Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1913-01-04
Erected to Commemorate Double
Jubilee of an American
Cardinal.
VIII Long Remain Monumental
Testimonial to Catholic
Education.
BUILDING IS MOST COMPLETE

the grounds of the Catholic Uni
versity of America at Washington,
ID. c., is nearly completed, and the
date of its dedication will be an
nounced very soon, being probably
about the second week in April. 1t
was erected to commemorate the
golden jubilee of Cardinal Gibbons
ordination to the priesthood, June
80, 1861, and the silver jubilee of
his Cardinalate, June 80, 1885. The
building is midway between the main
entrance to the grounds and Albert
Hall. and consists of central
tower and two wings running from
same. in the directions east and west.
The west wing of the basement is
fitted up with all accommodations
and conveniences for visiting athletic
teams. The wing running east con-
tains a chapel, complete in all its
appointments, and for the special
use of students and visitors.
The main hall occupies the height
of the first and second stories, and
will be used for receptions, recrea-
ton room for the students, offices,
etc. On the side facing the campus
is the main entrance, reached by a
flight of steps seventeen feet wide.
The vestibule is enclosed by carved
oak panelled screen work and loaded
glass lights. On the side OF the hall
opposite the main entrance is large
fireplace and Caen stone mantel
twenty feet high, of elaborate Gothic
design. In a part of the wall space
on either side of it are two large
twelve-light mullioned and traceried
windows, filled in with specially de-
signed loaded Cathedral and
Venetian glass work. In the center
of each light and in glass decoration
are twelve shields, each containing
an emblem of one of the apostles.
In the center of the other two
wall spaces or sides of hall are
double-doors leading into the cor
ridors of wings. On either side of
these doors are handsomely carved
and traceried stalls with openwork
canopies. On the back panel Of each
stall division, sixteen in number,
will be placed flat bronze tablets in
the shape of decorative shields ana
inscribed with the names OF the
benefactors of this memorial build
ing.
The ceiling of the hall is richly
coffered and moulded, and from
five of the main panellings will hang
specially designed Gothic electric
light fixtures of fire gilt bronze. That
portion of the walls above the top
lines OF stalls and canopies over
other oepnings will be covered with
Spanish leather of a character form
ing a suitable background for decora-
tive paintings. One magnificent oil
painting has already been presented
by the Hon. John ID. Crimmins, oil
New York The subject is the death
Of Leo XII. 1t was painted by
Marquise de Wentworth, and is OF
particular interest in that the fig
ures are all portraits.
The three upper stories Of each
wing are arranged for students
rooms, and are fitted up with every
modern convenience. In the west
wing are the administrators rooms
and offices. Above the main en-
trance is the. inscription Gibbons
Memorial Hail." and in the orlel
windows above is a canopied niche
which will contain an heroic size
statue of the Cardinal. the bronze
outside standard lights at the main
entrance stoop and the hanging
bracket lights over the entrances to
wings are specially designed for this
building, and are the gift OF M. j.
Gibbons, of Dayton, Ohio.
It remains doubtful whether any
churchman in any time or country
has, through his crystal personality
alone, received the universal homage
accorded Cardinal Gibbons In his
later days. The laying OF the cor
nerstone of the Gibbons Memorial
Hall was a simple and Impressive
ceremony Cardinal (then Arch
bishop) Farley, in the course OF his
notable address said
"If today the Catholic University
stands forth before the world a
thing of beauty and of fairest prom
Use. fairer and more prosperous than
at any time in her history, no longer
a source of painful anxiety not only
for its future but for its very exist
ence. IL is, under God, wholly due TO
the indomitable labor Of His Emin-
ence Cardinal Gibbons"
Built from the contributions OF
Catholics from all over the country,
the Memorial Hall will long remain
a monumental testimonial or the
eager love of the people OF his gener-
alton for Cardinal Gibbons.