Arizona republican., 1894-06-16
SACRED HEART. Commencement Exer- cises Last Night. Admiring Friends Fill the Opera House. A Flowery Tribute to the Ef-
 forts of the Pupils. Rev. Fr. Vandermason Discourses Upon the Aims and Uses of
 Paroctal Schools.

A large audience of parents and friends assem bled in the opera house last evening to witness the first gradua- tion exercises Of the Academy of the Sacred Heart. There was but one graduate, Miss Mary Piedad Balsz, a young lady who clearly demonstrated by her admirable essay upon "Educa- tion" and valedictory address that her time spent at the school has not been wasted but devoted to learning to ob- serve, to think and to express her ideas in forceful and eloquent language. The introductory address was delivered by F. J. O'Brien, who said:
 LADIES AND GENTLEMEN: It is with full appreciation of the honor conferred and not without diffidence that I ap- proach the task of offering these brief introductory remarks. The occasion, the graduation of an estimable and &C., complished young lady, the first to graduate from the academy of the Sacred Heart, the presence of these faithful sisters, expectant pupils, and, let me hope indulgent audience of friends and parents, are all worthy of the best efforts of the most thoughtful and the most eloquent.
 "The Sisters of the Sacred Heart academy take pride in the condition of their school, that is natural and justifa ble. They believe it is well to manifest to the people what they are doing educationally. They desire the good will and the good opinion of their neighbors, and so have prepared for this evening program which is in- tended to reflect, in measure, the 1 work of the term of the boys and young ladies who have been committed to their charge.
 "The results which have been ac- complished by the sisters in the less than three years they have been here are worthy of notice. The numerical attendance has increased from a mere handful to about 150 and the school has been brought to self-sustaining basis. That the educational advancement of the pupils has been satisfactory to parents and guardians is shown by this rapid and steady growth. This has been made possible only by the most careful and systematic management. The school, so far as the attendants are concerned. is non-sectarian. From a third to fourth of the pupils are non- Catholics. It is matter of conscience with the sisters to refrain from at tempting to convert the children of non-Catholics. One of the first ques- tions asked when child is brought to the school is whether the new conner is a Catholic. If not, no attendance at prayers. at religious instructions, or at any religious exercises is required. The Catholic children are taught the truths of their religion and this is fre- quently the principal cause of their be. ing sent to the sisters school.
 ''While the great body of Catholics 1 in this country are strongly in favor oi free public schools, and doubtless always will be earnest adherents and supporters of the public school system there are not few who desire that their children be taught the great truths of morality and religion in con. junction with their secular studies To many parents and guardians who have but little time or whose own lack of carly edu cation has left them unequa to the duty of giving proper home in struction to their young, but who never theless appreciate the paramount i'm portance of moral training, the Sisters schools appeal strongly.
 ''There IS in every community cer tain circle who are greatly opposed tt schools conducted by teachers of any sectarian denomination. These people are usually sincere in their opinion and have an uncontested right to main tain them. But when it is known jus what the Sisters are doing, there can b. no intelligent or reasonable criticism o an adverse nature. These schools cove 8 field which is untouched by others It is as fair and as just to condemn tn technical schools of the large citie where music, cooking or the trades ar taught, as to object to the Sisters fo teaching religion and morality to tn, children of parents who 80 desire.
 Whether it be on the battlefield, il , the hospital or within their secluded halls of instruction, the sisters are eve found engaged in noble and self-sacri ficing work. Whether their nightl
 vigils are broken by beat of drum, tn rattle of ambulance wagon, or thei
 peaceful labors disturbed by the mur mur of childish voices, their mission i always the same, to care for the aged the sick and the poor, to train and i'm press by thelr OVID exemplary live
 the minds of the young. and so disin terestedly work for the relief and tn
 betterment of humanity"
 One of the best things of the earl
 part of the program was recitation b
 Miss M. Crouch of James Whitcom
 Riley's inimitable verses, "The RI
 Child, or the Gobbe Uns'll Git You"
 Instrumental music of excellen , character was furnished by Misses ( Brill, M. P. Balsz, M. Walsh, s. Righet
 ti, E. Bowyer and E. Merriam.
 The vocal duet, 'Miserere Domini,