The Washington herald., 1908-06-01
SOLEMN VOTIVE MASS
Commencement Exercises
Begun at Georgetown.
SERMON BY FATHER BRoSNAN
Impressive Services Held In Dahl
Eren Chapel in the Presence OF
Members of the Various Gradunt-
Ing Characterization 10 Visitors.
Annual Dinner Next Wednesday.

With solemn votive mass celebrated by
Rev. David H. Buel, S. j.. president
Of the university, and the baccalaureate
sermon by Rev. Aloysius p. Brosnan. the
commencement exercises OF the various
departments OF Georgetown University
were begun yesterday In the Dahlghren
Chapel OF the Sacred Heart
There were assembled 10 participate in
the religious exercises and listen to the
sermon the members Of the graduating
classes of the college. medical and law
schools Of the university and the young
women of the graduating classes of Trim
ity College. Brookland. and the Convent
of the Visitation. The faculty OF each Of
the university departments accompanied
the students 10 the chapel and assisted
with them at mass.
The solemn votive mass is an annual
event at the university. and is intoned by
the president Of the institution in thanks
giving for the blessings Of the year
Chapel Presented Pretty Scene.
DahlgHen Chapel OF the Sacred Heart.
the scene OF the ceremony. presented a
striking picture as the bright sunlight OF
the MONDAY hour shone through the rich
red coloring OF the stained glass win
dows on the altar decorations, American
Beauty roses and wax tapers, and upon
the vestments. cloth Of gold worn by the
officiating priests.
Rev David Hillhouse Buel S. J.. presi-
dent Of the university. intoned the mass;
Paxr T1H1
dent Of the university was the deacon.
ana Mr. r. Rush Rankin, s. J., subdeacon
Of the mass.
During the mass the baccalaureate ser
mon was preached by Rev Aloysius Bros
nan. S. ]. The subject was The vic
tories OF faith" Father Brosnan built
his sermon on a portion Of the First
Epistle OF St John, as: This Is our vic
tory. the faith that overcometh the
world"
After delineating the opposing forces
the tenets OF false philosophers. the die
tates OF worldly wisdom. and the prompt
ings OF human passions-all these mar
shaled and guided by the hate the cum
ming, and the energy OF hell. and on the
other hand the faith OF Christ, its truths
and principles and rules Of conduct-the
speaker set forth the victories Of faith.
Faiths Three-foId Victories.
First, its victories over physical forces
in its triumph over the immense power
Of imperial Rome; secondly, victories in
the realm OF intellect in its triumph over
heresies, and thirdly, victories in the
moral order in the triumph OF those
truths. divine and enduring PRINCIPLES of
right living. which Christ first founded or
sanctioned. The need OF this faith IN
present-day conditions was then proDos4d
Scarce had evolutionism run lis
course, said the speaker. than its log
ical successor arose in the spirit OF mod
ernism-posthumous offspring OF evolu-
tion-and tainted with the most vicious
heresies Of the centuries. II strove TO
avoi0 recognition and to evade eli refuta-
ton. But the Waterman on the tower
saw the mischief OF II ell. and gave
warning before unsuspecting souls could
become enamored."
Admitting the ability Of some who
proplgated this doctrine. Father Bros
nan drew thence the need Of champions
Of the faith-fearless and strong. The
enemies Of faith to-day are not so much
the men OF distorted vision as the mon
Of evil lives. of immoral conduct" After
describing the power Of that faith and
the denizens that beset II. Father Bros
nan closed with a word on the dangers
accompanying the loss Of faith, and re-
cited the beautiful poem. Losses" by
the blind poetess Of Donegal-Frances
Browne.
Class Entertains Mt Luncheon.
Immediately after the mass the gradu-
eting class Of Georgetown College enter
tanned the visiting students at a luncheon
given in the large dining hall. During
the afternoon the young women visitors
were shown about the buildings and
grounds of the college.
Following the alumni meeting in Gas
ton Hall, Wednesday, the annual dinner
given by the Alumni Association will be
held in the college dining hall at $50.
The college commencement will take
place Thursday evening. at $50 O'Clock.
At 4:90 o'clock Friday afternoon the
Georgetown University Hospital Train
ing School commencement will take place
in CASTOR Hall
On Monday. June s. at s o'clock. the
Law School commencement exercises will
be held. and Thursday. June IL, the Medi-
cal and Dental School graduates will hold
their exercises at S O'Clock in the evening.
at CASTOR Hall