Evening star., 1900-10-04
TWELFTH ACADEMIC YEAR
OPENING OF SESSION AT CATHOLIC
UNIVERSITY OF AMERICA.
Celebration of Mass of the Holy Ghost
Annual Address by the
Rector,

The Catholic University Of America began
its twelfth academic year yesterday with
a celebration of the mass Of the Holy Ghost
and solemn profession of faith by the pro-
fessors and instructors of the university.
The rector, Right Rev. Mgr. Conaty, iutoued
the Veni Creator, which was sung by the
entire congregation. He then celebrated the
votive mass of the Holy Ghost. After the
mass the rector, seated at the altar, re-
ceived the profession Of faith, which was
read by the dean of the faculty of theology,
Very Rev. DR.. Grammar, and subscribed to
by the entire body of professors who came
forward Individually for that purpose Af-
ter the ceremonies in Caldwell Chapel,
meeting of the university faculties and
students was held in the assembly room,
McMahon Hall. The rector made the usual
announcements, and then spoke of the uni
yersfty ideals, saying in part
1T is a pleasure to meet the teachers of
the university, the students who have al
ready begun their courses, and those stud
ents who are Just entering the university
for the first time We come together as
members Of the university family, to renew
and make friendships, to seektand find help
fulness In the search for knowledge. 1t is
We'll at the very beginning Of the university
year to catch the university spirit. to renew
devotion to the university ideals. to encour-
age one another to enthusiasm, In order
that this year may be full of fruit In the
fields OF the highest scholarship.
"Gentlemen, the university work means
seriousness in the true sense of the word
There is no place here for idieness nor for
Indifference. The university ideal differs
from the college ideal in that it aims at the
individual rather than class building 1t
fosters self-reliance, and develops the spirit
OF research. 1t tends toward an all round
culture which makes the scholar and the
gentleman. Here you find a breadth Of
view width of horizon and depth Of
heipfulness beyond what you experienced
4
may grow into the beauty and power of a.
scholarship which builds itself upon the
spiritual equally with the intellectual.
1T Is your privilege to come under the
influence of teachers devoted to the ideals
of the higher Christian education, ready to
lead you up to the heights where knowl-
edge dweis. You are In an age in which
thought Is being divorced from the spirit
ual and the supernatural, while the spirit
of faith is not considered necessary as the
sole scholarly investigation.
Our Catholic University Is the heir of
the ages of faith and builds itself upon the
Christian traditions of sound philosophy,
proud of the inheritance which comes to 1t
with all e.giory of religion as a guide to
man in his search after truth"
After developing this idea Mgr Conaty
said: you come here serious men, intent
upon scholarship. The university trusts
you as Catholic gentlemen, earnest and
constant In your studies, feeling that the
day Of trifiing is over. In that spirit the
University welcomes you to its courses of
studies and expects you to show to the
world the true spirit of university life-a
spirit of faith as well of study, love
for the religious as we'll as the intellectual,
realizing that the true scholar is actuated
by the spirit of faith. You never to
forget that the university is to be Judged
by the young sent out from it to the
activities of life. Be loyal to the university
spirit, eagerly seeking for the university
advantages.
After the address of the rector the pro-
feSsors and students met and consulted
concerning the courses of study. The uni
verSity opens under most favorable
spices, the indications being toward very
large increase of students. The poyglot
character of the student body is very re-
markable. as among some of those regis
tered are Cubans, Porto Ricans. Canadians,
Frenchmen, Germans, Poanders, Japanese,
as well representatives from the differ
ent states and dioceses of this country.
The annual meeting of the board of trus-
tees will be held at the university on Wed~
uesday. October 10