The Irish standard., 1903-11-28
WASHINGTON LETTER.

Washington, Nov. 2O.-The depart
ment of sociology Of the Catholic uni
versity will make an exhibit at the
st. Louis Fair next year of the work
| of the Catholic Church in the United
States in the field of bettering and
elevating the masses through it's
schools, colleges, universities and
charitable institutions. The exhibit
will consist of books, maps, charts,
and statistics. 1t is now in course Of
preparation, and promises to be
revelation, not alone to Catholics, but
to all who are interested in this i'm
portant subject.
In his address to the American
hierarchy regarding the collection for
the Catholic university to be taken up
on the first Sunday in Advent, Car
dinal Gibbons points out that the
needs of the university are fully ap-
preciated by the holy father, as is
evident from the fact that one of the
earliest measures of his pontidcate is
in favor of the university, and that
his first communication to the hier-
archy Of the United States expresses
his: concern for the welfare of this
pontiical institution. The cardinal
then says:
"The reigning pontiff, no less than
his illustrious predecessor, realizes
keenly the necessity of so strengthen
ing our system of Catholic education
that the generosity of our people and
the devotion of our clergy in main
tanning elementary and secondary
schools may reach it's fitting consum-
nation in the work of the university.
That Catholics who have
contributed so freely to so many other
needs of the Church are ready in re-
spect to educational zeal to rival their
Catholic fellow citizens we may
take as an assured fact. Signal proofs
of this willingness have been given al
ready in the endowment by individ-
uals and by associations, of chairs in
our university, an evidence of generos-
ity which the holy see on various oc-
casions has greatly approved. But
in Justice to their founders and bene-
factors the work which they begun for
the benefit of the entire Catholic body
should now be brought to compile
tion by the united endeavor of all our
people, and thus every Catholic in
this country may feel direct and
personal interest in the university, it's
work and it's success. This work is of
such a nature that it must progress; it
cannot safely be allowed to remain
stationary. The university has a
plant and endowments amounting in
all to about $2,OOO,OOO, contributed by
the generosity of our clergy and laity.
1t is now necessary to make good
what has already been done, by add
ing such endowments as will COM
plete the faculties, meet extraordinary
expenses and place the institution on
a self-sustaining basis. For the
Church in our country to do this
would not require such an extraor-
dinary effort. And once fully equip
ped, the university would be source
of blessings innumerable for ages to
come to the young and vigorius
Church in the United States.''
For several years past there have
been no German students at the
Catholic university, but change in
this respect has taken place, and there
are now several Germans here pur-
suing their studies. They are chiefly
from the Western states.
| The much-desired uniformity of
method, studies and textbooks in our
parochial schools has not yet been
established. In this respect we are in
no better condition than the public
schools, but an effort in this direc-
ton is at least being made by our
j educational authorities, while the
public schools are sinking year after
year deeper into the mire of pedagogi-
cal vagaries. Great results are ex-
| pected from the publication of ii SERIES
| of textbooks for Catholic schools. by
the Catholic university. With the es-
| tablishment of a chair of American
| history, to be endowed shortly by the
Knights of Columbus, the work of
preparing a suitable history of this
country will Immediately be under
taken. That such history is needed
has been well known to all who have
examined into the subject. but es-
pecially to those who have had occa-
sion to teach it.
Rev. George A. Dougherty, for
many years assistant pastor of st.
Augustine's church, has been appoint
ed secretary and assistant to Mgr.
Dennis O'Connell, rector of the
Catholic university. He will enter
upon his duties Immediately. The ap-
pointment was made by Cardinal Glib
bons at the request of the rector.
whose duties at the university had
been becoming too multifarious.
Mistress Ito cook, who has dropped
the china bowl, and is crying): Don't
| cry, Bridget, YOu couldn't holm