St Joseph Commercial High School - Parmentier Yearbook (Brooklyn, NY)

Page 15 text:

True MUST Rxsvz-im-Lxn Rmmomn fXLfGL's'1'1NH Kmnmmy D.D Tilufur Bishop of Lysiniu Auxifiury Bishop of Brooklyn

Page 14 text:

i-.fzs.......-,....,-fz.z.4.1... ff They are endowed with certain inalienable rights, life, liberty and the pur- suit of happiness. Democracy includes liberty. Our liberties are freedom of speech, freedom of worship and freedom of assembly. Today we face a threat to democracy. Are we as Americans, going to sit back while every vestige of freedom is stolen from us? Are we going to allow the government that was established of the people, for the people and by the people .to perish from the earth? Let us recognize this truth so that it may be allocated -to win our support. Democracy is at the crossroadf' ln Europe it has swerved to the left of the .totalitarian state represented by Communism and Fascism. There is little differ- ence between the two. Both have taken away individual freedom of thought, word and action: both regard the state as supreme and both feel that the people exist only for the good of the state. ln Europe too, the will of the majority has talcen liberty from the will of the minority. But in the United States, liberty has a more secure source, a source that includes the minority as well as the majority: a source that finds its stability in the unchangeable will of God. Throughout our high school careers our studies have not led us to despair of democracy, but rather to question the solidity of modern dictatorship. Democ- racy thrives on peace: dictatorships thrive on war. Democracies are recognized by liberty and equality, dictatorships are recognized by stern discipline and absolute intolerance. Therefore the crisis of democracy today is the crisis of world peace. Education is indispensable to a democratic government. We, consequently, wish to express our gratitudeg for throughout the past four years, having been thor- oughly equipped with a knowledge of our government, and the business of its various departments, there can be no doubt that in the future, we will become good citizens and be able to defend our government. The seed of education has been planted and through our effort, it is expected to yield a good harvest. My dear fellow graduates, may I presume to predict our futures in this world of turmoil? As l gaze upon the road that leads ultimately to the goal we are seeking, let me depict it as smooth and rough with many turnings that may lead us astray. But, in our travels let us not forget the teachings of our Alma Mater who taught us to reach out to the shining light of the future that lies just beyond. and by so doing remain close to the Heart of our Divine Creator. Thus our greatest future reward and career will be eternal happiness with Him forever. in conclusion, may I say, Let us live by truth and not by lies so that we may not prop the tottering house of wrong that is recognized by legalized cruelty and force: but rather, that we may bind our commonwealth in the love of its citizens. Democracy is a child of peace, and cannot live apart from its mother. i-KATHLEEN M. COGHLAN '41

Page 16 text:

74MuZ'e la 7fze ljafamenifim Through the foresight, generosity and kindness of the noted Parmentier family who bequeathed to the Sisters of St. Joseph, our Faculty, their beautiful mansion and garden on Bridge Street, we have been blessed with the happiness of a suc- cesslul business training in our present St. Joseph Commercial High School, known as uparmentier Memorial.,' It seems only fitting that we, the graduates of 1041, should offer a tribute to the memory ol those great promoters ol Catholic Action and pioneers ol social service, the Parmentier Family. Andre Parmentier was born in Belgium in 1780 and in 1815. married Sylvia Parmentier. They came to New York and Brooklyn in 1824. While here, both labored zealously for the missionaries who at this time had to meet with almost unconquerable obstacles and hardships. During these dark days, there were a lew brilliant leaders who served as beacon lights, among whom the most illuminating was Madame Sylvia Parmentier. By her moral and material aid she proved a great stimulus to those noble souls who endeavored to plant the seeds oi Christen- dom on the rough and rocky shores of the United States. Bishop Du Bois was an ever welcomed guest at the home ol the Parmentiers on Bridge Street and his room was preserved almost as he left it in 1839, up to the death ol the last member oi the family in 1908. Father Edwin Sorlin, C.S.C. founder of Notre Dame University also enjoyed the hospitality of the Parmentier home. Rev. Peter De Smet, the Jesuit- missionary who labored with unceasing patience among the indians, was also a recipient of Madam Sylvia's kindness. But the Parmentier charity did not end here. lt encompassed that noble band ol missionaries, the Little Sisters oi the Poor, in the United States. ln fact. Father Lelievre with Mrs. Sylvia's son-in-law, Edward Bayer, rented the first little Home for these Sisters, even before they had arrived in the country. This residence was on DeKalb and Bushwick Avenues. Madame Parmentier accom- panied these little Sisters on their tours of collection until they were acquainted with the city and the customs. Madame Parmentier gave unlimited assistance to the Sisters oi Providence. ln reality she was the co-loundress of the Order. It was through the uniailing generosity of Madame Parmentier that the community was provided for and grad- ually grew in size until today, St. Mary of the Woods, conducted by the Sisters of Providence, is recognized as one of the foremost educational institutions in the country. In the parlor of the mother house is a life-size portrait of Mother Theo- dore, founder, and beside it one of Madame Parmentier, co-loundress, a lasting tribute oi homage to their efforts and accomplishments in founding the Sisters ol Providence. Another great work ol Madame Parmentier was the organization ol a taber- nacle society oi pious women who made vestments and altar linens and distributed them to poor missions worthy oi such charity. Madame Sylvia did much to help the struggling little Church ol St. James on Jay Street, Brooklyn, and her family was among the first to help in organizing St. Pauls parish on Court Street. Truly, no missionary was permitted to pass the Parmentier residence without first partalking oi aid in some form to sustain them in their noble work. Madame Parmentier also founded many Conlraternities, among which the Holy Childhood was the most outstanding and widely known. When Madame Parmentier passed away her encomium was summed up in these words, Her life was saintly: her works, those of a saint. -DOROTHY L. SHPE '41