Evening star., 1897-01-20
Dr. Conaty at the Head Of the Oatho.
lie University.
An IMPRESSIVE CEREMONY YESTERDAY
The Relation Of the Church to
Modern Education.
ELOQUENT ADDRESSES

yesterday installed as rector of the Catho-
lie University of America. 1t was a nota-
BILE event in the history of the institution
and drew together distir guished assem-
blage of cburchmen and educators.
At m. Cardinal Gibbons, in his scar
let robes, headed the procession across
the university grounds to McMahon Hail.
He was accompanied by Monsgr. Martinez
H. the papal delegate and a number of visit
ing clergyn en-, including Archbishops Ell
der of Cincinnati and Ryan of Philadel-
phia, Bishops Bevan. Dorohue and Farley,
Monsgrs. Griffin, Maginis and MacMahon
Following these came the faculty and stu
dents Of the university. Mcmahon Hall was
handsomely decorated for the event, the
papal colors and the stars and stripes be-
ing intertwined above the platform where
the ceren ony occurred The cardinal
archoishcps and bishops occupied the plat
form, and also Pr esident Whitman of Co.
lrmbian University, President Richards of
Georgetown University, Pre- resident Rankin
of Howard University, Senators Carter
Smith and Roach and Minister Andrade of
Venezuela. The body of the hall was
crowded to overlooking with invited guests.
Among the audience were Senator Hoar.
Governor and Mrs. Clough of Minnesota,
General Vincent, Senator White, Mrs. Car
ter, Miss Roach, Commissioner of Pensions
D. !. Murphy, Marshal Wilson, Mrs. Ro-
nero, Sonora Andrade, the Marquis and
Marquise de Chambrun, Mrs Bauchert.
Miss Monroe, Miss Fair and Miss Goelet
of New York.
The ceremony opened with the reading
of the pope's brief sppointing DR.. Conaty
as rector, by Prof. Shea of the university
staff.
Cardinal Gibbons then delivered the open
ing address. He referred to Pope Leo XIII
and Bishop Keane eS the two founders of
the university.
when Bishop Keane" he said, was ap-
pointed rector the land for the institution
had not been bought. These grounds.
which were then desert waste you now
find transformed into symmetrical gar
den. You see constructed upon them build
ings which would be a credit and honor
to any seat of learning. He traversed the
length ard breadth Of the land from New
England to Louisiana, from the Atlantic
to the Pacific, everywhere delivering SER
mons and lectures in the cause of higher
education. These discoIrses were reward
ed my munifieent cor tribntions. The bene-
factors in bestowing their hundreds and
thousands Of dollars were not only ac-
tuated by zeal for higher studies, but
were also swayed by the personal charm
and magnetism of the man.
But while laboring for the material
prosperity of the university the bishop did
not neglect the higher interests. He care
fully surveyed the intellectual world, both
In Europe and America, nand invited to
these halls men of great scapacity in the
departments of theology and philosophy,
of science and letters. And 1t is due TO
him that the university contains today
professors who are the peers of any in
the land. =.
Among those whom the bishop asso-
ciated with him in the government of the
institution, may mention in particular
Rev: Dr. Garrigan, vice rector of the uni
versity. He has been faithful steward,
and during the trying and critical days
following the resignation of the bishop he
has borne the burden, of day and the
heat and has discharged the complex and
oneroUs duties with 3 tact and industry
worthy of all praise.'' - v -
Science of Religion.
He heartily congratulated Dr. conaty on
the auspicious circumstances of his appoint
ment, and referred to the high esteem in
which the new rector was held by men Of
high station at his former home. including
the senior senator from Massachusetts, Mr.
Hoar; the governor of Massachusetts, and
mayor of Worcester. Proceeding, he said:
Let the watchword of the Catholic Uni
versity be .Revelation and science, religion
and patriotism, God and our country If
l had the privilege of modifying the Con-
stitution of the United States l would not
expunge or alter single paragraph, a
mortal instrument. The Constitution is ad-
mirably adapted to the growth and expan-
sion OF the Catholic religion, and the Cath
olic religion Is admirably adapted to the
gether like two links in the same chain"
The cardinal referred with satisfaction
to the fact that the university did not have
to look to the government in order to shape
its action, the only restriction on it being
the limits of It's own purse. He added:
Here, thank God, our government holds
over us the arm of it's protection, without
interfering with our God-given liberties, as
expounders of the divine law
The cardinal closed with an eloquent
plea that all those connected with the uni
versity be indicators, not only of religion
and science, but also of the civil and DO
litical institutions of our beloved country
At the conclusion of the cardinals ad-
dress, Vice Rector Garrigan stepped for
ward and presented the new rector with
the constitution and seal of the university,
adding an earnest welcome to DR.. Conaty
The latter acknowledged the long-con-
tinued applause and then began his in
augural discourse, speaking in a strong,
pleasing voice.
The New Rector's Address.
DR.. Conaty, after expressing his deep
grtitpde to the directors of the university
who had recommended him to the pope for
the high honor of the rectorship. said That
he had been called to his new post from the
busy sphere of parochial duties and felt
unable to announce any definite plan of
work until he had opportunity to study the
needs of the great institution over which
he had been called to preside. He paid
WdFIu tribute 10 the dDitlIy anu INTEGRITY OF
his predecessor, Bishop Keane, who, he said
had been called by the pontin to a field Of
greater honor ard wider usefulness.
In the course Of his address DR.. Conaty
said:
This university stands as the gift Of
Catholics Of wealth to the Christian educa-
ton of the leaders of the people in all fields
of life. 1t is the university of no class nor
section, but your university, the university
of the Catholic Church in these United
States, where our American youth, lay and
clerical, may find muchsof that which men
have been hitherto obliged to seek after in
European higher UNIVERSITIES. Hence, as
DR.. G. Stanley Hall, the learned president
of Clark University, has said. it Is pre-
eminently the university of America The
church desires an educated clergy, fully
equipped Intellectually And, scientifically, as
we'll as morally. for ths, great battle Of our
age OF truth against eFrroIs She seeks for
the complete education1of her laymen. that
In the professions, in literature, in business,
they may be leaders and n6t followers, yet,
leaders strengthened s&d fortified by the
knowledge OF higher science, acquired in an
atmosphere of faith rand true religion.
Hence In this land. whefe Instruction Is the
privilege of the any,,,whSfe colleges and
universities crowd one &hotfer, the Catholic
Church has made thesi supreme effort of
building university 1aboSe and beyond
them all, where the latestiand deepest re-