The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-10-05
BY THE POPE'S REQUEST.
BISHOP JOHN j. IkEANE SENDS IN
HIS RESIGNATION.
Copies of the Correspondence Pass
ing Between the Bishop and Leo
XIII.-A Statement by keane.

WASHINGTON. Oct 4-Bishop John ].
Keane, rector of the Catholic university
OF America, located here, has reslgned al
the request OF Pope Leo XIII. The news,
which became public here today, in an
unauthorized and somewhat Inaccurate
form, was entirely unexpected, and caused
much comment in Catholic circles. Bishop
keane this afternoon made public the
olAclat CORES OnuenCe. lie accompanied
by the borrowing statement:
since my WlJndIdwa1 from the rector
snip OF the Catholc university OIL America
Will PROBABLY De regarded by d portion OF
the american pubic as d matter OF some
interest TO them, and since unauthorized
statements are apt 20 be misleading, L
deem 1t my duty to state briefly ana Gear
~ the facts in the case.
On september ~, l received through
his emlnence, Cardinal Gibbons, letter
from our hoy father Leo XIII, OF which
me following is a translation:
" To Cur Venerable Brother, John Joseph
keane, Bishop of Ajas5o:
Nenerabie Brother.-health and apos-
tollc bened1ctlon. II is customary that
they VINO are appointed TO preside over
CdLhol1c universities should not hold the
office IN perpetuity. This custom has
grown up through wise reasons and the
roman ponuns nave ever been careful
that IL should be adhered to. Since, there
fore, venerable brother, you have now
presided for several years over the uni
tabHsnment and subsequent development
OF which you have shown
LAUDABLE ZEAL AND DILIGENCE,
custom should not be departed from, and
| that another. whose name is to be pro-
posed TO US by the bishops, should be ap-
pointed to succeed you In this honorable
position. In order, however, that, in your
reslgnlng this ofice, due regard may De
had to your personality and your dignity,
we have determined to elevate you 10 the
rank of archbishop.
" Being SoiicitiouS for your future well
fare, we leave 1t TO your free choice either
TO remain in your own country, or, if you
prefer 1t, to come to Rome. Ii you choose
The former, we will deStine for you some
archiepiscopal see. by vote of the bishops
of the United States. If you prefer the
latter, we shall welcome you most lovingly
and will place you among the conSulterS
or the congregation OF studies and the
congregation OF the propaganda, in both
of which you could do much for the in
! tereStS of religion in the United States.
| In the latter case, we also assign you a
| suitable revenue for your honorable main
tenance.
" Confidently trusting. venerable broth
er, that you will accent this our adminis-
trative act with hearty good will we
most lovingly bestow upon you the apos-
tolic benediction, as pledge of our pa
ternal affection.
e" Given at Rome, from St. Peters, this
leenth year OF our pontificate.
LEO XIII, Pope
1.-THE, next day I mailed the holy father
a reply of which the following is
A TRANSLATION:
1.-The Catholic University of America,
WASHINGTON, Sept. 10.
:" Most Holy F'ather-h1s emtnence, Car
| dina1 Gibbons, handed me the letter
in which your holiness has made known
to me that my administration of this uni
Vers1ty now comes TO an end. and that
another rector is to be appointed.
=" Without a. moment of hesitation, / ac-
! cept the will of your holiness in the mat
| ter as manifestation of the providence
| of God, and from this instant l resign into
| the hands Of his emnence, the chancellor
the Office OF restorship with all rights
/ thereto attached.
Thanking your holiness for the free
| dom of choice granted me, 1 choose to
remain in my own country, and more
over, without any official position what
ever in tranquility and peace.
=" Your holiness most humblest son in
Christ, JOHN ]. KEANE,
Bishop of Ajasso.'
II welcome my release from this office
| of rector of the university with profound
| gratitude both to divine providence and
10 The pope.
while always regarded its duties as
A LABOR OF LOVE,
they mad grown to be far beyond my
strength anu dDlllLy, anu the deIVerdnce
from the burden is a response to my
prayers. l was too loyal a. soldier to ask
to be relieved from my post no matter
what its difficulties; but feeling that my
nine years of strain and solicitude in the
Work has brought me c csc 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 q later
date.
"Of course no one needs to be assured
that the action of the holy father is
prompted not only by personal kindnes:
towards myself but also by earnest solici
tude for the best interests OF the uni
versity. He believes in rotation in office
as all sensible men must. He knows the
evils Of allowing any official, especially
the head of a university, to fosSilize a.
his post, and in this all must acknowl
edge his wisdom. His enlightened pru
dence and that of the trustees who have
to present the nominations, will be sure t
select a. rector in every way fitted to guide
the work to fuller and fullest success.
From the peaceful retirement which
trust l have somewhat earned, l shall ever
watch its progress with undated inter
est. And 1 appeal to all whom my effort:
in behalf of the university have ever
had to
REDOJTRT.E THEIR INTEREST,"