The Washington times., 1902-06-28
FATHER MAGNIBH
Ill IN BALTIMORE
Well-KnoWn Priest Not EX-
pected to Recover.
Conducted Examinations for Elevation
of Young CleTgymen TO Epis-
copal Succession.

The serious Illness in Baltimore of
the Very Rev. Alphonse L. Magnien,
president of St. Mary's Seminary. is
causing much concern to his friends in
this city. DR.. Magnien has been i'll for
several weeks, but his condition was not
considered critical until few days ago,
when ne was removed from the semi
nary to st. Joseph's Hospital. Yesterday
be was anointed and received the sacra-
ment of extreme unction at the hands
of Father Dissez, of St Mary's Seminary
Father Magnien has been president of
the seminary in Baltimore since 1873.
1t would be almost impossible TO say how
many priests Of the present day have
been prepared for their duties as minis
ters Of the church and who have re
ceiyed their ordination under his super
vision. but great majority of those in
the diocese Of Baltimore have finished
their course under his direction.
I The education Father Magnien re-
ceived in Paris fitted him for a position
which few men are capable of iilIlug
Father Magnien has for many years hell
the examinations of priests for promo
tion to pastorates, and to do this nOs
only his knowledge of theology WAS test
ed. but his business capabilities AID
every requisite TO the management CT 4
parish.
lie has examined many well-known
priests and students, one of the most re-
cent being Rev. D. ]. Stafford, pastor of
ST. Patrick's Church.
A Popular Priest.
Father Magnien is now sixty-four
years old. He is one of the most popu-
lar of the faculty at St. Mary's, and is
beloved by every student who has ever
been under his instruction. Through his
gentle manner, untiring efforts for the
good of the seminary, and its inmates
and numerous other attractive qualities,
| he has won the friendship and admira-
| tion of thousands who will be panied
to hear OF the illness which promises 10
prove fatal TO the priest.
Fearing that the knowledge of his con-
dition mig ut in some way interfere with
the propositions for the recent ordina-
| tinn. Father Magnien insisted that his
removal to the hospital should not be
/ uldue kUDNn 70 IHS StuueULSs anu II Was
some days before it was known that he
| was not in the house. Father Magnien
! is suffering from COZ ,plication CT dis
eases. and it is feared that his age will
not permit him to cope with them.
Father Magnien went to Europe last
summer. and was TO have again made
the voyage this year, but could not do
so on account of the condition OF his
health. His visit last summer was TO
see the superior general of the Sulpitian
Order in regard to the establishment of
a college of the order in connection with
the Catholic University in Washington.
Business in relation TO the college would
/ have taken him there this summer had
it been possible fer him 10 &c.
Father Magnien was born in Lezere,
France. in 1887, and received his ele-
mentary education there. Afterward he
took 4 classical course in the diocese Of
Mende, and completed his ecclesiastical
course at Orleans, where he was ordai1-
ed. He first taught in a preparatory
seminary conducted by the fathers Of
st. Sulpice at La Chapelle, and later
was appointed to the chair Of philosophy
at Nantes. For two years longer he re-
mained in France, and then came to
America and joined the faculty at St
Nary's Seminary. He has remained
July !. 1878.
Order of st. SuIpice.
The Sulpitian Order has conducted st.
Marys Seminary since 1906. Nearly all
of the bishops and priests of the United
States connected with the secular clergy
have been educated by the sulpitians
for the priesthood St Marys is
branch of st. Sulpice in Paris The
founder Of this order was Re. jacques
Olier. There was much trouble and dan
ger during the French revolution and
the superior general at that time. Father
Emory, conceived the idea Of founding
a colony of Sulpitians on the Mississippi
to save the organization from destruC-
tion. Father Nagot came 70 Baltimore
to confer with Bishop Carroll on the
subject. and the result OF their confer
ence was the determination to send the
colony of Sulpitians to Baltimore in
stead Of farther South. The colony left
ST. Malos, France, in March, and arrived
in Baltimore on July 10, 1871.
St. MaIy's Seminary Founded.
Father Nagot and his companions
lodged at "a Market Space, Baltimore,
and little later they rented the old
"One-Mile Tavern" on North Paca
Street on the site of the present insti- |
tuition This house was bought with four
adjoining acres OF land on October Z, |
179l and was formally opened as St |
Mary's Seminary shortly afterward. on
October Is tho first chapel was dedi- |
ca'4d. Several additions have been made |
to the structure-first the northwest |
wing, and in 1891 another wing. 1t was
intended by Father Magnien to make an
addition TO the chapel this summer /
The seminary formerly accommodated /
200 students, and now affords quarters /
for $50.
The college was raised to the rank of I
a university by the Legislature in 1903 /
In 1906 a new college was established /
at Emmitsburg. and il 1880 Charles Car
roll of Carrollton donated 253 acres |
of land at Ellicott City as a site for a /
preparatory college. This was called st |
Charles College. and the cornerstone |
was laid in 1881 by Archbishop Whit /
field. In 1852 the Sulpitians abandoned |
secular education at St Mary's. and |
since that time it has been used cxclu- |
sively as a place where young men pre- |
70 fp ho r,riEgrhngg