Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-04-25

| was assigned to the duty of editing ,the
proceedings and preparing a report for
publication. and in March. 1885. was ap-
pointed delegate to carry its DEGREES and
| recomme ndations to Rome. and. according
to an ancient custom, submit them for
the appreciation of the holy see. Bishops
Moore. Gilmour and Dwenger went to
Rome at the same time as representatives
| of the American episcopate. In recognf.
ton of his services Father O'Connell was
| advanced to the rank of monsignor.
In June, 1885 he assisted Archbshops
keane and Ireland in preparing the plans
| for the Catholic University of America
and in securing for them the Endorsement
| of the propaganda and the appreciation of
| the holy see. This was serious and
delicate matter because the establishment
of an institution of that kind was an en-
tirely new departure and involved. more
or less. the interests of all the other
Roman Catholic educational institutions
| in the United States. The plan of or
ganizatiOn. the curriculum of studies. the
standards of scholarship. the require
ments for degrees and other problems
were satisfactorily arranged. and re-
ceived the cordial approval of his holi-
ness the pope and the curia.
Having completed these duties Mgr
O'COnnell was appointed rector of the
American College at Rome. which. next
to the Catholic University of America is
the most important institution of learn
| ing under the care of the Roman Cath
Ole Church in this country. He could
not assume the duties of that office until
| the spring of 1886. when he had COM
pleted editing and printing the records
and legislation of the third plenary coun-
Gil And. In the meantime he was called
l.by his eminence Cardinal Gibbons to as
sist in settling the relations. of the church
to the Knights of Labor Mgr. OConfell
tamade thorough investigation Of the af-
| fairs and influence of that organization
and. upon his report, the action of the
| cardinal was based.
Rector of College in Rome.
AS rector of the American College Mgr.
O'Connell paid off all the debts of the
institution. increased it's endowment pro-
V1ded for larger number of students ar
| ranged better accommodations for their
physical comfort. secured additional life
scholarships and placed the institution
upon prosperous and permanent basis
During this period he was frequently
called on to serve the Catholic Church in
America In very important matters be-
cause 1t has no representative in the Sa-
cred College at Rome and the rector of
the American College in that city is al
ways selected as the medium of commu-
n1catlon In matters relating to American
affairs.
In 1892 the Congress of the United
States passed a resolution requesting his
holiness Leo XIII to cause the archives
of the church to be examined for the
purpose of determining controversy
that had been raging for a century or
more concerning the pre-COlumbian dis
cover1es of America. and an envoy was
sent to Rome by President Harrison to
present that request to the pope Mgr.
OConnell used his powerful influence to
secure the granting of the request and, as
consequence. the records of the church
from the tenth to the fourteenth CEN
oSo H{v,n1 Inv,
scholars and very interesting and impor-
tant disclosures were made concerning
the establishment and maintenance of
bishopric In Greenland as early as the
twelfth century.
Every cardinal. no matter where he
lives. has titular parish in Rome. Car.
dlnal Gibbons Is pastor of the ancient
Church Of Santa Maria of Trastevere, in
the ancient part of the Holy city To
represent him and to perform his pas
toral duties the cardinal always appoints
vicar, and Cardinal Gibbons selected
Mgr. O'Connell for this office when the
latter was relieved as rector of the Amer
lean College. He served in that capacity
until April. 1903 when he was appointed
rector of the Catholic University of Amer
lea. at Washington.
Rector of the University.
His administration has been remarkably
successful and satisfactory. He has es-
eoOiASHCu SCSSId al HCW departments, re-
organized the methods of instruction. in
creased the number of students to about
five hundred and has succeeded in awak-
ening a general interest in the university
throughout the country Immediately
after his arrival in Washington Mgr
OConnell discovered that the finances of
the institution were not in a satisfactory
condition. Its entire endowment was in
the hands of the late Thomas E. Wagga-
man, who had been treasurer from the
beginning without giving bonds or any
security whatever At the rector's sug-
gestion a committee, consisting of Mr..
Michael Jenkins, Baltimore banker:
Charles ]. Bonaparte. now Attorney Gen.
eral: Michael Cudahy of Omaha and Mr..
Waggaman himself. was appointed by the
board Of trustees to make an inventory
Of the assets Of the institution and to
see that every dollar was advantageously
invested and permanently secured.
This investigation resulted in the terri
BILE disclosures concerning Mr.. Wagga-
mans breach of trust, and was imme-
diately followed by his bankruptcy Steps
were taken to secure the university
against loss and make it a preferred
creditor; but the matter is still in litiga-
ton. Under DR.. O'Connelrs energetic
administration. however. the endowments
have been restored almost to the original
amount by new contributions from the
Catholic citizens of the country. and Its
finances are now in a satisfactory condi-
ton.
DIR. O'Connell is president Of the Cath
Ollie Educational Association OF the coun-
try, an organization intended to advance
the welfare and secure cooperation
among the schools and colleges under the
care of the church. He takes an active
interest in other movements relating to
education art. archaeology and other
sciences and is vice president and an
active member of the Washington Insti-
tute of Archaeology.