The herald., 1896-06-25
Held in the Los Angeles Theater
Last Evening
THE BRILLIANT PROGRAM
Large Audience From Church and Social
Circles
Orations and Music-Degrsss, Diplomas and
Gold Medals Elmer Booth Makes .
Splendid Addrsss-The Details

The tWenty-seventh annual COM
mencement of st. Vincent's college took
place in the Los Angeles theater last
evening, and the event long anticipated
brought not only conscious satisfaction
to the graduates and joy and delight
to their parents and sweethearts, but
also carried off the topmost branch in the
palmy season of commandments.
When the curtain rolled up shortly
after o'clock the foyer was filled with
maids and matrons in brilliant and sum-
merry attire, offset with many a black
coat adorned with the yellow and white
insignia of the college, surmounted with
bright posy as the wearer's fancy or
his "best girl" may have dictated. In
the loges were seen many well-known
faces Of the fashionable world.
The stage scene presented an ire
proachable drawing room decorated with
spicy carnations. in which appeared a
small youth, Master Henry Eberle, in an
immaculate dress suit adorned with a
white button hole. who delivered the
salutatory with much dignity and clear
enunciation; his brave young voice ring
ing out to the uttermost corner OF the
tneater.
The program was short and brilliant,
consisting OF two orations intersperSed
with choicest selections from Gardeners
orchestra. The first Grafton was a
notable essay on Some of Our Foreign
Relations, written by r. J. Dillon, esq.,
of the class of 's3. who has since been
graduated from Hastings Law school.
San Francisco. The delivery was most
successfully accomplished by Mr.. Fred
l.. Reardon, whose entree and exit or the
stage were both attended with ringing
applause.
The second grafton, which also con-
stituted the valedictory, was given by
Mr.. p. ]. McGarry. This young gentle
mans delivery in the beginning was
somewhat faulty, but as he proceeded
and lost himself in histhrilling words
OF farewell, the proof Of his appre-
citation of classmates, friends and spec
tators was evidenced in frequent pune
tuations of applause.
At the conclusion of the orations, per-
haps the most engrossing feature of the
program took place-the comforting of
degrees. diplomas and gold medals.
During another delightful orchestral
selection, the visiting clergymen to the
occasion and the prominent divines of
the city and the faculty of st. Vincent's
took their places on the stage. Among
them were the Very Rev. ]. Adam, V.G.,
L. MCSdTtly VI INlNcTSlue, dtueIS Dbl :
ron, Curran of San Pedro, Keneally of
San Luis Obispo and Fisher of Pomona.
This gathering with Messps. J. B. Dock
weller and A. Orfela, made a notable
support for the young graduates. Father
Meyer of st. Vincents fulfilled the office
of bestowing the honors as follows:
Degree of master of arts on Richard
Dillon. deg. of '93; bachelor of arts,
Patrick J. McGarry; commercial di-
plomas were conferred upon Urban
Mandis, Nautilus Hugo, Fred Reardon,
Adam Derkum, Leo Seibert and Ramon
Brena.
The Rev. NJ. S. Liebana delivered the
address to the graduates. which en-
braced likewise a homily to the audience
in general. Father Liebanas words
trip forth gracefully over a decidedly
Spanish tongue that last evening added
considerably to the interest of his
Thoughts The young father wished to
distligsfnnize his hearers of the common
belief that all good Catholics fall over
each ether every time the Pope speak
eth or yet indulgeth in a pontif1cal
sneeze. Father Liebana explained away
the general idea that Catholic principles
forced the submission of the intellect TO
church authority. On the contrary, he
mentioned the many instances in high
educational history where the most no.
table strides in research and SCIENTIFIC
discoveries have been made by the tol-
lowers of the Roman Catholic church.
To the graduates the spiritual father
spoke beautiful words OF ADVICE. 1ull OF
high courage, stimulating his hearers to
patriotism and all the enrolling paths
of life which he claimed were sure to fol-
low in the faithful climb of ambition
The address was received with due ap'
| probation.
The interest which had been gradually
growing through the exercises reached
| the elimination in the awarding of sun
| dry medals. Gold medals were bestowed
as follows amid deafening demonstra-
| lions of applause: For excellence OF
scholarship, upon Leo Seibert, the donor
| being Bishop Montgomery; for Christian
i doctrine, George lie Doux, the gift Of
Rev. Menigis of Philadelphia for the
| English prize essay, Fred Reardon. The
| latter talented pupil was also the recipi'
ent of the silver medal for oratory
Father Liebana's gift. The winner of thC
gold medal for the recent oratorical bat
tie held in St. Vincent's was in a tanta
llzngly prolonged speech by Father
Meyer announced to be Master Elmer
Booth. Round upon round of applause
| greeted this young orator as he knelt be
| fore Father Adam for the honor. The
grafton which won the medal for thu
| boy was the chariot race from Ben Hur
! This was repeated last evening and wa!
| a remarkable evidence of talent an(
training.