New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-11-14
CATHOLIC PRELATES MEET.
THE UNIVERSITY AT WASHINGTON IN A
PROSPEROUS CONDITION.
DIR. CONATY LIKELY TO REMAIN RECTOR
GROUND BROKEN FOR NEW
MISSION BUILDING.
InY rELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE. !


Try TELEGRAPH THE TRIBUNE.l
Washington. Nov. 13.-That the Right Rev.
Thomas J. Conaty will continue to direct the af-
fairs of the Catholic University of America is
the unanimous opinion of the prelates who have
been In conference in Washington the last two
days. Never before in the thirteen years OF the
university's existence has so satisfactory
statement of the financial and educational az
fairs Of the institution been presented TO the
board Of trustees Notwithstanding the sever
ity Of the matriculation examinations. ia stu
dents are entered the rolls for this years
course. and in the last year the debt has been
reduced S11, 200, leaving it S134.OO6 go con-
servatve estimate of the assets of the university
places them at upward of $1,000 000 At the
meeting Of the board Of trustees. presided over
by Cardinal Gibbons there were present Arch
bishops Williams, Of Boston; Ryan. OF Phila-
delphia; Ireland, of ST Paul; Keane of Du-
buque. and Farley. OF New York: Bishops
Spalding. of Peoria: Macs Of Covington KY
secretary of the board; Foley of Detroit: Horst
mann, of Cleveland. and DR. Conaty rector of
the university
Three names were selected as candidates for
the rectorship and will be sent 10 Rome. 1t
being understood that the name heading the list
is the first choice of the trustees. The trustees
are pledged TO secrecy, but the impression was
given that change in the rectorship is con-
templated- The following officers were elected:
Cardinal Gibbons, president; Archbishop Will
Jams. vice president; Bishop Macs. secretary.
and Thomas E. waggaman. of Washington.
treasurer Bishop Harloins. OF Providence. r. L..
was elected TO the hoard Of trustees. 70 succeed
the late Archbishop Corr1gan.
Al $50 o'clock this morning 4 solemn high
mass OF requiem was celebrated IN the inii-
versity chapel by Bishop Macs for the repose of
az he lat E3ex
lon. formerly professor OF moral theology.
The chief incident Of the day was the turning
Of the first sod by Cardinal Gibbons for a build
ing which. in the words OF Archbishop Keane,
formerly rector OF the university marks new
era in the history of the Catholic Church in the
United States" This building. which is 10 be
erected at an expense Of $4,000 will be the home
Of the Catholic Missionary Union of New York. a
corporation Of which Archbishop Farley is the
president The Catholic Missionary Union is the
outgrowth of the missionary work among non
Catholics. begun by the Rev Walter Elliot, of
the Paulist community of New-York. Under
the auspices OF the Paulst community Father
Elliot developed this branch of work until II at
tracted the attention of the Catholic bishops of
the country who have now determined to estab-
lish, in connection with the Catholic University.
a training school for missionaries drawn from
the ranks of the secular clergy. Father Elliot
4ioS beeH iHdue WIN the rev A p DOyh.
as secretary. While the Missionary Union will
| erect its own building, the trustees of the uni
versity to-day executed a nnety-nine year lease
OF the requisite land for the building, within the
grounds Of the university, at nominal rent
Assisting the Cardinal in the ceremony were
all the archbishops of the United States with
the exception of two who are abroad; large
number OF bishops and many priests and lay
men, 1t is expected that within a few years
each OF the ninety-fouT bishops OF the United
States will designate more candidates
for the special training which will be afforded
at the new college. where the students will also
have the advantage of attending the lectures in
the university classes
After the ceremony the archbishops OF the
United States held their annual meeting AL
though the meeting dealt almost exclusively
with matters of Church work and policy, which
they unwilling to discuss for publication.
Archbishop Ireland said that the subject OF
Indian missions had been thoroughly discussed
that the archbiShops We're well pleased with the
progress made, and regarded the attitude OF
the administration toward this branch of the
work OF the Roman Catholic Church as emf
neatly fair and just. When asked If the future
OF the Church in the Philippines had been dis
cussed. he replied in the negative. saying that
as the Pope had appointed Philippine Dele
gate, the matter beyond the jurisdiction or
the American bishops.