The times., 1899-05-30

Visitationennes are welding among the
women of our country. We remember with
merciful thanksgiving that whom the Lord
loveth he chasteneth.
1T is long and long ago since they laid
Archbishop Neale to rest underneath the
altar where he was wont to offer sacri-
fee. The nuns go softly to and fro above
his head, and those he knew we'll near him.
and no harsher voice penetrates to that
still place than the chant of nuns and the
song CT birds or children, and the great
BELLS as they ring the years away. Since
! then the shadows have deepened in these
old grounds. Slim young trees he helped
| the early pious ladies to plant have become
| giant sentineis to guard their rest Chill
dren and their children have played child
hood away beneath them. The city has
creeped to the very feet and beyond
unheeded. The little garden beside our
| ivied walls is filled at last with low, black
crosses, and up on the hill a few stones
| have dear names which we of younger
day knew well. Over all the world are
wives and mothers whose highest woman
hood is a tribute to their alma mater.
| Changes these, but changes which the
| sanity soul of cur founder is glad to see,
/ looking down from high heaven this day.
And when we sing together in Ameri-
cas- first chapel to the Sacred Heart, 10
thank that Heart for loving US SO well.
there will be some unseen among us lift
| ing voices that have been long silent TO
the soulful music of our "Magnificat," al
though we shall not hear them-those who
have come to gaze back longingly through
the open door, whose threshold they once
crossed with such eager feet.
Those who have come as friends to
our alma mater JOY at her one hundredth
birthday, she receives all with pride that
there be SO many to do her honor. And
your eminence. because of the long and
affectionate connection between this house
| of the Visitation and your Archbishop
See-Rome's first gift to our country be-
cause We bear the same good name. writ
| on the tablets of the Heart, because of the
| kindly interest. counsel and guidance your
eminence has been ever ready to bestow
upon Georgetown and her daughters it is
with more than usual love and reverence
that we ask a fathers blessing on the
years that have been and the years that
are to be-
Cardinal Gibbons TnIIks.
After a congratulatory introduction on
the excellence OF the exercises and the at
tendance of so large a number of the for
mer graduates of the renowned institution.
| Cardinal Gibbons referred reverently to the
religious side of the development OF woman
The strongest impression the occasion had
made on him was that it was the Chris
tian religion that had animated the female
sex. Woman was no longer the slave of
man as she had been in prehistoric times,
but his equal or peer
I'VE can realize the elevation of the fe-
| male SEX" he continued. Woman is today
the queen of the domestic kingdom. and she
| is indebted for this distinction to the
/ nf
| has honored woman, well has she repaid
| this honor because she eleyates society
| and is a blessing to every community-an
| archangel to the homes of our land.
"One hundred years have rolled by since
| Georgetown Convent commenced its great
work of religion and education, and. like
| all great works. ii has gone on in silence.
The sainted sisters have gone on pursuing
| their noble work quietly, but steadily.
year after year. and it is wonderful to
see the immense good that has been ac-
complished by them Every young lady
| that has been educated here has gone forth
! better, and a source of domestic virtue.
| Her hcme and society has benefited by her
accomplishments.
I'VE are told that more than 800 of the
old pupils Il am sorry to call them old
have come to their alma mater to testify
| at this time OF their love and devotion.
| tury. l remember the old institution that
was formerly here, which has been sup
| planted by this new edifce. The cd
| teachers have passed away, the old alum
nae have gone. succeeded by others. The
old house IS gone, the old sisters have
| gone, and the old scholars have gone but
the old spirit OF the institution remains
| and prevails II is the spirit CT Jesus him
| self"
The Cardinal said he had on former oc-
| casion, while addressing a graduating class
in the same room made a prediction that
| probably not all Of them would ever meei
there again, but this had proved him to be
! no prophet nor the son of a prophet, for
! he had been told that they were all there
now, and most CT them were the happy
mothers Of children. He invoked the rich
! est blessings on the present class, and on
| the meeting aiumnae as well as on the eel
| ebration and institution.
An elaborate programme for continuing
the celebration has been arranged for to-
| day. beginning at 10 o'clock this morning
| with pontifeal high mass, celebrated by
| Cardinal Gibbons, at the Church of the
| Holy Trinity. The alumnae will be pres
| ent, and have been requested to meet at
the convent earlier and receive badges.
The other officers OF the mass Will be-:
! Deacons OF honor Rev. John ID. Whitney.
| 5. j.. President OF Georgetown University,
and Very Rev. a. L. Magnien. 5. S, d. D..
| President of st. Mary's Seminary, Balti-
more; assistant priests TO his eminence.
Rev. Thomas s. Lee. Of st. Matthew S
! Church, Washington; deacon OF the mass,
Rev. W. S. Caughey. OF St. Stephens sub
deacon, Rev. Martin O'Donoghue, of St.
| Peters On the throne in the sanctuary
his excellency Archbishop Sebastian Mar
tinelli, papai delegate; deacons OF honor
TO his excellency. Very Rev. Philip j. Gar
Tigan, d. D.. Vice Rector Catholic Uni
yersity; Rev. John a. Galligan. S. j.. Rec
tor Gonzaga College; preacher. Mgr.
| Thomas J. Conaty. d. D., Rector Catho-
lie University; first master of ceremonies,
Rev. Hector Papi S. J.; second master OF
ceremonies. Mr. James A. Mullin. S. J.
canvas covered pavilion has been
erected IN the inner garden of the convent.
| in which the alumnae Will be served at l
| O'Clock with an elaborate lunch. About
fifty Church dignitaries Will also be enter
tanned at this time and an elaborate pro-
Gramme Of toasts has been arranged.
| Emma Etheridge of Tennessee. will act as
toastmistress, and among the responders
will be Mrs Russell Harrison and Mrs.
Emily Warren Roebling. who completed
the Brooklyn Bridge.
The days festivities will conclude with
a reception at o'clock.