The Irish standard., 1889-12-14
The CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY.
A Beautiful and Lasting Monument Of
Scholarship and Intellectual
Excellence.
APPROVED BY POPE LEO Kill.

Brief Review of SoEe Of the EmiEent
D1vlnes Who Will Fill the
Scholastic Chairs.
A few weeks hence the Catholic Uni
Versity of America will be an accom-
plished fact. Surely the success Of the
undertaking, from a material point Of
view, has been brilliant; but the foun
ders fully realized chat bricks and stones
and mortar do not constitute a school
of learning; that costly buildings are
not always symbolic of scholarship and
intellectual excellence. Hence the new
" appointed rector did not devote all
his activity to gathering the sinews of
war. Once and again he crossed the
ocean to study the various European
systems. Like the old Roman, the
modern American is not too stupid to
see what is good abroad nor too con.
ceited to adopt it. Thus plan of
studies, based on gradually ripening
experience. was adopted by the trustees
of the University aud approved, with
slight modification, by the Sovereign
Puutiff. They studied first their own
needs, and then they scanned the
academic world far and near, to dis
cover men who babe fair, as scholars
and instructors, to answer their needs
and compel the respect of the learned at
home and abroad. All the chairs have
not vet been filled; still, enough ap-
polntments have been made to fore
shadow the character of the future
faculty.
The chancellor of the University is
the Archbishop of Baltimore, Cardinal
Gibbons. His career is COO well known
TO need rehearsal. An American by
birth, he is no lees an American by
sympathy. In this he is the true type
Of the American Catholic, for there are
no more sincere lovers of our country
and its free institutions than Catholic
Americans, lay and clerical, native and
naturalized. The new chancellor is not
only an eminent dignitary OF tine Churct, j,
but likewise scholar, whose literary
sympathies and success fit him for the
headship of the new seat of learning.
Manv are his claims to distinction, as a
jealous priest, Industrious scholar. en-
ergetlc bishop, primate of the great
American Republic and Prince of the
Church; aud, vet, perhaps, future time
may honor him above all as the first
chan :ellur of the Catholic University of
America.
Bishop Keane, the rector of our
University. has for a long time been no
stranger to our American Catholics; ];
since he became identified with the
Catholic University his name has be-
come familiar to all Americans. lie is
in the vigor of manhood, having just
completed his dftieth year. Though
not born in the U tilted States, he is an
American by training and feeling; he
was but seven years old when he came
to rhis country. From 1865 to 1873 he
was connected with st. Patrick g
church in Washington, and beloved
aud admired for the faithful and intel
telllgent performance of his priestly
duties. In 1873 he succeeded Cardinal
Gibbons as Bishop of Richmond. Vir-
ginia. He has studied the organ,z alton
Of the most famous Catholic universities
in Europe, not from books only, but by
personal inspection. In the course of
these studies he has visited Rome,
Vienna, lnnspruck, Munich. Munster,
Louvain, Paris, and other seats Of
learning; without prejudice he has in-
q .ired and investigated, marked the
weak and strong points everywhere,
approved and admired but never forgot
that his university. whilst as Catholic
as the most Catholic of the ancient
schools, was to be the alma mater of
American students, destined to labor
among American citizens on the soil
OF the American Republic. Bishop
Keane is a we'll equipped theolugian.
40 eloquent speaker, and man Of
action.
Rev. DR.. Philip J, Garrigan is vice
rector. Dr.. Gdrrlgan il q man just past
forty. and comes from the diocese Of
Springfield. Massachusetts,. Hs made
his Theological studies IN Troy Sem
ipary, and there was raised to the
in 1859 a few years after
his ordination he Was called to assume
the RESPONSIBLE position of director Of
his theological allna mater. Dr. Gar
rlgan is = 4n of method and precision
and discsrnmeut, COMBINING great kind
ness with common sense. "a u ttlties that
markedly tiC him for executive work
During Bishop Ksane' 8 freq ,ent 40
sence the iltsres . Of the University
were cpntl ldsd 70 Dr.. Garrlxan, and his
g sense and ylkor proved equal