USA > New York > Niagara County > History of the Seminary of Our Lady of Angels : Niagara University, Niagara County, N.Y., 1856-1906 > Part 27
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at 8 o'clock in the morning, reached Hamilton at 2 P. M. They were welcomed by his Lordship, Rt. Rev. Bishop Farrell. At the Cathedral May devotions were held. The party afterwards sat down to one of Mr. Black's celebrated spreads, and then spent a few hours in admiring the enterprising Canadian city under conduct of the Marshal of the day, Mr. Brian Burke.
" Before their return Mr. John Long read an appropriate ad- dress to Bishop Farrell, and the band paid their compliments to his lordship in bewitching strains. The Hibernian Society band hon- ored the party by their presence on the occasion, and a good- fellowship was established between the visitors and the visited. On the return trip, owing to a dense fog, the lighthouse at Fort Niagara was not seen, and the 'Young Lion' with its precious cargo drifted some twenty miles below the river down the lake in the direction of Oswego. The party camped out on board, and save a good drench- ing and the trying results of sea sickness, enjoyed the night's experience extremely well. Music and her sister song, wit, humor, and long-drawn yarns kept the whole party in good spirits, and soothed the feelings of those in trouble with the inner man. They reached the seminary about 9 o'clock the next day, well pleased with their visit to Hamilton and strongly in favor of another just like it."
The prosaic house records have this entry under date of May 26, 1871: "Grand Pilgrimage Excursion of the Sodality to the Ca- thedral of the Immaculate Conception, Hamilton, Canada. Party re- ceived very well. They lost their way returning on the lake and were out all night. They reached home this morning hungry, sleepy, and worn out; they breakfasted and went to bed. No studies to-day for the boys."
On December 8, 1895, the Sodality completed twenty-five years of unbroken existence at Niagara. The commemoration of this event was postponed until the 11th of that month, when it was celebrated in a most befitting manner by the members and a goodly number of alumni assembled for the occasion.
"No pains had been spared in the preparations, and it was the effort of all concerned to make the day a memorable one. The hall was beautifully decorated, the altar in the large chapel covered with flowers, and the boys at their best with good looks and badges. First in the order of the day was a Solemn Mass in the Alumni Chapel, at which Rev. D. Walsh was celebrant, Rev. M. Lee, deacon ; Rev. L. Erhard, sub-deacon; and Rev. J. Biden, master of ceremonies. Rev. N. Baker preached the sermon, and in it his great and simple love
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toward the Mother of God, the patroness of his home, Our Lady of Victory, raised him to highest flights of oratory and brought about such touching allusions as made every one present pronounce his tribute of praise to her a masterpiece indeed. He also spoke of the organization, the noble founders, the influence, the slow but steady growth of the Sodality till now when it celebrates its Silver Jubilee. Rev. M. J. Decker's ' Missa Sancta Maria' was sung by the students, and also a ' Veni Creator,' by Rev. Kornmuller, O. S. B., and an ' Ave Maria ' at the offertory by Gerum. The 'Credo ' was taken from another Mass of Decker's and sung in unison; its effect was pronounced. The choir was made up as follows: tenors, Messrs. Airey, Dunne, and Kelly ; second tenors, Messrs. McDonald, Wright, and Fahey; baritones, Messrs. Morrison and Dondanville; bass, Messrs. Callahan and Sharkey; chorus, Messrs. McDermott, Rice, Finnerty, Leavey, Barry, Pierce, Hammill, Burke, Keenan, Lynch, O'Niel, and Mahoney. The rendition of this Mass was without doubt one of the best efforts made in this direction by the students since the early days of the late Father Kircher and his famous choir.
"Dinner was the next number on the programme. The students took their dinner in the boys' department, the visitors dined in the priests' refectory, and the visiting clergy banqueted and toasted in the seminarians' dining hall. The toasts from the old members were interesting, witty, and well received. The day was undoubtedly one of those termed in students' phraseology a 'triple feast day,' one that extended its influence from chapel to refectory and from refectory to the hall.
"The Sacred Concert in the afternoon at 3.30 was another grand triumph for our musical talent similar to the initiative one of May, 1894. A mere glance at the numbers and names of composers on the programme will tell at once how high were the aims of those in charge. The three solos by Messrs. Callahan, McDermott, and Sgr. Rivero were almost too high to be ranked as amateur efforts. The performances of the Victoria Vocal Club and N. C. A. Orchestra were also well received. The 'Chaplet of Song,' interspersed with readings, was so arranged as beautifully to lead down through the life of the Blessed Virgin from the 'Immaculate Conception ' to the coronation in heaven. Fr. O'Brien's address recommended the stu- dents' effort to the audience, and Mr. Hartigan's oration, an earnest tribute to the 'Miraculous Medal,' was highly appropriate in con- nection with the celebration of the feast of the Immaculate Concep-
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tion. Fr. Walters and Prof. Kraegel were loudly applauded in their respective numbers.
"To Mr. T. Fahey, with his practical knowledge and untiring zeal, is due all credit for the success of the musical numbers both of the Mass and concert. Fr. O'Brien, as director of the Sodality, was of course the moving spirit and master of the whole celebration. Fr. Hayden had charge of the visitors, and all were pleased with their reception. It is certainly to be regretted that some few slight misunderstandings in the sending out of invitations were the means of making the number of visiting clergymen smaller than should have been ; for, as those present remarked, the occasion, the prepara- tions, the musical and literary treats were certainly worthy of a larger attendance.
"Of the priests present we secured the following names: Very Rev. J. McGill, C. M., Germantown, Pa .; Rev. N. Baker, West Sen- eca, N. Y .; Rev. D. Walsh, Buffalo, N. Y .; Rev. M. Lee, Franklin, Mass .; Rev. L. A. Erhard, Somonauk, Ill .; Rev. E. McDermott, Buffalo; Rev. James Halpin, Herkimer, N. Y .; Rev. J. D. Biden, Albion, N. Y. ; Rev. M. McCarthy, Albany, N. Y .; Rev. P. Mullaney, Lewiston, N. Y .; Rev. T. Barrett, East Pembroke, N. Y .; Rev. D. Ryan, Niagara Falls, N. Y .; Rev. E. Gibbons, Buffalo, N. Y .; Rev. T. Gleason, Lockport, N. Y .; and Rev. F. Kelly, West Seneca, N. Y. " Following is the programme complete of the Sacred Concert :
Grand March, . "Iron Cross," Isenman N. C. A. Orchestra.
Introductory Address, Rev. J. V. O'Brien, C. M.
Tenor Solo, "O, Virgin Mother," Panofka
Mr. J. P. McDermott.
Chorus,
"Inflammatus"-"Stabat Mater,"
Victoria Vocal Club.
Rossini
Oration,
"Miraculous Medal,"
Mr. A. T. Hartigan.
Cornet Solo, "Ave Maria," Gounod
Rev. Richard F. Walters, C. M.
Chorus, { "Holy Mother Mild," St. Basil
(b)
"Panis Angelicus,"
Kaim
Victoria Vocal Club.
Poem, "Mary Beautiful,"
Mr. J. E. F. Johnstone.
Overture
"Sunday Song,"
N. C. A. Orchestra.
Kreutzer
Chorus,
"Chaplet of Song to Mary,"
B. V. M. Sodality,
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" With Holy Choirs of Angels."
Devotion to Mary - "Immaculate Conception."
Christmas-" Angels We Have Heard."
Prophesy; The Song of the Dove- "Purification."
Motherhood - " Maiden Mother."
Mater Dolorosa - "Stabat Mater."
The Passing of Mary-" Assumption."
Coronation-" Feast of All Saints."
Imprecation - " Memorare."
Reader - Mr. E. L. Dondanville.
Bass Aria, "Now Heaven in Fullest Glory Shone," Haydn Mr. M. H. Callahan.
Violin Solo, " Paraphrase," Rubenstein
Mr. L. A. Kraegel.
Baritone Solo,
" Suba, Suba la Virginal, Cielo."
Sgr. Philippo Rivero.
Chorus, " Sit Laus Plena " - Lauda Sion, Mendelssohn Victoria Vocal Club.
Closing Address,
Very Rev. P. MacHale, C. M.
Finale, Te Deum.
B. V. M. Sodality.
One at least of the original numbers in the above programme, " Mary Beautiful," from the pen of the gifted Father Julian Johnstone, then one of our seminarians, now a priest of the Boston diocese, deserves even more prominence than we are delighted to give it by producing it entire in our pages. It is the outpouring of a heart at once deeply poetic and deeply Catholic, of a heart such as it has ever been the ambition of Niagara to cultivate, in its religious aspect at least, among her students. We feel that Father John- stone's tribute to the Mother of God, Our Lady of Angels, embodies the sentiments of every noble son that ever dwelt beneath the roof of this institution sheltered under her protecting name. We offer the poem as incense from the hearts of her children yet abiding at Niagara, and from the hearts of those now, like the author of the poem, engaged in the work of her Divine Son :
MARY BEAUTIFUL.
O Beauty, Beauty, God's angelic daughter, The fairest efflorescence of His love, Thy smile is like the light of laughing water, Thy shade the glory of the stars above; Thou art the magic one, the golden dove,
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That moving on wide wings of lambent light Fillest with ravishment the cosmic grove, And with thy splendor and effulgence bright, Enrapturest the heart concentered into sight !
Thou art the world's Sultana and its wonder : The queenly conqueror of conquering kings; Strong in thy loveliness as tropic thunder, When on the storm the living lightning springs, And all the world with its wild laughter rings. Thou art the rising sun, and men adore thee, And on thy shrine heap up all precious things, Thou art the world's desire, men bow before thee, While Heaven itself in rapture bends him o'er thee!
In many forms, for thou art pluripresent, Thou charmest men, in foambell and in flower : In star and moon, in cresset and in crescent, In purpurissate warblers of the bower, And in the glitterant gems of summer's shower : But never yet, O loveliness, transcendent, A fairer form with favors thou didst dower Than hers, whose star fore'er in the ascendant Shines o'er the troubled sea, our beacon-light trans- plendent !
O, Mary Maiden, all that's soft and tender Of love and light, and gentleness and grace, And all that's loveliest of gloom and splendor Meets in the marble music of thy face: Beams in thine eye, wherein the soul may trace That purity, which as the peerless gem Of Christian woman holds the proudest place ; Gleams on thy brow, and with a diadem Crowns thee, O royal rose of David's royal stem!
Purer than silver in its native mountains, Than coral-combs beneath the placid sea, Pure as the diamond-dew of flashing fountains, Or sunlight on the lily of the lea, Or pearl-pink clouds that sail the heavens free,
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Thou shinest forth, the diamond without flaw, The star with naught to dim its brilliancy, O brightest beauty, that the skies e'er saw, Since they began their march in God's eternal law!
O, woman, made of music and of musk, And all sweet things that sweeter seem in thee,
O lady of the diamond eyes of dusk And look of love and queenly dignity, Attempered by thy maiden modesty, Thou comest smiling from the Orient, Breathing of balsam out of Araby,
Thou comest up, like some bright angel sent,
To give to human deeds a loftier intent.
O Golden Rose, O sunny light of May, No words, though words were made of amethyst, And pearls and opals where the colors play, And chrysolite as rosy-red as cist, No words, though they had golden tongues, I wist, And though they spoke in music murmuring Can shadow forth the loveliness unkissed Of thy fair face, the spirit mirroring Of spirits loveliest, save His, our Lord and King!
O House of Gold in which the Christ-child dwelt, How beautiful a temple thou must be! How pure those virgin lips the Christ-child felt, When He upturned His angel face to thee, And laughed and prattled in thine arms with glee! O Virgin Beautiful, how pure thine eyes, Bright with the chrysoberyl's brilliancy, That dared to look into the blue purprise Of His, whose purity was purer than the skies!
O Mary, garden gay, of red-lipped roses, O vale, with bird-voice music most divine,
O Paradise, where every joy reposes, On flowery banks as red as almandine: Fair fount of diamonds in whose waters shine The sparkling summerlight of golden grace, O tree of cinnamon, whose perfume fine
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With redolence fills God's own dwelling place, Thy breath of balsam breathe upon my burning face!
Thy loveliness like golden music thrills me, Like light illumines me, and glorifies ; Thy beauty with the wine of rapture fills me, Enchanting me, while yet it purifies, And lifts my spirit to the over-skies. O deep within my heart of hearts, I feel The splendor of thy wonderful dark eyes,
Before whose light the swooning senses reel, And o'er the trembling soul ecstatic visions steal!
O Morning Star, O, Tower of Ivory! O jewel flashing with the brilliant light The splendor of thine angel chastity, Turn thou the glory of thy beauty bright, The dazzling radiance of thy brow bedight With gold and hyacinth and diamond Upon me, Lady of the lilies white; Touch thou my heart with thine angelic wand, And living streams will gush, O Mother fair and fond!
Give me to be thy docile child, Marie, Give me to love thee with the love of truth, Give me to know thy crystal purity, O Queen of Beauty, brilliant with the blooth And dazzling splendor of eternal youth! Speak to my heart in accents sweet and low, O whisper kindly words of golden sooth; Speak as thou spakest in the long ago To Jesus, Mother mine, O Maiden pure as snow!
And now in lieu of gold and frankincense, And myrrh and musk and mellarosa sweet, In lieu of roses with their redolence And Persian lilies laid before thy feet, This wreath of song howe'er so incomplete, Accept, dear Lady, with benignity, Sweet Mother, whom thy children love to greet, And if it lack the rose's brilliancy, Accept it, gracious Queen, for its sincerity! J. E. F. J.
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Present officers of the Sodality :- Director, Rev. J. J. Cor- coran, C. M .; first prefect, Edward P. Mollen; second prefect, Edward J. Brown; third prefect, Henry E. Gabriels; recording secretary, Christopher J. A. King; treasurer, Edward P. Mollen; sacristans, William P. Fitzgerald, Michael J. Donohue; custodians, Luke Gallagher, Bernard Sullivan ; organist, Louis C. Sheehan.
Consultors : - Edward P. Mollen, Edward J. Brown, Henry E. Gabriels, William P. Fitzgerald, Thomas F. McGrath, Michael J. Donohue, Robert J. Keenan, William A. O'Rourke, Henry F. Cassidy, John J. Sullivan, John J. McCreary, John F. Lowney, Joseph L. Hurley, Chris. J. A. King, George Leo Ford, Michael J. Hughes, William L. Liddy.
Saint Joseph's Society was organized in 1866 for boys who had reached their sixteenth year. Its object was to cultivate among its members gentlemanly conduct and religious zeal according to their state of life. "They were to be in all things models of order and amiability." The first list of officers that we can find is that pub- lished in the catalogue for 1868-1869, and is as follows:
President, Rev. T. M. O'Donoghue, C. M .; vice-president, Ste- phen A. Gregory ; secretary, William Noonan.
The organization lasted for several years, when it appears to have been absorbed by Saint Vincent's Society, which had much the same objects in view as that under the patronage of Saint Joseph.
The Saint John Chrysostom Literary Association was founded as far back as 1864, and was composed of a determinate number of students belonging to the theological and philosophical depart- ment. "Its object was improvement in oratory, composition, and debate, as well as the acquirement of historical doctrine and scien- tific knowledge." We wish we could publish a list of the charter mem- bers, as is our intention when dealing with our societies; but none in this case seems to be extant. The earliest list that we have is that of the officers for the year 1868-1869, as follows:
President, Thomas H. Harty; vice-president, P. J. Sheridan, A. B .; treasurer, O. J. O'Brien; recording secretary, E. W. Mc- Carty ; corresponding secretary, James O'Rourke.
The Society for the Perpetual Adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament was organized on the feast of the Epiphany, 1870. Its object was to make reparation to our Blessed Lord in the Adorable Sacrament of the Altar for the injuries and insults which He has received therein. In practice the aims of this admirable society have never been lost sight of in our institution, since the seminarians are
1
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detailed two at a time during the entire day, to keep watch before the tabernacle, while the members of the study hall have periods allotted to them when they also come to the chapel to make reparation to our Lord. It is a pious matter of course with our inmates to visit the Blessed Sacrament before and after class, besides attend- ing in a body those more solemn functions which have for their special object the adoration of Jesus in the Sacrament of His love. We may say that, practically, Our Lord is never left alone in the house which is dedicated to Him under the patronage of His Blessed Mother.
Numerous pious societies similar to those which we have mentioned came into being at Niagara during the fifty years of her existence, and after serving some particular purpose of their founders lapsed into a sort of decay, or were finally absorbed by organizations more general in their scope. To trace the foundation of each of these would be an interminable task, and so we take leave of them to give our attention to the societies existing at present in our insti- tution.
Many of Niagara's most illustrious sons owe much of their suc- cess in life to the fact that they were, during their course of studies at this institution, members of one or other of her literary societies. It was away back in the sixties that the students first saw what bene- fits could be acquired by founding a society in which elocution, diction, and parliamentary laws in general might be practised, and at the same time efforts might be made to overcome that timidity, weakness, and strange feeling commonly called "stage fright," which every one feels to a certain extent when called upon to address a large or even a small body of people.
That some of the benefits mentioned might be gained, and errors corrected, a few energetic students met on September 20, 1866, and organized the R. E. V. R. L. A., naming it after Niagara's President those days, " Robert Emmet Vincent Rice " (we may remark by way of no harm that according to documents sent from "The Barrens," Mo., where Father Rice was baptized, he received at the font the name of Robert Timothy, if not through his parents, at least through the one who recorded his spiritual regeneration). Like all kindred societies its beginning was humble and its progress slow, but each succeeding year some improvement was made, either in bet- tering its order of exercises, improving the rooms, or adding to its already well-stocked library, until to-day it holds a place second to none in members, ability, and general appointments. It occupies
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the best suite of rooms in Alumni Hall, has an active membership of twenty and a most select library of 650 volumes.
For many years after their organization our literary societies were, so to speak, selfish of the good things which they possessed, reserving their literary treats for themselves exclusively. But for about ten years back they have been accustomed to come before the public several times a year in plays, so that a much larger knowl- edge of their real worth has been gained by Faculty and students not connected with these organizations.
We regret that the different societies mentioned were unable to furnish us with a complete list of the plays which they produced at the college or outside, for we had intended publishing it, knowing how acceptable it would be to past and present members.
In our catalogue published shortly after the R. E. V. R. society was founded we find this motto: " Semper vindicetur Veritas," fol- lowed by the announcement: " This association is composed of the students of the Rhetorical Division. Its object is to afford them by means of debates, orations, and essays practical exercises in elocu- tion and dialectics. The association holds its meetings once a week. Its members are classed as active and honorary.
"Under the charge of the association and under the immediate censorship of the Rev. Director of the association is a library which is yearly augmented, containing a large number of well-selected works." The latest announcement of the society, that in last year's catalogue, differs from the first one in this respect, that students in the academic department are admitted to membership.
This list of charter members of the R. E. V. R. was furnished by the present members :
Censor, Rev. Henry A. Anen ; president, Mr. Wm. L. Penny, Rondout, N. Y .; vice-president, Mr. James A. McGlone, Paterson, N. J .; recording secretary, Mr. John J. Early, Albany, N. Y .; corresponding secretary, Mr. John B. F. Boland, Worcester, Mass .; treasurer, Mr. Henry J. Gordon, New York, N. Y .; librarian, Mr. Edward J. News, Candor, N. Y .; committee on essays, Mr. Edward J. News, Candor, N. Y .; Mr. Stephen A. Gregory, Detroit, Mich .; question committee, Mr. Charles J. Sheridan, Brooklyn, N. Y .; Mr. James C. Daly, Utica, N. Y .; Mr. John P. Daly, Rochester, N. Y .; Mr. Edward O'Gorman, Port Jervis, N. Y .; Mr. Bart. Costello, New York, N. Y .; Mr. Patrick Doyle, St. Catharines, C. W .; Mr. Wm. L. Pope, Brooklyn, N. Y .; Mr. James F. Halligan, Brooklyn, N. Y .; Mr. Charles A. Reilly, Albany, N. Y .; Mr. E. M. F. Kelly,
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Buffalo, N. Y .; Mr. Geo. D. Walters, Rochester, N. Y .; Mr. Owen McDermott, Ilion, N. Y .; Mr. John L. Dynan, Paterson, N. J .; Mr. Thos. F. Reilly, Watervliet, N. Y .; Mr. Thos. B. J. Coleman, Brooklyn, N. Y .; Mr. James W. Wilson, Rochester, N. Y.
The officers for the present term are: honorary censors, Revs. E. J. News, C. M .; J. A. Tracy, C. M .; active censor, Rev. John F. Maye, C. M .; president, C. J. King; vice-president, G. L. Ford; recording secretary, L. B. Liddane; corresponding secretary, E. B. Reegan ; treasurer, W. D. O'Brien ; librarian, C. C. Mitchell; assist- ant librarian, G. Peck; question committee, L. C. Sheehan, M. J. Dooling, J. B. Egan ; business committee, T. L. Corcoran, H. A. Murray, R. E. Kelly ; members, twenty ; volumes in library, 650.
R. E. V. R. SONG Words by Joseph Daly.
Our literary band was formed In the year of long ago By one whose life was thought by all As stainless as the snow ; Kind Father Rice, a man beloved By all men near and far; 'Twas he who handed down to us The name R. E. V. R.
CHORUS. Then glory unto him beloved by people one and all, Whose bright name crowns the scrolls that deck our literary hall; With honor here we'll guard that name and when we wander far, We'll turn with fondness back upon the old R. E. V. R.
Our members silently depart As the years go rolling by; With honored name some rise to fame And win positions high ; Some voices now are ringing In the pulpit and the bar, As oft of yore they rang before In the old R. E. V. R.
However far or wide we'll rove, As long as life will last,
CHORUS.
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Our memories will link us to The college days we've past ; For on our breast we'll wear a badge Not time nor dust can mar ; 'Twill bear the name so dear to us - The name R. E. V. R.
CHORUS. 1
S. O. L. A. L. A.
Second only in point of years among the societies of our insti- tution is the S. O. L. A. Literary Association. The object which it strives to attain is a laudable one and briefly expressed in its beautiful motto - "Amor veritatis et eloquentiae." Organized on October 26, 1869, it traces its career back to the early days of Niagara, when, with the increasing numbers of our students, it quickly developed from an infant society to the present prosperous association. It has at present forty-one members. From the date of its existence it has experienced success, and in giving an impetus to literary research has contributed in no small degree to the social and intellectual refinement of Niagara's sons. The long list of names inscribed on its scrolls gives evidence of the extent to which its influence has been felt. Many whose names are there recorded, and who are now scattered in the many pursuits of life, owe much to the literary training they once received as members of this association. It is thus that the object of its organization has been truly realized. The association justly prides itself on having the name of the present illustrious Archbishop Quigley on its scroll for 1872-1878. As to the present condition of the society, we can utter nothing but words of praise and encouragement. That there is no lack of enterprise among the members is evidenced by a visit to the society apartments. The spacious room in which the weekly meetings are held, and which is so often the scene of lively debate and eloquent discussion, is furnished with a view to both comfort and beauty. Its large and carefully selected library of 875 volumes contains the best standard works in the language, and affords every opportunity to the studious mind of indulging in the choicest reading.
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