Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-06-13
FIRST SOD TURNED
Ground Broken Today for New
Gonzaga College.
STUDENTS ATTEND IN BODY
President Mcdonnell Oficiates With
Spade and Offers Invocation.
BRIEF EXERCISES ON GROUNDS
Institution Founded as "The Wash
STUDENTS ATTEND IN BODY
BRIEF EXERCISES ON GROUNDS
Institution Founded as "The Wash
ington Seminary" in 1921.
Larger Quarters Needed.

Ground was broken for the new Con-
zaga College building this morning
Rev. Eugene Del Mcdonnell, the presi
dent, turning the first spadeful of
earth after brief exercises in the col
lege grounds on I street.
While breaking the ground Rev. Nc
Donnell recited the following prayer:
I'm the name Of the Blessed Trinity
Father. Son and Holy Ghost. ! break
this earth. set apart this land, and
sOlemnly dedicate it to the educa ton
Of youth in letters and science, in the
principles of the Catholic faith, of
sound morality and true patriotism.
May God bless the temple Of learn
ing hereon to be erected, and those
who made its building possible.
May God bless those who shall seek
higher knowledge within it's walls and
those who shall impart It,
May God bless and shield from harm
all who shalt labor in Its erection
ON this land and on all these there
fore do l invoke the blessing of God,
with the name of the Father. and OF the
Son and Of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
Students Participate.
The exercises were participated in by
the students of the college. who just
previously had attended the religious
services at ST. Aloysius Church mark
ing the close Of the college school year.
The students were present In a body at
the holy sacrifice of the mass, which
was said by Father Mcdonnell. All the
boys went to holy communion at this
mass.
Tonight DIT o'clock the prize elocution
contest for the gold medal offered by the
college will take place, ten students in
the High School to compete. The con-
test is open to all High School scholars,
but preliminary contests have narrowed
the contestants to ten.
Tomorrow night the prize debate by the
Phocion Debating Society Of the college
will be held. Two teams of two men
each will compete. The subject Will be
Should United States Senators Be
Chosen by Popular Vote?"
Founded in 1921.
Gonzaga College. known in its first ex-
istence as The Washington Seminary"
was founded in 1921. and was chartered
by Congress in 1853. In September, 1871,
the seminary people opened classes in a
new home, on / street west of North
Capitol street, where 1t has remained for
forty years The conviction was forced
upon the board OF directors and alumni
last year that growth and development
demanded a larger building, up-to-date
in construction and equipment.
The new structure will be located on a
site between the college hall and the
rectory, and will include the present col
Iege hail. making total frontage of
200 feet. For the purpose of obtaining
unity of design the front of college hall
as it stands will be torn out and new
front conforming with that OF the build
ing to be erected, will be constructed.
Reinforced concrete and steel Orders
will be used throughout the building,
the front of which Will be sandstone
and white brick. while the entrance,
lobby, corridors, staircases ETC., will be
finished in marble.