Manhattanville College - Tower Yearbook (Purchase, NY)

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In Exultcitione Metens pXISTORY is not so much an affair of facts and dates as of spirit. The history of a college is the history of its spirit: of its appreciations, its aspirations, its traditions and its ideals, even more than of its achievements. The spirit of Manhattanville is perhaps best expressed in its motto, “In exultatione metens.” It tells not merely of reaping, but of an added intense joy, the joy of fruition, which, since it is active, is greater than that of expectancy. It is this joy in the realization of continuity with a glorious past which characterizes Manhattanville, as it characterizes every school and college of the Sacred Heart throughout the world. There is a family likeness among them all; yet, because this like¬ ness comes from within, from the informing spirit rather than from any exterior imitation, it gives the effect, not of uniformity, but of a kinship which is without detriment to individuality. So it is that Manhattanville, though reaping the benefits of associa¬ tions with a splendid past, has a pronounced individuality of its own. This individuality is in a sense the result of these associations, for they give a special mark that is distinctive. The very site of the Academy, established at Man¬ hattanville in 1847, is of historic interest, for it is said that Washington directed the battle of Harlem Heights from a rock on the grounds. As far back as 1848, Manhattanville felt, though in a happy way, the effects of the storm that was sweeping Europe; several Religious expelled from Italy during the Revolutions continued here the educational task that had been interrupted in their own country. So too did many French Religious at a later date. But Manhattanville had a closer relation with Europe than that which came through accidents of persecution. Mother Barat, the foundress of the Society of the Sacred Heart, had understood and adapted the best of the existing educational systems in the old world, and had bequeathed to her daughters the tradition of a deep and true culture. It was this tradition, made up of the best in the thought, the ideals, and the experience of the past, that was received in time by Manhattanville. And it was such a living thing that the college was formed precisely to preserve the continuity of this heritage. For with the years came new needs that could be satisfied only by a college. The motto of the Academy, Noblesse Oblige, was fulfilled in the expansion of the Academy into the college. The old gave place graciously to the new. It was new, yet the old had not been entirely given up. The great embracing spirit that inspires the whole was still there, was still the actuating principle, but something new had been formed. The college, with the same spirit and traditions, was something quite distinct from the Academy. It satisfied new problems and new requirements. The need for a college had been felt for some time. By a happy coincidence, when Cardinal Farley expressed a desire that one be established, there were already some students who had returned after graduating to continue their studies. In accordance with the Cardinal’s wish a Board of Trustees met on December 8, 1916, and drew up an application to the University of the State of New York for a charter. As it was found that the students were already doing college work, the provisional charter was granted the following March and the first commencement exercises were Page nineteen

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In Exultatione Metens Through fields that grow bright row on row, Exultingly the reapers go; The hands are filled that ne’er have tilled With corn the bright’ning breezes gild. The sowers wrought with earnest thought Nor knew the fruit their toil had brought; ’Mid hopes and fears they sowed in tears, We reap the increase of the years, We reap the increase of the years. From long ago the ground, we know, Made ready for the corn to grow; The cold was strong, the waiting long, Now all the ways are full of song. For thorn and tare and desert bare A gracious harvest ripens there. From harvesting our sheaves we bring; In exultation reaping, sing. Through row on row of grapes aglow Exultingly the gleaners go; And all around the world is crowned And every brow with coolness bound. The soul’s proud wine leaps forth divine Where clustered hopes benignant shine. We richly pour from out our store The wine of gladness o’er and o’er, The wine of gladness o’er and o’er. The vines that are from Canaan far O’ershone by earth’s one Orient Star Now grow with ours in childhood bowers Where we have found the early flowers. From every time and every clime We reap the harvest of their prime. From harvesting our sheaves we bring, In exultation reaping, sing. From trees that cast their shadows vast. Rock-rooted in the silent past: From those that spring, new-blossoming, Where birds of other years may sing, Our eager thought the fruit has brought. The blossom for our garland sought; And some there seem with gold agleam, Like trophies from the land of dream, Like trophies from the land of dream. From row on row that gleam and glow Exultingly the reapers go. Before Thy shrine, 0 Heart Divine, We lay the treasures that are Thine; Thy manifold rich gift we hold Will turn all grayness into gold. To Thee, Our King, our sheaves we bring, In exultation reaping, sing. Page eighteen

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held in June, 1918, Miss Madeleine Brassil and Miss Claire Smith receiving their B.A. degree. It seemed especially fitting that the Cardinal, who had taken such an interest in its beginnings, should have given the first degrees, the first fruit of the college he had so earnestly desired. His successor, Cardinal Hayes, has shown the same devoted interest, and graciously presides at our yearly Commencements. Not only to our two Cardinals has the college been indebted for interest and encouragement, but to a long list of loyal friends, the example of whose devoted service is kept as a precious ideal to be followed. Among these friends should surely be mentioned the first trustees: Rt. Rev. William J. Guinan, the Rev. John J. Wynne, S. J., Mr. Thomas Woodlock, and Mr. Walter George Smith. A great debt is due especially to Father Wynne, a most loyal and devoted friend who aided and encour¬ aged the establishment of the college and has never spared himself in giving advice and assistance at all times. Without the interest and work, of these and many other friends the college could not be what it is today. In the ten years of its existence, the College of the Sacred Heart has grown rapidly; there have been students from every state, and even from China, Japan, Cuba and Peru. But, with the succeeding years, has come something greater than mere increase in numbers, a deeper appreciation of the spirit which formed and still inspires the college. Though the spirit is the living principle of continuity, there are many external things on which this spirit depends for its continued vitality and its outward expression. Persons and events have their influence in intensifying this spirit and forming it into a definite tradition. During the war Manhattanville was not wanting in patriotic service. Two French students were registered at the request of the French government and funds were raised in a war campaign. Among the great war heroes who were guests were: Cardinal Mercier; Marshal Foch; Mgr. Baudrillard, Rector of the Institute of Paris, a well-known Academician; Mgr. Julien, the Bishop of Arras and the Abbe Flynn. Other distinguished guests were: Archbishop Hanna of San Francisco, the Cardinal Archbishop of Munich, Bishop Dunn, Mgr. Pietro Fumasoni- Biondi, the papal delegate, and Mgr. Liston, Bishop of Auckland. With special reverence the college cherishes the memory of a brief visit from Mgr. Cieplak, who had defied the Bolshevik government and suffered everything but actual martyrdom in defense of the church. Perhaps chief among the great events was the canonization of the beloved foundress of the Society of the Sacred Heart, Saint Madeleine Sophie Barat. In May, 1925, a large group of students left for Rome to be present at the great ceremony. And the following November four days were given up to celebrating the glorious event. In any record of Manhattanville, two names must be recalled with special love and gratitude: those of Mother Brownson and Mother McLaughlin. To Mother Brownson, the first dean, the college owes its lofty intellectual ideals and high scholastic standing. And to Mother McLaughlin, the first warden, it owes its deep spirit of loyalty and the sense of real comradeship, which binds its students together. This is but a brief summary of the events of the ten years of the existence of Manhattanville as a college. The facts of history, however, are important only as they manifest the growth and development of a spirit, and find in this spirit their explanation and their principle of unity. “In exultatione metens”—in this motto the ten years of aspiration and achievement reach back to a splendid past and on to a hopeful future. The traditions of old Manhattanville are ours to reap, and so exultingly we gather in the harvest of the years. Mary Ruth Keefe, ’28. Page twenty