Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-11-26
MONASTERY BUILDING
. franciscan Order to Build One Near the
Catholic University.
Plans Drawn at ROme-The Pope TAX
ing Personal Direction of
the Matter.

1t is now an assured fact that there will
be Franciscan monastery built on the
site purchased near the Catholic Univer-
sity last May by agent acting directly
for the pope himself
The land was bought by MIR. Scott Lord
of e. Broadway. New York. He refused to
divulge the purpose for which the ground
was to be used or the name of the person
for whom the purchase was made, but both
are now disclosed. John L. Larner Of this
city was the agent here.
Much secrecy was used at the time of the
purchase of the land and prominent Catho-
lie officials even had no idea of the motive
for its being secured. Some time ago. how
ever. The Star printed the fact that the
purchase was for the Franciscan order.
Mgr. Conaty of the Catholic University,
when asked today by a Star reporter in
regard to the matter said that he knew
nothing about it. 1t was stated at the
residence of the papal delegation while
1t was not intended officially to affirm the
report that the monastery would be erect
ed. II was most likely true.
The tract of ground on which the monas-
Terry Is to be constructed includes forty
-FOUR acres, and arrangements have already
been made u commence building opera
tons. The structure, the plans for which
have been drawn in Italy, will be mag.
nificent edifice. The colony which will &C.
cupy il Will come direct from Italy and
their main object will be that of working
among the Italian immigrants The nu-
cleus Of the new foundation, it is stated
will be eleven of the most intellectual Of
the Franciscan order now stationed in
Rome in different capacities.
The Franciscan is one of the oldest and
most powerful of the five canonical orders
in the Catholic Church, and the conventical
foundation which will be established by
them near the Catholic University will be
directly under the papal protection. The
To- fhn rnn "a
Gently closed number of Franciscan mon
asteries. il is said, made the new move
here advisable.
The first step in the movement is said to
have been the recent announcement that
the pope had ordered the amalgamation Of
the various orders of St. Francis into one
body. The pope's action in placing the
Franciscans here has been productive of
parture freTn established ecclesiastical
precedents. Those who are conversant with
such matters say that they regard the step
as excellent evidence that the pope desires
10 be in close touch with the university
affairs and wishes to make Washington
the center of activity of his church in this
country.
OF the five great canonical orders the
FrSnciscans are the largest in point Of
numbers and also the most powerful in the
church. They have extremely rigid rules.
and it is thought that one Of the ideas of the
pope in establishing the monastery near the
university is that the latter may be bene-
fitted by the association.
A few years ago the Dominicans ex-
pressed their willingness to locate near the
great Washington seat of learning, but
through a discussion of policy they have
never matured their plans. 1t is likely now
that they will begin negotiations. The Au-
gustinians. the order of which the papal
delegate. Mgr. Martinelli, is prior general,
II is thought, will be the next in order TO
come to Washington. The authorities of
the propaganda have already approached
the delegate on this subject. The reason
assigned for the reluctance of the orders to
make this afi1liation was on account of the
unfortunate notoriety of the Schroeder con-
troversy and similar affairs. The numer-
Gus changes made in the faculty have also
alarmed the orders. and the shifting policy
along even serious educational lines has
also disturbed the regular clergy.