The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1914-05-02
TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY

The meeting of the board of trust
ees of the Catholic University took
place on Wednesday morning, April
20. at 10 o'clock, and those attend
ing were: His Eminence, Cardinal
Gibbons; Most Rev. Sebastian G.
Messmer, Archbishop of Milwaukee;
Most Rev. John j. Glennan, Arch
bishop of Saint Louis; Most Rev.
James H. Blenk, Archbishop of New
Orleans; Most Rev. Edmond F.
Prendergast. Archbishop of Phila-
delphia; Most Rev. James j. Keane,
Archbishop of Dubuque; Right Rev.
Camillus P. Macs, Bishop of Coving-
ton; Right Rev. John S. Foley, Bish-
op of Detroit; Right Rev. Thomas ].
Shahan, Rector of the University;
! Mr.. Michael Jenkins of Baltimore,
Md; The Honorable Thomas Kerns,
and Mr.. Waltar George Smith, of
Philadelphia.
Many important matters were dis
cussed, and the budget for the COM
ing year was made up.
The Board decided to build at once
a new Chemical Laboratory, at cost
Of $15O.O0O, and which will be $50
feet long by SO feet broad, and three
stories in height. This laboratory
will be ready, in part at least, for the
opening of the scholastic year, and
will be fitted up with everything
necessary for the best under-gradu-
ate work in chemistry, and particu-
larly for research work of the high
est kind. Ample provisions are made
for every demand of chemical sci
ence, and in the construction of the
new building the best experience of
the latest high-grade research labora-
tories will be utilized. The con-
struction of the building and its
equipment will be under the person
al supervision of the Very Rev. John
J. Griffin, professor of chemistry at
the Catholic University.
The trustees unanimously ex-
pressed themselves as very highly
satisfied with the rapid and solid
progress Of the university, both in
the number of students and the
quality and efficiency of the new
buildings.
The Catholic University is about
finishing its school year, which has
been without question the most sue
cessful in its history in every respect.
Visitors seeing the university for the
first time. are amazed at the num-
Der of large, impressive buildings,
each one representing religious or
der, and all affiliated with the uni
versity proper, for the higher educa-
ton and religious training of its per-
sonnet. Nowhere in the world is the
faculty of any educational institution
on higher plane of. efficiency than
here, and the trustees have endeav-
ored and succeeded in obtaining pro-
fessors-clergy or laymen-of the
highest ability.
To Monsignor Thomas ]. Shahan,
its present rector, is due much Gre
dit for the present excellent status
Of this educational center.
Still in the prime of life and
blessed with good health, Doctor Sha-
han has had wide career of much
experience. He was born at Man
chester, New Hampshire. on Septem-
Der IL, 1857, and in 1872 was a
student at Montreal College, Canada.
He afterwardse attended and re-
-ceived degrees from the American
College in Rome, the Roman Sem:n-
airy. and the University of Berlin. He
was ordained to the priesthood in
1882. and from 1883 to 1888, he was
chancellor and secretary of the do
cese of Hartford. For the eight years
previous to 1909 he was professor of
church history and pathology at the
Catholic University, and for the last
five years he has been its rector.
DR.. Shahan is undoubtedly one of
the finest scholars on historic sub
jects in the world, and it may be
safely said that his knowledge, par
ticularly of the early church history,
puts him in the first rank of histori-
ans. Added to this is a deep, re-
ligious piety and real enthusiasm
regarding all things touching the
church.
Regarding the future of the Cath
ole institution devoted to higher
education on the Western continent
The phenomenal growth of the
University under his leadership is
the highest testimonial to his execu.
tive ability. for not only has the
institution itself grown, but the Sis
tesr college has been added, which
4 keeps the doors of the universit,
open all the year around.
In addition to his many duties, DR.
4 Shahan has found time for much lit
erary work, and is the author of Thu
B Blessed Virgin in the Catacombs
4 The Beginnings of Christianity; TIL,
House Of God, and other Addresses
I, and Studies. He is also one of tn,
4 associate editors of the Catholic En-