Montgomery County sentinel., 1888-06-01
The Catholic University.


The corner stone of the university build
ing of the new Catholic University of
America was laid in the afternoon of Thurs
day of last week. The day opened rainy
and the rain continued until nightfall. Car
dinal Gibbons arrived at Washington from
Baltimore at II A. NJ, and was attended by
a number of distinguished preates. The
Cardinal was driven at once to the residence
of the Rev. DIR. Chappelle. At Z. M. he
accompanied Col. and Nine. Bonaparte in
their carriage to the university grounds,
where about three thousand persons had
already assembled. Fully twenty five thous'
and had been expected, but the heavy rain
and deep mud of the country roads had de-
tered all save the bravest. The grand pro
cession, under the directions of Gen. Rose
Grams, which was to have been an imposing
feature OF the ceremonies, had to be aban
doned. The canvas and bunting which had
been stretched over the grand stand to pro
tect the people from the rain but indiffer
emily answered the purpose
Among the distinguished prelates present
were James Cardinal Gibbons; Archbish-
ops Williams of Boston, Ryan of Philadel-
phia, Elder of Cincinnati, Salpointe of Santa
Fe. and Ireland of ST. Paul. Bishops Spald.
ing of Peoria, Keane of Richmond, Ryan of
Buffalo, Northrop Of Charleston, Burke of
Cheyenne, Machebeuf Of Denver, Brondel
of Helena, Gilmore of Cleveland, Janssons
of Natchez, Phelan of Pittsburg, kain of
Wheeling, O'Reily of Springfield, O'Sulli-
van of Mobile Moore of ST. Augustine, Le
Boeuf OF Washington Territory, Macs Of
Covington, McGovern of Harrisburg; DIR.
John S. Foley, Bishop elect of Detroit; X.
Fulton, S. j., Provincial of the order OF
Jesuits of the United States, and Monsignors
Farley of New York and Sullivan of Wheel
A l.. -.~rn 1.laot tipI
and seminarians were also presen.
A few moments before A p. M. President
Cleveland arrived and was introduced to
Cardinal Gibbons and the other distinguish
ed divines, who removed their scarlet and
purple berettas and remained uncovered
white the President was standing. He took
a seat between the Cardinal and Bishop
Ireland on the platform. Secretaries Bay.
ard Villas, Whitney and Endicott and Post
master General Dickinson arrived soon al
terward and took seats near the President.
Att o'clock a choir OF $50 voices, accompa-
MED by the Marine Band, rendered Hay
den's anthem, "The Heavens are Telling"
This was followed by the chanting of Psalm
80 by the choristers from st. Mary's Semi.
nary and st. Charles College of Baltimore.
Other selections were rendered by the chior
and the Marine Band. At 4:30 the Right
| Rev. Bishop Spaldng, of Peoria, delivered
| his address. OF the Church in the future he
said
"But, like the old, the Church can look to
| the past; like the young, she can look to
the future, and if there are Catholics who
linger regretfully amid glories that have van
ished, there are also Catholics who, in the
midst Of their work, feel aconfidence which
leaves no place for regret, who well under
| stand that the earthly environment in whcn
] th1,G I'm Iiua iS IN
decay, and that new surroundings imply
new tasks and impose new duties The
splendor of the medieval Church, its world
ly power, the pomp of its ceremonial, the
| glittering pageantry in which its pontiffs
and prelates Wed with kings and empcrors
in gorgeous display, are gone or going, ana
were it given to man to recall the past the
spirit whereby it lived would be still want
ing. But il is the mark of youthful an
barbarous natures To have eyes chleny loi
the garb and circumstance OF religion, Il
see the body only and not the soul. AT al
| events, the course of life is onward, and ell
thusiasm for the past cannot become tht
source of great and far-reaching action. The
present alone gives opportunity, and tn
face OF hope turns to the future, and th
wise are busy with what lies at hand, will
immediate duty, and not with schemes 10
bringing back the things that have passet
away Leaving their dead with the dead
they work for life and for the living"
At the conclusion of his address the Bish
op said:
"And now how shall more fittingly con
clude than with the name of her who's
generous heart and enlightened mind wer
the impulse which has given to what ha'
long been hope deferred and IA dreamlik
vision, existence and dwelling place
| Mary GWendOlen Caldwell"
Bishop Keane the rector OF the Universe
ty, here stepped forward and addressing
himself to Miss Caldwell, who was seate
at the right and in front Of the platform
read a letter from the Cardinal to Miss Cald
well expressing the profound gratitude q
the Church Tor her magnificent gilt, whic
he said entitled her to be considered IN
"foundress of our Catholic University. =
} Accompanying the Cardinals letter wa
one from the Pope to Bishop Keane, th
; translation of which read as follows
TO our Venerable Brother, John Joseph, Bish
0pof Richmond
VENERABLE BROTHER: Health and apo!
tolic benediction. When lately you were cor
ferrng with us concerning the great Catht
lie University about ~ he established /
Washington, we remember with in worl
> of signal praise you spoke OF our believe
daughter in Christ, Mary Gwendolen Calt
e. well, who, by donating for the purpo:
$300000, has won Tor herself SO honorao
a part in the accomplishment of this unde
; taking We, indeed, AS was lifting, praise
a most highly her So great and SO worthil
bestowed liberality; and we directed yo
), to be to her the messenger and witness
~ these our sentiments. Moreover, in ord'
}. that the praise deserved by her benellcent
IS there should be added some pledge Of ol
tad 4.
medal To be conveyed in our name 10 Il
- excellent lady.
i, But now we have besides thought well
IS write you, that by this our letter both h
muniticence may be better known and ot
gratitude be made more manifest. Ana
n the generosity OF the American character
"a dcservedly renowned, we trust that othe
may be impeled to emulate this most a
:. mirable example To exercise lioeralty
u the cause of Christian education, at tin
$, when the dangers OF false intellectually a
q so numerous and SO great, is surely the me
,r excellent use to which wealth can be put.
AS a pledge, therefore, OF heavenly +
le wards, and in testimony of our pattern
benevolence, we most lovingly bestow, n
l. only on you, Venerable Brother, but also
% the above named lady, our apostolic ben
re diction.
GlVen at ltOine, al ot TeteI ,, thie 'In Vi
re of May, A. D. 1887, in the tenth year of o
e. pontiticate. LEO Kill, Pope.
e. The medal, which he handed to M
u, Caldwell, is Of solid gold and about t'
inches in diameter 1t was struck by ord
er of Leo XIII, at the beginning of and
ly commemoratlon OF the eighth year OF
Pontificate One side contains the profile
at the Pope. On the other is representati
of the genius of history lifted aloft by ange
no with an inscription commemorating
ed opening of the archives of the Vatican
as the historical researches of the scholars
I'd the world. The medal is enclosed in a |
velvet case embossed with the Papal arr
ls' Miss Caldwell received the gift with bow
In head.
IN The ceremony of blessing the site Of
er chapel and laying the corner stone was pc
poned on account Of the rain. These ce
monies will be performed at a future date