The Irish standard., 1901-07-20

laughter) At seventeen my father, as
! said, wanted to send me to college.
but had an ambition to be success
full merchant. l wanted to be of some
use, and thought that learning Greek
and Latin was very little use indeed
except for priests and doctors and law
yers, and persons who wanted to be
members of n learned profession.
SO went into dry goods store run
by Mr.. John s. Barry, fine follow,
who was very fond of me, and worked
hard Mt the business One Sunday
morning, remember, after being
three years at the store, was sitting
at home in the little parlor reading tlhe
Catholic Mirror, and l read about
good Frencllwoman whose son had
been priest who was martyrcd in
China. and every day she prayed to
her martyred son, and it struck me ON
the moment, II will go and become Il
priest" Well had two brothers and
two sisters, and they were all then
dead, and was the only one left to
dear old father and mother Well,
couldn't tell them, but went to work
while mt the store to learn Latin. and
when had u moment of leisure ut the
store ! was Mt IT. The other fellows
did not mind. They said: "Keane is
boDllisll sort of Il fellow" Well,
when had been studying Latin ana
rrading the Historin Sacra for some
months. one day | spoke to my father
ana mother, and | said: II have to 20
and be n priest" My father said:
"Why didn't you go when we gave
you the chance of going to st. Charles
College, when yo,lr brother was alive?"
said: - didn't know it was the will
of God" "Well,' said my father, "wc
Will never resist the will of God; go,
ANA God bless you" (Applause) SO ut
twenty years of age went back to
school again. The usual course was
six years, but proftcd so much by
my studies under Mistress Molly and
the Christian Brothers, and my own
, study Of Latin for seven or eight
months that went through the six
years course IN three years.
Then went to st. Mnry's Seminary
to study theology and philosophy, ana
at - years Of age, in 1866, l was Or
dnincd. then became curate in
Washington, under good old parish
priest We were the only two priests in
that central parish. and can tell you
it was hard work for twelve years.
After twelve years was sent to the
bishop Of Richmond, and my care there
was to build up good Catholic schools
for the training Of the young people.
was eleven years bishop Of Rich
mond. Then the bishops of the United
States met We had very good schools
IN the States and good colleges, but
we considered that the educational
system would moi be complete until
we had first-class university. Cap
plausr.) In 1884 the bishops came
together.
They knew that although we had
what were called universities, we had
no place where you could take the
young fellows who had gone through
the schools and the colleges and give
them the opportunity of thorough
scholarship for the highest study and
education. We'll, the plenary council
or Baltimore asked me to become one
OF the board of bishops to found that
university. Well, l said II am not
university man. l was never Through
university. I am only an humble
bishop However, there was no use
kicking. Gaughter.)
The bishops said it, and had to be-
come one Of the board. Then after a
while. when man had to be chosen
who would give his life to the work
OF the university, the bishops said to
me. "You have got to be that man.
(Applause) 1 said, "Nonsense; I am
not fitted for the work; Bishop spald-
ing is the man; he is the inspirer OF the
idea Of "A great Catholic university for
the States" but they said, "You have