Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-01-20
DR.. CONATY RECTOR.
HIS INSTALLATION As PRESIDENT
OF THE CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY.
BRILLIANT CEREMONY.
Large AssembInge of Disttnguished
Persons, Clerical and Lay-Letter
of Appointment from the Pope
Address by Cardinal Gibbons.

Thomas ]. Conaty. OF Worcester. Mass, !
was installed as Rector of the Catholic |
University OF America this afternoon. |
The exercises took place in the assembly
room of the Mcmahon fIall Of Philosophy.
where large and distinguished audience
mad gathered. Among those composing
1t were Senator and Mrs. Carter, Senator
Roach, Senator Smith. Hon. d. ].
Murphy, Commissioner of Pensions; the
wives of the Brazilian and Mexican
ministers: Senior Andrade. the Venezuelan
Minister, and Sonora Andrade; the Mar
outs and Marquise de Chambrun: General
Thomas o. Vincent United States navy;
Bishop Hurst. of the Methodist Univer-
sity, and representatives of local and
nearby educational institutions.
A large delegation from New York,
Brooklyn. Worcester Springfield, and
other places was also present. Among
the members were Major John Byrne, of
New York; Major John ID. Kelley, OF
Brooklyn; John NJ. Mcclure, Surveyor of
the Port Of New York; Rev. Father
I,avelle. rector OF the New York Ca
Conaty, of Springfield. a brother of Dr.
Conaty. Miss *. c. Conaty, his sister,
and several friends from Massachusetts
Mr.. Patrick Conaty, the venerable father
of the new rector who accompanied the
party 10 Washington, was unable 10 at
tend, on account of fatigue.
On the platform with Or. Conaty were
a number Of distinguished Catholic
clergymen. including Cardinal Gibbons,
Archbishop Ryan, of Philadelphia; Arch
bishop Elder. of Cincinnati; Bishop-elect
Prendergast of Philadelphia Mgr. Mar
tineln, the Papal Delegate; Bishop Dona-
hue of Wheeling; Bishop Beaver, OF
Springfield: Right Rev. John Farley,
Auxiliary Bishop of New York; Mgr.
Griffin. of Worcester; Mgr. Mcmahon, OF
the Catholic University; Mgr McGinnis,
of Boston All were arrayed In their
robes of office. The faculties OF the
divinity and lay branches of the uni
yersity appeared in their cassocks and
gowns. and the divinity and law students
were also attired in their appropriate
dress, the former in cassocks and beret-
tas. the latter in gowns and trencher
caps. Most of the lay students wore
canes and ribbons of the papal colors,
gold and white. with which Mcmahon
Hall was tastefully decorated.
The proceedings began at o'clock. the
pontihcal brief of appointment was read
by Professor Daniel w. Shea, secretary
of the University Senate as follows:
PONTlFICAL BRIEF.
"To Our. Beloved Son, James. Cardinal
Gibbons, Archbishop of Baltimore:
Beloved son, health, and Apostolic
benediction:
''It is with pleasure that we have re-
ceived the letter which you set us from
the meeting held In Washington, to de-
signate another president of the uni
versty. evincing, as II does. your eager
desire TO provide for the welfare Of that
great seat of learning. Yielding to your
request. we have considered the names of
three candidates whom you have ap-
pointed as worthy to discharge the office
OF rector OF these we have deemed
fiji TO choose. and by our authority we
do hereby approve, the first on the list
namely, Thomas j. Conaty, heretofore
parish priest i'm Worcester. and president
OF the Summer School. Both the learn
ing and the zeal for the advancement or
religion which characterize this distin-
guished man. whom you, by your joint
suffrages, recommend. inspire us with
the well-grounded hope that his efforts
will not be without abundant fruits I'm
yersity and i'm enhancing it's lustre.
How dear TO our heart is this mat
ter cannot but be known to you, for you
are aware how unyieldng was our solicit
tude I'm founding this institution, that we
might deservedly reckon ii among those
works. which, I'm the interest of religion
and science we have, out Of our loving
affection. undertaken for the furtherance
OF the glory of your country and which
we have. with Gods help. been able 10
bring to a happy issue. Meanwhile. as
an earnest Of heavenly grace and as an
evidence of our spirit Of goodwill. we
most lovingly in the Lord impart to you.
our beloved son, to the new president OF
the university, and to all its faculty,
the Apostolic benediction.
Given at Rome. at st. Peters. on the
2sd day of November. 1896 the nine
teenth year Of our pontihcate.
(Signed) LEO p. p. XIII"
ADDRESS BY CARDINAL GIBBONS
An address by Cardinal Gibbons fol-
lowed. His references 10 Bishop Keane
and DR. Conaty were applauded. Then
the Very Rev. Phillip j. Garrugan. vice
rector OF the university, presented to DR..
Conaty the book Of constitutions and the
university seal
Dr. Conaty was applauded loudly when
he rose to deliver his inaugural discourse.
We was applauded frequently. and evil
IDENTIFY made an excellent impression.
After the exercises, Dr. Conaty held
reception in the rotunda Of Mcmahon
HALL Among the congratuatory tele-
grams he received was the following one
from Bishop Keane. dated Rome: Cor
dial greetings. Prosit"
Rev. Thomas j. Conaty. ID. d., was
nd AnJ CT
to this country with his parents when he
was 3 years old and was educated in
the public schools of Taunton. Mass. ;
at Montreal College. at the Jesuit Col
lege Of the Holy Cross, at Worcester,
Mass. where he was graduated in 1859,
and at St Josephs Theological Seminary,
Troy. n. Y.
He was ordained in 1872 and became
rector of the new parish OF the Sacred
Heart in South Worcester. 1880. where he
has since remained. For some years he
has been at the head of the Catholic Sum-
mer School, at Plattsburg, n. Y.
As editor and publisher OF the Catholic
School Gazette, the new rector or the
university has been naturally strong
supporter of the parochial schools. He
represents the conservative element, but
has not taken a very active part In the
J. discussions. He has always been friend
of Rishon Keane's. He has been promi-
nent In Irish nationalist matters In this
country. and was treasurer OF the Parnell
parliamentary fund. In temperance mat
| ters Or. Conaty has also been prominent,
having lectured throughout the country.
| He was the founder and first president
| of the Total Abstinence Union OF The
| Diocese OF Springfield. and was for two
terms prudent OF the National Union
| In lsss he received the degree OF Doctor
OF Tivinity from the University OF George
| town, ID. c.
,ox.~zt IN cEORGUA