Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-01-10
AT NOTRE DAME
Address to Monsignor SIocum
 By Miss Louise Martin.

Dame have for the past thirty-seyen
 years ittingly celebrated every event
 worthy of record in the history of
 the Catholic church in Waterbury.
 Last night they noted the elevation
 or Father Slocum to the dignity of
 domestic prelate to Pope Plus X by
 rendering him reception in the his-
 toric old hall of the convent.
 The scene and the company was a
 brilliant one. The skill of the elec-
 'riclan and the art of the florist, com
 plned with an effective placing of the
 numerous musical instruments. made
 very pretty background for grace
 tui groups of pupils, who from the
 tlniest tots to the young ladies of the
 graduating class, were all attired in whits gowns. The members of the sAlumnae association were present in
 gorgeous array, and sat in doub,e
 rows or raised seats on either side of
 lne nall. The nuns of the congresa-
 lion were at the lower end of the
 nall, just back of the clergy, who ac-
 companied the right reverend mon { signor, who was, of course. the cen-
 erai ngura or the evening, all the oth-
 CTS having come to do him honor. Monsignor Slocum wore the full
 aress robes of his office for the first 1 tlnle since his investiture. It has been
 HIS custom never to accept for him sef gifts of monetary nature. so
 when the news of his elevation to the
 monsignorf became known, the nuns | aetermlned to present him with the insignia of his rank, and the mother 1 general Of the order sent him his
 manteliette. Mother St Cecilia, the
 nrst superior of the local convent, his s'iken girdle; Mother St Egbert, the ! present superior, beautiful lace
 rochet' the class of 1907 his bireSta.
 ana the members of the Alumnae as- soclatlon his long purple silk gown.
 "Glch he will wear on ceremonious
 occasions. The monsignor. being
 me, Dig, well set up man, with snow White hair, made a most impressive
 sppearance, and looked as one born
 .o wear the purple, a. real prince of
 the church He entered the hall to
 song Of jubilation which the head
 music teacher had arranged for the occasion, and which introduced as
 cnorus the famous old "yiyat Pastor Bonus" "''o' n me small children. led by Mary lhefnan, gave an original dialogue written by one of the nuns. Each
 little girl said her verse in a ouaint
 stately fashion. with many a shy look lol admlra ton at ''le grand monsig- nor whose smile was very kindly when they assured him that he would lal~ays be loved as a father as we'll as reyerenced as right reverend pastor. Then Eileen Mcdonald, little Anna Mahoney and tiny Miss Benson stepped forward with punches of movers almost as big as themselves which they presented to the monsig- nor with pretty speeches.
 X Miss Louise Martin read an ad. cress, rich in thought and graceful in phrase, from the faculty and pu. pils of the school. She expressed tne.r, pleasure at the elevation of rather Siocum, their appreciation of tne qualities which have won for him this testimonial from the church, and thelr gratitude for the spiritual min. istrations which he extends with prlestly courtesy. Miss Martins de. livery was very effective.
 The only other address was that or the Alumnae association, and was given by its president, Miss Alice NJ. oConnor, who said she was glad to add to all the other tributes which Mgr Slccum had received the greet. 1 ings Of body of representative wo. men. Miss O'Connor's address was a masterly effort. It reviewed the | conditions of the day and made it an. | parent why a man of Father Slo. | cum's sound theology and broadness of view should be advanced to
 hnighthood of the spirit,' as she | beautifully termed his new honor be. slowed by the church.
 There was splendid music on the | program. A concerto "Chamimade. l Opus S6," by the Misses Brownell I and Fay. first pianos, and the Misses l Garde and Healy, second pianos. was | one of the best things ever given by | amateurs in Waterbury. Beautiful expression and exactitude of execu. ton made the four pianos sound as one big instrument. The grand old | Magnificent" as four part chorus. with harp accompaniments by Misses Garde and Browneil. vioIins by the Misses Holohan. Sweeney, Martel and Malone. with Mother St Stanislaus directing. was given with such life | and spirit as to enthuse the whole company And then Monsignor Slo- cum addressed the audience. He thanked all present for the deference shown him. but modestly explained that his new honors were. in his opinion. given 10 the pastor of the Immaculate Conception church ss well as to himself personally. Ha spoke .f the early days or the churcb in Waterbury. and gr2cioas!y recalled the fact tha; the establishment of the convent of Metre Dame in days when Catholics were few. vas one of the things which attracted the attention of Pope Plus TX 10 Waterbury al the time that he conferred the degree of D. D. on Father Hendricken. then pastor here. Hc paid tribute to tho conservation of the Order of Notrc Dame to the cause of Catholic educa- tinr. and said that the convent was q strong influence for good in this and that the priests were always sure Of inc loyalty and sup pnrt of the corven; slHmrae in any effort made for the advancement of the church and the good os the city.
 sr E=.s-,- crr-o sa I ,s...s.r.4f,, e.