Expect Thousands for St. Aloysius Golden Jubilee; Committees in Charge Have Prepared Elaborate Program

Five thousand men and boys will unite in spirit if not in presence to do honor to their alma mater when St. Aloy­sius College opens a three-day celebration April 25 in honor of its golden jubilee. For fifty years the institution has been turning out boys with an average attendance of 200 a year and the observance of the golden anniversary marks a point in the history of the school when graduates and pupils will unite to do it honor.

The celebration will open Friday evening, April 25, with the presentation of a play in the French Opera House. Arch­bishop Shaw will be the guest of honor. Saturday evening there will be a banquet for faculty, alumni and students at a local hotel. Sunday morning will be given over to the celebration of high mass in St. Augustine's Church, fol­lowed by an open air festival on the college campus at 2 p.m., when students will engage in races, games and contests.

A feature of the jubilee will be the simultaneous celebra­tion of the golden anniversary of Brother Alphonse, for eleven years president of St. Aloysius College and present treasurer. He will observe the termination of fifty years with the Brothers of the Sacred Heart.

The history of St. Aloysius College since its founding in 1869 is a story of rapid progress from a modest beginning. At the suggestion of Archbishop John M. Odin, the Brothers of the Sacred Heart determined upon opening a school in New Orleans in 1869 and purchased a building at Chartres and Barracks streets, once the headquarters of Spanish officers when the Barracks were occupied by the troops of Spain. The spacious halls, which had been trod by dashing Spaniards and the scenes of lavish entertainment were outfitted as schoolrooms in charge of the Brothers of the Sacred Heart and the school was opened September 1.

The opening day found six scholars in attendance - a number certainly not calculated to inspire enthusiastic anticipations, particularly when the school had been undertaken by the Brothers at their own risk. The four Brothers in charge, however, entered on their program resolutely. At the close of the first session the number of students had increased from six to sixty-six and the rise in attendance was consistent thereafter.

In 1880, under the presidency of Brother Arnold, additional property was purchased to enlarge the school, but in 1890 these quarters again proved too small, and the school was moved to its present location at Espanade Avenue and Rampart street, in buildings purchased from the Ursuline Sisters. In 1915, under the direction of Brother Alphonse, the Kernion and Lemore residences in Esplanade avenue were purchased and added to the school, providing a more spacious campus and more classrooms, as well as a faculty dormitory.

According to Brother Albert, the present president, the enrollment has had such an increase during the last two sessions that the buildings as they stand will not accom­modate a further increase.

Golden Jubilee Observed by St. Aloysius College

The golden jubilee of St. Aloysius College was observed Friday night by the presentation of "Alabama," a four-act drama, at the French Opera House, under auspices of the alumnae. The play portrayed a Southern romance of a generation ago.

The jubilee will continue three days. Saturday at 8:15 p. m. a banquet will be given at the De Soto Hotel. Sunday morn­ing at 11 o'clock a solemn high mass of thanksgiving will be celebrated at St. Augustin's Church, while Sunday at 2 p. m. athletic games will be held on the college campus, 1137 Esplanade street.

Music for the play was furnished by St. Aloysius College orchestra, Jules Bauduc, Sr., leader. Southern melodies made up the greater part of the program. The drama was played by a cast of eleven.

St. Aloysius College was founded in 1869 at Chartres and Barracks streets by Brother Stanislaus, and it has had a steady growth since. Its present head is Brother Albert.

Welcome Founder of St. Aloysius; Many Former Students Honor Venerable Organizer of College

Students and former students Saturday evening greeted the founder of St. Aloysius College, Brother Stanislaus, who came to New Orleans from Vicksburg to attend the golden jubilee of the institution. The occasion was a ban­quet at the De Soto Hotel, where Brother Stanislaus told of early struggles and experiences of the college, which started with three teachers and four pupils in 1869.

Brother Stanislaus is in his 76th year, but still is hale and hearty, looking many years younger. He retired from active duty in the order of the Brothers of the Sacred Heart a year ago.

The fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the college is in effect a double golden jubilee under the auspices of the alumnae association. The celebration also commemorates the fiftieth anniversary of Brother Alphonse in the order. He still is connected with St. Aloysius College here. He was present at the dinner and told of many things that trans­pired in the life of the college.

Other speakers were Brother Lambert, president of St. Stanislaus College, Bay St. Louis, Miss.; Benjamin J. Piazza, Brother Englebert, president of Holy Cross College; R. H. Garrot, president of the alumni association; Brother Albert, president of St. Aloysius College; Harry Fitzpatrick, Ad. Daste, Gus Lambia, Charles L. Sarrach and H. Saucier.

Brother Stanislaus, in his talk, referred to some of his for­mer pupils at college here, among them being Albert J. Laplace, at present grand knight of Orleans Council, Knights of Columbus. Archbishop Shaw is a former student of this brotherhood.