Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-10-14

Goldsmith 30 sweetly tells us of the length
ened chain of memory and affection, yet 1
am glad to be in Rome because God and
the pope and duty have put me there ard
because my life promises to be as full as
ever of work for mother church, for hui
manity, for America.
Again l thank you with a grateful
heart"
l. An ovation was extended the archbishop
when he had finished and the guests crowd
ed forward to express again and again the
deep feelings they cherished for him. and
the delight they had experienced in spend
ing such a memorable evening in his COM
pany and his confidence.
Archbishop kenne's Career.
The personality of Archbishop Keane is
as familiar to Westinghouse regardless
of creed. color or condition as it is loved
and admired. and his achievements are
equally part of the history of the COM
munity. sketch of his career, therefore,
will be of general interest at this time,
particularly when the eminent patriot. citi-
zen, philanthropist, educator and church.
man is approaching the zenith of his fame
and reaching that effugence of content
and success which ever shines far above
the clouds of envy and malice.
Archbishop Keane came to Washington
soon after his ordination as a priest, and
was made assistant pastor at ST. Patrick's
church, taking the place Of Father Nc
U
maculate Conception Church. AS the as
sistant to Father Walter. Father Keane at
once displayed that earnestness and deyo-
ton to duty that have developed in such an
eminent degree as he has advanced in
churchly dignity and honor. He also mani
tested great interest in all moral reforms,
particularly the cause of temperance and
1t will be remembered that in February
1877, he and Bishop Newman of the NJ r.
Church spoke from the same platform at a
great temperance mass meeting at Lincoln
Hail. Father Keane also took deep in
terest In everything that pertained to the
welfare or advancement of the national
capital and became recognized as a public
spirited citizen. To his energy and counsel
development of the Carroll Institute. an
institution that is particularly beneficial to
the young men of the Catholic Church. and
which now boasts of completely fitted
up a building. with every facility for ration
al enjoyment for young men, there is in
the country.
A Scholar and Orator.
All this time Father Keane was develop
Ing Intellectually, and was gaining a rep
utation as one Of the most profound schoI-
ars and effective orators in the Catholic
Church. His great abilities attracted the
attention Of the officials Of the church.
ana he was marked for advancement This
came when the bishopric of Richmond be-
came vacant; he was chosen to that i'm
pcrtant diocese.
His administration of affairs there still
further commended him to his superiors
ard as he had wider scope for his abil-
Tues, so did his reputation for scholastic
attachments and persuasive oratory ex-
tend. and when the gift of $'0O,0O0 by Miss
caldwell was made as the nucleus of A
fund for the establishment of a Catholic
University in this city Bishop Keane was
selected the rector of the proposed in
stitution, and to him intrusted all the
preiiroi1 airy work of raising funds and
he hIri1 djyoc hs
and the courses of studies. How we'll he
performed this most arduous task is now a
matter of history, and the splendid condi-
ton of the university and its great sue
&C So, even in its infancy are monuments to
Bishop keanes interchangeable industry his
great executive ability and his indomitabie
perseverance. He founded it upon broad
lines-f1st for the glory of God and then
for the elevation of mankind. His work in
this respect was labor of love as we'll as
OF duty. He loved the city of Washington
where he had spent the best years of his
early manhood, and he believed that the
national capital should become the center
OF learning in the United States. He be-
lieved that the Catholic University would
Contribute to that end, and he bent all his
great energies to making it worthy the OBJ
1ect for which 1t was inteded and the city
In which it was located.
The Catholic University.
With the opening of the Catholic Uni
versity Bishop Keane again became resi-
dent of this city and renewed his interest
in local affairs, so that again he was recog-
rized as a public-spirited citizen of the
District. How highly he was regarded by
the community in every respect-as a
clergyman, as a scholar. as man and as
citizen-was abundantly evidenced at the
meeting held at the Carroll Institute to
protest against his removal from the rec
torship of the university he had been so
largely instrumental in establishing. That
meeting was a uihute such as is rarely
paid to man, no matter what his prom
inence in a community may be, and it serv-
ed to emphasize iE an eminent degree the
great regard which was felt for Bishop
keane by all classes of citizens. irrespec-
tive of political or religious beliefs.
That protest failed to change the papal
order for his removal but it must have
impressed the hierarchy Of the value of
Bishop Keane to the church in this coun-
try. for he was promoted to higher &C.
clesiastical honors and during his resi-
dence in Rome he has enjoyed the conf
dence and respect of the head of his
church.
He came back to this country as an arch
bishop, but he returns to Rome also as
strong an American as when he left. His
residence abroad has not dwarfed his lib
eral views, bat has rather expanded them.