Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1909-11-18

~S&1s oaAsin1oF6s % tno pupils
and faculty OF ST. Mary's Acadany.
Leonardtown. Nd. Through the
kindness OF the Rector, Rsv. Z. X
Fink, 5. j., few friends of the In..
stitution were invited; notably
apouy these were'Broshers conssarls
tine, Francis and Bensatts Il fsosn-
ard Hall. wish 4hsar ssu1shs. rko
|iessafsF 4sidtroducrd oy Rsv. W.
]. Stanton. s. J. OF Newtown, Nd,
q distinguished orator, whose elo-
quencs has often resounded through
churches, cathedrals and classical
halls.
Father Fortier 8 subject was ] Jeanns
dare; that IL was treated mastery
was evidenced by the breathless
stiffness that pervaded the hall
throughout the evening. The Faith
er pre'aced his lecture by remark
ing that being Frenchman, he
deemed it more prudent TO conflne
himself simply 10 the reading OF his
paper. he would then be less liable
to give expression to his own, pre-
haps. too enthusiastic personal feel
ings; but so magnetic were the tones
OF his voice and so deep the pathos
he expressed. that his audience
were completely captivated and
many moved to tears.
Aside from the masterly eloquence
of the Reverend Father which con
tributed soeffectively to the success
OF the evening, there were other
reasons why the lecture was
SO attractive. so intensely inter-
esting: one was that Jeanne dare
has so recently been raised to the
Affairs of the Church by Our Holy
Father, Plus the Tenth another,
the logical manner in which the sub
ject was developed; this whilst dis
playing the highest literary merit
was at the same time so simple, SO
beautiful. that it was easily COM
pretended and admired, not only
by the older and more erudite, but
by the most youthful of his audi
.ence; eud finssly 10 was clear ex-
nositlon Of th4 true ehsraetsr OF
Jeanne d 'Arciit showed the falsisy
OF the aspersioas cast upon her by
Anatole France. Voltaire and others
who not only discredited the sup
ernatural in her life, but imputed
to her motives altogether unbecom-
ing one sent by Heaven; in con-
trast with these the speaker men,
toned Andrew Lang. Mark Twain
and particularly Pere Ayrole, S. J..
why have so ably vindicated her
character and done so much 10 make
her true glory know.
Father Fortier divided the his
tory OF Jeanne dare into ave
points, first. her childhood and
voices at Domremy; second, the
raising OF the siege of Orleans; third,
the GROWING OF the King at Rheims;
fourth her trial and death; and ffth,
her Beatifcation. So vividly were
the varying scenes in the brief
career OF the noble heroine de-
picted, that one could easily per-
ceive the Warrior Maid waving the
Lillies OF France DER rescued Or
leans; hear the shouts of the trium-
phant soldiers as they followed the
Banner of their MaidenI Leader; and
as the deep low pathetic tones OF
the Reverend Father recorded the
heart-rendering death scene, her
words. "Jesu, Marie" sent a thrill
through the hearts of the audience.
At the conclusion, the eloquent
lecturer read q beautiful poem, Le
Coeur de Jeanne dare by Pere v.
DeLaporte.S. j., this be Immediately
translated for the benefit OF those un-
acquainted with the language. From
an Oratorical point Of view, this was
the coup de grace OF the evening; in
il he gave full vent 70 his pent-up
feelings OF the previous hour; there
we're few dry eyes among his listen
ers, when he brought this poetical
part Of his lecture TO a close. The
audience departed, feeling that be-
sides having enjoyed a literary
treat, they had likewise acquired
knowledge-that they had been en-
lightened as to the true character OF
the Warrior Maid OF France.
The evenings entertainment was
particularly enjoyed by the Sisters
ofshe Academy. apartfromt the gratif-
cation they themselves experienced,
they we're also aware OF the plea
sure il was affordinR their Super
ioress, Mother Eutropia, Of Nazareth,
KY, who in company with Sister
Mary Ignatius OF Hyde Park. Mass,
is making q visitation OF her houses
throughout the Eastern States.
Mother Eutropia. Sister Mary Igna-
titus and the Sisters Of the Institu-
tiou, together with the pupils and
their frien ds expressed themselves
more than delighted and hoped that
at some future day they would have