Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-04-17
A MUNIFICENT GIFT.
Donation of $490,0O0 Worth of New
York Property by a Priest
TO THE BIG CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY
That Is Now Under Course of Construction
in Washington.
CAREER OF THE GREAT BENEFACTOR

SPECIAL TELKGKAM TO THE DTsPAroH.;
NEW YORK. April 16.-The Rev. ames
McMahon, pastor of st. Andrews Roman
Catholic Church, in Duane street, at City
Hall place, made over to-day to the Roman
Catholic University, at Washington, real
estate in this city and Long Branch, valued
at S49O. 900 over ali incu mbrances. Father
McMahon has given this pro perty to estab-
lish school of theology. He made over the
deeds to-day in the Office of his lawyers,
Tucker. Hardy aud Wainwright, in Temple
court. He was accompanied by Bishop
John j. Keane, Rector of the University.
The New York property consists of five
parcels. The first includes three city lots
on Riverside avenue and three on Clermont
avenue, the whole comprising one plot near
One Hundred and Twenty-second street. 1t
is valued at S100. 900, and carries mortgage
of $17 500. The second parcel is the house
and lot at 254 West Thirty-fourth street,
now occupied by the Standard Club. This
is valued at $60. 900 and is mortgaged for
$40, 900. The third parcel includes two lots
fronting 81 feet on Seventy-ninth street on
the corner of Columbus avenue. They are
valued at $50, 900 and carry mortgage of
S12, 800.
A Donation of 100000.
The fourth parcel. comprises eight lots on
the west side of Columbus avenue, between
Eightieth and Eighty-frst streets, and are
valued at $40, 900 and mortgaged for S8, 900.
The fifth parcel consists of eight lots on the
south side of Seventy-seventh street, 30 feet
east of Ninth avenue. 1t is worth Sl25, 900 and
is mortgaged for S24, ,O00 The property at Long
Branch comprises 1l34 acres, upon which stands
the United States Hotel: Father Mcmahon
said to-day this was worth COO but the real
estate valuation is sl25,O0o. Taking the lower
valuation upon the Long Branch property, the
ss2. OOO '''''''' -o'o
Father Mcmahon is in his 10Th year, and is
about to retire from active work. For years he
has been known as the wealthiest Catholic
priest in the country. 1t is believed that he
has large property left, some say: nearly to
that he has just given to the University. Hs
was born in Ireland and educated at Maynooth
College, of which his uncle was President.
Career of Father Mcmahon.
He studied divinity at the seminary of st.
Sulpice, in Paris, and later in the Sulpician
Seminary in Montreal. He came to New York
in ls4S, and was appointed by Bishop Hughes
assistant to the Very Rev. William Stars. at
pastor OF the Church of ST. John the Evan
gelist, which then owned the property where
the present st. Patrick's Cathedral stands.
w men Inc CuurCQ was IuOFeU To
street and First avenue and the cathedral
begun, Father McMahon was put in charge of
the cathedral. He superintended its building
and officiated as pastor until 1880, when he was
sent TO St. Andrews as pastor. He has been
there ever since.
Father McMahon was born business man.
He had a small Inherited fortune when he
came to New York, and amused him mself by
dealings in real estate. He was fortunate in
all his speculatIons.
An Excellent Scholar
He acquired the Long Branch property in
1862 having purchased it as one of q syndicate.
Later he bought his associates out. He is also
noted in the church as an exceptional Hebraic
and Biblical scholar. In 1S48 he published
translation of the New Testament based upon
Challoners revision of the old Douay Bible. He
also edited the Haydock Bible. He has fol-
lowed music as hobby, and is familiar with
the mechanism of church organs, and even
skillful in their construction.
The foundation of the university. to which
the gift is made. was begun four years ago with
the gift of $500, 900 from Miss Mary Gwendolin
Caldwell. Father McMahon's is the only con-
siderable gift since. The university is for the
higher education of priests. Bishop Keane
said to-day that Father Mcmahon might re-
sign from st. Andrews and move to Washing 4
ton. Father Mcmahon declined to say what
his intentions were.