The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-04-24
PRAISE THEIR ALMA MATER
The Banquet of the Alumni of the
Catholic University.
Cardinal Gibbons the Guest of Honor
America and the Church ENtolied
by All the Speakers--t Great Flu
turc for the Institution Predicted.

The Alumni Association of the Catholic
University of America held its seventh
annual banquet at Rauschers last night
and heard the praises of its alma mater
sounded by his eminence. Cardinal Glib
bons, who came over from Baltimore TO
attend the event, and by other noted
Catholic prelates About seventy-hve
members OF the alumni organization at
tended and enjoyed pleasant evening.
Hardly a handful Of laymen were present.
and the gathering represented the pastors
of parishes from Chicago to Boston and
from ST Louis TO Atlanta.
The banquet hall was tastefully dec
grated with American flags entwined with
the Papal colors. white and gold A
string orchestra rendered music. Cardi-
nal Gibbons occupied the seat of honor
at the head of the tables, with James L.
Kennedy, the POSTMASTER. on his left. .
After an excellent menu had been dis
cussed Cardinal Gibbons hurried away.
that he might not miss his train. Before
going he responded briefly to the toast.
THE Holy Father" as follows:
The name of the Holy Father is al
ways to Us a delightful one We love him
for his interest in us all and especially
for his interest in the Catholic University.
We all love him for his intention to raise
Monsignor Martinelli to be a Cardinal
We are all grateful for this.
u am going directly to Rome and when
l see the Holy Father l will tell him that
the last time ] sat in public gathering
was with the alumni Of the Catholic Uni
versity Of America. You all know my
love for the institution and | have a great
pride in it.
Il can only close by thanking God that
we live I'm a country where religion is free
and speech is free. have always thank
ed God for this. There is no country on
the face Of the earth of which one might
so truly say this. We have the greatest
audience here in the world. An audience
which loves education and loves freedom.
God bless America and Americans and
God bless its great institute of learning,
the Catholic Institute of America
Cardinal Gibbons was loudly applauded
at the close Of his remarks.
Rev Francis O. Duffy, OF New York,
responded to the toast, our Alma
Mater" He referred to the gratitude eX-
pressed by those present to their alma
mater, and said that men who had never
graduated from such an institution as the
Catholic University could never know the
feelings of those who had.
He commended the plan of going along
with the university work without so much
publicity, and without advertising the
labors.
NO man can attend our university"
said he, and not feel grateful all his life.
We are tonight gathered around our alma
mater like chickens around an old hen.
May our alma mater live forevermore
and forevermore be glorifiel."
Rev. John T. DTiscoll, of Albany " Y.
responded to the toast. Our Country"
lie drew attention TO the fact that the
motto of the Catholic University was
Cod and Our Nountry.'
Next to God is the love of our coun-
try, said he. land il is proper that we
should have this as our watchword.
There is nowhere in the world a country
like our own-the United States. The
name is as dear to me as is the freedom
which we breathe here. Our flag is fan
ned by the breezes of freedom and we
bless God that we are free and pray as
one man that We may never be less free.
If we look back TO one hundred years
ago we may be all the more thankful for
the blessings which We enjoy. Today
glorious prospect street ches before US. and
there is no height which we may not at
tain We should always stand together
in this country, and with the best type
OF Christian manhood to the fore. we have
nothing to fear. Here we may exercise
all freedom of religion. BY exercising this
freedom We may become the best kind of
citizens.
the Professor" which was responded to
by Rev. DR.. Shahan. He described the
relations between the two, and predicted
a glorious future for the university. He
related many anecdotes of the progress of
the institution. and said that in seven
years II had done a great work in turning
out such men as those around him. He
hoped that they would receive their re-
ward in the praises of the alumni to
come.
W Bruce King. the President Of the
Columbian University Alumni Associa-
ton, was then called on. and said that
as a practicing lawyer he was glad TO get
a chance to speak, but as tn. representa-
tive Of Columbian he was proud to be at
f.a al hoe 4
spoken. He referred to the difficulty of
getting through the law course at the
Catholic University, and said that he was
surprised TO see so many graduates pres
emit
The Clergy and the Laity" was re-
sponded to by DR.. Charles =. Nell. He
held that the Catholic University was
doing much TO unite the clergy and the
laity, and was furnishing not only intel