Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1902-03-15

sity, which will be one of deep interest
to graduates and the public, occurs on
June 10, 1902.
THE CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF AMERICA.
Through the courtesy of Very Rev.
Philip ]. Garrigan, S. 7. D., vice rector,
the correspondent of the Kentucky Irish
American has been furnished with in
formation in regard to the Catholic Uni
versity of America that will prove of
interest to every reader of the paper.
Such an institution as the Catholic
University of America was long desired
and anxiously looked forward to by the
hierarchy and the laity of the Catholic
church i'll America. Away back in the
COS it was discussed in their councils,
but the church had to wait until the year
1884, when this establishment was made
practicable by the gift of Miss Mary
Gwendoline Caldwell (now the Marquise
de Merinville), who generously offered
the prelates of the Third Plenary Coun-
Gil, assembled in Baltimore the sum of
$500, 600 with which to begin this great
work. The council accepted the gift of
this enlightened young lady, and imme-
diately set to work for the establishment
of the School OF the Theological Sciences
by the appointment of a permanent Board
of Trustees, composed of Bishops, priests
and laymen representative of the young
American church. This undertaking was
presented for approval and sanction to
the present Holy Father, Pope Leo XIII,
still happily ruling the universal church,
and in brief, dated October 20, 1885,
Leo XIII. solemnly approved and blessed
the work and raised it to the dignity and
endowed it with all the prerogatives of a
Ponti6cal university.
Washington, the national capital of the
country, was selected as site for the
new institution, and on April 90 1887,
the university was incorporated under
the laws of the District of Columbia, with
the title of the Catholic University of
America.
It's grounds comprise seventy acres,
beautifully situated in the northeastern
suburbs of the city of Washington and is
contiguous on its northern line with the
splendid park of the National Soldiers
Home. The cornerstone of the first
building, named in honor of the founda-
trix of the university, Caldwell Hall, was
laid in the presence of an immense
gathering from all parts of the country,
| L., ..,Ht.1. DracfA IL,
Grover Cleveland. on May 4, 1888. The
solemn dedication and opening of this
building for students took place on No
vember l3, 1889, at which ceremony the
Papal delegate, Cardinal Satolli, and
representatives from all of the great uni
versities of this and the old world were
present. Caldwell Hall Immediately en-
tered upon its work of teaching the
sacred sciences to graduate students,
ordained priests directly from the semi
naries of the country, or young curates
filling out their novitiate in the work of
the priesthood on missions. This faculty
of theology gave courses in moral, dog
matte and ascetic theology, canon law,
pathology, ecclesiastical history, biblical
languages and antiquities and sacred
scriptures. It's term of graduate work
for its highest degree, S. T. d., is four
years. Through the munifcent generos-
ity of the late lamented Right Rev.
Mgr. James Mcmahon, of New York,
the magnificent granite building, Nc
Mahon Hall, entirely devoted to secular
studies, was erected and opened to the
students October /, 1895. In this build
ing are located the faculties Of philosophy
and law, the schools of letters and of the
archaeological sciences. All of these
schools are intended chiefly for the edu-
cation of the laity, yet ecclesiastical
students may. and in good number do,
follow one or other of the different
courses given. The university has al
ready erected on its grounds for educa-
tional purposes three superb buildings Of
splendid proportions and ample accom-.
modations- Caldwell Hall, which is the
home of the theological students, admin
istration and clerical teachers; Mcmahon
Hall, one of the finest academic struct-
ures, perhaps, in our country, built OF
bright Port Deposit granite and entirely
devoted to academic work, and Keane
Hall, large four-story building, which
serves as dormitory or residence for the
lay students OF the university. Around
this group of buildings, which are fairly
well equipped with libraries and laDora-