The times., 1899-06-05
KNOWLEDGE AS THE
HANDNAID OF RELIGION
An Eloquent Sermon by the
Rev. Joseph I. Smith.
Baccalaureate Sunday Services at
the Catholic University.
Cardinal Gibbons to Confer Degrees
at the Graduating Exercises
on Wednesday Next.

Yesterday. the last Sunday of the scho.
lastic year, was observed as bacca,aureats
Sunday at the Catholic University, the
members of the different faculties of the
university in their distinctive costumes at
tending in body at the solemn mass
which was celebrated in the Divinity
Chapel at $780, The Right Rev Rector,
Monsgnor Conaty. was celebrant of the
mass, the Rev. John f. Burke. C. S. P,
was deacon. and the Rev William j. Sulli-
Father Bradley. of Philadelphia, was mas
ter of ceremonies. Being the solemnity of
Corpus Christi, the Blessed Sacrament was
solemnly exposed before the mass by the
Rev. John Webster Melody, of Chicago.
and the mass was celebrated in the pres
ence of the Blessed Sacrament. After the
gospel the Rev. Joseph F. Smith, of New
York Past President of the University
Alumni Association, preached the bacca-
laureate sermon. He said in part:
This occasion is one of great moment,
important for Church and country, be-
cause it signifies the entrance into the
American life of minds trained and dis
ciplined in the highest realms of knowl-
edge. On a day like this, you as post
graduates are clustered together to draw
final and crowning inspiration for your
high career. You are determined to make
that career the logical outcome of your
peculiarly extraordinary preparations. An
undying inspiration may be found in the
realization of the resourceful power, the
unusual responsibilities, and the match
less opportunities of a Catholic University
,.l,,,f. ;e, md hat
knowledge developed to its utmost and
rightly used is a peerless handmade of re-
ligion. The higher, the more exact. the
more varied the knowledge, the stronger,
the more useful, the more widespread
power it is bound to exercise.
THE power for good OF a university
student is to be measured by the e1traor
binary knowledge he is capable of diffus
ing: a knowledge surprising, because of its
sources; convincing, because of its scien-
tiflc methods: uplifting mankind. because
OF the motives which inspire its acquisition
and use. The sources of his knowledge.
under the revealed doctrines transmitted
under the guidance of an unerring spirit;
basic principles deducted from reason and
nature, and controlled, shaped, and in
spired by the higher ones of revelation.
You are the legitimate heirs of nineteen
centuries of devotion to truth; you are
specialists trained to be masters OF one
or few branches of learning, with a COM
plete knowledge CT many other branches
of learning.
las graduates, whether priest or layman
of this institution, your words and your
writings will attract the attention and
win the respect of thinking men. who
recognize it as a most powerful addition
to the educational forces of America.
ot tho hopipninp of the
twentieth century is a marvellous one. To
see and grasp an opportunity is a sign of
true genius. From trusted watchtowers
comes forth the warning: This is an un
usual age, an age of change No one is
more capable of directing the age mid the
dangers of changes than you who have
the knowledge and know how to apply it.
Your opportunity lies in the age, in
its tendencies in your country. The age
was an age OF doubt NOW ii is return to
religion. Your Church is best suited to
this age. because it is one. a principle dear
to the American heart. 1t is consistent.
it accommodates itself to the accidental
changes of the age. We must study the
age and all its malades, for which we
have the healing remedies.
Go forth, then. men of the Catholic
University and priests of God with your
Pentacostal spirit Be true students OF the
university, permeate1 with IT'S ainOS-
phere, its activities its habits of thought,
its charity. You will then be radiant men
in clouded world. With the dawn of each
day you will be glad to scorn delights,
and live laborious days; you will do great
er things for your country and your God
and so carry out the magnificent ideals of
your glorious alma mater"
At the close of the mass the tie deum of
thanksgiving for the blessings of the year
now closing was chanted, after which
benediction of the Blessed Sacrament was
given. The divinity students, the stu
dents Of the different colleges affiliated
with the university. and the lay students
were present at the mass. The rector
afteT=.Td entertained the deans of the
faculties at dinner.
The annual graduation exercises of the
university will take place on Wednesday
morning. June !. at 10 O'Clock, in the as
sembly room of Mcmahon Hall. His
eminence, Cardinal Gibbons, will preside
and confer the degrees. A special feature
of the exercises will be the comforting of
the doctorate in theology on the Rev.
James J. Fox, of New York. The cere-
mony is one of very great interest and i'm
portance, and will be feature Of the
graduation.
Arrangements have been made for a
special train on the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad, leaving New Jersey Avenue at
$50 and returning from the university at
I.0E