USA > New York > Niagara County > History of the Seminary of Our Lady of Angels : Niagara University, Niagara County, N.Y., 1856-1906 > Part 24
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also many who chafed under this forced pietistic draught, dropping it as soon as they had passed from college thraldom. Indeed, one of the greatest dangers attendant upon this old-time practice of keeping boys in the chapel from 5.30 in the morning until breakfast at seven was that of hatching hypocrisy on the one hand, or of so gorging the lads with " religion " that they had very little stomach for it in maturer years.
In explanation of the former discipline in this respect it must be stated that the study hall was considered as a kind of petit seminaire in which the boys took preliminary training for the ecclesiastical department. So long as this view was maintained, it was only proper that these exercises of piety should have been compulsory, even though some were found who had no intention of studying for the priest- hood. But when an authoritative declaration was made that others than aspirants to the priesthood might enroll themselves as members of the study hall, it was thought equally proper to mitigate the severi- ty of the rule prescribing such long " watchings " in the sleepy A. M. And so it has come to pass that the boys sleep for about six hours after midnight, getting up in time for morning prayers and Mass. Are they worse in true piety for this indulgence? Well ; every " First Friday " finds the entire study hall approaching Holy Communion ; the B. V. M. Sodality is flourishing as of old; every Sunday morning has its quota of communicants; visits to the Blessed Sacrament are made with edifying regularity, while the number of those who don the cassock is as large as in the days gone by.
After supper, which is now at 6 instead of 7 o'clock, the boys rec- reate until 7.30, when they repair to the study hall and engage in the preparation of their morning classes until 9. Night prayers follow, after which the lads distribute themselves among the " top," the " mid- dle " and the " lower " dormitories, to sleep, to dream, perchance to snore, but not to make night hideous and the Prefects half crazy by those idiotic travesties called " rackets." These performances are as infrequent as an alarm of fire hereabouts, and for some years back, thank God! our hose cart has not paid for its storage. Neither is study time interrupted by that funny noodle who happens occasion- ally to take the wrong freight car and is dumped off at a college instead of a reformatory.
The study keepers have no complaints to lodge with the Superior ; the inmates of the study hall seem to know why they are here, and act accordingly ; in fact, the boast of Archbishop Lynch to Pius IX.,
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that a statue of the Immaculate kept order, seems to have realization in these latter days. Nor are the boys of the present in any way extravagant in pietistic demonstration ; the proposition that they are here to be orderly, studious, and good (as boys go) has been laid be- fore them, and they have accepted the terms. Have they more liberty than formerly? Plainly, yes ; it does not require a warrant to bring a boy to Buffalo, for instance, or a hawser to bring him back on time. Does this not breed abuses? Official records compel us to answer, "Nullo modo; mirum est, sed verum."
What will be the ultimate effect upon the spirit of our institu- tion is a question which the foregoing account is calculated to raise in the minds of those to whom our statements may appear a sort of revelation. We know that the tendency to enlarge upon privileges is not dead in the youth of to-day any more than it was in those of the long ago. Reforms shall have to be made, for discipline or its lack is not irreformable, and the best of boys are often the most fickle of creatures. Generosity has its penalties as well as the opposite fault, but if some day not far distant the boys of our study hall find the most of their privileges cut off they shall have only themselves to blame. So long as they appreciate the present mild regime pre- vailing at Niagara they may count on its continuance, but as soon as they abuse those liberties which their predecessors dreamed of, yet never realized, they are foredoomed to experience in Niagara's governing body a severity of rule that will, if need be, empty our study hall of every member who is not as compliant as wax. Numbers are as nothing compared to order, obedience, studious habits, among those who seek shelter at Our Lady of Angels. We hold out no bait in the shape of laxity ; we cannot bid for crowded halls at the expense of principle; we would rather give over our class rooms and dormi- tories, with our new gymnasium included, to the industrious spider than have them crowded with a pack of intellectual, undisciplined drones. In a word, the study hall boy of to-day rests his present liberal condition on his good behavior. When that fails him, Niagara shall cease to be, for him at least, what it has been pre-eminently under Father Likly, a veritable college home, affording the largest amount of personal freedom consistent with the purposes for which a boy of Christian training leaves the bosom of his family to enter an institu- tion such as ours.
Father Likly has the largest Faculty that ever labored at Niagara, no less than twenty priests coming under his jurisdic-
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tion. One result of this increased number is that no one member of the Faculty is overworked, as used to be the case in former years when about half the present number of professors was obliged to bear the heat and burden of the entire teaching. Another very evident result is that our professors may now specialize to a much greater extent than formerly, thereby rendering themselves authorities in chosen branches of study. When a teacher has only a limited number of subjects to prepare, with ample time between classes, he remains in fresh condi- tion for his work, thereby benefiting both himself and his students. Of course, it is to be expected that now and again one or other of this large staff will drop out of the harness for a while through sickness or other interference. In such cases " doubling up " for a few days does not become the unsatisfactory and intolerable burden it used to be in former times when each professor had as much to do as any able- bodied and able-headed teacher can accomplish in a given space of time without detriment to his perseverance and his nervous system.
Father Likly's assistant is Rev. Edward J. Quinn, C. M., who was born in Germantown, Pa., in 1862, and entered the Congregation of the Mission in 1885. He came to Niagara in September, 1888, when yet a cleric, as one of the assistant Prefects to Father Moore. After his ordination he returned to Niagara in January, 1899, filling the office of first Prefect for a few weeks prior to the close of studies in that year, and for the following scholastic year. In 1900 he was missioned to Emmitsburg, Md., as assistant to Father F. H. O'Donoughue, C. M., and was again sent back to Niagara, September, 1902, this time as assistant to our President, Father Likly.
By virtue of his office, Father Quinn is charged with the domestic affairs of our institution, an obligation which would keep him almost constantly on a tour of inspection. The breaking of a dish and the plowing of our extensive acres should come under his official notice. Hence it is easily inferred that one in his position cannot be employed in the work of teaching, but must be about "his Father's business " wherever our small army of domestics is employed. Some of the duties devolving on him within the institution itself have been kindly taken over by the Procurator, Father Maher, so that Father Quinn is left more free to attend to the working of our extensive garden and farms. The latter have been brought to a high degree of cultivation under his energetic management, and in a little while it is expected that our teeming acres will prove a satisfactory source of revenue to help in
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defraying the heavy expenses incurred, especially this year, in the erection of our gymnasium.
It would be hardly in keeping with propriety to describe the amiable points of our Vice-President or the other members compos- ing the present staff at Niagara. Such description would sound like self-praise, and modesty forbids us to enter upon the subject. In this respect, however, the President of Niagara is at our mercy, for the compilers of this volume have not consulted him, contrary to their custom, as to the treatment which he is to receive at our hands. Suf- fice it to say, that he gives us our cue in our fraternal relations with one another, preferring Christian peace to financial success, and a happy family to a large one without the gift of unity. Since example is contagious, our readers will do us the kindness to believe that our Vice-President, Father Quinn, is acceptable to our Niagara household in that respect wherein our Superior, Father Likly, appears to such advantage. And if the indulgence of our readers will extend itself to thinking well of the personal traits of all those mem- bers of our Faculty whom we have yet to mention, we shall feel relieved, even though some of us may receive more through charity than the " scales of the sanctuary " would allow us in strict justice.
The patriarch of Niagara's staff is Rev. John W. Hickey, C. M., a native of Virginia, born in 1838. He entered our Congregation in 1856, and begins to figure in our local history nine years later, hav- ing been sent here as a Professor in 1865. His previous mission was in New Orleans, from which city he was called to Niagara, to take the place of Rev. J. V. Kelly, C. M., who was obliged, through failing health, to relinquish the work of teaching. Father Kelly died soon after his departure, in New Orleans, mourned by his brethren and students as a priest who may be said to have impaired his health by discharging the duties assigned him by his Superiors. May he rest in peace.
The classes which Father Hickey taught at this time were dog- matic theology and the highest English class, or first rhetoric, with its concomitant branches. His ability as a linguist, writer, and orator appears throughout his entire course at our institution from catalogues bearing his name, and from notices otherwise furnished. He remained about seven years at Niagara, going hence to fill some of the highest positions in our Community. He was President of Saint Vincent's College, Cape Girardeau, Mo., and of our college at Los Angeles, Cal., for a number of years; was a successful mission-
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REV. J. W. HICKEY, C. M.
REV. C. J. ECKLES, C. M.
REV. J. A. HARTNETT, C. M.
REV. R. F. WALTERS, C. M.
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ary: taught theology at St. John's Seminary, Brooklyn, N. Y., finally returning to Niagara, about ten years ago, as Professor of moral theology, Hebrew, and Scripture. His welcome presence among us unites the days that are with those that have been ; his record as a Professor, at once learned and successful in the highest branches of study, through all the years of his connection with our institution, is a reminder to us of the present generation that Niag- ara's achievements in the educational field had solid basis long before we took shelter under her classic roof.
In our catalogue for 1869-1870 among the names of the collegiate department is that of Charles Eckles, New York City. In the cata- logue for 1875-1876 we find " Rev. C. J. Eckles, C. M., Assistant Pre- fect of Discipline, Professor of mathematics, geography, French, Latin, and Christian doctrine." Subsequent catalogues of Niagara contain the name of this widely-known alumnus and Vincentian, who may be said to have spent the greater part of his life at his Alma Mater.
Father Eckles was born in New York in 1849, entered our Con- gregation in 1871, was ordained priest in 1875, and was sent to Niag- ara as his first mission. He remained here about three years, return- ing in September, 1881, departing hence the next year, finally bringing up at the old homestead for a stay which has lasted since September, 1901. During his absence from Niagara Father Eckles saw service at Cape Girardeau and Saint John's, Brooklyn. He was chaplain at Saint Joseph's Retreat, Dearborn, Mich., and at Mount Hope Retreat, near Baltimore.
Father Eckles, when a student, was one of the organizers of the B. L. A. society, and as a priest was its censor for a long term. He belonged to the band and orchestra when these societies were' first organized; he was a member of the Niagara Baseball Club in the days when the struggle for supremacy between his nine and the Mont Eagles was so intense that " all the reserves " had to be called out to preserve the peace between the rival factions.
After his ordination he continued to take a most active interest in our athletic sports, often playing with the boys as one of them- selves, thus contributing to that encouragement of games which our Faculties have always endeavored to maintain among our students. Even to-day, although Father Eckles has passed his thirtieth year in the priesthood, he is active enough and willing enough to engage in a game of handball with our students, often to their discomfiture.
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That Father Eckles has a more serious love for his Alma Mater than that which consists in promoting her sports or her societies was evinced in 1883, when he fell heir to an inheritance. Although at the time he belonged to the Faculty of Saint John's College in Brooklyn, he sent for our then President, Father P. V. Kavanagh, and through him donated to Niagara more than was sufficient to found two burses in our study hall. The " Eckles burses " have not appeared in print, but from that date they have been in use at our institution, so that for more than twenty years past Father Eckles has been educating two boys each year in our collegiate department. His assistance at the time of this donation was most opportune, for it came when Niagara was yet struggling under a load of debt contracted in ways that have been related elsewhere in our volume. Niagara, holding this alumnus and Professor as one of her principal benefactors, expresses here her gratitude even though this public acknowledgment is certain to offend the modesty of her son.
Niagara's Professor of moral theology is Rev. Jeremiah A. Hartnett, C. M., who came here as a student in 1871, entering the Congregation of the Mission the same year. He was born in Limerick, Ireland, in 1850, was ordained priest in 1877, and after a few years' service in Germantown, was sent as assistant to Father Meyer, C. M., President of Saint John's College, Brooklyn, N. Y. On the resigna- tion of the latter in 1881, Father Hartnett succeeded him in the Presi- dency, holding that position until the opening of studies in 1898. After his departure from Brooklyn, Father Hartnett resided for a while at our Mother House in Germantown as Professor, but was soon appointed Superior of the parish house of the Immaculate Concep- tion Church in Baltimore, Md., remaining in that position until 1903, when he came to Niagara as Professor in the seminary department.
During his lengthy term as President of our Brooklyn house, Father Hartnett improved conditions to such an extent that the pres- ent very flourishing state of that institution may be said to be the work of his hands. It was during his time that Bishop Loughlin built and opened Saint John's Seminary for the education of Brooklyn's ecclesiastics, erecting the seminary on ground belonging to Saint John's College, and confiding the administration to the priests of our Community.
The church of Saint John the Baptist, in Brooklyn, costing about $300,000, was built and practically paid for through the untiring efforts of Father Hartnett. It stands, indeed, a monument
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to his zeal and administrative success. It is another evidence of what can be accomplished by energetic men of God when they bend their backs to a burden, determined to succeed, no matter how long it may take or how difficult may be the means by which they must carry on their work to a triumphant issue.
Taking up the list of our present Faculty in the order of vocation, we come to the name of Rev. Luke A. Grace, C. M. He was born in Brooklyn, N. Y., November 30, 1854, joined our Community in 1878, was ordained in 1879, and was sent to Niagara in the fall of that year, as Professor of rhetoric, Latin, and Greek. In March, 1880, he was made assistant Prefect to Father James V. Devine, C. M., holding that office for fourteen months, or until the close of studies in 1881.
Niagara is the only mission that Father Grace has known, having remained here continuously since his arrival in September, 1879; hence his work among us has been mostly of that monotonous sort which characterizes the teacher who has no field but the schoolroom, no flock but his pupils, and no absorbing duties but those which directly concern his class work.
It must not be inferred, however, that Father Grace has lived the life of a hermit during his twenty-seven years of professorship at Niagara. He has been afforded ample opportunities by his Superiors to exercise himself in those functions which, after all, are dearest to the priest; preaching, administering the sacraments, conducting re- treats, delivering lectures on religious or kindred topics. He was the second Catholic clergyman to speak at Yale College, having given a lecture there before the Yale Kent Club on the " Majesty of the Law," in Osborn Hall, January 24, 1895. He has been able to visit many cities for the purpose of lecturing and preaching, especially since his class duties at Niagara have been narrowed to the teaching of dog- matic theology and Scriptural exegesis. His latest discourse away from home was delivered on May 15th of this year, when he preached at the Golden Jubilee Celebration of St. Vincent's Hospital, Norfolk, Va., before his Eminence Cardinal Gibbons, Bishop Van De Vyver of Richmond, and an immense congregation assembled in Saint Mary's Church, Norfolk.
The mention of these extraneous occupations is done for the pur- pose of convincing Father Grace's friends that he has not been left to " fade away " on the highest point of Mont Eagle Ridge, but that his Superiors have been very considerate in his regard, affording him
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as large a field of activity as he can reasonably desire. From 1879 until 1898 he taught first rhetoric, but after his appointment to succeed Father Alizeri as Professor of dogma in 1893, upon the lat- ter's death, he was relieved by degrees of all connection with our study hall until in 1895 he found himself engaged exclusively in the semi- nary department.
Two years ago he celebrated his Silver Jubilee, having completed twenty-five years in the priesthood and likewise twenty-five consecu- tive years as a teacher at Niagara. The greetings which he received on that occasion from those who had studied under him sometime or other during that quarter of a century were so numerous and so cordial that he has borne the remembrance of them ever since as a source of encouragement to him in what seems to be decreed as his life-work - the education of aspirants to the priesthood.
Although not an alumnus of Niagara in the strict sense of the word, having studied as a day scholar at our college in Brooklyn, his long residence here has made love for his college home a second nature to him, while whatever concerns her welfare is certain to com- mand his deepest interest.
Rev. Richard F. Walters, C. M., was born in Dunmore, County Galway, Ireland, May 24, 1844. He came to Niagara as a student in 1870, leaving for our novitiate with five others in April, 1874. When only a deacon he was sent to Saint John's College, Brooklyn, as one of the Faculty of that institution, and after his ordination to the priesthood, in 1880, he was assigned to Saint Vincent's Church in Ger- mantown, remaining there for about two years. He came to Niagara in 1881 as assistant Procurator, leaving here in 1884 for our college in Brooklyn, where he remained for a year, returning to Germantown Church, and remaining there as Treasurer until 1890. Reporting again at Niagara in the year just mentioned, he remained with us until 1900, serving as Procurator until 1895, and the rest of the time as teacher. Germantown knows him once more, but in 1902 his Alma Mater again possesses him as Procurator, succeeding Father Crib- bins in that office, and occupying it for two years.
For the past two years Father Walters has been engaged in teach- ing, having at length freed himself from monetary troubles insepa- rable from the office with which he was so long identified here and else- where. Last year he celebrated his Silver Jubilee as a priest, quietly as becomes his disposition, and was the recipient of many attentions from his numerous admirers.
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BRARY OF THE
SEMINARY, * NEW YORK.
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REV. J. V. O'BRIEN, C. M.
REV. J. F. KENNEDY, C. M.
REV. H. V. PIPER, C. M.
REV. E. M. FARRELL, C. M.
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Father Walters is another of Niagara's alumni who now belong to her Faculty, and who in their student days were identified with whatever contributed to make college life happy for those around them. An accomplished performer on the cornet and flute, he was of great aid in sustaining the reputaion won by the Cecilian organiza- tion for its excellent music. He was largely instrumental in organiz- ing what was known in his day as the " Jobbers' Orchestra," consist- ing of himself, Messrs. N. Baker, C. Crowley, M. Taylor, M. Mc- Loughlin, J. Mallen, and W. Markoe. These gentlemen were ready to discourse sweet strains at a moment's notice, and the proficiency which they possessed in the musical line was away beyond the plebian name which they affected for their association.
Father Walters belonged to the S. O. L. A. Society as a student, and was also a member of the Sodality. He was Director of the latter for several years while on our Faculty, and the experiences which he had acquired as a student at Niagara were of great help to him in making that excellent society the success which it proved to be under his management.
Father Walters is fond of our old traditions, like his six brethren of the present Faculty who were inmates of our study hall before they became teachers at their Alma Mater. But like them, also, he is not only reconciled to changes, but eager for them whenever circumstances demand their introduction. He is conservative, but he is likewise loyal, and believes in upholding the powers that be, while dealing at times in tenderest reminiscence of the powers that used to be dominant at "Old Niagara."
Rev. James V. O'Brien, C. M., was born in Germantown, Pa., September 21, 1868, entering our Community in 1886 after complet- ing his classical studies in the Apostolic school annexed to our Mother House. He was ordained in 1892. His first mission as a priest was at Niagara, whither he was sent at the opening of studies in 1892, and where he has remained since that date, excepting one year of service at Germantown. He was attached to St. John's College, Brooklyn, as a Professor the year previous to his ordination.
Father O'Brien was assistant Prefect to Father Albert, C. M., from 1892 to 1895, besides teaching languages and mathematics. He was first Prefect of discipline from 1902 to 1904, during which time he gave great impetus to athletics, knowing that the boys under his charge would improve in studies, and would be satisfactory in con-
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duct if afforded abundant exit for their animal sprits through physical exercise. As Director of the Sodality, Father O'Brien was most painstaking and successful, gathering under Our Lady's ban- ner the greater part of the study hall.
The present Director of Seminarians is Rev. John P. Cribbins, C. M., born in Fayetteville, N. Y., 1860. He entered our Community in 1887, was one of the assistant Prefects here under Father Dennis Downing in 1899-1890, was ordained priest in 1892, and was sent to Brooklyn shortly after as one of the Staff of Saint John's College. After a stay of three years in that urbane institute he was sent " up state " to Niagara, remaining here for two years, after which he re- turned to Brooklyn, this time as Director of Seminarians for three years. The next year he was Master of Novices at Germantown, and the year following he was assistant Superior and Treasurer at Niagara. Another shifting of forces took place, and Father Crib- bins found himself assigned to Brooklyn, but only for a year, after which period of pleasant exile from our " highest point " he is re- turned to us once more as Director of our Seminarians and Profes- sor of philosophy.
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