The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1922-05-27
Cornerstone of Nazareth Hall Is Laid

for the education of young men who
are studying for the priesthood at st.
Thomas college. The trust deed stip-
ulated that in order to qualify for the
donation, the college should raise the
sum of $150,000 as an endowment. If
the building should be erected then
Foley Bros. were to be the builders on
a cost plus ten per cent basis. If they
should not care to undertake the work
themselves, they were to designate the
builders. Three years were allowed
by the deed of gift for the college to
meet it's requirements. The late Arch
bishop Ireland was lying on his death
bed at the time and nothing could be
done until his successor was appoint
ed. 1t was we'll known that St. Thorn
as college in it's thirty-fve years of
existence had not amassed any sur
plus, since all it could make or borrow
had gone back into the development of
the institution. Moreover, although
thousands of young men had received
their education in whole or in part in
it's class rooms, yet it never received
any large donations from it's friends
in it's immediate environment. Much
speculation was indulged in among
Catholics as to the source from which
the endowment fund would come.
Archbishop Bowling.
Archbishop Bowling came to St.
Paul in the spring of 1919. At the
first annual Memorial Mass for his
predecessor, he outlined his. educa-
tional policy. He took occasion of the
many notable things in Archbishop
Irelands life to say that in his esti-
nation the thing that would be long
est remembered and the most CRATE
fully recalled would be what he had
done in his Cwn diocese for Christian
education. He had witnessed the
birth of st. Thomas college, ST. Paul
seminary, ST. Catherine college, to
speak only of the higher institutions Of
learning. High schools, academies,
parochial schools had sprung UP under
his protection and inspiration in ev-
cry part of the diocese and all these
institutions were under diocesan con-
troll. In other older, larger, more af-
fluent dioceses there were naturally
more and better equipped schools and
colleges and institutions of learning,
but Archbishop Bowling pointed out
that there was not III the wfl5ig eoifll-
try diocese in which it would be
easier to develop a coherent co-ordi-
mated educational system than in the
erything could be brought under dio-
cesar control and centralized direc-
ton. The finest and most lasting
memorial to Archbishop Ireland, he
said, would be to undertake at once
the realization Of such plan.
The address at the time made a
deep impression on those who heard
it, and it's chief proposal was made
the subject of many conferences and
discussions among the clergy and laity
of the diocese during the following
year. The plan in it's main outline Sc
cured from the start almost unanimous
approval. 1t was a comprehensive
plan for it covered all the existing
units of educational effort and under
took to complete what was lacking
One of the elements of the plan was
the provision of the endowment fund
necessary to secure the Foley gift ei
100000 for a Preparatory Seminary
for the Priesthood At the time il
was considered likely that the build
ing would be erected on the spacious
grounds of st. Thomas college in Mer
riam park The trust deed of gift des
| ignates the college as the beneficiary
| and adds that the building is to be
erected ION it's grounds"
Decide on Plan.
But in the course Of many confer
ences between the Archbishop and hi
clergy, it was brought out that wise
solution of the problem would be t
choose site somewhat removed from
the existing institution and removed
| from the distractions of city life. Mos
of the students of ST. Thomas colleg
| have in mind other careers than tn