The Washington herald., 1909-06-10

The Aula Maxima OF Mcmahon Hall.
Catholic University. was filed yesterday
morning with q representative audience
composed OF relatives and friends OF the
faculty and students.
II was the first public function at the
university at which DR.. shahan has pre-
sided since his appointment as rector,
and he was given a roUsing reception
The platform was occupied By the mem
bers Of the faculty clad in their black
Oxford gowns. some having touches Of
scarlet. others OF yellow. indicating the
various degrees they had won. Back OF
the platform hangs a splendid portrait
OF the late Pope Leo XIII. and on the
right q full-iength. life-size portrait Of
our first President. Gen George Wash
ington. both OF them draped with Ameri-
can flags.
The candidates for degrees IN philosophy
were presented by Rev. William J. Kerby.
professor OF sociology degrees IN law.
Hon William J. Robinson; degrees IN
theology. Rev. Joseph T. Creagh: degree
Of bachelor OF arts. Rev. J. J. Griffin.
The diplomas and degrees were conferred
upon the candidates by Very Rev. Thomas
J. shahan. rector OF the university.
DR.. Shahan's Address
Following the conferring OF degrees. Dr.
Shahan made The address TO the grad
uates, iR which after paying tribute 10
the successful administration Of his pre-
decessor in Office. Bishop O'ConneM. he
called attention 20 the fact that with the
present year the university was closing
the second decade o. its existence.
In the last twenty years. he said. very
much had been accomplished The uni
versity had found Northeast Washington.
an undeyeIoped section. Gradually this
section had developed in contact with the
life and work az the university anti now
Brookland and Bloomingdale are rightly
accounted among the most desirable parts
OF the city.
Washington now really touches the
very gates OF the university" he added.
"and Il IS not improbable that IN the
next ten years the institution VIII be
well within the lines OF the clty's resi-
dental quarters. In a way Il reminds the
observer Of the manner IN which many
towns o. medieval Europe developed
around the huge bulk of abbey or ca
thedraL Twenty years ago only Divinity
Hall lifted its head above the summer
foliage. whereas to-day many beautiful
buildings grace the grounds OF the uni
versity and its immediate vicinity
More important. however. Is the actual
development OF the university-its intrtn-
SIC growth. the realization OF the purpose
for which II was established. It's profes-
sors have Grown from four % thirty-two.
and its students have Increased IN pro
portion. Being primarily a graduate
school. II does not aim Immediately al
great number OF students. and Is content
20 let the student body Increase naturally
from year 10 year. This IS actually the
case. and the university now counts about
Is registered students. OF whom eighty
five are lay students. partly graduate.
partly undergraduate. Il may be well 10
note that the great Catholic University OF
Louvain IN Belgium. the finest OF its kind
in the world. began some seventy or
eighty years ago with only thirteen pro
fessors and eighty-siN students and for
the first ten years OF Its existence grew
slowly. indeed. despite the fact that IL
was located IN the heart % an almost en-
tirely Catholic population.
The academic work OF the university
during these decades apart from the daily
round OF instruction has been a work OF
careful and conscientious systematic
tton- To-day that work stands fairly well
completed in the FIVE great university
schools of theology. philosophy law, let
ters, and sciences. AS we look about Us
We may truly say that we have built a
sacred city OF studies destined with every
decade 70 widen its circle OF influence.
and eventually 10 be in the catholic life
Of our fatherland Ike a city built upon
a mountain These schools have gradual
" been fitted out with an excellent equip
ment. IN several cases not inferior 10 that
OF some of our best American universi-
ties,
A Valuable Library.
An admirable library has been created
containing some $500 volumes. and In
Guiding the professors libraries, Is much
nearer 80 900 volumes-no small achieve
ment IN two decades Of existence. Nu-
merous degrees have been earned IN these
schools by earnest and diIigent students.
and graduates OF the university are found
IN almost every State OF the Union. From
all quarters come honorable testimonies
70 their upright lives, their scholarly
qualities. and their devotion 10 the best
civic ideals. The Catholic University is
extremely proud OF her graduates, among
WlOm Sne counts EWO DlSnODS. not 70
speak OF the high oflces IN the service of
church and state that have been attained
by several OF her graduates
The Catholic University has enjoyed
the generous and affectionate direction OF
two great Popes. Leo XIII and Plus Y.
L is in them and their successors that
the University places its chief hope OF
attaining the fullness OF its calling AS
every one knows, it Is an institution at
once peculiarly American and peculiarly
pontihcaL In other words. il is & school
which hopes 70 see one day realized IN
the fullest measure all the ideals OF our
Incompatible American state and al the
ideals OF the papacy in its relations 10
the welfare Of Christian mankind
At the conclusion OF the exercises the
members Of the graduating class. alumni.
and faculty. and a number OF distln-
guished guests were entertained by DR..
Shahan at a banquet in Caldwell Hall
Dr. Shahan viii leave tomorrow for
New York and VIII sail for Europe on
Saturday on the steamer Cedric. OF the
White Star Line.