rickie Byars Beckwith
In Witness to the Thirteen Chief Elders of the Village
FOUNDER
The Reverend William Jefferson White ’11 (Hon.)
ASSOCIATE FOUNDERS
Richard C. Coulter & Edmund Turney
MOREHOUSE COLLEGE PRESIDENTS
Joseph T. Robert 1871-1884
Benjamin E. Mays ‘67 (Hon.) 1940-1967
Samuel Graves 1885-1890
Hugh M. Gloster ‘31 1967-1987
Robert M. Franklin ‘75 2007-2012
John S. Wilson Jr. ‘79 2013-2017
David A. Thomas 2018-2025
F. DuBois Bowman ‘92 2025-
Leroy Keith Jr. ‘61 1987-1994
Walter E. Massey ‘58 1995-2007
George Sale 1890-1906
John Hope ‘07 (Hon.) 1906-1931
Samuel H. Archer 1931-1937
The Morehouse College Presidential Chair
The Presidential Chair was designed and constructed by Ayokunle Odeleye, a professional sculptor and art professor for more than 30 years who has taught at Kennesaw State College, Marietta, Georgia. Gospel Tabernacle Church of Atlanta and its pastor, the Rev. Wiley Jackson, assisted with funding for the chair, which is housed in the Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel.
Ferrymen and Watchmen for the Cosmic Village
Dr. F. DuBois Bowman ‘92
13th President
The Reverend Hardy Spurgeon Bennings III
The Founder’s Representative
The Reverend Dr. Lawrence Edward Carter Sr.
Dean of the Chapel, Professor of Religion College Archivist and Curator
Mr. Michael Devin Gumm ‘10
Director of Admissions and Recruitment
Mr. Illya Eliphis Davis ‘89
Director of Freshmen and Seniors’ Academic Success, Directore of the Morehouse Accelerated Academic Program Instructor of Philosophy
Mr. Henry Melvin Goodgame Jr. ‘84
Vice President of External Relations and Alumni Engagement
Mr. Edwin Corley Moses ‘78
Olympic Medalist and World Record Holder
Mr. Alonzo Louis Brinson II ‘27
40th President, Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel Assistants
Mr. Darius Devon Paulk
Gospel Recording Artist, Soloist
Mr. Kevin Russel Booker ‘92
Vice President of Student Services and Dean of the College
Sister Omelika Kuumba
Choreographer, Metropolitan Atlanta African Dancers and Drummers
The Reverend Dr. Winford Kennadean Rice ‘14
Senior Pastor, Beulah Baptist Church, Atlanta
Mrs. Chanda Leigh Adeogba
Pianist and Vocalist
