Cat/tqlic Educational E11denvors
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horizontal bars, jumping stand, fling rings, climbing poles, dumbbells, and Indian clubs, it contains a rowing machine with pulley weights and sliding seat, an abdominal chair, leg incline, Medart springboard, stand- ard adjustable ladder, wands, a wrist machine, a wrestling machine, a punching bag with a Moline platform, boxing gloves and thirty-five chest developers of various makes." 80 The new plant had accommodations for three hundred fifty students and every place was expected to be taken by September, 1903. The grade and high school division grew steadily and in 1925, during the presidency of Reverend Matthew Schumacher, C.S.C., the college course was made a permanent part of the curriculum. A new charter was obtained on March IO of that year, changing the name officially to St. Edward's University and authorizing it to grant academic degrees. Three years before, on May 4. 1922, the main building had suffered serious damage as a consequence of a tornado that lifted the larger portion of its roof, but the damage had been repaired and the school enlarged by another building that served as the infirmary. The Sisters of Mercy, r875. The Order of the Sisters of Mercy was founded by Mother Catherine McAuley. in Dublin, Ireland, in 1831, with the cooperation of Archbishop Daniel Murray. The first community of the Sisters in the United States was established in the episcopal city of Pittsburgh on December 22, 1843, at the invitation of Bishop Michael O'Connor, the first bishop of Pittsburgh. 81 The first to come to Texas came from New Orleans. in January, 1875. at the invitation of Bishop Pellicer of San Antonio, who was anxious ~o promote Catholic education. Although their principal work is nursing, they also engage in the conduct of schools. Mother Mary Camillus Lucas was the leader of the Texas group. She and Sister Mary John Berchmans landed in Indianola, a little seaport town on Matagorda Bay, first seen by La Salle in 1685. They arrived on January 6, 1875, and were soon after joined by four other Sisters from New Orleans sent to help found a school. All arrangements were made- during the summer and just before the opening of school on September 1st, Fannie Horan, later Mother Augustine, joined the community. Hardly had the school begun before a devastating storm struck Indianoln and washed away all hopes of success.
80 The Chronicle, Houston, Texas, July 25, 1903, 11nehey, ofJ, c;t,, 289.
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