Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-09-30
CATHOLIC Co-EDUCATION
Women May Be Admitted to the Great
Church University.
Bishop kenne n Believer in Higher
Education for the CENTER Sex
No Action Yet Taken.

Education for the Center Sex
No Action Yet TAken.
The assertion that the faculty of the CATH
Ollie University had decided to admit women
has been brought into much prominence in
the papers Of late, but the announcement
is entirely premature. While there is
probability OF the fair sex gaining a seat in
the halls Of science of this institution. there
has as yet been nothing done about the mat
ter by those in charge of the college.
There will take place next week at the
university a notable gathering of all the
famous prelates of America within its walls
Cardinal Gibbons, Monsignor Satolli, papal
delegate to this country, and other religious
men equally well known will meet there in
council to deliberate on some of the most
important questions of the day. It was
stated that this council expected to pass the
resolution admitting women. but Bishop
keane. who Is the rector of the university,
says that no such step Is contemplated Just
now.
Bishop keane's Views.
When questioned by a reporter for The
Star on the subject Bishop Keane said:
That is a matter of SO great importance
that 1t can only be decided by the board of
directors of the university. 1t will have to
come before them for consideration, and
do not believe they will decide the question
at their next meeting. which will be held on
Tuesday next OF course. this question is
very important, and there is much to say
both pro and con. 1t Is question that is
being discussed by educators in every part
or the country. and some approve of 1t and
others do not This being the case, the exam
| nation into it and discussion of it by body
OF men like our board of directors would be
matter Of time, and could not possibly be,
done on next Tuesday, because there are
many other questions that will come up on
that day that are of great Importance, and
will probably consume all of their time.
Since, therefore, 1t could not possibly re-
ceive proper discussion and judicious con-
sideratfon ON next Tuesday, 1t will have to
lie over until the following meeting of the
board of directors, which will very likely he
next spring. Whether the matter will then
be considered ripe enough to be presented
for formal vote 1 cannot now say. If the
matter is brought up in the spring 1t will he
in time for them to enter at the commence
ment of the school year. in the fall.
II am certainly in favor of university
education for women. The women of the
country show that they desire such an edu-
cation and many Of the universities of the
country show that they are ready to re-
Spond to their wishes In the matter. There
is surely nothing in the doctrines of the
Catholic Church to make it antagonistic
and against the movement, and, personally,
every advantage of education. Now, as to
the question of putting the women in the
same classes with the men. in the same
class room and the same laboratory, and
instructing them on exactly the same meth
eds, that is wider and deeper. Some time
ago / was asked to discuss that question
before the Nineteenth Century Club, and 1
had to write to them shat SO long as edu-
Gators and college men were divided in
opinion, after the extensive discussion and
investigation that had been had. did not
think it would be judicious on my part to
attempt to advocate any particular position,
for anything 1 might say would not be re-
garded simply as expressions of opinion,
but as an indication of practical policy.
Since, therefore. opinions are desired as to
the results obtained by the experiment. 1t
would not do for me to commit myself to
positively yes or positively no.
$50 you see my position. While am in
favor of women having every advantage of
the highest university education, am not
yet prepared to give opinion as to
whether or not they should be admitted in
to the same classes and the same labora-
tories with men.
Results of Higher Education.
rs there any likelihood of higher edu-
cation for women tending to lessen or de-
stroy their fitness as wives and mothers?"
was asked of the bishop.
II do not see why the highest education
should not fit woman to be a woman. /
do not believe that any accessions of truth
or of knowledge can have any other effect
than to elevate and glorify women and to
better prepare them to act in the CAPACITY
Of both wives and mothers That the ac-
Quirement of knowledge should have any
other effect l cannot believe 1 know a
woman who Is both a wife and mother and
who Is perfectly irreproachable as both
wife and mother, and she is one of the best
mathematici in the country. She has
had full university mathematical course
| Of hSr
mathematical studies at all interfered with
her being a good wife. mother and house.
keeper"
do you think that women should enter
the political field?"
well, row, as to that question believe
I will leave that to the politicians 1 am
unable to answer that question. 1 know
that 1 have often thought of the fact that
California was rough and uncivilized
state before the women went there, and
sometimes think that If their influence
could be felt to the same extent in politics.
it would be well for them to take some
part; have often heard of the disgraceful
scenes that take place about the primaries
on some occasions when an election is be-
ing held and it might be different were the
women to enter political life, but that ques-
tion Is hard to determine. 1t might do
more harm than good"
Will Elevate University Life.
do you not think that the admission of
women to the universities would have an
elevating effect upon university life," the
reporter queried.
There is no doubt of that at all. In
many of the older universities in Germany,
such as Heidelberg, the students spend
much of their time in dueling and drinking
beer and in rloting around when they
should be at work. If women were admit
ted all this thing would be done away with,
and a students life at the larger UNIVERSE
ties would be more correctly spent and far
more profitably, TOO. So far as 1 am per-
sonally concerned, 1 think that the influence
of woman should be felt everywhere, and 1
should be very happy, indeed, to see her
bear part in all things-to see her in
every part of human life upon which wo-
mans influence can be brought to bear: she
ought to be the representative of morality
and virtue and the highest principles, for
that is the province that God intended for
her. l should be happy, indeed, to See her
in politics, in university life in fact. every
where, in every department of human ac-
tivity.'