The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-11-10
project of suOh a university.

the onering or Miss Caldwell, was pre-
sented as the nucleus of fund for such an
institution by Bishop Spaulding, who also
pleaded for its acceptance and for the estab-
lishment Of seat of learning wherein the
highest studies should be pursued under the
best OF teachers by the brightest minds in
this part of the new world. The council
accepted the gift and undertook the work,
which received the approval of Pope Leo
XIII.
After having received the pope's benedic-
ton on the project the bishops began in
earnest the work of founding the proposed
university. A committee to select plans
and to collect funds was appointed. This
committee consisted of Cardinal Gibbons.
Archbishops Williams of Boston, RYAN of
Philadelphia, Corrigan Of New York, and
ireland of St. Paul, Bishops Spaulding of
Peoria, Keane, then of Richmond, but now
rector of the university, Macs of Covington,
and Foley of Detroit, Mgr. Farley of New
York, the Rev. T. s. Lee of this city, the
Messrs. Eugene Kelly of New York.
Michael Jenkins of Baltimore, and
Thomas E. Waggaman of Washing
ton. One of the first actions of the
bishops'was to appoint Bishop Keane rector
of the university. In deciding where the
proposed institution should be located the
merits Of all the chief cities were discussed.
w WIS ldVOTeu Dy u majority OF
the committee, but it was determined to
submit the question TO all the bishops of the
country. The result was that thirty-fiv of
them voted for Washington, twelve divided
their suffrages between Philadelphia, New
York and Chicago, and the others said that
they were content to abide by the decision
of the committee. Thus Washington was
finally selected.
On May "a, 1888, the corner stone of the
first building of the group, which was to
comprise the university, was laid. The
building is for the divinity department. Car
dinal Gibbons officiated III the presence OF
four archbishops. twenty-one bishops,
hundreds of clergy, the President of the
United States, five members of the cabinet,
Justices of the supreme court, members Of
both houses of congress, and over 1000
other persons. On that day the rain fell In
torrents. But for that parade of several
thousand men would have marched in pro-
cession, marshalled by Gen. Rosecrans,
from the city TO the university grounds.
Bishop Spalding delivered an Grafton, and
in the presence of the thousands grouped
around the site a gold medal sent by the
pope was presented to Miss Caldwell.
The divinity building stands on the brow
of the hill overlooking the Soldiers Home.
The entire university will consist of group
of colleges ranged around a central park.
be in the center, the laboratories will be on
either side, the library will be to the front,
and beautiful knoll, to the right and near,
will be reserved for the astronomical OBJ
servatory. A handsome church will be be-
tween the park and the divinity building,
connected with the latter by an arcade en-
closing, and, to q certain extent, isolating
the divinity grounds from the other depart
ments.
.-Ar,x go. a L. - I'LL L IL
Nov. IS is built of Georgetown gneiss rock.
with Ohio sandstone trimmings. The main
or central part of the building is five stories
high, while the two wings are four stories.
The architecture is modernized Roman
esque. and the finals Of the pinnacles will
be surmounted with ideal figures of ancient
philosophers. The arcades of the windows
will be adorned with similar smaller
statues. An arcade corridor extends
from the north to south ends of the
ground floor of the building, and the ar
cade entrance will be surmounted with
marble statue of the Saviour. The public
lecture hall of the university is situated in
the southwest corner, and will seat about
800 persons. In addition to the lecture
hall, chapel, and parlors, the first floor will
contain spacious class rooms, dining rooms,
and kitchen. The professors and students
will have their study rooms on the second,
allotted to each. On the fifth floor will be
gymnasium and recreation hall.
Only to priests or to those who nave taken
three years. course in theology will the
divinity department be open. The other
departments will require an equally high
standard of scholarship for admission, so
that, instead Of conflicting with existing
colleges or seminarieS in this country, as
many have feared, the university will offer
odt ovlfo or 10
side of the Atlantic for those who have the
time and inclination to pursue still higher
studies after having finished an ordinary
collegiate course.
The staff of professors of the divinity
department is as follows: Dr. Schroeder Of
Cologne, professor of dogmatic theology;
DR.. Bouquilion of the University of Lille,
in France, professor of moral theology; Dr.
Hyvernat, a disciple of the celebrated Wig
oroux of Paris, said to be one of the most
eminent Assyriologists and Egyptologists
in tho world, professor of sacred scripture;
DIR. Poble of Fulda, professor of philoso-
ply; DR.. Messmer of Seton Hall Seminary,
South Orange. n. j., professor of canon
law; the Very Rev. Augustine +. Hewett, G.
S. P, superior of the Paulist Fathers of New
New York, lecturer on the development of
the Catholic church in the first centuries;
the Rev. George M. Searle, G. s. P, also OF
Tie L dullSG r dbueTS pTOloSSOT VI dbOrOuOIly
Charles Warren Stoddard, professor of
English literature. The professors OF eccle-
siastical history and of the New Testament
have not yet been chosen, but courses of
lectures on these subjects have been pro-
vided for. In addition to this faculty,
three American priests, DIR. Pace of Florida,
DR.. Shahan Of Hartford, and DIR. Grammar
of Mount Saint Mary's seminary, Emmitts-
burg, Md, are in Europe, preparing them
selves for chairs in the university.
1.-The Rt Rev. John J. Keane, the rector
of the university, is in the vigor of man
hood, having just completed his 5Oth year.
Though born In Ireland, he is an American
by training and feeling. He was but
years old when he came to this country.
Here he received his literary and theolog-
ical education, and was ordained to the
priesthood in 1865. Washington, the future
home of Rector Keane, was also the field of
his first labors as a priest. From 1866 to
1878 he was connected with st. Patrick's
church in Washington. In 1878 he sue
ceeded Cardinal Gibbons as bishop OF Rich
mond. Bishop Keane is an ardent temper
ance advocate.
Bishop Keane will be assisted in the rec
torship Of the university by the Rev. P. j.
Garrlgan. Father Garrigan, at the time of
his selection for the vice-rectorship Of the
university, was pastor of ST. Bernard's
church, Fitchhurg, Mass. He was born in
county Cavan, Ireland, in 1841; was edu-
Gated In this country, and was the first
priest received by Bishop O'Reilly into the