Evening star., 1897-06-09
RECEIVED DEGREES
The Graduating Exercises at Catholic
University Held Today.
An ADDRESS BY CARDINAL GIBBONS
Introductory Remarks by Dr.. Conaty,
Rector Of the Institution.
LIST OF THE GRADUATES

The graduating exercises at the Catholic
University were held today in the hall
of the Mcmahon building. As this was a
gala occasion in the calendar of the uni
versity. an American flag fioated from
the staff at the top Of the building, while
the hall was appropriately decorated. The
space reserved for the general public was
we'll occupied by the friends and acQuain-
tances of the students, a large number of
ladies being present. The seats imme-
diately In front Of the platform were oc-
cupied by the students, who wore the regu-
lation cap and gown. and a number OF
students IL similar attire were scattered
through the hall.
On the platform were seated Cardinal
Gibbons, the chancellor of the university;
Mgr. Martineln, the delegate from the
pope to the Catholic church in this country;
Mgr. sbaretti, the auditor of the papal
legation; the rector of the university, DR..
bers of the faculty, Bishop Hogan Of Scran-
ton Pa; Bishop Curtis of Wilmington,
Del; President Richards of Georgetown
University. Mgr. Mcmahon. Rev. A. l..
Magnien. D. D., president of st. Mary's
Seminary, Baltimore, and General Stanley,
the governor of the Soldiers Home.
The professors of the university wore
uduuSOme gowns, lnQlCatl0R tnelr OI0C1al
position, and the variety of color as shown
In these robes relieved the monotony which
Is a usual feature of color scheme of the
commencement stage of the average edu-
cational institution.
DIR. COnaty's Address.
The exercises were begun with an intro
ductory address, delivered by Rev. Dr.
Conaty, the rector Of the university. He
said. in part:
year of scholastic work in the faculty of
faculties of philosophy and law The &C.
clesiastical and law studepts who present
themselves for degrees have passed exact
ing examinations, which have been the
source of great satisfaction to the different
faculties. The doctorate, ncentiate and
mastership have been won by scholarly
theses, ably defended by trying public ex-
aminations which gave evidence of care
full research and attentive study. With
more than ordinary pride we present these
young men to his eminence, the cardinal,
chancellor, that at his hands they may re-
ceive the prizes they have so valiantly
won. Days like these mark epochs in :he
university life, for like an earnest anxious
mother, the university sends forth into
the busy, buStling world Of intelligent
activity champions Of truth, whom her low
ing care has prepared to defend the right
and overthrow the wrong, to emphasize
right principles and to puncture false
theories, and thus help to establish the
kingdom of truth in the minds and hearts
of men.
The Degree Men.
1.-The university men are the degree men,
for on them is stamped the character of
real scholarship and piety, the twin char
acteristics of true learning, the air and
purpose Of a university training. BY her
degree men the university as such Is to be
judged; for them alone is she as such re-
sponsible. On them she depends and
through them she looks for works in keep
Ing with the education she has freely
given. They are, indeed, her jewels, and no
Roman Cordelia could have greater pride
in her children Into the ranks Of a learned
clergy she sends graduates to take an hon.
orable place in the front ranks of leadership
with the noble ecclesiastics who are
winning magnificent victories for faith on
all the lines Of higher ecclesiastical studies
Into the ranks of a learned and devoted
Catholic laity. the university sends we'll
trained laymen, Christian gentlemen, whose
correct lives will be in touch with instincts
of intelligent faith, and whose well-trained
minds will fit them as leaders in the pro-
fession which they are to enter or the avo-
cations in life they are to follow, Here
they have learned that the groundwork Of
all learning is in sound philosophy, which
assures not only correct thinking, but
which train men of themselves to sift the
wheat from the chaff, to tear the mask
from the sophistry parading as truth, to
see clearly that there is nothing beautiful
Jul tuc SOOu dHO uOtNlnS worth possessing
but the true. and that all goodness and
truth center in God. The scientific train
Ing which intellect and heart demand is
that which begins and ends with God
whose works are found in nature, and
whose knowledge is revealed to us in its
perfection In Jesus Christ. Intellectual de-
velopment, guided by Christian philosophy
may enter fearlessly into all the domains
of science and win Its victories; for If God
be with us who shall stand against us?
Science needs defenders to save it from
the anarchy and bankruptcy which threat
en- 1t, In an atmosphere of nature without
natures God.
Religion and Science.
Here sacred and profane learning 10
hand in hand. Religion and science are
twin studies. God has joined them to-
gether, and no man should divorce them.
The illumination from on high frightened
every page Of the book of nature and is
to the mind what the telescope is to the
eye. an aid to greater and broader vision.
Science alone talks Of nature alone; it is
Of the earth. earthly. Like Israel, it re-
mains at the foot Of the mountain, under
the cloud; but with religion 1t carries men
beyond himself and nature; for religion
like Moses. penctrates the cloud and goes
to the top of Sinai. to be taught by the
great God Himself. Virgil leads Dante for
awhile but it Is along the paths Of earth,
and Beatrice who showed him heaven
The Catholic University stands for the
highest in science and human letters, as
1t also stands for the highest in sacred
learning, which is. indeed, the key to all
knowledge; for the one science Of which
all else are parts is the science of the
knowledge Of God The Catholic Univer-
city enters every field of intellectual en-
deavor. that it may harvest the treasures
that lie within. AS the Jews Of old used
the gold and treasure of Egypt in the
building Of the temple Of Jerusalem, so
should the temple of wisdom be built from
pagan and Christian classics. and from the
treasure house of all ages. The Christian
Catholic student seeks truth, not by the
light Of their intelligence alone but aided
by the light Of the divine intelligence They
nre scientists and scholars, who submit
their reason to the reason of God, and
know that this is not degradation. but true
nobility of intelligence. This is the
thought which has leavened the education
Of these young priests and laymen.
Rewards Of Labor.
Fortified in this truly Christian spirit,
they come to receive the reward NJ vaare