The times., 1901-05-25

The advisability of disseminating the
college courses at the Franciscan Mon
astery and college in Brookiand, mean
the Catholic University. is being
seriously considered by the heads OF
that institution. There are many inter
esting causes leading up TO this, and
TIE question VIII doubtless be decided
before the end of the present scholastic
year.
This is one Of the final chapters in a
long history Of dispute for the control
of the monastery. and it is within the
range of probability that the institution
will be transferred from the Custody Of
Jerusalem, to which it is now attached,
TO the Custody Of the Province Of Buff
falo. n. Y
This means that it viii be under the
direction Of the Rev. Ansalem Miller,
the Provincial of Buffalo, instead of the
Father Custos, of the Holy Land, who
is stationed in Jerusalem. 1t viii also
mean the selection of new Father Su-
perior, as the Rev. Cooley Schilling,
the present Superior, belongs to The
Custody of the Holy Land, and would
not be eligible, even though there were
no other reasons involved Father Mil
Ter is at present in Rome. and should
the transfer be made it viii mark the
end of a controversy that has been
waged for nearly two years between
him and Father Godfrey
The Franciscan Monastery. which
comprises the College and Chapel Of the
Holy Land, is one Of the most striking
of the institutions in afflliation with the
Catholic University. The building con-
sists of a monastery fashioned after the
monastic institutions of the Old World
and of large church Of the same arch
itecturai style as the Hegia Sophie in
Constantinople. This chapel contains
reproductions Of TIE grottoes Of Nazar-
eth and Bethlehem, and Of the Cata-
combs Of Rome, as well as the Holy Sc
pulchre and Mount Calvary in Jerusa-
lem. 1t forms one OF the sights Of
Washington and is daily throHged with
visitors from ali parts Of the United
States. The community occupies, all
told, a tract Of about forty-four acres.
The college is intended for the educa-
ton Of missionary priests. who are TO
be sent to Palestine as members Of the
Order of Friars of St Francis.
The dispute in. question dates back
almost to TIE dedication Of the institu-
ton. September i. 1899 The actual
members Of the community were then
few in number. and there were none so
far advanced as the clericate, that is,
the First Order, and aspirants for the
priesthood, who had completed their
novitiate and were engaged in the study
Of theology and philosophy only. 1t
was therefore impossible to have the
divine office recited in choir-matins,
laudes, prime, terce, sext, none. and
vespers-as is the custom in religious
houses.
To remedy this defect, as well as to
provide a quiet place of study for
clerics, it was arranged with Father
KILLER, who was then at the Franciscan
College at Allegheny, near Buffalo, TO
have a number Of his clerics, some
twelve or fifteen in number, Sent to
Brooklaud This was done. and in a
VERY. short time the trouble began that
may end in the change of authority at
Mount St Sepulchre. as the Friars have
named the kill on which their convent
stands.
This trouble arose from the fact that
there We're virtually two religious ccm-
munities and two superiors in enc
house. Father Godfrey. nominally su-
perior, was also commissariat If the
Holy Land for the United States, and
as such responsible TO no enc except
the Custos Of tie Holy Land At the
same time Father Miller outranked a
plain Father Superior. Consequently,
there were two distinct persons in au-
thority. and neither possessed the right
TO exercise jurisdiction over the men Of
the other.
Not only this. but there wos a mark
ed difference of policy between the two
priests. This was the beginning Of the
clash that finally cipened into what was
almost an open declaration If war. The
results of having two heads was unfoT-
tunate in its effects on the community,
as it led to numberless misunder-
standings, and orders given by one were
often to the contrary, of those given by
the other.
Last fall there was added to the com
munity Father Cammilo, an Arab,
Who is a member of the Custody of Je-
rusaIem. Father Cammllo is an ex-
eeedingly active man, and at once be
came TIE head and shoulders of a move
ment against Father Miller. This was
zed contrast to Father Godfrey,
maintained a conservative at
-.a and had even allowed his own
a-H- ty TO be trespassed upon in
laar Instances.
Meantime, there had been many com
plants made by the cIerics, Who were
anxious TO be sent to some other house.
one Of these was the food served, and
frequent changes Of cooks were made,
but without avail At one time a secu-
lar cook from the city was hired, and
the attending physician also ordered
that the food be changed. These com
plants were talked OF freely, ana were
the cause Of unrest snd dissatisfaction
among the Friars.
At the beginning Of the winter Father
Godfrey made a trip TO the Nest.
Father Cammilo being left in his place.
It had up TO this time been the custom
for Father Miller TO lead in all of the
communitys > religious exercises, and 70
yzE7slde at table. On his table in tie
refectory was a little bell to summon
the brothers Who waited on the takes,