Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-06-03
COMMENCEMENT SUNDAY.
Impressive Sermon Delivered At the
Catholic Univeraity.

Caldwell Chapel at the Catholic Univer-
sity was crowded yesterday morning with
the different faculties, professors. students
and friends Of the institution who were in
attendance upon the ceremonies connected
with commencement Sunday. Mass was
celebrated by Very Rev. Godfrey Schilling.
O. F. NJ, superior Of Mount St. Sepulchre
Monastery, one OF the affiliated colleges:
Rev. Thos. L. Barry Of Ptttsburg. deacon:
Rev. Francis l. Purtell of Philadelphia,
subdeacon. and Rev. NJ ]. McSorley of
Philadelphia, master Of ceremonies. After
O Brien of Brooklyn. N. Y, an alumnus Of
the university, preached the sermon. At
the end Of the mass, benediction of the
Blessed Sacrament was given, during
giving for all the blessings of the year.
The music was under the direction Of
Prof. ]. ]. Dunn, Pho. The vestments
used at the mass are the gift of the Mar
Quise de Merinville, and came from Paris
on Saturday. They are not only the gift
OF the marquise, but were embroidered by
her own hands. and are most beautiful
specimens Of high artistic skill.
In the course of his sermon. Father
OBrien said that the commission Of Christ
to HIS apostles constituted them great
teaching body. The church, perpetuated
through their ministry under the presence
and influence of Christ and the spirit Of
truth, became a worldwide university The
divinely revealed truths he said, were the
dlrect matter of her teaching, but the
fruits OF human thought and study In
every department of learning are intimate
~ related to divine truth and have ever
been an object of solicitude to the church
anxious to promote the union and harmo-
ny that should exist between revelation
and human reason.
These convictions, the speaker said, the
church embodied In schools colleges uni
VerSltles and in her supreme pontiff's let
terS. art, music, painting and archit ecture
!ouhd their most generous patrons. To her
interest in human learning the modern
world owed what remained Of the classics
OF ancient Greece and Rome. She was the
custodian of the Bible through barbaric
ages the type Of all that was best and most
fasting IN education. from kindergarten to
university even where she did not create
them She was still profoundly interested
IN the education Of her children, as her
parish schools. her colleges and the uni
sersley resumed She was insistent upon
thorough Christian schooling for her little
ones, and would have her youth profit by
the best in education, 50 as to commend
the divine truths and their related inter-
ests to the Intelligence of the age
Inc Catholic University, In the opinion of
the speaker, had an important part in the
mission of the church as the great world
teacher. 1t was dedicated to the most per
20. Nhrlstian scholarship. 1t was to send
Iorth accredited scholars, priests and Law
men, capable and jealous to make men
realize that the preceptress Of the Chris
.,an ages had message to these times and
society, In SO far as these involve Chris
tan truth and Christian life, True
IDEAS and noble Ideals nodded. deyeloned
ana propagated In accord with Christian
the present hour. For these the univers;tv
stands. he said. The studies pursued the
habits formed. the very atmosphere of this
, seat , OF highest learning. must make for
most intensive and extensive study of
science, philosophy and religion.