Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1888-05-25

WASHINGTON, May 25.-The corner stone
of the Catholic University, two miles north
OF this city, was laid yesterday with impos-
ing ceremonies. 1t attracted visitors from
all over the United States and Canada,
many of the most distinguished prelates of
the Church being present. Beside the
clergy, there were also present many of the
most prominent laymen of the country.
At 4 O'Clock the ceremonies began in the
midst of adriving rain. Despite this, up
wards of 5000 people congregated IN and
about the foundation of the University
and with uplifted umbrellas stood for two
J hours in the rain while the ceremonies pro-
gressed. Cardinal Gibbons occupied the
throne of honor, with Preident Cleveland
on his left. Several members of the Cab
met Secretaries Bayard Villas, Endicott and
Postmaster-General Dickinson occupied
seats TO the Presidents left About the
Cardinal were seated Archbishops John
]. Williams, NJ. A Corrigan, ]. B. Sal
pointe, w. H. Elder, P. J. Ryan, JOHN
Ireland; Bishops, II. P. Northrop. John
Moore, Alfred A. Curtis p. T. 0'Reilly.
John l. Spalding, C. p. Macs, Joseph
Rademacher, Edward Fitzgerald, F. JAMS
sens, William NJ. Wigger, K. Phelan, John
J. keane, ]. J. Kain, L. S. Mcmahon,
Matthew Harkins, Richard Gilmour H. ].
Richter, Martin Marty, jeremiah 0'Sulli-
van, Steven V. Ryan, Francis MoNierney,
Thomas McGoyern. J. P. Machebeuf, Leo
Haid, Bishop-elect of North Carolina.
Priests TO the number of 200, and Stamina
rians to the number of 800, were seated in
the rear of the Bishops. A number of
distinguished invited guests, among them
Mrs Caldwell, General Rosecrans, Ex-
Speaker S. J. Randall Assistant Attorney
General Montgomery, Second Assistant
Postmaster General Knott and Eugene
Kelly, of New York. were also present.
The only covering that protected this
distinguished gathering from the down
pouring rain, was a thin canvass awning
and then rain sifted through it as though
seive.
The President and Cardinal sat during
the ceremonies with uncovered heads, an
attendant holding an umbrella over them.
None of the clergy wore yestments but in
stead overcoats and gosssmers. Under
such uupropitious circumstances was the
cornerstone of the great Catholic university
laid yesterday. Cardinal Gibbons called the
bedraggled crowd to order in few words
in which he returned thanks to
GOD for the bright prospects with
which the University started. He
then introduced Bishop Spaulding the or
ator Of the day. He delivered most fin
ished grafton which was received with
much enthusiasm. He dwelt upon the
beauty and strength of the Republican
Government, as affording nearer approach
To ideal liberty than all Others He paid
glowing tribute to science and said it was
hand maid Of religion. In closing he COM
plimented most highly Miss Mary Gwen
dolen Caldwell who started the movement
to found the University and contributed
thereto $500, 900 which formed the nucleus
of the present fund.
At the conclusion of Bishop Spaulding's
address, Bishop Keane, of Richmond, the
rector of the University, read the papal
brief. accompanying q gold medal sent by
Pope Loe XIII to Miss Caldwell as ex-
pressing his holiness appreciation of her
munifcent act The medal is of purest
gold, about two inches in diameter struck
at the beginning of the year 1885 by order
OF the Pope, IN commemoration of the
eighth year of his pontificate. The face of
the medal contains a splendid profile Of
the Pope himself, with the inscrip-
ton of his name and the year of
his pontifcate. The reverse side represents
the genius of history, lifted aloft by the
angels of the Lord, with an inscription
commemorating the opening of the Arch
ives of the Vatican to the historical re-
searches of the scholars of the world. This
was presented to Miss Caldwell. by Car
dinal Gibbons, who placed it about her
neck. The cornerstone was then laid by
the Cardinal, copies of the local papers,
current coin, the DEGREES of the third plen-
airy council, ETC., being placed under it.
This completed the Inauguration of what
is designated by its founders to be the
greatest seat of religious learning on the
Western Hemisphere.
While the Bishops and few specially in
vited guests were dining with the Cardinal
at DR.. Chapelles, the following cablegram
Tin Latin) was received from the Pope:
The Pontiff offers his hearty congratula-
tions for the work thss has just begun. aad
gives his apostolic blessing to all the Bish-
ops"
Almost Immediately following, came a
cablegram from Rome asking full details of
ceremonies, to which an answer was imme-
diately cabled by Bishop Keane.