Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-07-14
1S76-fSS6.
An Address Read Before the Alumni
of st. Joseph's Academy.

commencement at st. JoSeph's Academy,
Washington, Ga, the graduates OF the
academy who were present met and
formed themselves into an alumni asso-
| citation to meet every year at the academy
on the day preceding the commencement,
at which time officers will be elected to
serve during the ensuing year. At this,
their first meeting, Miss Nellie Nc
CURE, OF Washington, Ca, was elect
ed President, Miss Marie Harty, Of
Savannah, Ca, Vice President, Miss
Maggie O'Connor, OF Savannah, Ca, Sec
rotary, and Miss Katie Flannery, of
Savannah, Corresponding Secretary, to
serve during the present year. AS soon
as the organization of the association
and the election of officers were ended,
Miss Nellie Mcclure, the first graduate
OF the academy, was called upon, when
she read the following address, which
was very happily received:
1S76-1SS6.
These are the figures that confront me,
and dates, like the magician's wand, can
cOnjure up pictures most wonderful, pic
lures most beautiful; can bring back
days that are gone and restore scenes that
have vanished. And these dates, 1885,
have a special potency. '76 places before
my eyes a scene that is trans piring in the
parlor of modest frame building. The
house has only eight rooms, one of them
grandly designated the parlor, its uncar-
peted floor and bare walls protesting
against such a distinction. But in this
scene it has been trans formed into mimic
theatre. A stage occupies halt the room
while the remaining space is filled with
an intensely interested audience. Small
as the stage appears it is aDundantly
large to accommodate the hall dozen
girls who, in gay attire, present Madame
Learning and her daughters"
That grandldame disposed of, comedy
and high tragedy follow, and then, in
piping treble, is rendered French song,
"Jaime Mama, Jaime Papa" The
little stage quakes with the hearty ap-
plause, and the curtain drops on the first
annual commencement of st. JOseph's
Academy.
The marrow walls have stretched away
into stately halls" The little parlor still
remains, but it is tianked to right and
left by long, airy study halls and re-
creation rooms. Wide corridors and cool
piaZzas surround the little eight-room
house and set il as a jewel in a casket.
There Is my Alma Mater; it was from
the walls OF the old home that | went
forth as the first graduate, bearing the
priced parchment and laurel crown. For
so rapid was the growth OF the seeding,
within three years charter was obtained
to confer diplomas, and St. Joseph's
Academy presented the first diploma
given by a female Catholic institution of
Georgia vested with collegiate powers.
Twenty-one graduates have babe fare
well to mother, teachers and schOolmates
since then, and gone to distant homes,
but /, more favored, have remained near
our Alma Mater, beneath the shadow of
the dear old walls. | have been witness
of the steady growth, the increase that
eachyear brought. | have been intro
duced to the awe-stricken p girls as the
first graduate" and was constrained TO
wear an air of dignity and exceeding
great Importance to impress them with
the honor to which they were aspiring.
But | have known intimately each grad
uate, each daughter that our mother has
sent forth. Have lived over again my
happy graduation day in their trlumDhs,
and to-nightI am proud, oh, so proud, as
eldest daughter. 10 welcome you again to
our matters arms, TO meet again beneath
the old roof Tree. Those who are absent
are, at least, with us in spirit, and have
written expressing their interest and love
for Alma Mater.
Shall we 90 back over the years and
with our magic wand follow our sister
graduates ard view them in their differ
ent spheres and occupations. Since 10
twenty-One nave borne away the coveted
sheepskin, and with the class of 'S6 we
viii number thirty-twO. OF these, from
the classes OF 'S0-'S2-'S3, three have re-
turned to the mothers sheltering arms,
and have given their lives to God, .''Ad
maiorem Del glOriam." AS teachers, i'm
parting to others the lessons learned, and
intoxicating the sweet spirit always the
motto in our school, "Love one another"
two from the classes of 1SS0382 are
dignitied matrons presiding over house.
holds.
Three from classes Of 1SS2-'84-'85 are
teaching, one parish school, the other
two in public schools. Two have sunday
catechism classes, besides numerous
home duties. Two teach music. One IS
a jealous and untiring collector for st.
Joseph's Orphanage, Notwithstanding
many other duties; and one is Organist
in one of our city churches. teaches mu-
sic to her younger sisters, keeps house,
and, as friend observed, finds yet time
to make pleasure foI others, and sunshine
wherever she goes.
or the seven others who, | believe, have
no outside employment, we can say they
are fulfilling their mission as Preside
angels, their duty to society with grace
and dignity, and, above all, their duty to
God; for wherever they are st. Joseph's
girls, who are true 10 st. JOseph's spirit,
are an honor to the school, and to the
sisters who labored so jealousy for their
welfare.
Perhaps j, too, have known better than
my sister graduates OF the loving anxiety
aud true motberly solicitude with which
our dear teachers followed us into the
world. Never have we been forgotten.
Our successes have made them happy,
our SORROWS have been shared, and there
can be no doubt that TO their prayerful re-
membrance is due many light that shOne
across our path when In gloom or doubt;
their prayers the invisible hand helping us
TO rise yet higher and higher.
There is another To whom we will never
become strangers, by whom we have never
been forgotten, but who is ever father,
friend and helper, Rev. j. Nj. 0Brien.
He il was who planted the little Seeding,
watching over its early growth. His the
Jealous care that made it grow and
spread vigorous, healthy growth, with
no crooked limbs, no untruitful branches.
In one of our essays there was proph-
ecy concerning our academy-"irom a
frame structure it shall rise to brown
stone front"
However cbimerical this may have
seemed at the time Of its utterAnce, there
is solid foundation now and very fair
promise OF fulillment.
Tomorrow night eleven more will be
added to the ranks Of alumn9, to whom
we extend our heartiest welcome, con-
fdent that our hign reputation Will not
on h,1f l,a of tan e,tb cd nd