The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1911-03-24
st. Charles College Burned.

st. Charles College Burned.
Fire completely destroyed St. Charles
College, preparatory institution for the
Catholic priesthood. The flames spread
so rapidly that within an hour after the
fire started nothing was left but the four
walls
The contents of the building were lost.
These included most of the effects of the
students, numbering more than 200, and
of the professors, of whom there were
thirty.
St. Charles College was one of the old.
est institutions of its kind in the country.
The building was of stone standing on
h'gh hill, about five miles west of ElIicott
City.
Driven by brisk wind, the fire rapidly
ate its way into the main building. The
fire apparatus at Ellicott City responded
to telephone call for assistance and
many farmers and others who were at
tracted by the blaze hurried to the aid Of
the fremen.
Among the famous alumni of the col.
lege are Cardinal Gibbons and Bishop
Corrigan. Nearly all of the priests of the
Diocese of Baltimore marticulated at the
college, and there have been nearly 900
alumni from the Institution.
Priceless manuscripts parchments and
paintings and a library of more than 49,
600 volumes fell prey to the flames.
The chapel, the only replica of AK la
Chapelle in this country. was DESTROYED.
The loss, estimated at more than S25o,-
900. is covered by insurance.
St. Charles College is one of the best
known institutions for the preparation of
young men for the priesthood in this
country 1t is conducted by priests of the
Society OF st. Sulpice, which originated
in France and the members of which de.
vote themselves exclusively to the train
ing of youth and young men for the
priesthood.
Residing in the college are about 23o
students and a score or more of profes
sors-Sulpician priests. and sisters
The students were from all parts of the
United States, and receive their classical
training, and are subject to such moral
discipline as is deemed advantageous for
young men of their calling.
St. Charles College owed its origin to
the zeal OF Archbishop Marechal, third
Archbishop of Baltimore. and to the gen
erosity of Charles Carroll of Carrollton,
one OF the signers of the Declaration of
Independence. These two philanthro-
pists decided that the exclusive object
was to be TO train candidates for the
priesthood. and the charter obtained from
Maryland said that the college was for
the education of pious young men of
the Catholic persuasion for the ministry
of the Gospel"
MIR. Car oil conveyed SIS. 34o and 253
acres from his own estate, slightly more
than five miles beyond Ellicott City. as
the foundation and home for the college
This tract has always been known as
"Mary's Lot, and the cornerstone of the
college was laid by Mr. Carroll and bless
ed by Archbishop Whitfield on July II.
1891. The first building, which was the
first TO be consumed in the fire, was fin
ished IN 1892 From time to time since
then other buildings have been erected
making all told complete structure
which was 368 feet in length and with
Us" on either end The west wing
which was SO badly burned that not even
the walls remained standing, was erected
in 1877.
The most beautiful part of the college,
however, was the chapel This was mod
eled after the famous Chapel of Ax-la-
Qhapelle in Paris, and was the only one
of its kind in this country. 1t was con-
sidered one OF the finest specimens of
Gothic architecture in America, and adj
mirers of the beautiful have travelled
many miles to see it. 1t was also of es-
pecal interest to the alumni. who were
proud of its beauty.
Ia the chapel were six large windows,
two of which had beer replaced only a
month ago with handsome memorial win
dows, costing $4,000 each. The other
four were to be replaced within a short
time.
Fathers w J. Kane and A. ]. Conlon
of this city are alumni of the institution.
On the faculty since the founding OF the
college have been many noted teachers.
One of the most renowned who died not
long ago, was Rev !. b. Tabb, who had
wide fame as The Poet of the South I"
The exact cause Of the fire is not
known; it was discovered in the furnace
room.
Contributions for the needs OF the col
lege are pouring in on Rev. DIR. Edward
r. Dyer, president Of ST. Mary's Semi
nary, Baltimore, who has charge of the
funds
Rev. f. X. McKenny, president Of the
college, is busy planning the erection Of a
new building to take the place OF the one
! DESTROYED.
Father Kane Of this city has extended
an invitation to some of tine homeless
professors to make their temporary home
at the rectory.
The Cardinal will, it is understood, is
sue pastoral letter to the clergy of this
archdiocese TO aid in the rebuilding OF
ST. Charles.
A large and enthusiastic audience was
nresent at the Womans College to enjoy