The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1913-01-21
CATHOLIC CITIZENS
DISCUSS PLANS FOR
NEW HIGH SCHOOL
Much Enthusiasm for Prof.
ect Shown at Large
Meeting Last Night
INITIAL COST WILL
BE ABOUT 100000
Proposed Buildings Are to Be Located
on Property Between st. Paurs
Church and the County
Courthouse

Last night a large and representative
meeting of the Catholic citizens OF the
Birmingham district was held in the
Knights of Columbus hall to consider
plans and suggestions for the erection
of a Catholic high school on the ground
adjoining st. Pauls church. Frank Nc
Gowan of Ensley presided and A. o. Won
Herbuiis, the architect, was present and
submitted the drawing of the proposed
building.
The project was laid before the meeting
in address delivered by Sterling A.
Wood who went very fully into the whole
matter He stated that the proposition was
10 erect a four-story building, having a
frontage of so feet on the space between
the courthouse and the church and of
an architectural design calculated to
harmonic with these buildings.
As well as being a high school suf
ficient to accommodate POO pupils or more
there would also be provision FOR a fra
ternaI hail. club rooms, gymnasium and
auditorium The school would be in
charge of the Christian Brothers, which
he said is one of the best teaching bodies
of today
Estimated Cost 100000
The estimated cost of the building is
about 100000 and arrangements had been
made by which this money could be i'm
medately secured to start opera
tons when Bishop Aliens approval had
been obtained
I'VE propose" said Mr.. Wood, TO do
as much for our Catholic boys as the
Baptists and Methodists have done for
lheirs and we want to send the Catholic
young men of the district ifrte- the bust
ness world equipped with an education
and training that will qualify them to
take their places in the mercantile, man
ufacturing and industrial ranks of this
growing district"
Mr.. Woods address was followed with
close attention and his appeal met with
a warm response from succeeding
speakers.
Father Coyle Speaks
Speaking in support of the proposition
the Reverend Father Coyle impressed
upon his audience the necessity of a
high school for Catholic boys. He in
sisted that religious and moral educa-
ton was as necessary as the scholastic
and that in that respect the Catholic
church had always considered the educa-
ton of its young men and women among
it's chief duties.
To-day. more than ever" said Father
Coyle is that duty imposed upon us
when we see the terrible results of the
want of religious and moral teaching
II
this matter, but it must have the CO.
operation and support of its people, the
financial support such as was being asked
for and which | feel sure will be forth
coming"
Father Turner on Practical Aspect
Father Turner, pastor of the Church of
the Blessed Sacrament, dealt with the
subject from practical viewpoint and
showed that the contributions would be
the best investment a man could MAKE
who had boys to educate for commercial
life. He stated that in Chicago last year
80 boys We're graduated from the Chris
tan Brothers school and Immediately
they found positions at highly remunera-
tive salaries instead of having to take
business courses in the business colleges.
And these young men," said he, swere
rot only capable of going TO work right
away. but they brought with them to
their work the sense and feeling that
their employers interest was their in
terest, and that they had a higher duty
to perform than a mere perfunctory COM
pliance with orders Such is the teputa-
ton that this school In Chicago has
gained that now applications for its grad
yates are in excess of the number the
school can supply. / am with this move
ment heart and soul and hope to see
work start at once
Others IndOrse Movement
Other speakers warmly indorsed the
movement, among them Major German,
who said he was ready to give his first
years subscription of $3.50 on the spot.
A building committee will be appointed
and when the bishops approval of the
plans and the financial arrangements have
been secured the work will start
In addition to the high school IL is
proposed at some time later to erect a
parochial dwelling for the clergy and also
convent and schools for the children
The entire work will cost close on $3.50 900
and promises TO be the fulfillment of
the dreams which Father O'Reilly had
at the time of his death