Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-01
OPEN TO STUDENTS IN NOVEMBER.
An Outline Of What Directors and Faculty
Hope to Accomplish.
REVIEW OF THE PROGRESS THUS FAR

versity, With that object in view, Bishol
Keane visited the seminary at 0verbrcok
on Tuesday night, and discoursed to th
seminarians upon the portion Of the worl
that mainly concerns them, namely, tn
studies of the divinity department, whicl
is to be opened next November.
Speaking of the university yesterday, it
progress thus far and what is proposed to b
accomplished in connection with it, Bishol
Keane said:
''Quite number Of the ablest young mel
in the seminary who haye completed thei
course and will be ordained this year viii
be sent to finish their studies in the univer
sity. Similar results have attended thu
visits have paid to several other semi
naries of the country, and it is already eVi
dent that there will be as many students Al
the opening of the classes in November al
the university will accommodate. ThiI
completes the last of the work of prepara
tion, and makes the success Of the university
an assured fact.
THE PROFESSORS.
'The corps of professors already brought
together from the principal universities Of
Europe are men who have been trained fol
many years in exactly this kind of work,
One of our very first aims was to secure the
sevices of the celebrated Jesuit Father Lem
kuhl, who is one of the greatest professors
of moral theology in the whole world. With
this object I visited the Father General Of
the Jesuits, at Fiesole, Italy, and the Pope
himself wrote letter to the Father General,
urging that the request of the university
should be granted, but, to the great regret Of
both myself and General of the Jesuits, who
would be glad to have one of their best men
in SO distinguished position, Father Lem
kuhl has been for couple of years past ut
terly incapacitated for the task of teaching,
and, it is feared, can never again ELL the
chair of professor.
"Too much brainwork has broken his
health completely. The corps of professors
are, therefore, thus far composed entirely of
members of the secular clergy,
though it is we'll known that the chairs of
the university will be open to men of dis
learning, no matter what may be
their position in the church, whether in
the lafty or clergy, whether relgeuse or
seeulars.
THE COURSE OF STUDY.
"The course of study that will be opened
next November will comprise profound
studies of dogmatic theology, Of moral
theology. of the philosophical controversies
of the day, and of Biblical science, with
special attention to training in English lit
erature. These various branches will be de-
yeloped by the addition of other professor
ships in the same proportion as the advance
of the studies and the accumulation of
means will render these practicable.
''It is calculated that within two years
the faculty of philosophy and letters will be
open not only for profounder studies for
but also for lay graduates from
the colleges of the country. Opportunity
will then be given for acquiring the pro-
foundest scholarship in metaphysical, theo-
logical, historical, scientific and social
studies, and through that faculty will nat
urally develop the faculties of law and medi-
cine in the future.
"The demands for admission to the
studies of the divinity department have al
ready surpassed the expectations of the
Board of Directors. They have calculated
upon the admission of only 30 students for
the first year, and already applications have
been made for more than two-thirds Of that
number. All of these have already COM
pleted the ordinary seminary course which
Its them for ordination and the work of the
practical ministry.
PROPOSED DISCIPLINE.
"Several of them are young priests, who,
after years of experience in the ministry,
come back to their studies in order to per-
- IL
learning. which will make
their lives of greater utility to the church
and to the people. Nearly all of these will
reside at the university, but it is contem-
plated that many may reside in the city of
Washington, or in the adjacent neighbor-
hood, and attend the classes of the univer-
slty. The same policy will be pursued in
regard to lay students. 1t is calculated
that for the first year or two after their
graduation at college it will be advisable to
have them in the university colleges under
a liberal, but paternal control.
'Later on in their studies, when their maE-
ly characters have been better formed, it is
expected that it will be free foY them, &C.
cording to the advice of their parents and
guardians, either to coYSfnue to live in the
university or to haye quarters outside of it.
In this the directors of the university will
endeavor- 70 profit by the experience of the
in Germany and the Catholic
University of Louvain, adopting that mid
die course suggested by common sense and
suited to the character of the youth of
America. In fact, in the preparation of the
laws and constitution of the university these
two objects have constantly been borne in
mind by the directors-frst, to have around
the students such safeguards of faith and
morals as will make them good Christians,
and second, to give to them all that liberty
which is naturally connected with the idea
Of an American.
"Since landing three weeks ago have
been engaged in visiting the seminaries of
the country and the bishops who have
students in them. I will continue this
course of visitation of the various semi
naries up to the beginning of the summer
vacations toward the end of June.
FUNDS AND ENDOWMENT.
"While pursuing my quest for students I
will continue the work of soliciting coutri-
buttons toward the full endowment of the
Sufficient funds have already
been received to endow the divinity faculty
in its present stage of development, but
more funds will be required for the addi-
ional divinity chairs called for by the COM
plete development of divinity studies, and
hen still larger sums for the endowment of
the professorships in the subsequent facul-
lies, and for the erection of the academic
structures and the dormitory buildings
which will be needed for them.
1.-THE total amount for construction and
thus far received Is $500, 900,
If which $500, 900 will be devoted to endow-
nents of professorships. The endowment of
rec scholarship is most important object,
o which the liberaIity of the Catholics Of
he country Is now invited. This has for
is object the support Of students endowed
With talents, but not possessed Of pecuniary
means. The sum of SC, 900 will form a capt.
al, the income Of which will support stu
lent forever. Several bequests have already
,een made to the university for the founda-
ion of scholarships, and it is trusted that as
be work becomes more widely appreciated
imilar legacies will become more and more
ommon.