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

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In the year of 1868 there was brought to ful- fillment a long desired dream of the Monks of Saint Benedict who had been located in the city of Newark since 1841. Their hi story for the first seventeen years was tumultuous, but their faith, their vision and their courage never let them lose sight of why they had come to Newark. Their objectives were summarized at the first meeting of the Board of Trustees of Saint Benedict's Corporation; “The objects of this corporation are divided between the spiritual guidance of souls and the educational training of youth each conducted in conformity with the principles and general discipline of the Roman Catholic Church and in accordance with the disci- plinary statutes of the Order of Saint Benedict, well known throughout the Catholic Church. Into the thriving metropolis of Newark, which had a popula- tion of 105,000 people, was born Saint Benedict's College which opened its doors in the fall of 1868 to a student body of twenty and a faculty of four. The school day was from 8:30 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. with a half hour for lunch and the school year was from the first Tuesday of September to the beginning of July. The curriculum offered to the first students consisted of Classical, Commercial, and Preparatory courses. The Classical course con- sisted of Latin, English grammar, reading, defining, history, geography and penmanship; the Commercial course was composed of law, bookeeping, arithmetic, algebra and history and appealed to those interested in a business education. The Preparatory course was offered to those students who were not advanced enough to undertake the higher studies. Electives in music and drawing were also available to those who wished to avail themselves of the opportunity. Life at Saint Benedict's during these first three years was largely experimental. The school remained in the original frame build- ing in which it had been established until 1871 when it was proposed by the Board of Trustees “either to close Saint Benedict's College altogether or to erect a more suitable and commodious edifice on the site of the old building. Ten days later on July 6th the Vice-President, William Walter, O.S.B., reported to the Rt. Rev. President, Abbot Boniface Wimmer, O.S.B., the proposal of the Board. This resulted in the Abbot's full consent to erect a new college building suitable for that time. On July 10, 1871 the old frame building was removed and the ground breaking for the new college building was held. The students for the school year of 1871-'72 moved into a house adjacent to the church while the three story building was being erected. The building, which was capable of accommodating 200 students, was completed in the late winter of 1872 and was dedicated on February 2 by Bishop Bayley of New- ark. It now comprises the portion of the monastery which immediately adjoins the present “old school building’. The first annual commencement of Saint Bene- dict's College was held on July 1, 1872 in St. Mary’s Hall. It chiefly consisted of recitations and poems delivered by the graduates along with addresses by the Abbot and prominent businessmen. This first graduating class which consisted of four students was led by J. J. McKeever who captured seven of the prizes which were awarded. Degrees were conferred in the Classical and Commercial divisions, the Commercial graduates receiving the title “Master of Accounts which was recognized by most of the business houses in New Jersey. Following the erection of the new building and the first commencement, the school settled down to a more regular scholastic life, opening in September of each year and closing the following June with commencement. At this time the faculty consisted of seven college trained professors, four priests, and three laymen, who quickly gained recognition in the press for providing inexpensive higher education for the immigrants. During this period, the school’s extracurricular activities began to flourish under the guidance of the energetic priests of the faculty. The most notable of these activities was the “Elocution Class under the direction of Father Charles Reilly, a diocesan priest who was a member of the teaching staff. In the school year of 1874, the class had several public exhibitions the proceeds of which were donated towards the erection of a new assembly hall. The Collegiate Year will EN. c. ex Me £e M айлу of Septem'ser, anit —— M July. i E TERMS— Payable in advance. Tuition per Quarter, - FRENCH, $2.00. — € — For further information apply to | Rev. y». M. Warren, p. B. p. 528 HIGH STREET, NEWARK, N J. ` =

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In 1874 Rev. William Walter, O.S.B., resigned due to his failing health and Rev. Alphonse Himler, O.S.B., the former President of Saint Vincent's Col- lege of Latrobe, Pennsylvania, became the second Headmaster of Saint Benedict's. The faculty at the time consisted of three priests and three laymen. Father Alphonse's term, however, was short lived for one year later he was removed from the Presidency of the College and assigned to the chair of Theology at Saint Vincent's. On September 23, 1876, Abbot Wimmer appointed Rev. Mellitus Tritz, O.S.B., to the vacant post of Headmaster. The school progressed very steadily for the next three years. In 1879 the first full fledged debating society was formed under the direction of Rev. Aloysius Gorman, O.S.B. This society differed from Father Reilly's “Elocution Class in that it was organized as a forensic league “Чо prepare its mem- bers for public speaking, and to furnish their minds with historical facts and arguments on literary and useful subjects.” A long desired wish of the Benedictines was fulfilled on March 21, 1881 when “Bill Number 345” was passed in the State Legislature of New Jersey. The bill reads in part: “Ве it enacted by the U. X. ©. ©. D. N) st Benedict's College, NEWARK, N, J. 722 Гм, 1872. at 7:30 PCH - 一 -ee 一 一 一 一 PROGRAMME. PART I. ЕА ሪ : Sr. СкспллА 8 SELECT QUARTETTE SALUTATORY ADDRESS, 8 . 3 “The Lord's own Day, . D. Sweexer DISCOURSE, “ Religious Education,” J. J. МеКкжуки РОЕМ, (German ) Die Mattertprache. J. ксисвант “Tha Fairies of the Forest,” - АМ. QUARTETTE DISCOURSE, (Latín) De Geographia Physica. J, ®тккт® POEM, (German,) Das Schloss am Meer. Н. Saner DISCOURSE, “Early Rising D. Swanxer PART 11. “Тһе Magic of the Night, Kreuser Br. С. 8. QuAnTETTE DISCOURSE, ‘Small Men £ рр Saenger'« Еи, Uhland) “The Young Orator, . $ й А En. О“Сокмон POEM, . J. Brix Вяарт “Soon the Bell shall Toll for Thee.” œr 2 ቅ QUARTETTE Schillers . Graf v peburg ” POEM, . “The Paine and Pleasures of the Student.” The Praise of Song,” (Мачй”) DISTRIBUTION OF PREMIUMS. VALEDICTORY ADDRESS, Newark Daily Journal Print + А. Ижихоки T. О’Соххок QUARTETTE J. J. МоКккуки Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey that the corporation created by the act to which this is supplement shall have and possess the right and power of conferring the usual academic and other degrees granted by any other college in this state. This act legally raised Saint Benedict's to the rank of a college. In June of 1882, Father Walter died as a result of the illness which had forced him to resign his post as the first Headmaster in 1874. In July Father Mellitus developed heart trouble and resigned, mov- ing to Pennsylvania for a rest. He was succeeded by Rev. Frederick Hoesel, O.S.B. In the years of 1882-'83, extensive additions were made to the school and monastery. In that year Abbot Boniface, because of the troublefree operation of the Newark priory, formulated the plans necessary to raise it to the dignity of an abbey. Before this could be done, however, he felt that a larger monastery building should be constructed. He appointed Rev. Gerard Pilz, O.S.B., who was the prior of the Newark community, in charge of con- structing a new building as soon as possible. Father Gerard had the frame house removed and in the five months from December of. 1882 to April of 1883 a