The sun., 1919-07-27
FTER a year of strenuous endesvor
and unexampled prosperity Clason

GROWING point on ltS bCHOihotiu Wofh o.
Its thirty-sixth annual commencement,
which was held on the academy grounds
in June.
The Right Rev. Mgr. Lavelle, LII. D..
rector Of St Patrick's Cathedral. PRE-
sided and delivered the address to the
graduates. Though the exercises took
place in the afternoon the academy hall
was crowded to the doors when the
strains of. the national anthem an
rounced that the exercises had begun.
The singing and speaking were In
keeping with the academy's old time
reputation for excellence in these sub
jects The splendid work of the acad-
envy band made the audience sit up and
take notice. How boys could attain
such proficiency in music In such brief
space OF time gave rise to a great deal OF
favorable comment. The four part
chcruses by the academy choir and glee
club were exceedingly well rendered and
reflected much credit on the singing
teacher, Prof. Marcks.
The soldierly appearance of the cadets,
their manly bearing their self-contatned
poise and graceful carriage gave occa-
sion for remarks that were highly COM
plimentary to the training received In
tho school. Lieut.. Rebholz's speech In
defence of the League of Nations showed
was grudgingly listened to at the start.
as he propounded some notions not fully
In accordance with tho views OF those
present, but his close reasoning and
mastery array of facts and figures soon
brought his audience to his way OF
thinking and he was roundly applauded
at the close
Justice for Ireland" formed the
theme of Lieut. McLaughlins address.
At no school or college during the COM
mencement season did Erin's cause re-
ceive a fuller or fairer treatment What
a pity 1t is that the rulers Of England
cannot see the truth of Ireland's wrongs
with the eye of young America.
The diplomas and prizes were awarded
to the graduates by the Right Rev. Mgr.
Lavelle. He was assisted by Brother
Robert, the director of the academy.
and by Brothers Ambrose and Victor.
the teachers of the graduating class The
class of 1919 numbered twelve 1t should
have been eighteen. but the exigencies
of the world war decreased it's roster By
half a dozen of its members who were
called to the service.
The large number Of prizes bestowed
upon the students betokened a degree OF
generosity seldom seen at school COM
mencements nowadays. The, crosses and
awarded to our heroes in the late war
Is a proof that work we'll done, whether
in school or elsewhere, merits due recog-
milton at the hands of superiors. II
pupils are children, reprimanded and
punished when they fail in their duty,
there is no earthly reason why they
should not be praised, rewarded and hon.
ored when they do their duty up to the
handle.
Mgr. Lavelle's address to the gradu-
ates was brimful of sound advice and
worldly wisdom. He congratulated the
graduates and their teachers on the good
work that was being done in the acad-
envy. as was witnessed by the splendid
musical and literary programme to
which the audience had listened with so
much interest and pleasure. He urged
all of the graduates who could at all af-
ford 1t to proceed to higher studies. The
day is long past. he said, when Ignorance
and lack of ambition could obtain the
prizes of life. He told them to initiate
the example of the Jewish young men,
" no are forever on the watch to improve
their position in life They work. they
save. they study, they improve every
passing hour, till they reach the topmost
rung of the ladder in any profession or
calling to which they aspire.
He was glad, he said. to hear that
Clason Point Academy was In huch
prosperous condition, but he was sorry
to learn that for lack of housing facili-
ties over a hundred pupils had to be re-
fused admission during the past year
AS remedy for this condition of affairs
he urged the graduates and their parents
and friends to be more generous In theiI
donations and contributions TO the mate
rial well being of the academy. The H.
brary fund. the equipment fund and the
building fund should be yearly remem-
bered by the graduates and old students
The activities of tho Clason Point ca
diets during the past year embrace the
splendid work they did for the fourth
Liberty loan, their active participation
In the drives In behalf Of the Knights OF
Columbus. the Red Cross and the Saliva
ton Army. The prominent part they
took In the parades to welcome home the
Twenty-seventh Division, the Sixty-ninth
Regiment. the Seventy-seventh Division
and the reception given to Father Duffy
h. the people of The Bronx. The acad.
envy. band was in constant requisitior
for parades and all sorts of patriotic
celebrations.
Musical and literary entertainments
were given on Columbus Day, Thanks,
giving Day. Christmas Eve, Lincoln,
Birthday, Washington's Birthday. the
feast of St De La Sale and Decorc tor
Day.
In athletic sports tho teams of the
academy have been unusually successful
during the past year. In football. bazk
etball and baseball Clason Point hat
teams of recognized merit. The record.
show that moro than 10 per cent OF the
games engaged In were won by Clasor
Pointers Tennis golf and field hockey
afforded an outlet for the energies OF the
more sedate members OF the student
body. Owing to the proximity of the
seashore boating. bathing, fishing anC
swimming are at tho disposal of those
fond Of aquatic sports.
The outstanding event Of the year
from material standpoint wan the lay
ing OF the cornerstone of the Hugh j
Reilly cottage on Sunday, May 4, 1919
by the Rev. Father Ginet o. p, the
chaplain of the academy. The FORMAL
discourse was pronounced by the Rev
Brother Thomas, q former graduate OF
the academy. now dean of the engineer.
ing department of Manhattan College
1t Is to be hoped that the example OF
Mr.. Reilly will be emulated by some
of the other wealthy friends and benz
factors OF the school and that soon hi..,
dozen other cottages will dot the en-.
virons of the campus.
The occasions in which the cadet.
held the centre of the stage In public
! were: The review and drill at the Sixty
ninth Regiment Armory, where the
cadets were reviewed by Gov. Smith ir
the presence Of some 5000 people; spe
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