Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-04-14
CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY
Chair Of American History
Endowed.
KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS
THE DONORS WITH CHECK FOR
$5c, 600.
Great Demonstration in Front Of Nc
Mahon Hall - Eloquent Addresses
by Cardinal Gibbons and Others.

With imposing ceremony. before an as
semblage which included the most distin-
guished dignitaries of the Catholic Church
of America, on the campus at the Catholic
University, yesterday afternoon Supreme
Knight e. L. Hearn of the knights of Co
lumbus formally presented to Cardinal Glib
bons, chancellor of the Catholic University,
check for $4,000, the voluntary contribu
ton of the members of the order, for the
establishment of chair of secular Amer
lean history in the university. More than
1O,O0O people were gathered before the
platform erected in front of Mcmahon Han
when the presentation took place, and the
patriotism and loyalty displayed by the
entire audience inspired the orators on the
stand to unusual flights of eloquence. The
presentation marked the elimination of
movement begun five years ago, having
for its purpose the establishment of such
a chair in the university, with view to
giving the students of the institution an
opportunity to secure an unbiased history
of the United States. For years past CON-
plants have been made of the existing MS
tories owing to the prejudices of the his
torians, which, 1t is said, frequently col
ored facts in such a way as to give an en-
tirely different meaning to the essential
detail.
The First Suggestion.
At convention of the Knights of Co
lumbus in New Haven, Conn, five years
ago the suggestion was made by Right Rev.
P. J. Garrigan, DID,, then vice rector or
the university, that the knights could do
no better deed than to endow a chair of
American history in the university in this
city. He spoke eloquently of the value OF
such an endowment. Mr.. John ]. Delaney,
one of the prominent members OF the order,
took the matter in hand and gave the move
ment it's first impetus. The entire ORDER
was aroused throughout the country ana
as a result voluntary subscriptions to the
fund the amount of which was fixed at
$4,000, soon came pouring in to the omcers
appointed to receive it. The FUND sWeiied
until short time ago the requisite amount
was reached The members of the order
desired to simply send the check to the
university officials without unnecessary dls-
play. But as the presentation marked the
opening of new era In the educatlonai
world it was decided that the presentation
of the gift should be accompanied by an
appropriate ceremony. Thus 1t was that
the knights of Columbus and their ladies',
from every section Of the country, gathered
on the campus of the university in front
of Mcmahon Hall yesterday afternoon at
o'clock to witness the presentatio and
to listen to the addresses by the distinguish
ed prelates and officers of the order.
The supreme council of the order the
distinguished guests and the trustees and
faculty of the university occupied seats on
a stand which had been built directly In
front of the entrance to Mcmahon Hall.
The robes of the officers of the church.
shading from the brilliant scarlet of the
cardinal through the more subdued tones
of the bishops and archbishops' raiment
to the somber hues of the cassocks of the
priest and the formal attire of the lafty.
grouped as they were beneath the flag and
bunting draped sides of the stand formed
a picturesque scene. American flags and
white and gold the colors Of the papacy,
,,a.~a t,tro of he
ton. Not the least prominent object on
the stand was the immense check ten feet
long and four feet wide, signed by thou
sand names, engrossed on white satin. Ihe
check was drawn the Union Trust Com
pany of Providence, r. L., payable to the
order of the Catholic University. At the
top of the check were two crossed flags
beneath which was engrossed knights of
Columbus"
Those on the Platform.
Those on the stand at the time of the
presentation were:
His Eminence James Cardinal Gibbons,
Archbishop Elder of Cincinnati, the Rt.
Rev. P. j. Garrigan, bishop of Sioux
City; Mgr. O'Connell, rector of the Catholic
University; Archbishop Ryan of Philadel-
phia. Archbishop Farley of New York;
Archbishop Ireland of ST. Paul, Archbishop
Keane of Dubuque, former rector of the
university.
Archbishop Glennan of st. Louis, Bishop
Spalding of Peoria, Bishop Horstmann of
Cleveland, Bishop Macs of Covington, Bish-
op Foley Of Detroit. Archbishop Chapelle of
New Orleans, Archbishop Riordan of San
Francisco. Ri. Rev. Matthew Harkins. bish-
op of Providence, and rtev. D. J. Stafford of
this city.
DR.. Graham DR.. Griffin. DR.. Robinson.
DR. Shea, Prof. Place, Prof Shahan, Prof.
Egan Prof. Hyrernat, Prof. E. L. Greene,
Prof. Mcclure. Prof Boiling. Prof. Melody,
Prof. Neil1, Prof. Zahn, Prof. Hassett,
Prof. Heaiey, Prof Shields Prof. Aiken
and Prof. Creagh, representing the faculty
of the university
Edward l.. Hearn, supreme knight; P. L.
McArdle, deputy supreme knight; Daniel
Colwell, national secretary; P. j. Brady,
national treasurer; James E. Mcconnell.
national advocate; Rev. P. ]. Mckinney,
national chaplain; James A. Flaherty, Phil
adelphia, Pa; William ]. Mccullough, Dav-
export, Iowa; George F. MONAGHAN. De-
Brooklyn. N. Y; Joseph C. Pelletier. Bos-
ton, Mass; Daniel ]. Callahan Norfolk.
Va William 8. MeNary, Boston. Mass;
Charles A. Weber Brooklyn. n Y; Hugh
" O'Donnell, Providence, r. l.; James A.
Burns. Orange, N. j.. and Joseph E. Smith,
M D., Brooklyn. N. Y, representing the
Knights of Columbus.
On small stand beside that on which
those named were placed the Marine Band
was stationed.
Mr.. Hearn's Presentation.
The exercises Of the afternoon were opened
by the playing Of the, Star Spangled Ban
ner," after which the. invocation was pro-
nounced by Archbishop Ryan Of Philadel-
phia The formal presentation of the
check was then made, by Supreme Knight
Hearn to Cardinal Gibbons Mr. Hearn
said the occasion was memorable indeed,
not because of the particular transaction
about to be completed. but rather because
of the great potentiality of the mistaken
faith the members Of the order and of the
church generally have in the realization of
all the expected benefits therefrom, Com
tinuing Mr. Hearn said:
I'm this age of rampant fndividualism,
all claims of wholesome nature are liable
to be ignored. We incline. by reason Of
our strictly commercial and religionless
training, to insincerity, ostentation and in
tolerance of the rights. and claims OF others,
and against this Condition we must
strengthen and fortify ourselves by the ac-
QUESTION of the truth. We must acquire
knowledge, which mans moral sense de-
mands, for knowledge resting on the solid
Foundation of fact, begets consistency
1T is anomalous, to say the least, that
a ,ndition detrimental to Catholics and
C&iholic interests. which prevailed In the
early days of this country, should be per-