Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-06-05
GIVEN THEIR REWARD
Graduates of the Catholic Uni
versity Receive Degrees.
CARDINAL GIBBONS ATTENDS
Address by Chas. ]. Bonaparte, Attor-
ney General.
GIVES ADVICE TO YOUNG MEN
Candidates From the Several Depart
ments Presented and Number of
Announcements Made.
CARDINAL GIBBONS ATTENDS
GIVES ADVICE TO YOUNG MEN


Church in this country, as chancellor of
the Catholic University of America con-
ferred forty-two degrees on students OF
that university at its annual commence
ment. which was held this morning in Nc
Mahon Hail. on the university campus. AT
Ter the ceremony of comforting the degrees,
Attorney General Charles J. Bonaparte ad-
dressed the class and the large number of
friends of the institution who gathered for
the occasion.
After the auditorium was filed with the
| friends OF the class the candidates for de-
grees and the members of the taculty
headed by Cardinal Gibbons and Attorney
General Bonaparte, marched into the hall
All were dressed in the gowns which suited
thelr respective stations. Cardinal Gibbons
IN req ana wearing the red cap of his rank
professors wearing scholastic gowns with
various colored hoods and the candidates
Tor degrees, most of them dressed in the
garb Of priests and one in the garb of a
friar.
Rt. Rev. d. ]. O'Connell. rector of the
university. presided over the ceremonies
In his Introductory remarks. he pointed out
the 1act that most of the degrees had been
conferred for st-graduate work and rep
resented work in advance of that done in
the regular universities and colleges of the
land That-the Catholic University was de-
signed for that kind of work was empha-
sized by the speaker.
These diplomas represent real hard TOLL
he said.
The deans of the different faculties pre-
sented the candidates for degrees and
after kissing the ring on the finger of Car
dinal Gibbons each candidate received the
diploma to which he was entitled.
Mr.. Bonaparte's Address.
Mr.. Bonaparte. referring to the remarks
of the rector in his introduction told the
graduates that IL they attained undeserved
eminence through holding public office or
otherwise, in their future life they might
often receive in public compliments which
no one could know as well as themselves
were wholly unmerited. and that under
such circumstances, it would be well for
them to disclaim deserving such praise, SO
as to increase their reputation for mod
| esty.
He told them further that IL they had oc-
casion to make speeches, there were two
great faults which they must avoid If they
| wished to be popular with their audiences
and to be asked to speak again, namely
| they must not talk about themselves and
| not too long about anything. And the last
piece of advice might be applicable even
| to those among them who would soon have
occasion to delight congregations by edfy-
| ing sermons. 1t being advisable in deter
| mining the length of such discourses to re-
member that some privation of pleasure
might be of spiritual benefit to the hearers
Continuing, he said that he congratulated
the graduates on getting to work, as he
had very moderate opinion of men who
did not work, and that he regarded hard
work for worthy purposes as the best sa fe-
guard to happiness in this life. He called
attention to- the wisdom of the founders of
the university in locating it at the national
capital, where its students as well as its
faculty had the inspiring example of those
engaged in the public service of the ma
ton. and could benefit by contemplating
the virtues and talents of the high officers
Of the government. He also said that
university should be broad in the scope
and method of its teaching. and. to that
end. should be inspired by national rather
than provincial surroundings.
Referring to the advice he had given
| the graduates not to talk about them
selves, and not to talk too long, he said
| there was third piece Of good advice he
would give them, namely, always to act in
accordance with their own precepts and
| intoxicating this doctrine by example as
well as by admonition he would not tres
pass further on the patience Of his long,
| suffering audience.
Announcements Made.
The address by Mr.. Bonaparte was fol-
lowed by prolonged applause. Rev. OCon-
nell then rose to make the announcements
regarding the coming scholastic year. The
new year will begin on Tuesday morning
October 1, at 8 am. He also presented his
congratulations to the men who received
| the degrees today. and reminded them that
they were now going out into the world.
ITO some IL seems a very irreligious
| world he remarked. But 1 do not know
| of a period In history when mans mind
| was so mad for divine truths as at the
present.
Cardinal Gibbons closed the ceremonies
He stated that he was much gratified to
| learn of the progress made by the STU
dents. both in the university and after
! their graduation. He commented on the
| fact that young men from the university
| were taking high positions. one being elect
| ed to the post of assistant attorney general
| of the state of Tennessee at the age Of
| twentythree. He also noted, he said, that
| the faculty was also receiving honors. re-
| ferring to the recent appointment by Presi-
| dent Roosevelt Of Prof Egan to the post
| of minister to Denmark. Further he re-
marked, the appointment of Mr. Bonaparte
| Attorney General after he had served
| as trustee of the university reflected
honor on the institution.
But 1t Is not the post that dignifies the
man. but the man who gives honor and
| dignity to the post. Success in this life
| is not measured by the post you fill. But
| if you follow the path of duty, remain
| faithful at the post, no matter where it is,
| you will be rewarded by God"
His benediction closed the seventeenth an
nual commencement of the university.