Evening star., 1928-03-25
BISHOP SHAHAN
WILL RETIRE SOON
Catholic U. Head Completes
Official Term Wednesday.
Alumni Plan Honor.

BISHOP Sild1aD. WHO 1dS USeIi n HletIl~
ber of the faculty Of the Catholic Uni
versity for the past 81 years. and for
the last 10 years rector, completes his
official term in that Office next Wed
nesday, but will remain in administra-
tive charge until his successor is ap-
pointed, probably before the end OF the
present scholastic year.
In appreciation of the unprecedented
growth OF the Catholic University unde.
his administration, and his even wider
service throughout the entire field ..
Catholic education. the Clerical Alumni
Association OF the university has al
ranged for testimonial banquet on
April IL. TO which the ecclesiastical
alumni from all parts OF the country
have been invited. as we'll as the fac
uitv of the university and the Wash
ington play alumni.
Because of his upbuilding OF the uni
versity. Bishop Shahan has been in.
vited by the board of trustees to con-
tinue indefinitely in direct charge OF
the erection OF the National Shrine OF
the Immaculate Conception on the uni
versity campus. and to be special ad-
wiser in carrying out the building pro-
gram for the entire university group
which he inaugurated.
Besides his achievements as an
educator and administrator. Bishop
Shahan has the distinction of being
one OF the ablest writers on doctrinal
problems.
Proud of Undergraduate School.
The work in which Bishop Shahan
takes the greatest pride Is the growth
of the undergraduate department at
the university. which he created and To
which he has devoted personal and
fatherly care. When he first came to
the University he found o5 young lay
students In Albert Hall. most OF whom
had come for graduate studies. He de-
cided that the best way to build up a
graduate school was To offer prepara-
tory training to an undergraduate
body. The undergraduate school now
numbers about 500 students from every
State In the Union Meantime there
are nearly 100 graduate students.
Under his administration the uni
versity property has been enlarged
from 10 10 3T0 acres and about 30
buildings Colleges Of various religious
orders centering about the university
have increased In number from to
20. Besides this there are other large
institutions now affiliated with the uni
vers!ty. such as Trinity College. the
Catholic Sisters College. the Sulpician
Seminary. Basselin College and the
National Catholic School OF Social
Service.
Bishop Shahan has built four of the
large university halls Gibbons. Grad
uate, 81. Johns and Engineering Hall.
also the Maloney Chemical Laboratory.
the Mullen Library the gymnasium. the
stadium and the Crypt of the National
Shrine. In all. nine buildings at an ex-
pense Of about $500. 900, most OF
which he collected himself.
Through his efforts the University
library has been enlarged from 10000
To 100000 volumes, with many in
cunabula and other old and rare vol
times of almost incalculable value.
He was one OF the founders of Trinity
College and OF the Sisters College, and
created Basselin College.
One Of Bishop Shahans earliest
works at the university was as editor
for 10 years of the Catholic University
Bulletin, by which the university for
years reached the Catholic people, He
was one OF the five editors of the Ca no.
lie Encyclopedia, and of Its extension
the Universal knowledge Foundation
He has contributed often to the Catho-
lie reviews and In the Bulletin reviewed
literally hundreds OF learned historical
works.
He has been president Of the National
Catholic Educational Association from
Its foundation, and of the National
Catholic Charities Conference, and of
the international Federation OF Catho-
lie Alllmnae
VIII Reside In Capital
Some OF Bishop Shahans best known
writings include: The Blessed Virgin
"A las
Rattista de Rosst" $4,000: The Rerln-
ming of Christianity" tig0al; "The Mid
die Ages" tl90Al: "The House of God
and Other Addresses aud Studies"
tl00ol and st Patrick in History
$1,000. lie also translated from the
German BArdenhewer'S Lives and
Writings OF the Early Fathers"
For 90 years he has been devon,
servant OF the Holy See. from which he
has received frequent and honora bic
recognition He has known personally
the last four pones and has often visited
Rome and Italy, with whose treasures al
art and architecture he has close ac.
Quaintanee
bishop Shahan will continue Ia reside
In Washington, making his home ON The
grounds or Holy Cross Academy. 10
whose sisters he was chaplain for many
years
Bishop ahahan was born In Man-
chester. N H., II years ago He studied
al Montreal College and the American
College In Rome aud ~ years ago won
the degree ot doctor Of theology from
the Propaganda College al Rome, when
he WAS only 10 years old In iaap the
Roman Seminary granted him the de-
gree Llcentlate In Roman and Canon
law, Later he spent two years at the
University ot Berlin and al the New
sorhonnn and the Institute Catholiaue
In Paris
In 1893 ne was appointed chancellor
and secretary of the diocese nf Hart
Imd. Conn He joined the Catholic
University Eanulty In iani tie leelnred
during 1909 and 1908 On the hiatnry nf
education at the cathnlie University
Institute nj Pedagogy New York. He In
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