Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-06-08
cry Powers. Central Park, L. l.: Francis de
Sales Smith. Washington. u. c.; John Peter


cry Powers. Central Park, L. L.; Francis de
Sales Smith Washington, Il. c.; John Peter
Murray. Chicago. ILL.,
AT the conclusion of. this ceremony Rev.
James d. ONeii. S. T. L., made an ac-
acknowledgement of The degrees conferred up
on the theological candidates. In shor,
address he paid high tribute to the pro-
fessofs and also spoke of the need OF a
higher education for the ministers OF the
day.
edged the degrees On behalf of the students
in law while Mr.. p. p. Murray made re-
Spouse on behalf of the archaeological grad
yates.
Cardinal Gibbons.
Cardinal Gibbons here stepped to the front
of the platform amid great applause and
delivered the dosing address. A reference
by him to Admiral Dewey brought forth
continued applause. He said:
Among the many advantages you enjoy
in this young but fiourishing institution of
learning l may mention this one in partic-
ular, that you are taught by your able and
discriminating professors, what BOOKS you
are to study. what authors you are to con-
suit in your ecclesiastical or civil career.
And 1 regard the selection of books de-
cded element of success. Your progress IN
life will largely depend on the spiritual and
intellectual weapons you will use. just as
Admiral Deweys great victory In Manila
cry of his men. but also to the superior
armament of his ships over that OF the
Spanish fleet.
while ] must disclaim the ability which
would enable me to recommend to you the
authors you should study. there Is one book
which l commend to you first and last and
at al! times, and that book is the Holy
Scripture. The Word OF God is justly styl-
ed by s. Ambrose the Libre SacerdotaiiS
or the priests book by excellence. You
m Ght be familiar with the whole range or
al cient and modern literature. and yet II
you were hut imI erfectly acquainted WITH
the sacred volume your sermons would re
Cry and cold and laTnentaDly defective. On
the other hand, IL VOC are Well Versed In
the Sacred Scripture. though a comparative
stranger to human science. you Will preach
with a force and grace and JUNCTION that
will not fail to make salutary impression
on your hearers and pl oduce abundant fruit
in their souls.
ut is a remarkable fact that our Savior
was never known to have read OF quoted
any book except the sacred Scriptures He
makes no allusiGn Re the s1ass s iitera5ufe
"The fathers of tie third, fourth and
fifth centuries have seldom been equaled
and never excelled as sacred orators. The
only theology which they read was the
Word of God. There is strength and
force and virility in their discourSeS which
clearly reveals the heavenly food of the
Word of God on which they fed. St. Basil
and ST. Gregory NazanZen spent thirteen
years in solitude, diligently applying them
selves to the Study spf the sacred volume.
St ChrysostCm never allowed a week to
pass in which he, did not peruse the four
teen Epistles of ST. Paul, and we know how
Intimately acquainted he was with the
texts and spirit OF ST. Paurs Epistles. Ven
cradle Bede tells US that from the age of
seven, when he went to monastery, he
spent his whole life IN copious study of the
sacred Scriptures, ana he died while dictat-
Ing the last verse of the Gospel of st. John.
The sermons and writings of st. Bernard
are yeritable Scripture mosaic. Indeed,
If the Bible wereslost. large portion of 1t
would be found IN the works of that father
of the church. 4"
But would recommend the holy Scrip
lures not only to you, reverend gentlemen,
but also to those Of, you who are destined
for the practice of the law or of any civil
calling. Judge Robinson will agree with
me that an argument from the gospels will
not fail to make a deep impression on a
judge and jury in our country, for the
common law of England. from which ours
Is largely derived, Is interviewer with evan
gelical maxims. The most illustrious
statesmen Of England and America have
been conspicuous for their familiarity with
the sacred text. The writings Of the Earl
of Chatam, Lord Brougham, Patrick Henry
and Daniel Webster abound In passages
from the word of God. In the memorable
speech delivered in the Supreme Court in
Al in the Girard will case Daniel Webster
quotes from the Scriptures twelve or thlr-
teen times. One of his finest perorations is
nothing else than a paraphrase of the 133
Psalm
But in order to make the perusal and
study OF the sacred Scripture profitable to
your soul, you must never lose sight OF
the truth that the sacred volume is a
message to lis from our Father In heaven.
i; "a related that st. Anthony once received