Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-06-17
A CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY.
The Zeal Of . Few Prelates Rewarded,
SITE SELECTED AND THE LAND PURCHASED
IN wASHINGroN-MIsS CALDwELL's MUNIFI-
CENT GIFT.
Washington Correspondents New York Times

Washington Correspondence New York Times
The Catholics Of America, but particularly the
Catholics Of the United States, who stand by
the faith as declared by the holy father al
Rome. have hope that before many years have
passed away there will be firmly established in
this city q university that will be worthy to
| rank with the no5lest and greatest institutions
Oh the church in ancient or modern times. The
hrst steps have been taken. The holy see has
| approved the proposition, after it had been un.
folded by learned and dcvout preiates, and the
| hearts of pious laymen have already been
stirred to generous aid by the appeals Of the
clergy. To those who are familiar with the
history of the achievements of the Roman
church the record of its growth and expansion
In even those countries where circumstances
oppressed and discouraged its cndeavors, the
| expectations of the enthusiastic Catholics who
nave determined to establish great university
IN the United States, where no obstacles are in.
tefposed 10 the tree growth OF the church. can
not appear TO be unreasonable. A university
Offering to Catholics opportunities for broad and
| ton, has been the dream of some of the most
learned OF Roman Catholics. clergy and laity,
Tor years Although provided with many col.
leges, from which have been graduated thou.
sands Of young men equipped for the church or
the professions OF law or medicine. it has pos.
sessea no higher school to which the graduates
OF colleges might be transferred for greater cul.
ovation. Scholars of the church. feeling the
| need of such central institution, have pre-.
church reviews and in the columns of church
papers. The idea was well received, but action
upon 1t has been deferred. When the church
hiid nnally recognized the necessity for the in.
stituton and the approval of the pope was OBJ
tanned, there were many Catholics in this coun.
try who had been educated to believe that the
day was not far distant when the cornerstone
OF the first building in a university group would
De laid, and some others who were not too old
10 expect that they would the university
grow to be strong and broad and full of the
spirit OF u vigorous church.
AS WITH an great projects this one for the es
had its conspicuous and effective advocates
bishop Spalding, OF Peoria; Bishop Becker oil
Wilmington; Bishop Chatard, aud Mr.. John
Gilmarische, layman, were perhaps the most
persistent to urge the matter before the church.
and they found attentive and sympathetic lis.
Jealous men who suggested the university came
up slowly. Among its many friends the uni.
Xeerslty had none more earnest or practical than
bishop Spaiding of Peoria, and about two years
ago he went to Rome to submit the idea to the
hoty see ee and solicit the papal approval. With
ton was discussed by the archbshops called to
Rome IN November 1885, and with the solemn
sanction and benediction of the pope it was
more in November last. The papal DEGREES
touching 1t, full OF encouragement and inspira-
E 1ion; were read before the council. Bishop
spaidlng, full OF the project, delivered sermon
on Sunday, November 16. in which he spoke
very earnestly Of "the higher education OF
Importance of mental cultivation as supple
! mentary to merely technical education He
asserted that, in the face of the modern world
tnat Wnlch the Catholic priest most needs, after
virtue, is the best cultivation OF mind, which
issues IN mprehensiveness of view, in exact
ness ness. Of Perception, in the clear discern
ment OF the relation of truths and of the
limitation OF scientific knowledge in fairness
and teSibility of thought, in grace of exp pres
sion, in candor, and in reasonableness the in
telectual culture which brings the mind into
form gives it the control of its faculties creates
the habit of attention, and develops firipness OF
Ppnd 1nfa lit.
warmly. evidently did not believe that any OF
the existing institutions of the church furnished
Inc intellectual food upon which he would
have Catholics fed. What the church needed.
according to his sermon, was mot profound
dosmatists, erudite canOnists, acute casuists
SO much as philosophical habit of mind. en-
| larged intellect and supple faculties. In its
way the ecclesiastical seminary was well
enough, but it was not school Of intellectual
culture, in America or elsewhere. and to mag
Inc that 1t could become the instrument of in
l t culture was to cherish delusion.
preston. or grace All that the seminary
does, In Bishop spalding's opinion, is simply to
impart the requisite skill for the ordinary ex-
ercise OF the holy ministry. Therefore it is that
jealous, earnest, selfsacrificing priests rarely
possess intellectual culture. They come from
the seminary that imparts the culture lacking
in the priesthood.
Bishop spalding did not stop at the edge of
the subject. however. He had prepared him
self to speak definitely, and broached the sub
1ect Of the proposed university eloquentiy and
thoughts" he said arguments "" rush aa' in 'a to
show the pressing need for us of a center of life
and light such as a Catholic university would
BE- Let there be, then, an American Catholic
mosphere of faith and purity OF high thinking
and plain living, shall become more intimately
conscious OF the truth OF their religion and of
the genius of their country, where they shall
learn the repose and dignity which belong to
their ancient Catholic descent and vet not lose
the fire which glows in the blood of new peo-
pie; to which from every part of the land all
eyes may turn for guidance and encourage
men in whom intellectual power is not separa-
ted from moral moral purpose His idea was pretty
immaturity." he declared. The church builds
not for to-day, but for all time. "Whfle we
look, therefore, for the founding of true uni
versity," said the bishop of Peoria, 'we will De
gin as the University of Paris began in the
twelfth century and rs the present University
| tional school OF philosophy and theology which
will form the central faculty of complete edu-
cational organism. Around this the other fac
'ultieS will take their places in course of time
and SO the beginning which we make will grow
until, like the seed planted in the earth it shall
wear the blooming crown Of its own develop
Bishop Spalding called upon his hearers to
open their purses to help forward the university
churches throughout the country. One answer
to the appeal has become well known. A young
lady-She Is yet scarce % q devoted Catholic,
sity, and wealthy-promptl contributed $780,.
600 as the neucleus OF a fund. For this munifi-
cent gift the students of the university and all
Catholics who hear of her generosity will hold
her name in admiration. Miss Mary G. Cald-
we'll, the giver Of the gift, is the granddaughter
of James II. Caldwell, once an actor of high
reputation, and afterward q successful man.
ager builder of theaters and business man.
Born in England in 1893, he came to America
in 1916, making his first appearance in Charles
ton. In 1877 he managed a theater in this
city. His energy was prodigious, for he built a
theater in Petersburg, Va, then went to New
Orleans, and after introducing an English COM
pany he built the first theater for English per-
fOrmances ever erected there, afterward built
theaters in Nashville and other southern cities
and meantime acted as stage manager and in
from the stage in 1913. At Baltimore he had
seen Rembrandt Peale's exhibition of illumi-
mating gas, and he returned to New Orleans to
introduce 1t to that city. Becoming president
OF the first gas company, and an owner of stock
to large extent, he laid the foundation of n
great fortune, which he bequeathed to William
Shakespeare Caldwell, his son, the father of the
young lady who has set so noble an example of
generosity to all wealthy Catholics. Mr.. James
H. Caldwell lived in New Orleans until 1853.
The rule of Gen. Butler drove him to New York,
where he died on September 18th, 1868, in the
SEVENTEEN year of his age.
The son Of Mr. Caldwell, who inherited the
fortune which he had accumulated, lived in
Richmond. Va, where he was noted for his
many benefactions to Catholic institutions dur
of Bishop, now Archbishop, Gibbons. Among
bis liberal acts was the presentation to the Lit
tie Sisters of the Poor of his fine residence in
Richmond and 100000. Miss Caldwell was
born In New York, but her parents were both
Virginians The mother was member of the
DISTINGUISHED RrncE SpridUo family nf xrhfoh