The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-11-22
GEonGErowN UNIVERSITY.
Something Regarding tnn Conrsc IL,
Rational PsiIoxophy.


Rational PsiIoSonny.
Georgetown. -. c., Nov. 2l.-tSpcclaN
The School of Rational Philosophy In
operation at Georgetown University Is
so different from the Systems esiab-
lished In the other great institutions of
the country that il merits II brief eX-
position When attended with Il view
to the degree of Doctor OF Philosophy 1t
occupies the paramount thought OF the
student FOR three years. More fire.
quently. however, IL IL limited TO the
last year of the college curriculum
Here II absorbs twelve of the twenty
two hours each week OF lecture and cx-
excise which the Georgetown senior
Is under obligation To take Peculiar
features introduced To grasp and assiin-
nate this more obst!Mse matter of
knowledge, mark the system. One, the
regular lecture with It's FIRST part for
for repetition Of the preceding
thesis. and It's last quarter for diff
culties and queries: two the circle
which Is treatment of several heads of
doctrines. In the course of which one OF
the students acts as II defender of his
tenets. whilst others attack him with
objections cast In strict syllogiotlc
mould. The full value OF the Aristotcl-
ian method of ellcitlng and maintaining
truth Is thus displayed. AT these cir
cles the professor acts as mo,lHra tor:
three, the sabbatina. On Saturdays III,
subject matter handled during the week
Is reviewed, much after the style OF the
circle, except that formal papers are
read by some of the class; four, the
greater solemnity. full scholastic pomp
and circumstances are given In these
debates I'm the so-called Monthly Dis
putationa. which are held in CASTOR Han
before the assembled faculty and stu
dents of the Arts and Science Depart
ment. The most brilliant students ar
presented on this tourney field of Meta
phyics. The propositions there cnun-
ciated are the authoritative thought 0.
the university. The dissertations arc
weighty and yet do not discard the
gracas of the arts. The cut and thrust
of the rapierlike sylloGism are. how
ever. coldly and rGidly scientific Dis
tinc,iOns and sub distinctions eiucilate
the truth and display the acumen of ;he
disputanis; five. in addition to this pub
lie and private practice. n three autirs
paper ls elaborated every two months
under the vigllant eye OF the lectures.
The written examination 10 which this
Is tantamount thus secured Is fuyw i.d-
ed to an eminent professor of anothe,
college. conscientlously read, marked
ana returned so as 10 count both for
pass and honors; six, Mt the close uf the
year half an hours oral examination
before board of professors. together
with final paper. crown the cdiGce
anu luDbfbuSlN constructs
ed. The text books are In Latin, whilst
the lectures and dispututiuns are in
English. SO as to familar.za the stu
rent with the phrase OF philosophy as
he VIII employ 1t in ordinary col,vrrsa-
tion. The department is at present the
main object in which the we'll known
energies of the rector of the university,
the Rev. j. Ravens Richards, S. J., are
concentrated. He is assisted ia pro-
noting an enthusiasm for phil1s ,rhy
among the Seniors by the vice presi,leni
the Rev William j. Ennis. S. j., the
late president of Boston College and
former professor of dogmatiC Theology.
at the Woodstock (MdD Scholasticasr.
The Rev. Edward Z. Dewitt. S. j.. is in
charge of the first year students, willis;
the subsequent years are directed by
the Rev. a. F. Brucker. s. j., and the
supervision of the mechanism to secure
a smooth and steady progress is in the
hands OF the Dean OF the Graduate
School. the Rev. Henry Y. shandelle,
5. j. Lectures of particular subjects are
at any time available from the ablest
talent of the Jesuit Colleges In the Mid
die States and New England.
The Morris Literary and Debating So
ciety at its meeting Sunday debated
the question, Resolved, That Wall
Street is Useful and Beneficial to the
Country" Mr.. Kerrigan spoke in the
affirmative and Mr.. Tobin in the mega
tive. In these debates each diSputant
Is given one hour in which to present
his argument An essay was also read
by Mr.. Michael ]. Earls. Mr.. Fitzsim-
mons was the critic of the evening.
James II. Cowardin 1900, of Richmond
Va, was awarded the gold medal Offer
ed by Mr.. Raley. S. j.. for the student
exhibiting the greatest histronic talent
in the recent rendition of Moliere's ia
nous play, The Upstart" Edward
Kevill Glennan and Morgan Barry, of
Norfolk, Va, and Wingfield Jones. OF
Alexandria, Va. also distinguished
themselves in the same play, the
judges giving the credit to the four
Virginians.
The law students are preparing for
the examinations of the first term. The
post graduates have Common Law
Pleading, Roman Law and Common
Law Practice, the Seniors Common
Law Pleading and Real Estate and the
Juniors Real Estate and Personal
Property.