The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-07-01
GE0Ret TOWN COLLEGE.
Fifty-third Annual COmmencement-Remar
able Address by One OF the Faculty-Do-
fence Of tho Josuits.

FiNy-third Annual COmmencement-Remark
able Address by One Of the Faculty-Do-
fence Of tho Josuits.
WASHINGTON, June 80. 1870.
The nfty-tnird annual commencement OF George.
town College took place to-day and was attended by
q host OF distinguished people, including General
Sherman. Mons. de Bodisco, Of the Russian Lega-
ton; Rev. DR.. Mcguire, Rev. Mr. Heaey, Rev. Mr..
Sumner, Rev. Mr.. Mutually, DR.. Brennan ana Profess
sor Cummings. For the first time since the foun-
dalton of the College the President of the United
states did not attend the commencement exercises,
and his absence was the subject Of much comment.
The exercises comprised wen written essays and
POEMS music comforting OF degrees, distributing Of
premiums and a remarkable address by Father
Mcguire, the president Of the college After thank
ing the audience for their attendance anu knuy re-
cepton OF the young speakers he alluded TO the lact
OF the outrageous attacks upon the JesutS Dy
certain newspapers In this country. The papers ne
the jesns San and he hoped that now that i've Jesuit
was before the audience and talking 10 tnem that
they would take good LOOK a. MN anH sas'y n nna
half that said about the Jesuits was true they
would be terrible set OF men truly. why IL was only
the other day that he read In New YORK paper
that his Holiness the Pope and the American Jesuits
had formed conspiracy with Ben Butler TO
elevate the Essex statesman to the Presidency.
(Laughter.) Absurd as such stories were, still they
were published In every part OF the country ana De
ieved BY some, and he felt It to be his duty as q
that there was word OF truth In such Stories
The Jesuits and Catholic priests never bothered
themselves about such matters. They did not med
die with politics; they did not even vote, thOugn, as
citizens, they were entitled to do 30. They had
higher, nobler and holler mission. They de,
voted themselves to the service or God ana
the education OF tho youth OF the country whle tey
left TO the world In general the task Of managing
political affairs The republic need not DC airaa ta'
the Jesults will ever revolutioniZe the country.
tLaughter.) They have too much else to attend 10.
He had seen IL stated recently In one oil Harper'S
papers that the difference between common school
education and Jesuit education was that students at
the common schools were taught to think, wnle STU
dents at the latter taught the reverse Laugh
teri Well, he would only ask the audience TO pass
Judgment. The audience had heard the speeches
and other productions recited by the students TINS
day, and written, moreover, by the students them
selves and could 1t be said that what they had writ
ten and recited showed an absence OF Thought or
reasonY Students were taught the necessity OF sell
restraint, but they were not cramped intellectually.
On the contrary everything was done calculated 10
aud obedience were vigorously enforced, because
they were necessary TO the proper educaJiOn Oh
young men; necessary to make them useful and law
abiding members of society. That was all. Religion
also made the basis Of their instruction, because
he and the order to which he belonged believed In
the Old doctrine that education without moral tral
ing was Ike sword In the hand OF a mailman. 1t
did harm TO society.
dents that he was about TO leave them for new
sphere: that his term Of office had expired after
thirty years service. and that he must bid them fare
WELL He addressed them some very touching
words oil farewell, tod them to remember that
Honor and fame from condition rise
and that their aim In life must always be that con-
veyed in the words Of England's greatest poet
Be just and fear not.
Let all thy aims be truths, thy country's and thy