The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-07-08
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A Washington telegram announced recently
that ground would soon DO broken near the Ro-
man Catholic University. Washington, for the
first Catholic college for women. It is to be man.
aged by tho Sisters Of Notre Dame under tho
auspices OF the university. Tho first building
will accommodate 100 boarders. Students must
DO at least 10 years Of age and have completed
an academic course. They will DO required to
present satisfactory evidence of good character
and good health. The now institution is to DO
known Us Trinity College. and 1t will DO opened.
IL is said, next year.
This departure" runs tho despatch, from
the usual conservative methods Of Roman Cath
Ollie education is expected to cause unfavorable
comment in some quarters" In what quartersi
Why spenk Of the now Trinity College as "a de-
parture from conservative methods OF Roman
Catholic education T. Is that "a departure"
which is a return to the rule under the Church
in Italy from tho thirteenth century until the
universities ceased to be in Its exclusive control
1t is a common error to suppose that the COM
paratively recent opening of some universities
to women is n nineteenth century innovation.
Mrs. Browning writes in Aurora Leigh"
In Tho rrst onrush OF life's chariot wheels
We know not II the forests move or we.
some years ago I had the honor to writo for
the Catholic World magazine a sketch of tho
higher opportunities afforded women in earlier
times in older countries than ours. Subse-
qucntly there appeared elsewhere a circum-
stantial account Of learned women Of Bologna,
by an Italian writer, who recited with consider
able fulness the story of women's connection
with the departments Of law, science, medicine.
and philosophy in that ancient and famous uni
versity, prior and subsequent to the Reforma-
ton. 1t would give me great pleasure
to quote particularly the picturesque descrip-
ton OF the dazzling scene, OF the public crown:
ing OF Laura Bassi when the degree of Doctor of
cal and civic authorities after she had com
stood the severcst tests. The citizens combined
with the university government. to render tho
S SS ssSfhe ens OF eSSsty and T sPhlsn after hs ssIeer cd
q kind to make the conservative timid about the
women, Nor was Bologna the only university
city Of the middle ages to confer degrees upon
deemed merely the Pigment of a poets imagina:
ton. II would be easy to cite testimony. But 1
n mer w yilIa9s a wifbd from s homs' at It q h seSsh9 or o Sqm.
materials, relying on unaided memory for a few
suggestive references.
kiteretGrs,n under Women in the Middle
the new Trinity College is "a departure" 10
presented in Christian Schools and Scholars"
py Mother franc or stone, Stanordshire, Eng
land. The French historian and critic, Demo-
geot. in his estimate of italian literature, is an
other witness to the breadth of women's educa-
Church In medieval Italy.
III, Inc NE, edncation, aims. and nrecepts Of veneer
of tho Community OF the Sacred Heart. refute
peTrturo from conservative Catholic ideas.
Those ideas were superbly set forth by Sir
Thomas More. when he employed the eminent
Dutch classical scholar. Erasmus. to teach in his
panions OF both sexes receiving Identical in
struction,, How great tho contrast between the
OF opn john Mi n1nau the Of fd 5hs u ot PsEits dSgght sns
the noble womanliness Of the thoroughly taught
daughter of the martEred Chancellor!
ford and. Cambridge were made by English.
women Of wealth. who were at least passively
nniversitics Of England when those Of italy
Acre we freely opened to all qualified can.
S Ssans has r raisnea' b 1as Pnrli imPs1sfbr as e fSr slety
As abolition Of sect tests for admission to the
universities is one Of the parliamentary glories
word from her lips at this supreme hour would
insert abolition OF sex tests in the statutes
mond Jubilee. assuring her in history a Sover-
eign distinction above any belonging to her
queenly predecessors. go.
ton by his Eminence Cardinal Gibbons. In the
Century Mo1dsfne several years ago, on the
pect the early opening Of medical department
In the new Trinity. which. in all its depart
ments, will be cordially and effectually sup
collective body whose renown for aspiration
and achievement is coeytensive with civiliza-
tion in the Old as In the New World.
That body has devoted itself hitherto with the
cooperation Of thousands of trained men and
women. a heroic army Of voluntary teachers,
mainly to the indispensable-for the many-pri.
mary and secondary instruction. waiting. in
to arrive for higher education. which. in all
countries, In every age, has necessarily been the
nately for ali. Gwendoien Caldwell, foundress
of the Catholic University of America, has rot
perpetmated an English precedent on American
the magnificent work being done all over the
country. by numerous admirable conventual
academies.
In afhliating a woman's college the Catholic
commits no departure" 1t restores tho too
long suspended rights, of Catholic, women, ac-
cording to the ancient ideals and the most con-
servntive and authentic standard. The new
Trinity only emphasizes a trend approved by eX.
perience and sanctioned by the most advanced
thought in higher education in all advancing
countries-tha academic and collegiate training
for youth should be coordinate. but, for greater
convenience and prudence, in separate institu-
lions, when so preferred by parents: and that
university PRIVILEGES, honors and emolument,
direct and Indirect; should be open: in secular
culture. to mon and women on equal conditions.
Women will continue to go to Vassar. to Bar.
nard, to Radcliffe. to the various State colleges
open to them. as they will commence next year
to go to the new Trinity; hut the university to
be approved by tho head and heart OF the future
Will be OF the type OF one of the oldest; Bologna,
and OF the youngest. young but already valiant,
Chicago, whose President. DIR. William r.
Harper. has said to me that he will never con.
sent to n rule discriminating prejudicially be-
tween men and women in its administration
May the new Trinity flourish from its birth.
and add another to the glories OF our country.
MARGARET F. SULLIVAN.