Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-09-28

Pace. who will occupy the chair of psy-
GEOLOGY. He is a native of Fernandina,
Fla. and but thirty-three years old He
was educated at the Sulpician College of st.
Charles at Ellicott City, Md, and at st.
Mary's Theological Seminary, in Baltimore.
HIS remarkable promise attracted the at
tention Of the older heads in the church,
and at the opening of the Catholic Uni
Nersfly he was sent to Lefpsc, Germany,
TO equip himself for professorship in that
institution. Upon his return he was made
professor Of psychology in the Divinity Col
lege.
Prof. William c. Robinson will be dean of
the school of social sciences and will hold
the chair Of law. He has been connected
with the law department of Yale for many
years.
Rev. DR.. George NJ. Searle will be pro-
lessor of ma thematics and engineering.
He is an Englishman by BIRTH a convert to
the Catholic faith and a Paulist father. He
IS the author of standard mathematical
works and keen religious controversion-
alist.
Prof. r. du Saussure. formerly professor
in Johns Hopkins University will be his
associate. Prof. Daniel Shea, who held a
chair of physics at Harvard and the ILL
nois State University. will occupy the same
chair in Mcmahon Hall.
The other members of the faculty ara
known throughout the educational world as
being eminent in their several domains
They are Rev. John J. Griffin and Dr.
Charles Warren Stoddard professor of En-
glish literature. DIR. Daniel Quinn, professor
OF Greek; Edward Lee Greene professor of
botany; Maurice F. Egan, professor of En-
SlSh phIlology; Rev. Thomas ]. Shahan,
professor of Latin and DIR. Henri Hyyer-
nat, professor of Hebrew. There will be a
number of special lecturers, including Dr.
Rocker on ethics, Carroll d. Wright on the
problems of labor, and others of capacity
and learning.
MORsiEnor McMabou,a Muuf0ceuc>
The establishment of the McMahon Hall
of Philosophy is due to the munificence of
Monsignor James NJ. Mcmahon, an octoge-
marian Catholic priest who now resides al
the university, and upon whom the repre-
sentative men of the Catholic Church will
shower their blessings and benedictions
next Tuesday. He was an Irish boy and
al his baptism his parents devoted him to
the priesthood. His early education, there
fore. was conducted with this end in viaw
and he was finished at MAMMOTH Col
lese. His theological education was re-
ceived in the Sulpician Seminary at Paris,
and afterward at Montreal, where he was
ordained
He went to New York in 1913 and shortly
afterward received a small patrmony,
which he invested to such good effect that
he became. in the course of time, one of
the richest priests in this country. 1t was
not long after his settlement in New York
that he attracted the attention of Arch
bishop Hughes, and a lasting friendship
sprang up between them. He was pastor
OF st. Johns parish, New York city, for
over twenty-five years. and by his wise in
vestments of the church funds. as well as
his own. made the parish wealthy and in
ftuential His church burned down. and he
rebuilt it on a finer scale. When the New
York Cathedral was burned just after the
war. Father Mcmahon was one of the most
energetic and successful of the agents of
it's rebuilding. The location of the new
cathedral made 1t necessary to include in
its parish that of St. Johns, and Father
Mcmahon. in 1867, was made pastor of the
Church of st. Andrew, on Duane street.
Here he remained until he determined to
carry out the cherished object of his life
the foundation and endowment of a great
institution of learning. He then resigned
his pastorate and came to the Catholic
University of America. In short time he
had completed his plans, which are now
realized in the magnificent building which
bears his name. and to their unfolding he
devoted the sum of 500 900 and his entire
time. From the first shovelful of earth
that was taken from the foundation to the
last delicate instrument which was placed
in a laboratory, tho venerable gentleman
has directed the work with vigorous energy
and watched the result with affectionate
solicitude During all this time Re has con-
tinued the system of wise. careful and re-
munerative investment which has charac-
terized his business life in the past, and Is
the owner of much valuable real estate In
this city.
His Life mt the University.
Monsignor Mcmahon leads a simple ana
unaffected life at the university. The state
ment has been published broadcast that he
made it one of the requirements of the deed
of gift which has resulted in the hall OF
philosophy that he should be allowed to
make his home at the university during the
remainder of his life. This, however, is I'M
true When Father Mcmahon gave his
money for the foundation and endowment Of
NcMahon Hall he coupled with it no restric-
tions of a personal character. He stated pre-
cisely how he desired the funds to be
pended. and these directions have been car
ried out to the letter. His presence at the
university is that of an honored and distin-
guished guest. and he took up his residence
there at the earnest invitation of the officials
of the institution.
The monsignor occupies rooms in the Dr.
vinity building and pursues the devotions
of a Catholic priest He celebrates mass
every morning and spends a portion of his
time in pious meditation. He takes his meals
with the professors. and enters into their
conversations and discussions with the vigor
and energy of a student His intellectually
is Of high order. and his acquaintance with
books is considered remarkable even for a
Catholic clergyman He is a great reader,
and Hebrew scholar has few equals
in this country. He retains much of his phys
ical vigor and is in every respect a remark
able man for one of his advanced years.