St Thomas High School - Thomist Yearbook (Rockford, IL)

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,TV ,,,, W- Q- -- e- ,-1 Q Q -- -- - --- - - - - - - ' f ' --1 j '-3 55g:giQ55535!Q,555gsEi5!5j5E5Qg595,:,5.!:55555Q355,,5gg551233533zEzfgggggigi5!5Q555:5E5E5:5:.E3E '-i:533'., i5E5iEE5Ei5E,15S2Si!:'fvfiiiiiiz'2131355152-:igizfllfiraiigf- Q N 39f:2E':5 ':Z?f5 in wi lvflwgffiwl iff , , ll s'tEsieiE3.'' 5:5ss':s:i:2fsai: 'f'iiiif: 'A'A'A fl Ef '-'-' ' .. J 'i V32'tZ'iQaffgiifirf-..45 -'-'.- ' ' - ' , , gi -1 .L+ W- -- - - - -- Una, - ana, .a L4 L aw-, lm, .Kslnm....:W:-Wi..-. .Y - - j Bishop Muldoon, The Friend It is difficult to analyze or describe the qualifications for friendship. To scru- tinize, analyse, or weigh them detracts from the nobility of the relationship itself. ln its highest sense it entails an inde- pendent dependence, trustful and secure, between those who enjoy its privilege. I do not stand alone as one who is proud to know Bishop Muldoon as a friend. That were impossible, for he has always had an indefinite capacity for making and keeping friends. I believe that l can best describe his friendship by describing the strong personal attributes which make all men who know him want to know him well. The greatest of these attributes is his character-the character of a friend- fearless and courageous in matters of principle: gentle and sympathetic toward those who errg broad and understanding toward those who do not comprehend. ln him courage and understanding are effectively coordinated. Those who know our Bishop always know that no matter how difficult the issue. how involved the principle, how repugnant the duty, if an obligation is his it is courageously and effectively performedg that no matter what the error or the transgression, his just and tender ministration is corrective rather than harshg that no matter what bigotry, ignorance, or malice, his decision is broad, human and just. His next attribute is his justice-in him justice is a natural and instinctive characteristic, his impartial adherence to truth and fact, and his ability to separate the due from the undue and the merited from the unmerited, make justice a rule of his life. He knows that charity can be misplaced, that sympathy can be un- earnedg that faith can be corruptiveg but that justice is always virtuous, always equitable, and always good. The next attribute is his sincerity. ln all the positions he has ever occupied in his widely diversified life, he has always applied himself with an energy which knew no flagging, a devotion which knew no turning. This characteristic pervades his entire life work and illumines his every action. Besides his sincerity there is a complete honesty in all his transactions which is beautiful to know. ln the attribute of his spirituality he is in all things a man of God,-gifted by Almighty God in the call to His Divine Duty he has been so trained and set apart from and above the affairs of men as to become an Alter Christus reflect- ing through his own heart in terms of human understanding, the light of love which emanates from the heart of God. lt is in the attribute of his humanness that most of us know him best. VVe who knew him in our childhood often 1'ecall his entrance to the classrooms of St. Thomas High School. VVe recall his pa- tience and his care in pointing out that character and perseverance are far more important than the immature mind can comprehend: we recall his counsels of encouragement to those who needed en- couragement and his stern advice to those who needed restraint. Vliith his understanding heart, his cou- rage. fearlessness, and strength, his justice, sincerity, honesty and priestly character, who can measure the power of the example of such a man upon his friends, to impress upon them that after all to be worthy of such a friendship they can only return it by emulating his sim- ple living, just thinking, and noble ac- tions. ln a broader sense and a more imper- sonal way all the students of St. Thomas High School may call him friend-for that institution is essentially and pecu- liarly his own foundationg it was con- ceived in his broad and generous mind, it was born through his personal sacri- lice, it was reared by his kindly hand and gentle tolerance until now it has burst into the full vigor of strong and early manhood to stand as a monumental trib- ute to our Bishop-our Friend. C. E. McDonald, ,l5. ' Q. , i. 'f ' 4 , , ' ' ' .,. Al' A 'Qu,3,3133 -5-f-2' i 5: if i-1-a5,i,ia .Zee ff 2- 1 LW: f ' ' f 1 f:-.ilk l30l

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, , . 1 if l L, IVN 'lf-:r 1'1 11- L-J-CG I RICSIDICNCF2 OF THE RIGHT REVEREND BISHOI' VFITER I. MVLDOON, D, D. VVhen the Bishops of the country de- cided, in compliance with the request of Pope Benedict XV, of happy memory, to form the National Catholic Vklelfare Con- ference, the Chairman of the Committee of Survey, which was to report back with plans, was Bishop Muldoon. The plan he submitted at the September 1919 meet- ing of the Bishops was accepted and ap- proved. Bishop Muldoon was elected to the Administrative Committee of the Na- tional Catholic Vvfelfare Conference, and appointed Chairman of the Department of Social Action. He has likewise been for many years a member of the Board of Trustees of the Catholic University of America, and in that capacity has promot- ed with unfailing loyalty the cause of Catholic higher education. His ability as a leader writ large across the Diocese of Rockford, which has surely been bless- ed in its first great Bishop. So history has recorded and shall further record his gifts and his triumphs as a leader of men. Searching for the secret of his leadership, one would hnd many keys thereto. For one thing Bish- op Muldoon possesses a happy blend of qualities needed in a leader. One may, of course, catalogue qualities and attain- ments, but what cannot be conveyed to one who has never had the privilege of meeting Bishop Muldoon is the savor of a character at once elevated and acces- sible, dignified and affable, austere and genial, many-sided and simple, very free and familiar-but always the Bishop. Moreover, he possesses good judgment, is a rock of common sense, is sympathetic. just: he is a skilled administrator, he is patient and kind, he is eloquent in speech, enthusiastic and optimistic in spirit-all these keys would help to unlock the secret of his unrivalled success, but the real key we believe to be the personal Catholic holiness of the man, whereby he has shown to others how worthy and attain- able is the holiness of Christ: Be ye followers of me, as I am of Christ. ,ji ..,.,,,. ,. ,,,, ...,.,., .,., .,... . ,... ill q ' - ----- .wk f29

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