The times., 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 ENtoIied
by All the Speakers-a Great Fu-
ture 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 eminencc. Cardinal Glib
bons who came over from Baltimore 70
attend the event, and by other noted
Catholic prelates. About seventy-hve
members Of the alumni organization at
tended and enjoyed a 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 10 Atlanta.
The banquet hall was tastefully dec
grated with American flags entwinod 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 1.
Kennedy. the toastmaster 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 rs 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 MartineW 10 be a Cardinal.
We are all grateful for this.
y am going directly to Rome and when
I see the Holy Father I viii tell him that
90 last D in, D., ..-fyl o.
was with the alumni of the Catholic Uni
versity Of America. You all know my
love for the institution and 1 have a great
pride in it.
i can only close by thanking God that
we live I'm q country where religion is free
and speech is free. i 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
al the close of his remarks
Rev. Francis . Duffy, Of New York,
responded 10 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
BIdlldltU litIil SUCH an INSTITUTION dS 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 ali his life
We are tonight gathered around our alma
mater like chickens around an old hen.
May our alma mater live forevermore
and foreyeTmOre be glOrified.
Rev. John T. DTiscOH. OF Albany. y. Y.
responded TO the toast. our Country"
motto of the Catholic University was
God and our 0Ountry.
Next to God is the love Of our coun-
try, said he, and II is proper that we
should have this as our watchword
There is nowhere in the world country
like our own-the United States. The
name is as dear 10 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 q
glorious prospect stret 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
citizens
The next toast was The Alumni and
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 IL had done 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-
tion, was then called on, and said that
as a practicing lawyer he was glad 70 get
a chance 10 speak. but as TIL representa-
tive Of Columbian he was proud 10 be at
the dinner and 10 hear those who had
spoken. He referred TO the difficulty Of
getting through the law course at the
Catholic University, and said that ne was
surprised to see so many graduates pres
ent
The Clergy and the Laity" was re-
sponded 10 by Dr. Charles =. Neill. He
held that the Catholic University was
doing much 10 unite the clergy and the
laity. and was furnishing not only intel