Page:Czecho-Slovak Student Life, Volume 18.djvu/512

He soon learned of the higher institution at Lisle and obtained admission on September 7, 1905. The difference between his former schooling and the methods in vogue at Lisle so impressed him that after two years he applied for admission to the novitiate of the Benedictine Order. He was sent for one year to St. John’s Abbey, Collegeville, Minn., and assumed the religious name, Cosmas.

On July 16, 1908 Father Cosmas Vesely pronounced his simple vows. He attended De Paul University during the summer session of 1909 and during the school year 1909 to 1910. In the summer of 1910 he registered at the University of Chicago for the summer session. These courses did not interrupt his theological studies, and on March 21, 1912 he pronounced his solemn vows.

He was ordained to the priesthood by the late Archbishop Quigley in St. Procopius Church, Chicago, June 7, 1913. For a few years before his ordination and for ten years afterwards he taught chemistry and mathematics. Then in June 1914 came the recognition of his ability when he was appointed head or director of the St. Procopius higher institutions at Lisle.

For several years Father Vesely had studied the latest American educational policies and progressive measures, and, when he became director, he realized the necessity of reorganizing the curriculum and of strengthening the faculty. Hence, during the first years of his administration, he, with inherent energy and enthusiasm, set to work outlining standard courses for the high school, and so well did he accomplish this that the school was recognized by and accredited to the state university as early as 1915. He also reorganized the college curriculum so that in 1919 it was recognized by the state university in class B. In 1921 the rating was changed to class A. The following year, 1922, the North Central Association recognized the St. Procopius institutions. The significance of these recognitions is well set forth in the May issue of the Student Life. The writer, reporting Father Vesely’s discussion of educational policies at a recent alumni meeting, says: “Thus far, the North Central Association, comprising the higher institutions of twenty states, has been one of the highest standardizing educational agencies in the country. For the last five years, St. Procopius High School and College have been rated class A. Only three of the eleven other Catholic colleges in Illinois have received this distinction; namely, Loyola, De Paul, and Rosary College.

According to many, Father Vesely’s greatest achievement is his organization of the Faculty of St. Procopius College and High School. He not only offered an opportunity, but inspired and supported promising men of the community to study at renowned graduate schools of the country, notably the University of Chicago, University of Illinois, Notre Dame University, Catholic University and others. The result of his radiating enthusiasm and persevering work is remarkable, for, during his administration, seven members of the faculty have earned their doctor’s degree, two have received honorary degrees, several have acquired a master’s degree or its equivalent in graduate work. During less than a decade St. Procopius College, through his efforts, has become one of the leading Benedictine higher institutions in America. Father Vesely, as its head, has often been asked for advice by other educators of note. From 1921 to 1926 he served on the Benedictine Educational Association Executive Committee. It was he who initiated and conducted the Benedictine Teachers’ College at Lisle during the summers of 1921 and 1922. In recent years he had four laboratories at Lisle thoroughly equipped with modern apparatus and fixtures, and had the college library re-catalogued and reorganized so that at present its 24,000 volumes are all card indexed according to the Dewey-Cutter system.

So much for his administrative duties. His achievements here are imposing enough, but he has contributed