The Irish standard., 1895-06-15
y0TRE DAME UNIVERSITY
The Celebration of the Golden
Jubilee Of the Famous Cath
olic. College.
The History and Wonderful Equip
ment of Great Scholastic
Institution.

An Interesting Sketch of the Gar
reer of Its Sanity Founder,
Rev. Edward Sorin.
Preparations are going steadily for
ward to make the golden jubilee OF the
University of Notre Dame the most bril-
liant event in the history OF Catholic
education in the West: And Notre Dame
may well be proud of her record, proud OF
the so years of trial and sorrow, OF hope
and final success that have raised UP
xreat college in the wilderness. Fifty
years ago all northern Indiana> was a
thinly settled forest, and 1t looked like
Jolly for men to hope to make universi-
ty SO far from New York and Philadel-
phia, the centers, then, Of wealth and
culture. But Father Edward Sorin, the
intrepid young Frenchman, who had
vowed his life to God, was wiser than the
men dreamed and the manssive build
ings and the 500 or more students who
throng the halls of the Notre Dame OF
today are the best evidences Of his fore
thought. The growth Of the university
was low in the beginning. In 1880, Very
Rev. S. T. Bodin was engaged in mission
ary work in the Northwest territory. He
travelled extensively about in the widest
parts of the West. While so employed
he became impressed with the natural
advantages Of tract of forest land on
the banks of the st. James river. With
a fair look in the future he saw that
there might be possible to establish at
some time an educational institution
which would ftly represent the spirit
and thought Of his church. He purchased
in the year named 600 acres of land at
s1.25 an acre, directly from the govern
ment. The locality was known at this
time as St. Marys Of the Lake, and 1t was
the center of the missions which had
been carried on in lower Michigan and
Northern Indiana. The Notres Dame
tract was presently transferred to the
bishop of vincennes, who then had &C.
clesiastical jurisdiction over this part
of the country. The plan suggested by
Father Bodin, was approved by the
church authorities, and in 1912, the bish-
op offered the land to Rev. Edward Sorin,
with the stipulation that The should,
within a reasonable time, construct q
building for college purposes.
Father Sorin was one of the most dis
tinguished men ever connected with re-
ligious work in the middle states. He
was born near Paris, France, Feb. s,
1914, and was graduated from the Uni-
versity Of Paris. He was ordained June
., 1888. He was the founder Of the Order
Of the Holy Cross, his purpose being to
provide an agency for reaching the Amer
lean Indians. He declined the episco-
pacy. in order to devote himself to the
missionary work, But his superiors pre-
ferred that he should engage in the edu-
cational field, and he was sent to estab-
lish schools wherever an opportunity
offered He arrived at the present site
of the university Nov. "a, 1912, with only
S. with which to begin his labors. The
country was covered with snow, and the
only building. within ten miles was log
hut. Father Sorin began with the hut
as nucleus. He spent five days in re-
pairing and so arranging it that one-half
would serve as a chapel and the other
half as habitation for himself and four
brothers.
Although the little company proceeded
with all diligence it was not until Aug
ust, 1S43, that the cornerstone of the first
ediflce was laid. It was completed the
following spring, and in June, 1874, the
first commencement exercises were held
This same year the Indiana legislature
ter with the title and privileges of a uni-
versity. Thus Notre Dame is now really
81 years old. In the meantime the name
he'd been changed from st. Mary's to
Notre Dame du Lac, which has since
been further changed to the present fa-
miliar title Notre Dame.
In April, 1879, the university was de
stroyed by fire. This was the first and
only great reverse it ever experienced
Five large buildings were burned in this
conaagration, and with them the scien-
tific apparatus and the contents Of libra.
ries and museums. But the fire brought
no encouragement to the friends and
officers Of the university. There WaS
enough time between April and Septem-
Der to afford opportunity for the con.
struction Of the magnificent new build.
ing which now forms the nucleus OF the