St Benedicts Preparatory School - Telolog Yearbook (Newark, NJ)

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quired for college work. The Preparatory course was ultimately destined to become the only course of studies. In 1888 at a faculty meeting discussing aca- demic standards for the students it was decided that henceforth the standard which would be necessary for graduation should be: “ап average of 90% (at least) in Bookkeeping, Arithmetic, Penmanship and English; and an average of 75% (at least) in History, Geography, Algebra and Geometry.” This standard was followed for several years until the curriculum was again revised. Following the conclusion of the great spurt of activity of the 1880's, Saint Benedict's settled down into a regular schedule while continuing to progress in all fields. In this period around the turn of the century, many of the traditions of Saint Benedict's were established. The program for the commence- ment exercises which was established then is still being followed to a great extent today. In the 1890's the great sports traditions of Saint Benedict's had their humble beginnings. During this decade the Saint Benedict's Athletic Association was formed with the purpose of supporting school teams both for interscholastic and intramural com- petition. The athletic teams were not always the well organized teams they are today but were largely unorganized with no particular coach or a set sched- ule of games. Competitions with other schools were often spontaneously scheduled as a result of a challenge. By 1901 there were several teams, among which were the football, basketball, baseball and track teams, all competing on the Junior and Senior levels. One of the most popular of these activities was the annual Field Day Games which were held for the first time in June of 1901. These games were chiefly composed of track and field events in which competition was restricted to Saint Benedict's students. In April of 1910, 85 8 result of a decision by the Board of Trustees, the final steps towards the dis- continuation of the college program, which had be- come obsolete, were taken. The following year these steps were completed and the entire program was dropped and college level degrees were no longer issued. However, it was not until six years later, in 1917, that the name of the school was changed to Saint Benedict's College Preparatory School. It is interesting to note that the act of 1881 which gives Saint Benedict's the power to grant degrees has never been revoked and is still in effect today. In the years from 1906 to 1910 there were three important facts which must be noted. In 1906 an additional story, which included new science labora- tories was built upon the main College building. The following year a Silver Jubilee was celebrated honor- ing the contributions of Saint Mary's Abbey to the city of Newark in the fields of education and dra- matics. In 1910 Abbot Hilary succumbed to a heart attack. Shortly thereafter the Rt. Rev. Ernest Helm- stetter, O.S.B. was elected Abbot. The first twenty years after the turn of the century saw in Saint Benedict's a surge of literary publications and dramatics. All of the classes in attendance during this period were especially noted for their dramatic ability and the successful theat- rical productions which were staged. The majority of these plays were written by Rt. Rev. Leo Haid, O.S.B. who was a teacher and a skillful amateur playwright of the time , These plays were received very favorably by the critics. A school publication was instituted in 1914. The need for a publication was recognized for some time both for the students to exercise their writing abili- ties and as an information medium to unite the classes of the school. This publication was issued every quarter and hence the name “5%, Benedict's College Quarterly. The quarterly was written and entirely edited by the students and included not only news items covering athletic events and various school activities but also literary articles written by the students. Humor was not forsaken in the publi- cation which contained many quips and personal sayings. The Quarterly gave way to the first yearbook which was published in 1919 and was called the Maroon Telolog . The name “Telolog” was chosen because it is the Greek word meaning “the last word”. One of the main features of the “Теіо- log was a description of the school in the future. One of these articles predicts the Saint Benedict's of the sixties as a large university: “Despite the out-

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three story brick building was erected connecting the school to Saint Mary’s Monastery. On April 16th this new monastery was blessed by Bishop Wigger of Newark. Two months later, Saint Benedict's proper was enlarged by adding a fourth floor and incorpo- rating physics and chemistry departments. Upon completion of these buildings, Abbot Boni- face made a formal petition to Rome asking that the community of Saint Mary's in Newark be raised to the status of an abbey. The reply to this petition came on December 19, 1884 when Pope Leo XIII granted the request in a Papal brief. After receiving this decision, a chapter of monks from all the abbeys east of the Mississippi elected on the second ballot Rev. James Zilliox, O.S.B., the first Abbot of Saint Mary's Abbey. The extensive building program and the status Saint Mary's gained by becoming an Abbey greatly enhanced Saint Benedict's College as a scholastic institution in New Jersey. An evening school was established and the total enrollment came to 126 with 78 day students and 48 evening students. The evening school was short lived for it proved unsuc- cessful and was abandoned after only two years. The commencement of 1885 reflected this increas- ing notoriety by the fact that not only were several city dignitaries present but the Governor of New Jersey was also in attendance. The strain of the heavy burden of duties im- posed upon him caused Abbot James to request permission from Abbot Wimmer to resign after only ten months in office. This request was granted in October and the chapter of monks once again sat in conclave to elect an Abbot. The Rev. Hilary Pfraen- gle, O.S.B. was elected Abbot on November 11, 1886. Abbot Hilary with his ascendancy to the Presidency of Saint Benedict's appointed Rev. Fred- erick Hoesel, O.S.B. to his former post of Vice- President and Director of Saint Benedict's. Two years later failing health cost Saint Benedict's its third administrator when Father Frederick was forced to resign his post. He was succeeded by Rev. Hugo Paff, O.S.B. Although the Preparatory course was originally instituted at Saint Benedict's as a minor portion of the curriculum, it gradually took a larger and larger position. This increasing importance of the Pre- paratory course was necessitated by the large per- centage of students applying for admission who did not have the secondary education which was re-

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Graduates of St. Benedict's Had to Pass а Rigid Examinatít John A. Derivaux and Raymond 3. Mul- Un, the twó young men who were grad- uated at the commencement exercises of St, Benedict's College, in High street, at Krueger's Auditorium on Thursday night, were talented students. The final exam- ination of members of the senior clase is very strict st this college, for it covers every branch of study taken during the entire course, and to be worthy of a diploma a candidate must attain a very high average in every branch. The fact that Mr, Derivaux anf Mr. Mullin passed the examination with the highest honors is evidence of their ability. ARMY NAVY ን А y ) à MARIN ES Raymond J. Mullin, -- 5 In the drama at the commencement they exhibited marked dramatic power, speaking their lines correctly and with the proper emphasis, and even in long and impassioned sentences nelther became ех- ceasively declamatory. They merited the vigorous applause the audience gave to their efforts. f the Inte Michael М, indie, who зав pro- During this period of growth, the athletic teams e o£ ihe qo] p were also growing in size and in the esteem that a celebrated baritone soloist, singing at they were commanding from the public. The varsity John A. Derivaux. concerts and in church choirs. : Š E sports which had begun so inauspiciously around the turn of the century were, by 1930, flourishing. ward changes, the school still possesses the same Basketball was ‘Һе most popular. sport at Saint fine core underneath.” Benedict's. Teams in the first twenty years of the The year of 1919 also brought with it new op- sport won over eighty percent of their games and portunities for Saint Benedict's to expand its borders. compiled several records one of which is the state On March 21, Saint Benedict's day, Mr. Bernard M. scoring record of 145 points in one game in 1914. Shanley, Jr. donated a sum of money for the purpose This record is still in existence. The football te am of building a new gymnasium. On May 2 at a quickly established itself as one of the foremost in special meeting of the Order of Saint Benedict of the state and gained the nickname of the “little New Jersey, the chapter voted to buy the Halsey Notre Dame of the East. Invariably the teams property adjoining the school. The acquisition of placed one or more members on the all-state squads. this property resulted in a decision on July 16 to The track teams were also very successful and build a large addition to the school and a new gym- . achieved great fame especially in the nationally ac- nasium on the Halsey property. These additions claimed Penn Relays and in the М№.Ј.1.5.А.А. meets. were necessitated by the inadequacy of the existing The baseball team, one of the earliest sports at the building to accommodate the increasing number of Hive, did not fail to live up to the great tradition students and by the lack of proper gymnastic facili- established by the other teams. ties. The frame buildings on the property were torn There have been many outstanding athletic down and the new buildings were erected with the coaches at Saint Benedict's; however there are three gymnasium being named in honor of Mr. Bernard who stand out: Mr. Ernest “Prof” Blood, Mr. James M. Shanley. These new facilities enabled the school Cavanaugh and Mr. Joseph Kasberger. The first of to continue to expand to an enrollment of 500 stu- the three to come to Saint Benedict's was Mr. Cava- dents and by 1924 there were 700 students. naugh who had been called “the best coach and In May of the same year Rev. P. Cornelius, trainer of scholastic teams in the country. A O.S.B., who had been instrumental in the building former graduate of Saint Benedict's, Mr. Cavanaugh drive of the early twenties, started a campaign for came to the Hive in 1919 from coaching at Barringer the purpose of raising money to purchase property High School. Although he did spend a few years for an athletic field. This highly successful cam- coaching basketball, his main distinction was on the paign culminated in 1925 with the purchase of four track. His cross country teams were state cham- acres of property at Third Street and Fifth Avenue pions for the first fifteen years after he came to in Newark. It was in the fall of 1925 that the first Saint Benedict's and four of his runners at one time football game was played at Benedict's Field. held world marks. Benedict's Field was one of the most complete and In 1925 “Prof” Blood came to Saint Benedict's. modern athletic fields of the time, consisting of a His credentials upon coming to the Hive were baseball diamond, football field, tennis courts and remarkable. For he had just finished coaching the a quarter-mile track. The field had accommodations Passaic “wonder team” which had accumulated 157 for 7,000 people for football and 2,000 people for consecutive victories. The basketball team prospered baseball. under “РгоЁ5” leadership winning state champion-