National Republican., 1876-06-19
SISTERS OF NoTRE DAME.
LAYING the Cornerstone Of a Girls Sch

Laying the Conversions OF q Girls School.
Two weeks ago workm IN e gan to prepare the
foundations of building to be us I'd as n school
for the girls Of st. Aloysius' parish, and to be
under The Charle OF the Sisters Of NOtre Dame.
Yesterday the corner stone was laid in the pres
ence of a large assemblage. The building is
being erected opposite St. Aloysius' church. at
the corner Of Myrtle and North Capitol streets.
When completed it will be three stories in height,
and capable Of accommodating six hundred pupils
The ceremony OF laying the cornerstone was
celebrated at o:3J O'Clock last evening. Although
the sky threatened a storm. the attendance was
very large, and exceeded in numbers any gather
ing that ever assembled in this city on a similar
occasion The Knights of St. Peter and st.
Patrick, the Hibernian Benevolent Associations
and other organizations attended in regalia
There were many clergymen present, although
but few took active part in the ceremonies.
A platform was erected on the site of the pro-
posed building. Fathers Mcguire, jenkins and
Jameson, attended by altar boys and several
ofieers OF local associations, occupied places on
the platform. The ceremonies consisted simply
Of a sermon by Rev. b. A. Mcguire, s. J., and
the informal laying Of the granite stone. Father
Mcguire delivered an eloquent address on educa-
tiOn and religion.
REHARRs OF FATHER NAGUIRR.
He prefaced his remarks by reading from
Matthew xix:l4, the words Of Christ, "Suffer
little children and forbid them not, to come unto
me, for of such is the kingdom of heaven" He
said that the spirit Of the Catholic Church was
the spirit Of Christ, and with the same love the
Church bade the little to come within Its in
fuence. He referred to the time, sixteen years
ago, when the ST. AIoysius church was dedicated.
At that time that part Of the city was very
neglected spot, and they were laughed at for
erecting such q splendid edifice in such misera-
BILE locality.
The school-house followed the church, and 1t
church further east than the present one to sc-
commodate the rapidly y-increasing population of
that part Of the city. When the church was first
built, several benevolent ladies had taken charge
of the education of the children without receiving
any compensation for the task, and from their
kind lsbOrs had grown the present schools Of the
parish, which were equal to any in the city. They
now found it necessary to provide a school for
girls, and il was TO lay the cornerstone Of build
ing for g girls school that they had assembled.
The spea ker then dwelt upon the purposes Of edu-
catiOn-the development Of the two-fold nature
Of man. He considered that education defective
which neglected religious training.
He said that that eL ucatOn which neglected re-
ligfous training made man worse than If he had
no education at ALL as it placed q sharp weapon
good. He spoke eloQuently Of that educat th at
htted a man, not for the world only, but for the
life hereafter for which God had destined his i'm
mortal soul, and refuted the idea that the Catho-
lie Church was unfriendly 10 education, and
wished TO keep the people in ignorance. He said
that the first free schools were established by the
Church OF Rome and under the shadow Of the
Church. 1t was true, he said that the Catholics
in Ireland were ignorant, but It was owing to the
penal laws of England, which made 1t a crime to
educate an Irshman. He thanked God that they
were now in a country where they could worship
as they pleased, and educate their children in any
manner they pleased. Religious education was
especially important for girls.
He spoke of the influence Of woman and the
careful training necessary to develop her in pu-
rity, VIRTUE and goodness and mt her to reign in
her home. He thought girls were exposed more
than boys in the public schools, and that great
crimes grew out of the absence of religious train
ing in the schools. 1t for this purpose, to
train their girls relgiOusly and rear them in vir-
tue. that they had commenced the erection of the
building, and he earnestly hoped that the people
with Sisters
crous aid. He ended by invoking the blessing of
God upon the undertaking.
After the sermon the stone. which bears the
simple inscription, juno Il, 1876" was laid, and
the people dispersed.