The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1889-07-03
ADDRESS
BY LOUIS j. HAKENYOS
AT THE COMMENCEMENT ExER-
CIsES OF ST. FRANCIS xAVlERS
CATHOLIC SCHOOL, THURSDAY EVE
MING, JUNE 81, 1889.

CATHOLIC SCHOOL, THURSDAY EVE
MING, JUNE 81, 1889.
The mind elevated from that state
which nature has placed it in and
clothed in the ornamental garb which
training and study produce, develops
education in its true sense. The crude
article of silk represents the mind I'M
aeveloped and in it's natural state, but
the magic power Of the loom develops
the true usefulness and beauty OF this
article of traffic. Alike, education
transforms. and usefulises the mind
into that form that is the imagery OF
God and His powers. If God in HIS
goodness and greatness has modelled
man after His own image, and the
mind reflects that image, why not cul-
tivate and embellish this great faculty
that produces the comparison to tae
greatest of all comparisons--God in
His majesty and acisdom.
The culture of the mind is one OF
the noblest undertakings of man or
woman, for there is nothing in this
wide world more important, valuable
and dearer than the mind, soul and
character of the child, and to bring
forth that untutored mind to feel and
know the Importance of himself, to
train and learn those faculties and
bring them into the true channel of
knowledge, is laying that foundation
of mind upon mind, which is to think
and aid in the onward progress of time.
Education, the nations wealth and
the nations we'll being, is the great
factor which brings success, and pours
forth with munifcent hand, the
treasured blessings which great minds
give to the common good of all. As
the Romans trained the body to dc
battle for their country, SO must We
now train the mind to combat for those
Intellectual victories that are now
greater trophies than all the oak bound
laurel crowns that past time has place.
on the conqueror's brow. And it is
to fit you, my young friends, for the
different spheres in life, that you arr
placed within the tutilary arms OF thi'
convent, that you may imbibe knowl
edge, and 60 forth armed with learn
ing and the rectitude of your conduc
for a shield.
Time has developed and expanded
the mind of man, and it now reaches
far into the future. Education, tn
promoter and helper of this, has be
; come a universal fountain, THROWN!
, the refreshing spray of enlightenment
, on all who come within its reach, o
,, stoop to drink of the waters of knowl
, edge. Education may be defined a
the surrounding conditions that ripe
and enlarge human character. AZ
j. cept this definition, and you admit ths
q the school room is but one of tn
\ agents that conduct and lead in th
, march of progress the mind to tn
q elevation that enthrones the educate
+ man, and in admitting this, you owe
throw the weak and unsophisticate'
Public opinion that the success of II
If ture education is to be promoted b
- that system advocated as public ed
cation. knowledge is not educatio
% habit of thought and of life may re-
y, der knowledge either useful or hurtf'
. Social example is the temple of lear
~ ing from which the youthful min
~ ~ draws the impression lessons, wbi'
~ time can never eradicate-and this s
- cial example is the family heart
~ There it is the mind fosters the lesso
as of infancy, where Graded in though
he of purity and modesty it grows Il
e. richest treasures of life. Now to in
o ~. tate home association, and make t
wv school or academy the home of educ
mt ton, where the mind, transplant
:, : from the home of parents, may grt
Il. and blossom in those rich treasures
be knowledge, which blessing can on
IT. be obtained by applying to the
ne schools and academies that teach
wv wv lessons of God. Where all though
sr- where all words, where actions bt
'se the seal of divine knowledge, incule
go ting into the youthful the omnipoten
lot lot wisdom aud majesty of God, our CIR
le, tor-where all association is sanctif
We by charity and humility-where
Ole Ole sunshine Of contentment predominant
ef. where knowledge flows in an untra
ms meled course into the great mind
me man.
on, You ask where is this elysium
to education? In the Catholic schools
aus America. Home is re.created, and
oh, influence on mind morals of the yor
'e @a is the moulding of the character t
Ks. gives honor and respect to thepare
it and fits him to fulfill his high .
to heaven given mission, and obtain
ion true destiny" And the parents
es- making their choice and selection ,
;er, shall be the depositaries of the yot
'rse full intellect of their children, b
,,o that onerous charge to fulfill whic
in to shape their future course and de
ing ny. Will not then a fond pa
s,of think and ponder and realize the |
ni l eft that flows from a Catholic ed
@ht ton? Will they not see that ther
ort, the most important division in the