St. Paul daily globe., 1885-05-21
THE CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY.
Bishop Ireland OH Hts Progress and
Prospects.

Considerable interest continues to be
manifested in Catholic and educational cir
cles regarding the National Catholic uni
versity which is to be founded in the Dis
trict of Columbia. AS the site for the
building and spacious grounds were re-
Gently chosen by Bishop Ireland and other
prelates, it is believed that steady progress
will henceforth be made in realizing the
purpose of the late plenary council at Balti-
more which recommended the establish
ment of the university and took steps to
carry that Recommendation into practical
effect.
Bishop Ireland, who has recently re-
turned from Baltimore and Washington,
where he went ON business connected with
the university, is greatly gratitied with the
progress that has been made, and deems the
selection of the site near Washington in
every respect favorable to the interests of
the new institution, which he is confident
will attain great prosperity and be one OF
the most tlouriShing seats of learning of
modern times.
THE SCOPE OF THE UNIVERSITY.
The projectors of the institution claim
that it will be university in the fullest ex-
tent, and that nothing will be left undone
to render it equal, at least in rank, to the
great seats of learning in this country and
in Europe. 1t is intended that the scien-
tific departments shall be in charge of emf
nent professors, and that the laboratories,
observatory and scientific instruments shall
be on scale of such excellence that the
greatest range of study may be attained in
each branch of science and the arts.
THE SITE.
The selection of the District of Columbia
as the site of the proposed university is
considered fortunate. 1t is deemed proper
that the institution, which will be resort for
students from the entire continent, should
be near the capital of the nation, and thus
be in proximity to a great, refined city,
which is unconnected with state politics and
presidential contests, while as the seat of
government it will always be place of
great intellectual activity. 1t is felt that
the university will derive much benefit from
the literary, scientific and art collections at
the capital, and, while the great school will
be remote enough from the city to enjoy
comparative seclusiOn, it will still come
under the notice of representatives of the
entire Union, as well as of the members of
foreign legations. The ground purchased
for the university is sixty-five acres in ex-
tent and adjoins the Soldiers home.
AMPLE SUPPORT INSURED.
No misgivings are felt as to an adequate
endowment by voluntary gifts or beQuests.
The muniticent donation of Miss Caldwell
provides for the primary expenditures, and
it is expected that it will be followed by
generous gifts such as will serve to estab-
liSh the university on grand scale and en-
able it to begin instruction under the most
favorable auspices. The buildings and the
endowment of the chairs in the theological
faculty will require 81, 900, 900, two thirds
of which sum is already secured. The en-
dowments for the chairs to be filled by lay
men will be 100000 each, and those by
clergymen $50, 600. These large sums are
appropriated so that men of the highest
ability may be secnred.
The government of the institution whose
full title will be the Catholic University of
America, will be in the hands of board of
directors composed of nine bishops, four
priests and four laymen.
THE THEOLOGICAL FACULTY.
The first department established will be
the theological The buildings for the theo-
logical faculty will be erected next year,
and some of the most eminent teachers
engaged to fill the chairs, which will en-
brace the following branches: Philosophy,
dogmatic theology, moral theology, canon
law, scripture, history, science and litera-
ture. Only theological students who have
completed the regular course of study else
where will be admitted to the university.
In due time the faculties of law and medi-
cine will be added to the theological, but
the progress will be careful and gradual.