Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-03-15
THE CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY.
Western Prelates Dissatisfied with tho
Committee and the Site.

NOmmAbsSN anu bhe bAbe-
A Washington special to the New York
Times says that 1t is rumored here that
the members Of the Catholic University
Committee, which is to meet at Washing
ton in a few days, are not as harmonious
as might be expected of eminent prelates
engaged in a great educational project
From the beginning the Western Arch
bishops and Bishops have shown an Oppo-
sition, more or less open, to the building
of the University in Washington. They
contend that its situation should be more
central-mOre convenient for students
from their part OF the country.
Moreover, the personnel of the
committee did not meet with gen.
eral approval in the West on account OF
the prepOnderance of Eastern men which
it contains, there being II Bishops, priests
and laymen from the Atlantic coast and
only from all the rest OF the country.
OF the laymen on the committee one Is
from New York, one from Philadelphia,
one from Washington, one from Balti-
more, and none from the great West. 1t
is more than likely that at the coming
meeting change OF personnel will be in
sisted on, especially by Archbishop Heiss,
of Milwaukee, who at the hate Baltimore
Plenary Council spoke strongly in favor
OF placing ArchbishOps Eeehan, of
Chicago, and RiOrdan, OF san Francisco,
on the committee.
Besides this sectional trouble there is
also a strong feeling Of dissatisfaction
among prelates, clergy, and people eV-
cry where because Bishop Becker. OF
Wilmin 2ton, Del, was not hOnOred with
place on the committee. IL is wen
known that Bishop Becker was Ia origi-
mater Of the Catholic University idea m
this country. AS early as 1868 be traV-
eled through the East and South adVOca-
ting the idea, preparing the minds OF the
clergy and people for it's execution, and
writing essays 70 show the necessity OF a
National Catholic University in America
and the feasibility Of MS plan
for establishing H.. In tact, the
Bishop exhibited such continual en-
thusiasm about II that IL came to be
known as "Becker's hobby" When, then,
the Catholic mind had been prepared for
the project, when prelates all over the
country began 10 think IL was practicable,
and when the Catholic hierarchy, In cOun-
Gil assembled, determined to carry 1t out,
the man who was the source Of the whole
thing was entirely ignored. Not only
was he refused place on the committee;
not only did his fellow bishops decline 10
consult him, but there seemed 10 be a
general disposition 70 forget altogether
that the Bishop OF Wilmington had ever
uttered the word university.
IL might be unjustidable 70 attribute his
course 70 jealousy, but IL Is quite certain
that, had Bishop Becher received the rec
OgnitiOn he deserved, be would at once
become the leader " the movement. lie
Is undoubtedly the most learned OF Amer
lean Catholic prelates. He Is familiar
with IA languages, can speak eight with
some huency, and has a reading acquafnt-
ance with several more. Besides, his
scientific knowledge is extensive and va
ried, extending into all the well-known
fields ofscience a. well as some that nave
been little explored. He has been called
the intellectual Saup Of the Catholic
hierarchy m the United States, and all
who know him think that he wen deserves
the title. IL Is not surprising, therefore,
that there should be some dissatisfaction
on account OF the snub Bishop Becker has
received. Those who have at heart the
welfare Of the university movement ear
nestly hope that the meeting OF the CON-
mittee viii have the effect OF removing all
dissenti0ns BY readjusting its personnel.