The religious were accommodated in Albert Hall, Caldwell Hall, St. Thomas' College and the Apostolic Mission House, on the grounds of the University; in Trinity College, Holy Cross Academy, the Benedictine Convent, the Dominican Convent, Sacred Heart Academy, St. Catherine's, the Immaculata Seminary and Georgetown Convent. They were provided with every facility for the performance of their religious duties and of the exercises special to each community. The usual weekly devotions, with Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, were held in the chapel of Divinity College.

Efficient assistance was rendered by the Welcome Committee of the National Catholic Woman's Circle who met the Sisters on their arrival and directed them to their respective places of residence. For courtesies extended in the way of transportation, acknowledgement is due the City and Suburban Line of the Washington Railway and Electric Company and the Mt. Vernon and Marshall Hall Steamboat Company.

Pleasant and instructive excursions were conducted for the sisters on the holidays. The Capitol, Library of Congress,

U. S. Treasury, Bureau of Printing and Engraving, were each visited and their features pointed out by efficient guides. On July 8, all enjoyed a delightful sail to Mount Vernon, where they were cordially received by the superintendent of the grounds who personally showed them over the historic site. The Sisters placed a beautiful wreath on the tomb of George Washington. July 13, President Taft received the entire student body at the White House, and greeted each sister and lay teacher individually. His Excellency, the Apostolic Delegate, Diomede Falconio, favored the School with his presence on the afternoon of Sunday, July 9. On this occasion the students congregated in the Chapel of Divinity Hall and listened to an inspiring address from the Delegates who afterward imparted the Apostolic Benediction. Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament followed at which His Excellency presided. Tuesday, August 1, His Eminence, James Cardinal Gibbons, Chancellor of the University, visited the Summer School, and was tendered a reception by the professors and students. The Rt. Rev. Rector made the address of welcome to the Cardinal who responded with an enthusiastic discourse on the significance of the First Session of the University Summer School. At the close of the exercises each student was presented to the Cardinal.

PATRICK J. MCCORMICK,

Secretary.

CURRENT EVENTS

CHICAGO MEETING OF CATHOLIC EDUCATORS

The Eighth Annual Convention of the Catholic Educational Association, held in Chicago June 25-29, has been declared the most successful meeting in the history of the Association. Delegates from all parts of the country attended, representing the principal archdioceses and dioceses, the teaching orders of men and women, and the leading Catholic educational institutions from the universities down to the elementary schools. The sessions took place at De Paul University, the General Assembly and the Parish School Department occupying the College Theater, an immense auditorium, which was crowded daily.

At the opening Mass Most Rev. Archbishop Quigley, of Chicago, tendered the delegates a cordial welcome, and paid a notable tribute to the great work of the Association. He said in part: "We of the pulpit are constantly holding before the eyes of our people, and urging upon them the attainment of the highest ideals of Catholic religious and social life in old and young, especially the young upon whom we rely for the better realization of these ideals in Catholic life. If Catholic ideals are ever to be realized, by what agency shall it be effected? By our Catholic schools mainly, though not wholly. Church, family and school are co-operating for the creation of the ideal Catholic life, but of this trinity of forces, hardly separable in action, the school is the most potent and far-reaching. True it is that the school cannot exert fully its powers for good without the support of the clergy and people from whom are to come the children and the material means to carry on the work of education with a success commensurate with the ability of the teacher. It is our part to build the schools and to equip them, so as to give the teacher the most favorable environment, and above all to place under the teacher the best possible children, prepared in home and Church for the formative work of the teacher.

"You teachers will admit that clergy and people are giving you the best possible aid in the prosecution of your work. Our schools are admirably built and equipped. Our children are the best in the world, even in the environment of our American cities, bright, docile, respectful of authority, obedient, affectionate, and altogether lovable. With these conditions existing generally, what shall I say of the results of your work, as it has been my duty and opportunity to observe them? From the kindergarten up through the graded school, high school and college to the university, it gives me pleasure to say, in the name of clergy and people, to you delegates, teachers and friends of Catholic education, of which you are the exponents, that its results have been in every department most gratifying and worthy of the highest commendation. The masses are being trained in the knowledge, love and service of God. Young hearts are being filled with holy thoughts, and young minds with the knowledge of holy things, and our whole national life is being leavened with Christian principles."

Rt. Rev. Mgr. Thomas J. Shahan, president of the Association, delivered an inspiring address at the opening session. He reviewed the work of the Association, and showed its practical effects in gathering together and harmonizing the Catholic educational forces of this country. Although without any legislative power, the Association, he declared, had been the most potent agent in the movement for a thorough systematization of Catholic schools.

The first paper to be read, "The Report of the Committee on Secondary Education," by the Very Rev. James J. Burns, C. S. C., Ph. D., sounded the keynote for one of the most fruitful discussions of the meeting. The present state of Catholic secondary education in this country was clearly depicted with the aid of statistics gathered by the committee, and the means for the development of a system of central Catholic high schools were enthusiastically considered. This question recurred frequently in the general and departmental meetings, and invariably elicited an interesting expression of opinion and experience. "The Pastor and Education in Advance of the Grade School," by Very Rev. James F. Green, O. S. A., sustained interest in the same question and like the first paper treated of the

matter of affiliation with non-Catholic institutions. In the discussion of these papers the following were heard: Very Rev. E. A. Pace, of the Catholic University; Rev. Robert W. Brown, of Grand Rapids, Mich.; Rt. Rev. Mgr. P. R. McDevitt, of Philadelphia, Penn.; Rev. M. J. Dorney, of Chicago, and the Rt. Rev. Joseph Schrembs, Auxiliary Bishop of Grand Rapids. The Seminary Department throughout all of its meetings considered the Relation of the Seminary to Our Educational Problem. Papers were supplied by Very Rev. Dr. E. A. Pace, Rev. Francis V. Corcoran, C. M., D. D., of Kenrick Seminary, St. Louis, Mo., and by Rev. Francis J. Van Antwerp, of Detroit, Mich., on various phases of this subject which for three days was very freely discussed.

The College Department opened with the paper of Rev. Timothy Brosnahan, S. J. (of Loyola College, Baltimore, Md.), on "The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching; Its Aims and Tendencies." The administration of the fund established by Andrew Carnegie in 1905, was severely criticized as "furthering the interests of non-sectarian teaching, and tending to put the teaching profession in a condition of academic subservience and slavish subjection." In this department also, the Rev. Alphonsus Dress, of St. Joseph's College, Dubuque, Iowa, read a paper on "The Position Which Music Should Occupy in a College Course." The different sections for the study of questions pertaining to Greek and Latin, Modern Languages, History and the Sciences, had their separate papers and discussions.

In the Parish School Department Brother Luke Joseph, F. S. C., of La Salle Academy, Kansas City, Mo., read the first paper entitled: "Our Children and Their Life Work." Brother Marcellinus, of Fort Wagne, Md., and Brother Julian Xavier, of St. Xavier's College, Louisville, Ky., opened the discussion. Two other papers which prepared the delegates for an interesting exchange of opinion were: "Some Educational Errors," by Rev. Robert B. Condon, D. D., of La Crosse, Wis., and "Retardation and Elimination of Pupils in Our Schools," by Rev. P. J. McCormick, Ph. D., of the Catholic University. Rev. Aloysius Garthoeffner, Superintendent of Catholic Schools, St. Louis, Mo., and Brother George Ebert, S. M., of Dayton, Ohio, read very practical papers in this discussion.