University of Virginia Library

It is with a great deal of pleasure that I have come this morning to
present to the President of the University of Virginia the Distinguished
Service Cross of Serbia. In the tenth century there was a king's son whose
name was Sava, and who said that he thought no man had the right to
precedent which came through the accident of birth, and he therefore declared
his intention not to succeed his father on the throne but to devote
himself instead to a scholastic life. As the only schools of learning at that
period were monasteries, he entered one and by the time his father, who lived
to a good old age, was approaching the end of his life Sava had become
through his industry and admirable character the chief of the order and his
influence, directly and through the lives of those he helped to train, was far
reaching for mental, moral and spiritual good. When the courtiers from the
Palace came officially to tell him that it was his duty to study international
relations and government policies with a view of fitting himself to rule the
kingdom, he replied that it was more important for him to keep his word than
to be king, and he refused to listen to their arguments and entreaties; so the

succession passed to his brother. In many countries this man would have
been regarded as a fanatic. In Serbia, where the spiritual has always outweighed
the material, he was canonized and the maxim of St. Sava "by the
excellence of your work you shall accomplish all things" became a precept
for the guidance of youth.

In 1883 when it became general for governments to recognize services
through decorations, the cross of St. Sava was established as the Distinguished
Service Order of Serbia, and on this occasion when the sons and
daughters of this University are graduating to go forth into the world fulfilling
the democratic precepts of St. Sava, the occasion is most fitting for
presenting to the distinguished President of the University of Virginia this
cross which is bestowed by the Serbian government in recognition of the
intellectual comradeship shown by the universities and colleges in this State,
in extending invitations to students who were qualified to enter the University
of Belgrade, an opportunity to pursue their studies here; and also in
appreciation of the hospital supplies presented to Serbia by Virginians.
There are among the organizations represented at this Centennial twenty
who have coöperated with the International Serbian Educational Committee;
i. e., the University of Pennsylvania, Princeton University, University
of the State of New York, State College of North Carolina, Bowdoin College,
University of Maryland, Randolph-Macon College, Mount Holyoke College,
Tufts College, Vassar College, Massachusetts Institute of Technology,
Cornell University, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, West Virginia University,
Bureau of Education, University of California, Syracuse University,
Sweet Briar College, Columbia University, and American Council on Education;
and the cities where many men and women earnestly worked and from
which were sent hospital equipment and supplies to lessen suffering and save
life in Serbia are Charlottesville, Richmond, Petersburg, Norfolk, Lynchburg,
Danville, and Staunton. Therefore, Mr. President, with great appreciation
of the world spirit of Virginia, the Government of Serbia authorized
the presentation of this medal which I am privileged to ask you to accept,
symbolizing as it does a love of learning in Serbia which has come down
through a thousand years, as a tribute on this Centennial occasion of the
University from which so many with high purpose, wide vision, great faith
and successful accomplishment have gone forth.