Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-06-07


| to the institution"
| Monsignor OCoaneil predicted a great
| future for the university, and urged all eoo0
Catholics 10 manifest the proper interest in
it.
Before Diminishing the audience the papal
benediction was invoked by the Most Rev
Diomede Falconio,
The candidates were presented for de-
grees as follows:
In arts. by Very Rev. j. J. Griffin. Phi D.
dean of the faculty of philosophy: in tech
nology. by Prof D. w. Shea. Phi. D.. direct
or of the board of Instruction. in law. by
Prof. w c, Robinson. LID. dean OF
the faculty of law; in philosophy, by
Very Rev. ]. j. Griffin, Phi. D.. dean of
the faculty of philosophy; in theology, by
Very Rev. c. p. Grammar, d. D., dean of the
faculty of theology.
DR.. Stafford's Address.
As Rev D. J. Stafford stepped to the fore
to deliver his address he was greeted with
hearty applause which continued several
minutes. Bowling his Acknowledgements he
said:
This occasion calls for a learned and
technical discussion of some scientific or
academic subject and of such disuu;s;tion
the institution must, however plead for me
in your estimation, and L can only hone
that the lips of an intellectual babe may
unWitungiy speak wisdom, or that, like
some truth-stammering oracle, all uncon-
scious of the message, l may say that
which may lead others, more capable to
think better ard love more. Nor may /
forget the property in the circumstance of
the rector of s.. Patricks speaking here.
For he who laid the foundations Of these
splendid buildings and began the work of
these eminent faculties belonged to that
church and got his experience there The
best years of his life. the best efforts of
his wll-nay, | may say the blood of his
heart are in these walls and in these facul-
ties. and his going threw a halo over all,
making a thing holy still more sacred. and
was as a clarion calling US all to heroic
deeds, which, after all, are the final end Of
education.
gun has been most remarkable. l have no
patience with those who faint and become
weak-hearted at the first breath of oppose
ton. Life is a struggle for existence with
institutions as well as with individuals.
AS it develops the individual and brings out
all that is best in him, reveals him to him
self and calls into life and activity dor
mant power which before he rocked not of,
so does it strengthen. so!idify and develop
an institution. No individual can escape
no institution be free from it. 1t is in
VOWED in the idea of existence itself"
Referring to the Catholic Church DR..
Stafford denominated it as the greatest in
stitution here below, and said it had been
most bitterly, constantly and powerfully
opposed. Its existence would have beer
miracle, he said. its continuance q greater
miracle, but its existence and continuance
under this tremendous opposition. fighting
for every inch and battling for every ad-
vance, makes it evident to all that there
is a divine principle of vitality in it. To
have succeeded at all would have been
great; to have succeeded under such cir
Gums tances is double glory.
Work of the institution.
What" he asked, has the university
done besides putting up some buildings and
starting some five or six faculties in more
or less successful operation? This: 1t has
elevated the tone of the Catholic body all
over the United States. 1t has raised the
standard Of every Catholic college in the
country, and many of them, who were
shamefully deficient, have become most re-
spectacle Its influence has radiated and
found its way into every parish school,
even down to the smallest village, and
every teacher and every pupil has heard
something of higher culture. 1t has en-
couraged the educated layman all over the
country, and it has filed the breast of
every priest, battling against mighty odds,
with the hope of the better champions that
are 10 follow him and do the work of God,
not with more zeal, but with greater ability
| and better equipment. and at this moment
| every right-thnking Catholic in the United
! States is looking to this mountain of God.
| from whose summit the light is to shine out
| upon the future, with hope and love. The
recent great calamity has been a benefit;
| for, under the skillful management and
| GeNOtlOn OF the rector ana the intense ue-
| votion of the cardinal. it has been rem
| edied, and it has drawn the hearts of all
| of US closer to one another and closer to
| the cause. Out of this very great tribula-
| ton the university is born anew. 1t was
dear to US before, but it Is twice dear to
US now. Let 1t go on and do its work.
| What is that work especially to be?
Opportunities of the Church.
1.-The Catholic Church in the United States
| Is confronted with the fairest opportunities
| in all her history Not when she met the
| pagan world, not when she met Greek phil
osophy, not when she met the barbarian,
not when the feudal system fell to pieces
| and she laborlously placed the foundations
| of modern Europe, has she had such an op-
portunity as here. AS far as the mind of
| man can see into the designs of providence
| the future of civilization and world power
| is to be here What mighty progress!
| What stupendous advancesl What I'M
| paraleled development! What incalculable
| resource and limitless strength! The con-
| sideration StaggerS the mind
| And here the Catholic Church is free;
| free to make her own laws; free TO do her
| own work; free to do 1t in her own way;
free to call into activity all her universal
| machinery and to evoke, as she has ever
| done, the heroism and zeal of multitudinous
| children-cau them to great deeds for God
| and man-and thus meet one Of the greatest
! crises of history.
Leaders Needed.
I'VE need leaders. Not only great bish-
| ops and great priests-not only great eccle-
| siastics-but great laymen. Certainly the
| church needs-the church always will need
| great and learned ecclesiastics; men of
| broad mind; men Of deep culture; men of
great heart, sympathetic with everything
good in the age and country; men of deep
thought and intense purpose. whose words
will stir or still a whole nation. But this Is
not all-it is only half. The clergy are not
a cast, they the whole Catholic
Church, and side by side with such bishops
and priests there must be found the lay
men leaders of like culture, purpose and de-
votion, in order to do the work WELL And
perhaps at this moment the greater need of
the two is the latter There Is a very re-
markable dearth of such men among US.
They more common among Professionals
To the Graduates.
you young gentlemen who have received
your degrees today-you are called to this
sublime mission. You should not you can
not walk the ordinary paths of men. You
are called to greater things. You are to be
the leaders in Israel-the leaders of Gods
people-whether in the church or in the
world and IL you do your part well 1 have
no fear for the future of the country, the