The record-union., 1896-10-05
It Was Done at the Request Of the
Pope.
He is Elevated to the Rank of Arch
bishop and Elects to Remain in
This COuntry-States That He Has
Long Wished to be Relieved of His
Duties, as He Was Failing, But Did
Not Wish to Ask to be Relieved
From His Post.

noon made public the official CORE
spondence that the fact should be
properly understood. He accompanied
it by the following statement:
Since my withdrawal from the rec
torship of the Catholic University of
America will probably be regarded by
a considerable portion of the American
people as a matter of some interest to
ments are apt to be misleading, / deem
the facts in the case
On September 10th received through
his eminence Cardinal Gibbons a letter
from our Holy Father Leo XIII, Of
which the following is translation:
To our venerable brother, John Jo-
seph Keane, Bishop Of Ajasso: Vener-
able brother, health and apostolic ben
ediction. 1t is customary that they who
are appointed to preside over Catholic
universities should not hold the office
in perpetuity. This custom has grown
UP through wise reasons, and the Ro-
man POntiffs have ever been careful
that it should be adhered to. Since,
therefore, venerable brother, you have
now presided for several years over the
- IINtISlly dl w dSIllUSlOIl, III the uISl
establishment and subsequent develop
ment of which you have shown such
zeal and ability, / have deemed it best
that the above custom should not be
departed from and another whose name
is to be proposed to us by the Bishops
should be appointed to succeed you in
this honorable position. In order how
ever, that in the fact of your resigning
this office due regard may be had to
your personality and your dignity, we
have determined to elevate you to the
rank Of Archbishop.
Being solicitOus for your future well
fare, we leave it to your free choice
either TO remain in your own country
or, If you prefer it, to come to Rome.
If you choose the former we will des-
tine for you some arch-episcopal see, by
vote of the Bishops Of the United States.
If you prefer the latter we shall well
come you most lovingly and will place
you among the consulters of the con-
gregation Of studies and congregation
Of the propaganda, in both Of which you
could do much for the interests of re-
ligion in the United States In the
latter case we also assign you a suitable
revenue for your honorable mainte-
nance.
Confidently trusting, venerable
brother, that you will accept this, our
administrative act, with hearty good
Will, we most lovingly bestow upon you
the apostolic benediction, as a pledge
Of our paternal affection.
Given at Rome, from st. Peters.
this 18th day of September, 1896. in
The nineteenth year Of the pontificate.
LEO XIII, Pope
1.-The next day 1 mailed the Holy
Father a reply Of which the following is
a translation:
The Catholic University of Amer
lea, Washington, Sept. 21.-Most Holy
Father: His eminence, Cardinal Glib
hons, handed me the letter in which
your holiness has made known to me
that my administration of this univers-
ity now comes to an end and that an
other rector is to be appointed
Without a moment of hesitation 1
accept the will of your holiness in the
matter as a manifestation of the proyi-
dence of God, and from this instant /
resign into the hands of his eminence,
the Chancellor, the office of rector with
all rights thereto attached.
Thanking your holiness for the free
dom of choice granted me choose to re-
main in my own country, and, moreover,
without any official position whatever,
IN tranquility and peace Your holi-
ness most humble son in Christ,
JOHN j. KEANE,
Bishop of Ajasso.'
Il welcome my release from this
office of rector Of the university with
profound gratitude both to Divine
Providence and to the Pope.
while / always regarded it's duties
as labor of love, they had grown to be
far beyond my strength and ability,
and the deliverance from the burden is
a response to my prayers. / was too
loyal a soldier to ask to be relieved
from my post, no matter what it's diff
culties; but feeling that my nine years
Of strain and solicitude in the work has
brought me close to the end of my brain
and nerve powers, | was fully ready to
welcome what has been done
Il shall now enjoy some months of
greatly needed rest on the Pacific Coast,
leaving all plans for the future to a
later date.
"Of course, no one needs to be as
sured that the action of the Holy Father
is prompted not only by personal kind
est solicitude for the best interests of
the university. He believes in rotation
in office, as all sensible men must. He
knows the evils Of allowing any official,
especially the head of university, to
fossilize at his post, and in this all
must acknowledge his wisdom. His
enlightened prudence and that of the
trustees who have to present the nomi-
nations will be sure to select a rector
in every way fitted to guide the work
to fullest success.
From the peaceful retirement which
| trust / have somewhat earned, shall
ever watch its progress with unabated
interest. And l appeal to all whom my
effcrts In behalf of the university have
ever had to redouble their interest,
their zeal, their generosity, in this new
chapter Of the university's existence,
and to make 1t what it by right must
be, the crowning glory of Christian edu-
cation in America"
The university is now in charge of the
vice-rector, the Rev. Father Garrigan.
who will direct its affairs until a rector
is selected. The vice-rector, speaking of
Bishop Keane's retirement. said that
the faculty and all the students were
very unwilling to part with Bishop
L ,1,n