Evening star., 1901-11-20
His Removal From Gaelic Chair at
Catholic University.
STATEMENT BY MEMBER OF FACULTY
Views of a Man Prominent in
Order of Hibernians.
THE ECENT PROTESTS

Among the subjects taken I'D for discus
sion today by the board Of trustees of the
Catholic University Of America was the
dismissal of DR.. Henebry, who was for
three years teacher of the Gaelic language
Many divisions OF the Ancient Order Of
Hinernfans throughout the country have
recently adopted resolutions deploring the
action Of the university management In
dispensing With his services.
Cardinal Gibbons presided at both ses-
sions and there were present Bishop Spald-
Ing of Peoria, ILL.,, Bishop Macs of Cow
ington, KY, Cardinal Gibbons. who is
chancellor Of the university; Bishop Will
liams of Boston, Archbishop Ryan of Phil
adelphia: Archbishop Ireland of st. Paul;
and Bishop HorStmann of Cleveland Arch
bishop Riordan of San Francisco and Bish-
op Farley OF New York, who are members
OF the board of trustees, were unable to
be present.
At the morning session the reports of the
rector, Monsgnor Conaty, the vice rector
and the deans of the various faculties of
the schools of the university were read and
discussed. Previous to the meeting of the
board the several committees met. The
reports on which the discussions were
based are in printed form and were in the
hands of the trustees as early as two weeks
ago. There will be a meeting of the arch
bishops tomorrow at the university to dis
cuss the affairs of the hierarchy. The two
meetings are always held at the same place
and at about the same time, as a majority
of the archbishops are trustees Of the uni
versity.
DR.. Henebry's Dismissal.
Regarding the dismissal of Dr. Henebry,
one Of the faculty Of the university today
said:
"Dr. Henebry went to Germany to COM
plete his education and the expenses were
paid by the university. He had a contract
with the university after his return for
three years as professor Of the Gaelic Ian
guage and literature. During the three
years, which terminated about month
ago, he had one years leave of absence
because of i'll health. Without rejecting on
his abilities at all it was deemed expedient
by the university management to equip
philologer. DR.. Dunn, who has a = D.
from Yale, for future work. In the mean
time, as the instruction seemed likely to
lapse, negotiations We're opened with DR..
Douglass, Hyde. one of the most famous
Gaelic scholars in the world.
Gaelic societies had nothing to do with
the gift of $4,000 establishing the chair.
They have evidently gotten the impression
that the chair was to be suppressed and
the fund was to be diverted to the chair Of
romance languages. AS there is no chair
of romance languages in the university
this suggestion Is out of the question. AS
the income of the fund has been conserved
for Gaelic and nothing else the contention
of the Gaelic societies falls to the ground.
AS I understand it. Mr. Heating, president
of the Ancient Order OF Hibernians, has
taken action in the matter without consult
ing the directory Of his society, and has
been led into a false position
Views of a Layman.
A gentleman who is prominent in the ma
tional circles of the Ancient Order Of Hi
bernians made this statement this after
noon:
The university has taken the position Of
conservator Of the Gaelic fund Of $50 OOO
and for this reason has drawn on itself all
this criticism. DR.. Henebry was with the
institution three years, during which time
he did very little work. He was at the
university only one year Of the time con-
tinuously. He seemed to be entirely out of
touch with the Irish national sentiment
since he never attended any meetings of
Irfshmen in the District and point blank
refused to join the Ancient Order of Hi
bernians. the order which afforded him
position Of affluence and distinction.
"Dr. Henebry was employed by the uni
versity, not by the Ancient Order Of Hiber-
mans. IT, in the opinion Of the university,
he was inefficient or incapacitated for the
performance of the duties attaching to the
position, it was clearly within the rights
OF the university to dispense with his serv-
Ices. The gift Of $4,000 was free and un-
trammeled, and contained no stipulation
whatever that Dr. Henebry was indispensa-
BILE to the teaching of the Gaelic language
or the usefulness of the chair.
while the controversy as it appears in the
newspapers would indicate that the Ancient
Order of Hibernians is supporting the case
of DR.. Henebry the very reverse is actually
the case. 1t is true that few men who
have attained prominence in the order have
evidently been led by DR.. Henebry to be-
lieve that he is the aggrieved party. When
the rank and file are made acquainted with
the facts in the case the position of the
university will be sustained enthusiasticaI-
ly in every particular"