Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-28
.AME R|CAN COLLEGE
That in Rome in a Prosper
GUS Condition.
ITS REAL PURPOSE
TO FINISH THE EDUCATION OF
BRILLIANT YOUNG PRIESTS.
Advantages Enjoyed by the Students
Ranks High in Comparison With
the Colleges of other Nations.
ITS REAL PURPOSE
BY WILLIAM e. CURTIS.

| BY WILLIAM e. CURTIS.
Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star and
Chicago Record-Herald.
| ROME. December 10, 1903.
| The American College begins the year
| with a prosperity and a promise 1t has
| never before enjoyed. When 1 wrote about
it two years ago DIR. Kennedy the ener-
getic rector. had just purchased on faith
the remainder of the old Dominican con-
| vent adjoining the building which has been
occupied for thirty years and was about
starting for the United States to raise the
money to pay for it. He was successful
| beyond his expectations. He found the
alumni not only loyal, but enthusiastic, and
| they entered into the work Of raising funds
with promptness and zeal. They began by
i contributing $4,000 themselves and sent
| word along the line that DIR. Kennedy was
| coming and to have the pocket books OPEN
| ed for him. He got far as Pittsburg.
| There was no need of his going farther,
| because the subscriptions there were so
| large and numerous that he could turn
| about and come back to Rome with every
copper Of the $4,000 that was necessary
| to pay for the addition and fix 1t up as a
| dormitory for the students. New York,
| Philadelphia and Pittsburg Catholics pro-
| Vided these funds. After while friends
| of the institution in Baltimore, Washing
| ton, Chicago, st. Louis and other cities
| may have chance to contribute some
! thing, but at present the officers of the
| American College proud to say that
| they are well fixed and need no help for
any purpose.
| Perhaps some of my readers do not know
| what the American College Is. and a few
| words OF explanation may be proper. All OF
| the great nations have in Rome institutions
| for the education of priests. and the Cath
| olics of the United States have had one for
| nearly fifty years. Each diocese is entitled
Mo 1n1
among the most brilliant ard promising
young seminarists in the several colleges at
| home. They remain here for four years,
pursuing what may be called a post-grad-
uate course in divinity. philosophy rhet-
oric. metaphysics, church history and
other subjects. They live in the college
building and do their studying there. but all
the students of the different nations meet
for Rotations, examinations and lectures
at central college on the famous Piazza
de Spagna, under the care of the project
Cardinal satolli. Each college has it's dis
tinctive uniform. The Germans are very
conspicuous because they wear scarlet
gowns and cloaks and are called HOLSTERS
by the other students. The modest uni
form Of the American College 10 a black
gown with a blue cord along the edges
blue buttons. buttonholes stitched with the
ton sends its brightest young men to it's
college here, you may understand that they
are made up of young men of unusual abil-
n.y. SoN6 Oh the most eminent and dis
tinguished prelates in the United States
are graduates of the American College
but will not repeat the list 1 gave you
two years ago.
Advantages Enjoyed.
The advantages enjoyed by the studen,s
at such institution here in Rome can
also be appreciated. They have special
privileges In the libraries museums and at
the Vatican, and are always provided With
seats at great ecclesiastical functions.
Hence 1t Is. as 1t should be, the ambition
OF every young theologue in the Catholic
schools at home to take course at the
American College at Rome, and I SYM
pathize fully with the zeal and qualification
OF four enthusiastic young fellows who
came in from Chicago the other day and
entered their names upon the roll. They
were Charles Conley and Charles Mcclellan
from st. Ignatius College. Edmond Hanna
from st. Cyril. and Walter Warkomshi
cago student here is Charles O'Hern. also
from ST. 1gnatius, who is one of the most
brilliant in the institution.
There are twenty-six new students this
year. making a total Of ninety which is the
limit Of the present accom- modations. giving
each man room by himself, bu. when the
addition which Dr. Kennedy has Just pur-
chased is in order there will be accommo-
dations for 100 But that cannJt be until
the lease of the present occupant expires.
Father Murphy Of New York comes in
thi: year az vice rector Father Farrelly
leave in the United States. having been
designated by the pope to carry the pal
liums to Archbishop Farley of New York
and Archbishop Quigley Of Chicago. He is
expected to return In few days.
Last year there were fourteen graduates
and the year before twenty; next year there
will be eighteen. In their examinations the
American students have taken high rank
among rivals from twenty-five other ma
lions.
The college building has been done over
during the vacation and looks new, bright
and attractive. The garden. filled with trees
and fruits. is one of the pleasantest in
Rome. and the new furniture and fittings
make the house homelike. In removing the
whitewash from the walls Of the cloisters
the wOrkmen exposed a beautiful picture
that seems to have been painted early in
the seventeenth century and which for
some reason has been concealed all these
years. 1t represents St Dominic receiving
a crucifix from angel The building was
formerly a convent of Dominican nuns and
was confiscated by the Italian government.
The picture was probably whitewashed over
While 1t was used for secular purposes
Interesting Functions.
During the past year there have been sew
eral interesting functions here. In the
chapel Of the college DR.. Seton of New Jer-
sey was consecrated titular archbishop Of
Heliopolis. DR.. Rocker of Albany as bishop
and DR.. Harry of st. Louis as archbishop
OF the Philippines. Mgr. Kennedy, the rec
tor. gave a banquet in the refectory In
honor of Bishop Rocker and Bishop Dough-
erty, two of the new Yankee bishops of the
Philippines, at which he brought together
| one of the most notable assemblies in Rome
of recent years. Seated at the table were
the principal officials of the Vatican and
propaganda, the superiors general of the
religious congregations, the rectors Of all
the national colleges, several OF the most
famous cardinals and many notable eccle-
| siastics. who dined under the protection of
the stars and stripes most of them for the
first time. The menu cards were inclosed
in twin flags, the papal colors. yellow and
white, and the red, white and blue being
on either side. Several distinguished
American prelates have been guests at the
college during the year. including the new
archbishop and bishops Of the Philippines
nd %