Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1888-05-31
THE CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY.


bad Weather Mars Interesting Event
in the Catholic Church.
WASHINGTON, Nav 25.-The corner stone
OF the divinity building of the new Catholic
University of America was to have been
laid yesterday afternoon. The downpour
Of rain. however, prevented Cardinal
Gibbons arrived from Baltimore at eleven,
and was attended by u number of distin-
guished prelates. The Cardinal was driven
at once to the residence OF Rev. DR.. Chap
ellie. At two O'clock he accompanied
Colonel and Nine. Bonsparte in their car
risye to the university grounds, where
about 1900 people had already assembled.
The canvas and bunting which had been
stretched over the grand stand TO protect
the people from the rain but indiffereatly
answered its purpose. Among the dis
tinguished prelates present were Jsmes
Cardinal Gibbons, Arc hbshops wiIxsms,of
Bes,oa; Ryan. of Philadelphia; Elder, of
Cincinnati; Salpointe, Of Santa Fe; Ire
land, Of ST Paul; Bishops Spanlding, of
Peoria; Keane, of Richmond; Ryan, OF
Buffalo; NortLrop, of Charleston, s. C.;
Bourke, of Chey enre: Machebe of Den
yer; Brondel, OF Helena; Gilmore, OF Cleve-
land: Jaussens, OF Natchez; Pheian, OF
Pittsburgh; Kain. Of Wheeling; O'Reilly,
of Springfield; O'Sullivan, OF Mobile;
No ore, OF ST. Augustine; Lebroeun, OF
Washington Territory; Macs, of towing
ton McGovern, Of Harrisburg; DR.. John 5.
Foley. Bi>hop Elect Of Detroit; Robert
Fulton, s. J.. Provincial of the Orier or
Jesui OF the United Sta tes and McnSig-
nor Farley, Of New York.
\ large number Of priests, scholastics
and seminarians were also present. few
minutes before four o'clock the President
arrived and was introduced to Cardinal
Gibbons and the other distinguished dl-
vines present. who removed their scarlet
and purple berettas, and remained uncOv-
cred while the President was standing.
Secretaries Bayard, Villas, Whitney and
Endicott and Postmaster General Dickln-
son arrived soon after and took seats near
the Pre- ,ident At four p. N. n choir of $50
voices, accompanied by the Marine band,
rendered Haydn's anthem: THE Heavens
Are Telling This was followed by the
chanting of Psalm So by the choristers
from St Mary's Seminary aud st. Charles
College, of Baltimore. After selections
were rendered by the choir and the Ma
rine band, Right Rev. Bishop Spaulding,
Of Peoria, delivered an address.
Bishop Keane, Rector of the University,
then stepped forward, aud addressing him.
self TO Miss Caldwell, who was seated at
the night and in front of the platform, read
a short letter from the Cardinal to Miss
Caldwell, expressing the profound graft
tude of the Church for her gift of S3JO, ,0OO,
which he said entities her to be consldeted
the '.feundress of our Catholic University"
Accompanying the Cardinals letter was
one from the Pope to Bishop Keane, ex-
pressing gratitude for Miss Caldwells
muuifcence. and bestowIng upon her the
Apostolic benedictiou. Bishop Keane then
handed Miss Caldwell the medal sent by
the Pope. 1t is of solid gold and about two
inches in diameter. 1t was struck by order
of Leo Kill. at the beginning Of and in
commemoration of the eighth year OF his
pontlfcate. One side contains the profile
of the Pope. On the other is the represent
atIon of tue genius of history lifted aloft by
angels, with an inscription commemorating
the opening OF the archives of the Vatican
to the historical researches OF the scholars
of the world. Miss Caldwell received the
gift with bowed head
The ceremony of blessing the site Of the
chapel and laying the corner stone was
postponed on account of the rain. These
ceremonies will bs performed at q future
day.