Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-15
TAKES THE LAST vows
CANDIDATE RECEIVED INTO THE
SOCIETY OF JESUS,

st. Aloysius' Roman Catholic Church was
the scene this morning of particularly sol.
emn and impressive ceremony when Rev.
Eugene De Lowery Mcdonnell, one Of tho
best known of the priests of this diocese,
took the last solemn vows as a member
of the Society of Jesus. No religious order
of the Roman Catholic hierarchy IS moro
rigorous and exacting of its members az TO
faith and educational qualifications than ia
this. A candidate for the final vow must
nave been at least twenty years In the order
ana must have undergone a minute scrutiny
by his suDeriors.
The event is sfpnalizad Nv, ,ho ,,.
form OF ceremony, in conSonanace with m.
wishes of the founder of the order St
!gnatlus of Loyola. AS is well known a
Jesuit Is never priested until he has com,
pleted seventeen years of study and taach-
ing, which course is begun with a novi-
tiate or two years. At the end Of this ne
ROO VOWS are taken and the candidate is
put through two-year course of rhetoric
three years OF philosophy, five of teaching
ana then -FOUR years Of theology.
! ne last year Is the most trying and I'M
portant of all, and when this is Concluded
ths candidate Is formally made a priest.
Without Display.
An introduction into the Jesuit order IL
never the occasion of great public display
but, on the contrary, is characterized by
Only the superior general of the order at
Rome can give permission to a candidate
to receive these last vows. It is stated
that the superior general is regularly in
formed as to the character and spiritual
ana mental qualifications of each member
or the order, and only those who ara
thought specially worthy are permitted to
take them.
These last vows have special force and
only after taking them is a member of The
order thought to be fully and completely
fitted to go anywhere on earth to proclaim
me falth--the society's highest example OF
faith, devotion and scholastic acumen
The ceremony of receiving the last vows
at st. Aloysius' Church this morning took
place at the 4 o'clock mass. which was
was celebrated by Rev. z. Y. Fink the
pastor of the church.
There was no music, and the altar was
without special decoration. At the begin
Ing OF the mass Father Mcdonnell knelt
on prie-dieu within the sanctuary railing
until the communion of the mass, when he
was conducted to the altar steps where he
repeated the last great vows and was
finally and irrevocably received into the
order and church.
Personal Sketch.
Father Eugene DeLowrey Mcdonnell was
born October 20. 1864 at Baltimore, Md.
He pursued his preparatory studies at
Loyoia College in that city, and later made
a college course and graduated from George
town University in this city In 1885. He is
a grandson of DR.. DeLowrey of Baltimore,
the Oldest graduate of Georgetown Univer-
sity, and a nephew of the contractor who
built the New York subway Father Nc
Donnell is very popular In St.. Aleysius'
parish. During all of his ecclesiastical life
he has been ardent worker and advo.
cate of clubs for young men in connection
with churches.
Having been particularly successful In
New York, Boston and other cities In con-
nection with this work. on the formation
of the Aloysius Club Father Fink invited
him to this city to assist In the upbuild-
ing of that organization. He Is now the
clubs moderator. AS mark of thei2 es-
TEEN for him the club members received
in body at the o'clock mass
this morning. and It is probable that q
reception will be rendered the popular
moderator next fall.