Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-04-24
CLOSES WITH FEAST
Annual Banquet Of the Alumni Of
Catholic University.
CARDINALS TRIBUTE TO THE POPE
America and Americans and Their
Free Institutions.
DISTING UISHED GUESTS

| An elaborate banquet at Rauscher's last
evening brought to close the annual
| meeting of the alumni of the Catholic Uni
versity. Clergy and lay graduates from all
parts of the east were present and listened,
| among other things. to toast proposed to
| 1.-THE Holy Father and responded to by
| Cardinal Gibbons of Baltimore. Prominent
officials of the university added their words
\ OF praise to the loyal utterances Of the
| alumni.
| The banquet hall was decorated with
| profusion of American flags, about which
were entwined the Catholic colors, yellow
| and white. The tables were arranged in
| tn. shape of a horseshoe. At intervals
| along the white-clothed boards candelabra
| were placed, the white tapers being sur
| mounted by yellow mantles AT the head
| table, where the cardinal sat, however, the
| candle nantes were red. James L. Ken
nedy of the vice presidents of the
| alumni association, presided as toastmas-
| ter, and there were seated at the guests
| table Cardinal Gibbons, Mgr. Conaty. rec
| tor of the Catholic University; Rev. Dr.
| Magnien president of st. Mary's Seminary.
| Baltimore; VIM. Bruce King. president of
! the Columbian University alumni of this
| city; Rev. James Burns, president of Holy
Cross College; Rev. J. B. Devereux of Holy
Cross College. Rev. Walker Elliott of the
Paulist Fathers. and Rev. Godfrey Schil-
| ling. superior of the Franciscan Monastery,
| B1ookland.
| Cardinal Gibbons Response.
| Cardinal Gibbons was called away early
to fill an engagement in Baltimore, but be-
fore leaving the feast he responded briefly
to the first toast proposed, The Holy Fa-
| ther." The cardinal spoke Of his coming
visit to Rome, and said when he saw the
| ha oil i'm, hot "a Of
public gathering in which he Cthe cardinaD
| sat- was that of the alumni organization
Of the Catholic University of America. The
| cardinal spoke of his love of the university
and his pride in all that 1t does.
"a friend of NINE" he continued, told
| me that men come from the Catholic Uni
versity fitted to cope with any problems'
| and 1 hope and believe this is true. l can
| only close by thanking God that we live
| in a country where religion is free and
where speech is free. have always thank
| ed God for this. There Is no country on
the face Of the earth Of which one might
| truly say more than this. We have the
greatest audience here in the whole world
an audience which loves education and
loves freedom. God bless America and
| Americans, and God bless its great tnsti-
tuition of learning, the Catholic University
Of America.
| Expressing his qualification at being able
to be present. the cardinal excused himself
| and hurried away to catch train.
| There were but two additional toasts on
the regular program, "Our Alma Mater
| and "Our Country" but the presence of so
additional topics and the speechmaking
was extended until late in the night
Alma Mater and Country.
Rev. Francis O. Duffy Of New York was
introduced to respond to the toast "Our
alma mater" He paid fine tribute to the
university and spoke Of the gratitude and
appreciation felt by all the graduates for
| what was done for them while students at
the institution. No man. he declared.
could attend the university without a feel
ing Of qualification for the remainder Of
he concluded. like chickens around the
| old hen. May our alma mater live forever
more and forevermore be glorified."
Rev. John T. Driscoll Of Albany, N. Y,
| spoke for Our country" Next to the love
| Of God he declared, the true Christian and
| good citizen loves his country. He refer
| red in eloquent terms to the prowess of
| America, saying that her banner is famed
| NAL he thanked God for the privilege of
| living in such a country, and uttered the
prayer that Americans may never be less
| free. Continuing he spoke of Americas
brilliant prospects and glorious history.
Alumni and Professors.
| The POSTMASTER declared that one Of the
principal objects Of the Alumni Associa-
ton is to bring the graduates into closer
relationship with the professors Of the uni
| versity. and 1t was therefore eminently fit
| ting to propose a toast to THE Alumni
| and the Professors" Rev. DR.. Shahan of
the Catholic University was asked to re-
spond. DR.. Shahan spoke Of the gratifying
| growth of the university and said that
| while the alumni gatherings were small as
yet, they would expand with each year as
| the work Of the university is extended. He
| spoke Of the esteem in which the pro-
fessors hold the graduates who are work
| ing to aid the university, and also spoke
| Of the attachment which the professors feel
! for their labors at the university. "Our
| hearts are in our work. he declared, land
away enjoying our summer vacation to
hear the kind words and praise uttered
everywhere for the alumni Of the Catholic
University. The university Is young yet
and needs more students and more money.
| But we are working quietly and pushing
Mr.. William Bruce King, president of the
Alumni Association of Columbian Uni
| versity. this city, was next introduced
Mr.. King said he was proud to represent
his alma mater at a gathering of the
alumni Of the Catholic University. He
spoke OF the recent Columbian banquet
and said the graduates Of that institution
were delighted to have with them at that
time representatives Of the Catholic insti-
circles Of the capital, had already attained
to much success. He brought greetings he
declared. from Columbian and expressed
the hope that the happy relations existing
between the two universities would con-
tinue fraternally for many, many years.
sIingling Of Clergy and Laity.
1.-The clergy and laity" was next pro-
posed as a toast. and DR.. Charles p. Neiu
responded. As an example. he SAID of the
happy mingling Of the clergy and laity at
the Catholic University. was the fact that
the hall of divinity owed its endowment
to lady. benevolent and good. and that
the hall for the laity owed its existence
to the muniflcent gift of q pious priest.
The great work Of the Catholic University,
he continued, should be the giving to the
world of Christian scolars. Other institu-
tons might turn out cultured gentlemen
and eminent citizeDs hDf the Cafbolio JTpi-