The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1885-05-21

I omcsi ses. 10 and 81 fourteeath Street.
EAlINENrpRRLATEs.
Sketches Of the Bish6ps Most Active in tha
Catholic uniysrsity Movement.
Val. onepondsesgf PAita. Tine.
The official announcement that Wash,
ipgtoni Is to be the site ofthe projected
National Catholic University causes little
surprise here. The Capital is fast becom.
ing the literary and scientific centre Of the
country. Its educational facilities, health.
fulness and accessibility are hardly equal.
ed by any Of the larger and wealthier cit.
les. Besides the consideration OF these
advantages the university Committee o.
ptelates appointed by the Council has
been influenced by the proximity Of
Washington to the Pimate,s See, Balti-
more, which Is only ioFty miles distant.
As the financial outlook is all that could
be desired, the only questions that now
trouble the committee are the selection Of
g location for the university buildings and
the personnel Of the coming faculty. II
Is probable that q suitable site will be
found IN the northwestern portion Of the
city. sonewherefn the neighborhood OF
old Columbia College. Bishop ireland,
who has been delegated to attend to this
matter, spends several hours dali
" riding about the suburbs and
il Is thought be will have ready for the
bishopssa report on the subject by the
end Of the week. The selection Of 0
faculty will be much more difficult.
Although the consideration OF the ques-
ton seems rather premature, It has al
ready caused 9 division among the pre-
lates. Some favor q continuance ofthe
present plan Of Catholic colleges, in which
all the principal ptotessorships are held
clergymen. Others contend that lay
teachers should be chosen. The latter
is Endorsed by the great body Of the
Catholic people, and with good reason,
for II is notorious fact that Catholic col
leges IN the United States have always
ranked comparatively low because clerical
persons, though they may be men Of
cannot, from the very nature OF
their calling, devote to class work that
attention which is necessary
for success. The idea which meets with
most favor among the leaders Of the
isto place q distinguished pre-.
late in charge Of the university and select
the faculty from among the abiest lay
men Of the country, thereby giving the
church q, general supervision Of the in
stitution, while securing the best talent
tor Its various departments.
BISHOPS spAIDtSd AND BECKER.
There is no doubt that Bishop spalding,
81 Peoria, ILL.,, viii be made rector. This
is a nephew Of the late
Archbishop Spalding, OF Baltimore, and
might be aptly termed the American
lapel. He's a mau OF broad culture, pol.
shed manners and rare eloquence. Like
Monsignor Capel, he does not believe in
proving his faith orthodox s.by Apostolic
JloSs and knocks, but reaches the heart
by more gentle, instnuating means. Dur.
ing his stay in Washington few weeks
Igo, as the guest ex-senator Vance, he
vas quite a lion in society. His converts
IN high life, while not so distinguished rs
hose Of the great English chufchman, are
certainly as numerous. Asa pulpit ora
TOR he has no superior in the American
'atholic Church, excepting Archbishop
Ryan. The Bishop also figures promi-
lently in the literature OF the day. Be
,ides the able "Life Of Archbishop spald-
Ingn he is the author OF numerous essays
to the leading magazines and
mas, moreover, written some tolerahle po.
stry. In last months North Aniericun Re.
ristp he had q powerful article in fefutatiop
II Mrs. Elizabeth Cady Stanton's attack
N Christianity and proved in very con.
,lusive way that the progress Of the Chris
Jan religion has always been synonymous
With the elevation Of woman. No one
mas been more active in the university
than Bishop Spaldtng, and now
hat it is practically realized 1t is only
itting that he should receive the rector.
hip for which he is SO eminently quail
led.
The Bishop Of Peoria did not, however,
originate the university idea. This honor
belongs to- the Bishop OF Wilmington,
xho has been speaking and writing on the
subject for the last twenty years. DR.
Becker Is generally considered the most
earned OF American prelates. He speaks
ourteen Languages and has 0 reading ac-
tuafntanee with several more. Among
his linguistic requirements is his knowl
.dge q Irish, which he speaks wonder
July well for German who has never
,een Ireland. He mastered the language
oy book study, too, and is the only mani
4ver heard Of who accomplished the same
ieat. While he was astadent in the
Roman Propaganda he made his first up.
oearsnce in the role Of German-I rishman.
On the occasion Of presentation to Plus
IL of addresses in al languages by the
students it was found that Ireland alone
lad no representative In the Propaganda.
The rector was sorely troubled over this
drawback to the completeness Of the
affair, when the young German came
forward and offered TO supply the want
For several days atterward he had to bear
ridicule from his feiiow.stI deutg about his
proposed lEtsh spsech, hut when on pres
Antation day he stood up before the Pope
and offered the usual congratulations in
good Celtic, speaking Il with as much
ease and auency Is hiis aetAet tongue,
Ill present thouSht DEACON Becker quite
! remarkable young man, indeed. Soon
afterwards he acquired other laurels by his
brilliant fight for the Doctors cap, being
the only one In his class who successfully
defended the theses given out by the Car
dinal examiners. On his return to Amer
lea he had oAiY 10 wait till he arrived at a
suitable age In ORDER 70 be elected to the
Bishop Becker lacks nearly
al the qualities 81 IA Orator. Ills person
Is not striking, his voice Is weak and he
has none Of the fervid passion which is the
source Of all eloquencs He shines with
The pen rather than the tongue,
= oTHIR sorAllE pRgtATEs.
After Bishops SpaIding and Becker, the
prelates who have been most earnest in
promoting higher education are, Arch-
bishops Ryan, Of Philadelphia; Elder, Of
-Arilltatae of Rnsknn and