The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-11-15
25TH ANNIVERSARY
 OF ST. BERNARD COLLEGE OBSERVED
Many Catholic Prelates and Distinguished Laymen
 Attend Exercises
SPLENDID ADDRESSES
 OF CONGRATULATIONS


 Musical Programme Rendered by Choir-Sumptuous Banquet Is Served
 St. Bernard, November 14--(SpeciaD- 1.-The ltwenty-fifth anniversary of the founding of St. Bernard college and the silver sacerdotal jubilee celebration were held Tuesday. The festicities in honor of the dual celebration commenced last Monday afternoon with a reception in the col lege auditorium rendered the Rt. Rev Jubilarian, at which a large number of prelates abbots and clergymen and oth- CT distinguished guests were present. 1 The hall was beautifully decorated for the occasion with streamers of blue and white ribbons and punches of ivy. Tn one corner was an immense stand on which was exhibited the many beautiful pres l ents, among which was precious set of onyx and gold plated candlesticks pre- scented by the priests of the North Ala i bama deanery, and costly ciborium, donated by the Rt. Rev. E. P. Allen, bishop of Mobile.
 Congratulatory addresses were made | by the Rev. Theodose 0. S B., in the name of the community; by the Rt. Rev. Ernest, o. s. B., abbot, in the name of the Benedictne Order of North America; by Charles M. Murphy, in the name of the students of St Bernard col lege. At the conclusion of MT. Mur- phys address he presented the Rt Rev. Abbot with purse of about $2C0, do- mated by the students of this year and those of former years. Other speakers were Rt. Rev l.. P. Allen, bishop of Mobile, and the Rev. Patrick Turner, pastor of the West End Catholic church. The bishops address was easily the fea- ture of the afternoons festivities. He said in part:
 ADDRESS OF CONGRATULATIONS "On the occasion of this kind it is usual to preface a few remarks by saying it gives me great pleasure to speak to you on this occasion. Now, those words are usually a form of introduction. The speaker using this is very often wishing most heartily that someone else were speaking But, really and truly, on this
 
 of hearts, that it gives me the greatest of pleasure, speaking as the representa- tive of the priests of the diocese of Mo bile, to offer to you, the fathers of St. Bernards S college, our sincerest congrat- ulations on this, their silver jubilee; and especially to lay at the feet of the Rt. Rev. Father Abbot, our sincerest homage, our heartiest good wishes, and our most l fervent prayers that the Lord may spare him long to continue the good work that l has been performed here in St. Bernard's college during the past 25 years.
 MANY PEOPLE REJOICE
 There are many people, and classes | of people, who have every reason to re- | joice with us today. The town and coun- | ty of Cullman might well rejoice with 1 you, reverend fathers of St. Bernard's be- cause during the past 9 years you have contributed more than any other agency to making the county and city what they are today. the most progressive. in- | dustrious and law-abiding of the counties and cities of Alabama
 This 18th anniversary is of state l wide interest The whole state of Ala bama should rejoice in any agency for l good in operation within it's borders To- l day we commemorate the fact that 9 years ago there was established in the state of Alabama, without one cent of cost to the state itself, without any 1 favors being asked or, received, a cen ter of education and culture which for a quarter of a century has extended it's l influence not only in Alabama, but | throughout neighboring states This | college has helped materially and will | help in the future, to free the state of the disSraceful stigma of being facile principes in percentage of 2illiteracy amongst it's native born population It l Is true that the work of such institu- 1 tions as St. Bernard's college has not always been appreciated, is not appre- cated. and will not be appreciated in the state of Alabama. But that does not dsprove my statement that every citizen of the state ought to rejoice at this evidence of prosperity on the part of St. Bernard's college.
 I NURSERY OF VIRILE MANHOOD | "St. Bernards college has proved it. self during the past 25 years, a nursery of virle Catholic manhood. Amongst its alumni we do not as yet find the names of distinguished governors ot states, of legislators with burning elo- auence the ears of listening senates
 to command or commanders of our
 forces on land and sea, for St. Bernard's
 is still in its infancy. But amongst the
 alumni of St Bernards we do find good
 stanch Catholic laymen. We find them
 in the rank and file of our CathcAfc
 men, helplng on with the work of the
 church by faithful performance of duties
 of their state in life There is not a priest who has come in contact with graduates of St. Bernards college who
 will not admit that one characteristic
 common to all is that they have been
 taught in college to respect, not only
 their own professors and teachers. not only the sons of St. Benedict but tbev
 have been taught that respect for tbe
 priesthood as such. which makes them
 invaluable aids to their respective pas
 tors when they have left the walls of St. Bernard college.
 BROTHERLY RELATIONS "There is one class of men who above all others rejoice in this double celebra- ton. They rejoice with the college and i especially do they rejoice with its Rt Rev. Abbot. l refer, of course to those whom I represent in offering these con ]. gratulatory words, the diocesan clergy ! of Mobile. Our relations with ths priests of St. Bernards abbey have al- i ways been an exemplification of an antiphon 'auam jucundum fratres hab- itare in unum,' working for the same end, they have always been the readiest < to offer brotherly sympathy and fun understanding which has frightened tha burdens of all. We all regard St. Bern ards as our own. We feel that its 1 doors are always open to us. We ara always welcomed within. it's walls. We are made to feel that our problems are the problems of the men of St. Bern i ards, that our troubles are their trou- bles. that our successes are their sue rsspAc and ~x-x A