The morning times., 1895-09-22

in the educational history of Washington.
1t will also be the occasion of the greatest
pomp and ceremonial or the Catholic faith
ever witnessed here. Mgr. Satolli, the
papal delegate, will make the opening
address, and Cardinal Gibbons, fourteen
archbishops and nearly a thousand priests
will take part in the services
On this date the Catholic University
throws opens to the world her philosophic,
scientific and social schools, and thus the
event marks the assumption of full univer-
sity status by this great institution Here
tofore it has merely been divinity college
of high order, then it will be university
invested with authority and equipped with
facilities, apparatus and lecture halls
second to none in the world. 1t viii aim
to advance scientific research in connection
and competition with the other great
universities of the age; and it Will strive
especially to lead Catholic thought upon
the western hemisphere.
The opening of these classes is the most
important event of the century for Catholics.
Ii crowns the first century of the iabors OF
their hierarchy i'll this republic. The foun-
dation of this institution has engrossed
the thought and has been planned since
the second penary council nf Baltimore
i'll 1866; but it was not until the council "I
1884 that the idea was considered prac-
teal At about this date the munlficence
of Miss Gwendolin Caldwell and her sister,
the Baroness Won Zedtwitz, by gifts of
$500, 900 and $4,000, gave an air of
practical possibility to the project.
On May "a, 1888, the Divinity Hall cor
ner stone was laid, and un November 20,
1889. it was formally dedicated Ia its
particular use For two years afterwards
this was the only school On April 27,
1899, through the princely donation of
Rev James Mcmahon of nearly half
million dollars. the corner stone of the hall
bearing his name was laid, and the vista
of a true university career opened for this
institution The event, to-day chroniced,
: its consummatinu, and the Catholic
University sees before it wide field of
useful labor, career of honor, and a
hope of permanence for its work.
The Catholic church in this country, ex-
cept through its great teaching orders, the
Jesuits and others, has never before been
closely identified with the progress of learn
ing In fact, it is popularity supposed that
vanced theories of science. Cardinal Glib
bons, the head of the American church, re-
plies 10 this charge in uhmistakable Ian
suage: The church does not ask science to
furnish proof of her tenets, nor does she
pretend to fix the principles and methods
which science shall follow, but in return she
claims 10 use her authority concerning
things which properly pertain to her mis-
Aypotheses or suppositions which during
single century are put forward as the uiti-
mate conclusions of science we have reason
10 be thankful that the church does not
forthwith pronounce in their favor. First
of all, learned men themselves are not in ac-
cord Why should the church sustain one
view and condemn the other? Again, a
glance at the history of science will show
that what is received as irrefragable theory
in one generation is shattered sometimes by
single discovery in the next.
WANT THE RUTH
at is the church's earnest desire that
ruth should be made known as far as pos
sible. For this purpose the Catholic Uni
versty has been instituted, and it is in the
furtherance of her plans that Mcmahon Hall
with. its wonderful laboratories and mag
nificent academies is shortly to be thrown
open 10 the public"
For this end neither time nor study nor
expense has been spared TO equip AicMahon
Hall with all that is modern or requisite
for the study of physical science DR..
Greene, the professor of botany, expressed
his surprise at the minuteness and care
lavished on the biological department. He
VS. it is the finest of its kind Possessed
by any educational ins titution in the
world, and is equaled only by the labora-
tories of the British Museum.
In choosing the personnel of the facul-
ties of the new hail the widest tolerance
has been exercised Ability alone has
been the touchstone
Pope Leo XIII has not lavished his
favor on this university without pur-
pose He has overreached all rational So
cialists by his utterances on labor Hold
ing that the status quo is right, he has
ma ked the evils of the present and fore
shadowed the remedies In politics he
has raised a barrier against the divine
right of kings by prohibiting his clergy
from interference with the French repub-
lie. He is the most astute diplomat now
in Europe, and his every act shows a
pcnCN Sbdpihs itstil Wl'u luc iiclnG
power of popular rights.
In nothing is his foresight better shown
than in his encouragement of the Catholic
University. 1t is not within the limit of
possibilities that it should ever fall, even
In the slightest degree, under Governmental
control The republic is sure to stand and
its cornerstone is non interference with
religion. 1t will be seen, therefore, that
the university founded here is under thevery
best auspices, and these facts had large
'pfluence upon his decision to erect it at
Washington, rather than in commercial
metropolis, where possibly the financial
necessities would be more surely supplied.
M'MAHoN HALL.
Properly speaking buildings do not add
30 nor detract from the value of a uni
versity. The faculty makes it worthy.
Some of the greatest in existence are of
a dingy aspect aud cramped in their quar-
tiers. But McMahon Hail presents a state
lyif not magnificent appearance. With the
Divinity building it is designed to face
upon heart-shaped central campus. Nc
Mahon Hall is the base. Upwards of
dozen other structures will sweep from
1t towards the present entrance of the
grounds. 1t is of granite, rough and ash
oolored- The central portion is 1O6 feet
deep, and the front extends ESQ feet Tie
two wings are 90 feet deep.
Three lofty stories lend light and dignity
TO its appearance. The interior finish
is in harmony. Massive iron flights of
stairs lead to the upper floors The en-
trance hall, L 8 feet wide, opens on clear
space of so by ga feet, from which spacious