The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1901-11-23
THE CELTIC CHAIR CONTROVERSY.

THE CELTIC CHAIR CONTROVERSY.
AS the official organ of the Ancient
Order of Hibernians in Minnesota the
Irish Standard deems it appropriate to
say few words respecting the chair
founded by the order it represents in
the Catholic University at Washington
Some years ago the A. o. H. contrib
uted $4,000 to endow a Celtic chair in
that institution, and Rev. Richard
Henebry, Phi. D., was appointed pro-
fessor of Celtic languages and litera-
ture by the trustees. DR.. Henebry had
taught Irish in st. Johns College, Wa
terford, and also in Maynooth College
Ireland, and before accepting the po-
sition at the Catholic University had
gone to Germany to perfect himself in
his native language.
After his return, the university au-
thorities engaged him for three years
to fill the professorship endowed by
the A. o. H., and he evidently dis
charged his duties faithfully and we'll.
The Gaelic League of America elected
him as it's national president in recog-
milton of his scholarly attachments and
profound knowledge of the language
and literature of Ireland.
The health of DR.. Henebry broke
down, and after years leave of alb
sence without salary, he was informed
by DR.. Conaty, the rector of the uni
vcrsity, that his position was vacated.
In other words, he was dismissed.
When the members Of the A. o. H.
learned that DR.. Henebry's services
were dispensed with, they became in
dignant; and when they subsequently
learned that DR.. John Joseph Dunn,
PHI. D., instructor in Romance Ian
gllages at the university, was to be
appointed his successor, they became
more Indignant and sent protests to
Cardinal Gibbons, president of the
board Of trustees, against the proposed
change. It is said that DR.. Dunn is
mot competent to fill the Celtic chair,
and that at present he is receiving les
sons in Gaelic from Dr.. Robinson of
Harvard. He is a clever linguist, how
ever, and received his degree Of Phi. D.
from Yale university in 1898.
The trustees of the Catholic Univer-
sity are holding their annual meeting
as we write, and one of the matters
to be settled by them is the retention
or discontinuance of DR.. Henebry as
associate professor of Kettle Ian
guages and literature" as he is desig-
mated in the Year Book of the Univer-
sity. Until the result of their delibe-
rations is made public the Irish Stand
ard will refrain from making any COM
ments, adverse or otherwise.
We do not believe that the Celtic
chair will be abolished, as is intimated
in some quarters. The trustees cannot
afford to accept $4,000 for a certain
purpose and apply it to something
else. They cannot afford to antagon-
ize the patriotic Irish organization
which made the generous donation. On
the board of trustees are Cardinal Glib
bons, Arcllbishops Williams, Corrigan
Ryan, Ireland, Riordan, Spalding, Fo-
Icy, Farley, and Michael Cudahy, Esq.
of Chicago, Ill. Surely these prelates
and layman cannot be opposed to Il
Celtic chair in the great Catholic in
stitution The Right Rev. Mgr. Thom-
as ]. Conaty, the rector, cannot be
against the teaching of the language
OF his sircs. We therefore suggest
that no hasty comments be made until
the matter is definitely settled, one way
or the other.
1t is reported that the authorities of
the Catholic University have been in
correspondence with DR.. Douglas
Hyde. of Sligo. Ireland, who is recog
niZcd as one of the best Gaelic schol-
ars in the world. with view Of hay
ing him fill the Celtic chair. 1t is not
likely. however, that he will accept the
position. He is said to be an admirer
of DR.. Henebry, and may not like to
succeed him under the circumstances.
The Irish Standard is free to say
that it matters but little whether Gaze
lie or Kettle is taught in the university
or not. 1t is a matter of sentiment and
not Of utility. The young men who go
there take postgraduate courses, and
only small percentage Of them will
ever bother their heads with the Irish
language. The German students are
more apt to study 1t than the Irish
American students. Many Of the lat
ter. especially from New England. have
supreme contempt for everything Irish
and want to pass for Yankees.
In our opinion more good could be
accomplished by the \. 0. II. in send
ing $4,000 to Ireland to fight land
lordism. Ninety-five per cent of the
members of the order do not know how
to speak. read or write the language of
the Emerald Isle. Until within the