The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1921-11-26

FIRST SCHOOL HERE IN NOV
EMBER. 1871-sERlES OF cELE-
BRATIoNS cULMINATED LAST
MONDAY WITH BANQUET IN
RYAN HoTEL-A r C SHOP
DoWLlNG PRINCIPAL SPEAKER.
Nearly 800 alumni and guests at
tended the banquet at the Ryan hotel
last Monday night in honor of the
Golden Jubilee of the coming of the
Christian Brothers TO st. Paul The
affair was arranged by the Cretin
High school alumni association of
which Al Schneeman is president. The
Cretin orchestra, saXophone seXtet,
singing under the direction of Robert
Gehan, and the motion picture, The
Problem, furnished some of the en-
tertainment features.
The program of speeches was intro
duced by His Honor Mayor Hodgson
who, in his usual happy vein, grew
eloquent in picturing the benefits, per-
sonal and national, in an intelligent
Christian citizenship.
The chief address was given by His
Grace, Archbishop Bowling. The
Archbishop dwe1t particularly on the
spirit OF loyalty as typified by striv-
ing after the higher things of life, as
inculcated by Christian teaching, rath-
er than by the mere luxury of mem
ory in resting on the glories of the
past.
Judge T. d. O'Brien was toastmas-
ter. Other speakers were: Stan d.
Donneliy, DR.. Frank Whitmore, Thom
as McGrath, Ambrose Pierce and A.
e. Smith, who gave "reminiscences;
Rev. c. f. McGinnis, Phi. D., Christian
Brothers System of Education; Rev.
Brother Baldwin, Provincial Superior;
Brother Elzear, director of Cretin high
school, and Brother Elzear Stephen
who this year celebrates his Golden
Jubilee as Christian Brother.
Beginnings in St. Paul.
Cretin High School is the out
growth of the old Cathedral parish
school for boys, conducted by the
Christian Brothers at the corner of
Sixth ana Wabasha streets. 81 the
present site OF SchuneInan & Evans
department store.
In answer to the earnest solicita.
ton of the Right Reverend Bishop
Grace and the great Archbishop Ire
land, then Rector of the Cathedral
parish, the first community of Chris
tian Brothers in st. Paul was estab-
lished on November 6, 1871. Two
members comprised the original colo
ny, Brothers Jucondian and Porphy
rus. A few days after their arrival
on November 10, those pioneers began
their Labor of love in the Cathedral
school.
During the vacation following the
opening year, two Brothers were added
TO the teaching staff while fifth ar
rived to take charge of the domestic
affairs of the community. The work o.
the school was rapidly passing through
the incipient stage, and it already
seemed destined to spread and rruc
tify.
The dawn of the second year saw
large increase in the attendance o
the school, two hundred and fift!
names being inscribed in the regis
ter. The Brothers themselves hat
gained such a reputation as teacher
that neighboring parishes and towns
now sought their services. So insist
ent was the claim that in 1875, tw'
Brothers were added to the little com
munity and assigned to conduct class
es in the Assumption school, Will
in 1876, two more disciples of ST. d
La Sale we're appointed instructors il
st. Mary's parish school.
Archbishop Ireland.
On December 81, 1875, Father Ire
land was elected to the episcopac!
Since he was so largely Instruments
in bringing the Brothers to st. Pat
he now went to uncommon inconve1
fence in aiding and encouraging thei
work even though burdened with tn
cares of the diocese. He continue
his visits to the school and even e!
amined the pupils. Then, as in late
years, did this luminary of the Amer
can Church. prove himself the tru
friend of the Brothers and their wor
the friend and admirer who did NJ
hesitate to say, "If there are tw
things of which | am justly prou
they are that | brought the Christia
Brothers to st. Paul and Minneapoli
They have proved most valued au
iliaries of the diocese, whose labor
for the education of Catholic yout
have given such precious results.
Brother Emery.
From 1876 to 1884, the mission I
the Brothers in ST. Paul was marke
by healthy development. In 1873
however, because of an insufficient
in the number of Brothers in the S
Louis. province, their superiors four
it necessary to withdraw the Brothe
from the Assumption School.
In 1884, Brother Emery. well know
to many OF ST. Paul's most prominel
citizens, assumed the direction of Il
Cathedral school and for fifteen yea
following he guided the destinies
the Brothers in st. Paul.
About this time the worlds CO
ton and Industrial Exposition" W;
being organized at New Orleans. Ed
cational bodies and institutions of 6