Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-06-27
T he Banquet.

Amid simple decorations of Amer
lean flags and the coat of arms of the
trrsnine Sisters. 400 people. represent
irg a Catholic and non-cathoiic eie-
meut. gathered in F,lks' hall Tor one
of the groateSt, If not the greatest ban
ouets. that has ever been served III
Waterville -Four long tables running
the entire length pf the hall were hlled
by the former pupils. while table at
the further end of the hall was re-
served for the clergy and the guests Of
honor Seldom has there been such a
gathering of Catholic priests in Wa
terVile. coming from every quarter OF
tie State and in some instances from
without to pay honor and tribute TO
the women who have lovingly lahored
i'm the city to educate and to mould
youthful hearts and minds into instru-
ments of good citizenship full
course dinner was served from LEO till
about 2.15. Pullen's Orchestra of SIX
pieces played selections from its place
i'm the balcony. Old and young gather
ed IT the same tables, some to recall
incidents Of days long gone by. When
they attended the schools together, and
others to grasp hands with a sincerity
that time had not lessened.
All the serving of the last course, Df.
A. L. Desja dins, who was toastmas-
ter made short speech appropriate
to the occasion and his position, and.
then introduced, amid a thunder OF APP
plausn a man who, by his Work and
kindly heart has won the love re-
speet OF every citizen of Waterville,
Father Charland. In both French and
English Father Charland gave n pow
erful. gripping and scholarly talk on
the Ursul.nes, a subject on which he is
in every way well qualified to speak
He told + the fruits of the education
received 1T the lands of the Ursullne
nuns. Seldom, if ever. he said. do
Christian trained men and women
part icipa tie in the corruption and vice
thai has made such an inroad on sUei-
ETY.. and moral character is the only
foundation ON which life can remain
svmetlical and secure and to this the
Irrstlines give their attention and eff
forts. "'rhe power of those who know
how to educate" he continued, is
great. and those who have influence
know that influence is power lie
asked those present To recall that they
were children of the Ursulines and To
live a life in keeping with what they
we're taught when young.
Chanoine Leon Arcand, who came t."
Waterville as the representative OF the
bishop Of Three Rivers, Canada, from
whence came the first colony OF Sis
ters, gave a brief speech in French oil
his impressions Of the celebration lie
commented upon its excellence, It's
grandeur and the great intellectual
force present on the occasion.
With Our Debt to the Ursulines.
as his subject, Judge A. A. Matthew,
former pupil of the school and intro
duced by DR.. Desjardins as one who
had riser from the bar To the bench
gave a fine talk. In his concise, fluent,
weli-deiivered and interesting DIS
course. Judge Matthew gave an appre-
citation Of the value of the work OF the
Jrrsuiines in the quarter of century
they had been in Waterviile. lie sad
il would be difficult to place value On
on the work they had done. so great
was it. and he continued by telling Of
the LEGO children who had been edit
Gated in the Parechial schools without
any expense to the city. He continued
| by describing the Ursulines as one of
| the greatest teaching orders in the
world, and as one Of aoeiety's bull
| warks against materialism and So
| eialism and that it was now and al
ways would be- Judge Matthew contin-
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