University of Notre Dame
Archives   

The Story of Notre Dame
Brother Aidan's Extracts


ALPHAN, BROTHER (MOONEY, CORNELIUS)

"It is our sad and painful duty to record the death of one known and loved for many years past by the students of Notre Dame. On the 21st of December, Brother Alban (Known in the world as Cornelius Mooney) died at Watertown, Wisconsin, and two days later, his remains were consigned to their last resting place in the cemetery of his community at Notre Dame. The deceased entered the Order, to whose service he devoted his life, on the 20th of April 1862, being then in his 17th year. After the completion of his novitiate and a few years passed in study and teaching, he began in 1866, those years of intercourse with the students of the University of Notre Dame which have made his name imperishable in the memory of all who had ever been placed under his kindly and paternal direction. As prefect, he displayed a nobleness of mind, a kindliness of heart, and a firmness of character which crowned the administration of his office with marked success and efficiency. During the year 1875, the dread disease, which finally carried him off, first manifested itself, and compelled him to resign the office he had held so long and well, and seek relief in a change of climate. After a year or two spent in the south, with but little improvement, he was transferred to the College of the Sacred Heart, Watertown, Wisconsin, where he soon felt the beneficial effects of Wisconsin's bracing air. The few years that followed were passed as Professor and Prefect of Discipline in the College, which functions he performed with his usual efficiency. But the amelioration in his health proved shortlived. Consumption's relentless hand had too firm a grip; his life slowly wasted away, and at length the discharge of his duties, working to Him to whose love and service he had so consecrated his life, that it might be afterward said of him, that he gave up his soul to God, like a soldier dying at his post.

"Brother Alban left many a friend among the old students of Notre Dame, who will be pained to learn of his sad demise, but who will not forget him in their prayers before the throne of Mercy for the repose of his soul." SCHOLASTIC, January 3, 1885

"Brother Alban, for four years past connected with Sacred Heart College, Watertown, has been sent to Austin, Texas, to aid in founding an institution at that place. If the editor of this paper could prevent it, Brother Alban would not go to Texas, but still continue to be a member of the faculty of Sacred Heart College. All who have had occasion to deal with the Brother during his connection with the aforesaid institution will sincerely regret his removal from among us. We wish Brother Alban an abundance of happiness in his new field of labor, and sincerely hope that he will succeed as well in winning the affections of the people of Austin as he did in doing so in Watertown!" Watertown Gazette, August 26

"Brother Alban taught for a number of years at Notre Dame, and it will be subject of regret to those who attended his classes in English, Mathematics, and Phonography to learn that ill health is the chief reason for his removal to the South. For a year past he has been suffering from a severe bronchial attack, which it is hoped the warmer southern climate will help him to overcome." SCHOLASTIC, September 17

"Among the curiosities we had lately the pleasure of witnessing, was a complete set of books in the double entry system. Written in stenographic characters, the writing took up so little space that the books had an empty look about them, but everything was there, and in ordinary long hand they would be respectably filled. The set of books belonged to Brother Alban, for sometime teacher of stenography here. Brother Alban is an excellent stenographer: it can be literally said of him that he has the Pitman System 'at his fingersend, and a very good system it is'." SCHOLASTIC, September 17, 1881


‹— Brother Aidan's Extracts —›