The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1919-12-06
THE ARCHBISHOP IRELAND
MEMORIAL FUND
CONTINUED from page IL

making use of present facilities, which
would provide free central high
schools for girls in both cities.
Our Colleges.
st. Thomas college for men, st.
Catherine college for women may both
be claimed as diocesan institutions.
Though st. GATHERINGS has not been
as yet apticulated into our loose
jointed system, yet it is as. truly do
cesar as are our high schools. The
diocese needs it and it needs the did,
cese, and in the educational cam,
paign that is to be set on foot it is
proposed to provide st. GATHERINGS
with an endowment fund of 100000,
900 that has been promised by the
Rockefeller Foundation. So far St.
GATHERINGS has come to it's present
state by the economies and the funds
of the Sisters who have charge of it.
The general purse of community
has, in the largest measure, supplied
the capital from which it's fine build
ings and grounds have been procured.
But the day of miracles is past. We
must take thought for Catholic young
women as for our Catholic young men
and make this institution our own.
st. Thomas college is associated
with the sacred memories of the past.
It's first building, erected in the SOS,
many times enlarged is still in use
as a witness of the short interval that
has elapsed since the rude beginnings
and today. There are smiles and tears
for the past-the hardships, the crudi-
ties, the glaring defects of the old
days, but let us remember some of
the best priests that the country has
known have received their training in
that school, The record of the lay
men who studied there is known the
world over. 1t is now college of
some 200 students and a high school
of some 700 or more. Tt has one fine
residence, hall, fine college church,
an adequate armory to which is at
tached a capacious theatre, and three
old buildings used every moment of
the day and night but which should be
replaced at once. st. Thomas needs
new buildings; it needs an adequate
endowment, and it needs to pay its
bills At the close of last year it had
debts of 100000 after having lived
up to it's income the previous year.
1t ought to be said in passing that
it has an endowment fund of 100000,
which fortunately cannot be touched.
In any readjustment tending toward
economy the transfer of the day pu-
pills to Central Catholic high schools
might diminish some of st. Thomas
obligations, but it would not lessen the
need for very large sum of money
being spent on and for the college.
A new building is needed this year.
1t should be a college building. 1t
should bear the name of Archbishop
Ireland. Its lofty tower should unite
the seminary and the college, and be
raised in benediction and in beauty
over the two cities. st. Thomas must
be lifted out of a rut. A school that
can attract 900 boys year is not
a school to be neglected. 1t must be
strengthened by funds. It's college
features must be developed. 1t must
be established as a focus of Christian
culture.
The st. Paul Seminary.
The generosity of Mr. Hill made our
splendid seminary possible. He built
the first buildings and gave fund
that paid the salaries of the profess
sors. That was so ample in 1894 that
the day seemed far distant when the
seminary would ever feel any anxiety
about its resources. Last year, how
ever, the seminary received 1925 per
student, while it's expenses were 1915
per student. Multiply the difference
by 200 or more students and you will
learn what the seminary's problem is.
The Proposed Campaign.
The Archbishop now proposes to en-
tighten the people of this Archdiocese
on the system of grade schools, high
schools, preparatory colleges, colleges
and seminary which this Archdiocese
possesses, and to invite donations in
proportion to the magnitude of the
work and the urgency of the needs of
these various schools. Unrefecting
people speak of this Archdiocese as
rich; yet, it is paying interest on more
than 100000 debt on the Cathedral.
There is mortgage of $4,000 on the
Archbishop's house which was bought
less for the convenience of an Arch
bishop than for the adornment and
protection Of the Cathedral.
Yet, cut of its meager resources,
TIE Archdiocese pledges $4,000 for
this campaign. In two conferences
with small group of priests-spon-
taneously without solicitation-thirty-
one priests pledged a sum of s3O,50O,
which is fair indication of the quiet
enthusiasm that this project arouses.
A campaign of this magnitude means
theeraising of millions-two at least
they must be raised voluntarily, Meth
err assessment !, or intimidation being
conc eiyable.
Much as we need money! said the
Archbishop the other night, 1--WE need
friends more. 4 know" he added.
that it is no child's play to undertake
this work, but / approach it with a
confidence that it will unite us all,
priests and people, rich and poor, and
that in a community OF sacrifice we