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

nations were invited to exhibit spec
linens OF their methodology and
school work. Accordingly, the Broth
ers in ST. Paul forwarded various ex.
amples OF the work of their students.
The Exposition awarded them Dip
Iona for excellence in school work
over many competitors.
From 1884, to 1889, the work of the
Cathedral and ST Mary's school was
maintained by the Brothers in their
humble, yet efficient manner
The New cretin.
The old school building at Sixth
and Wabasha streets had now out
lived its period of usefulness Be-
sides being entirely too antiquated, it
was now too small to accommodate
the number of boys who daily sought
knowledge within it's walls So, in
July, 1883, principally through the et-
forts of Archbishop Ireland, Monsi-
gnor Ravoux, and Father Stanley, at
that time Rector of the Cathedral par.
ish and later Bishop of Fargo, the
erection of the present Cretin school
building, at Sixth street and Main
avenue, was begun. The structure
was blessed on Sunday, March ),
1SS9,' and on the following morning
classes We're removed from the old
building to the new Cretin, so named
in honor of Bishop Cretin, the firsy
bishop of st. Paul.
With the opening of the new school,
a three-year secondary course of
studies was introduced in the curricu-
lum. Grammar and primary grades
in charge of the Brothers and the
Sisters of ST. Joseph, were, however,
maintained in the new building.
In 1891, another scarcity of Brothers
in the st. Louis province necessitated
the withdrawal of the Brothers from
st. Mary's school,
Cretin High School was opened as
an element in the Cathedral parish
school plan, and it was continued so
until 1911 when Archbishop Ireland
removed it from the control of the
Cathedral parish, placing it under the
direct authority of the archdiocese
During the quarter of century (1SS9-
1914) the three-year secondary course
was maintained. always with crafty
ing success in point Of numbers at
tending the classes and at times
reaching far above the fondest-hopes
of Cretin's well-wishers. During
Brother .Ambrose's dictatorship, from
1900 to 1907, the high school depart
ment reached it's highest attendance
mark for the period, of twenty-five
years during which the school was an
integral Fart of the Cathedral parish.
With the passing of Cretin under
diocesan control the lower grades were
discontinued, the younger boys being
transferred to the new Cathedral
school, conducted by the Sisters of St.
Joseph. However, in obedience to the
behest of the late Archbishop, seventh
and eighth grade classes were con-
tinued at Cretin. ~"
| In 1915, four-year high school cours
es were introduced at Cretin Since
then an even greater impetus has been
given the enrolment. So great, in fact
has been the number Of students ap
plying that it has been found neces
s;ry to discontinue the seventh and
Ell 5hth grade classes and confine the
energies OF the school to secondary
work. For the past few years. more
tian 400 eighth grade graduates have
been registered each year, while many
others have been denied admission be
cause of the limited accommodation
OF the present building.
Much of the credit of the recen
growth and success of Cretin High
School, with the introduction of the
r. o. T. c., is, due to the energetic
work of the Director, Brother Elzear
who has proven worthy successor
to the esteemed Brother Emery