Evening star., 1928-09-09
CATHOL|CU. OPENS
TERM ON SEPT. 25.
New Rector Will Be in CHARGE
and Mullen Library
Will Be Open.

pointed rector, its first change in it
administrative head in 18 years, an
with the opening of its new $500.00
library building, the Catholic Univer
sity of America will launch its 1892
academic year Tuesday, September "a
at 9 am.
Right Rev. James Hugh Ryan, S. 7
D., who was appointed rector following
the resignation last Spring of Righ
Rev. Thomas j. Shahan, S. T. D., aftei
1S years at the institutions helm
moved to his residence at the univer'
sity last week to take over the admin
istration. Tuesday, September Is, ha'
been set as the entrance date fol-
freshmen and Friday, September q
has been announced as the day oi
registration for students in the semi
nary course.
Lectures in its six colleges, the
School of Sacred Sciences, School cl
Canon Law, School of Law. School oi
Philosophy. School OF Letters and
School of Sciences viii begin Wednes-
ing of the ace mic year will be OBJ
served at 10:30 O'Clock Sunday morn
ing, September 30. when the mass OF
the Holy Ghost will be solemnized.
The new John K. Mullen of Denver
Memorial Library, completed last Spring
on the university campus. will be used
for the first time during the coming
term. Thousands of volumes already
have been moved into the structure
which provides space for 100000 vol
tunes. The buildings reading room
offers facilities for consultation and
study and provision for the accommo-
dation of graduate students and other
persons engaged in research. The IL
brary building. as its name implies. was
donated by John K. Mullen, one If the
UniverSity's henef3 ntors.
The new John K. Mullen of Denver
Memorial Library Building will cost
when completed about S1,0O0,000. It is
designed to hold all the libraries of the
university, which now number nearly
100000 volumes. 1t has several note
worthy special collections, including q
magnificent collection of theological
books of $4,000 volumes received through
the efforts of Bishop Shahan. rector
from 1909 to 1923, and general library
Of 10000 volumcs donated by him: =
library of 10000 volumes on South
America, Portuguese and Spanish his
tories and literatures donated by the
former Brazilian diplomat. DR.. Manoel
de Oliveira Lima. who devoted his life
20 this collection: a library IF 20 900
volumes on Oriental Christian literature
donated by Rev. DR.. Henry Hyvernat
Of the faculty; library Of 1200n
volumes of Americana, most of them
extremely rare. collected and donated
by Right Rev. Mgr. Arthur Connolly OF
Boston
The Catholic University of America
was established in 1887. but the move
ment which resulted in its foundation
had its inception several decades earlier.
The establishment of an institution of
higher learning in the United States
under the direction of the American
hierarchy was suggested at various
times toward the middle of the last
century. Before the Civil War Catholics
Of the Potomac region and beyond
hoped for the establishment here of a
Catholic cathedral on an extensive
scale. A university of high rank. in
which both clergy and laity might have
opportunity for the highest intellectual
development, was considered also. Dut
It was not until the second Plenary
Council of Baltimore. 1866. that a
formal expression was given to the de-
sire of the bishops that there should
exist in this country university in
which all branches of literature and
science both sacred and profane, should
be taught. For many years develop
fnent of the idea did not pass beyond
the stage of discussion.
The third Plenary Council of Balti-
more. meeting in November, 1884, how
ever, was in a position to assume more
positive attitude Miss Mary GweDdo-
line Caldwell offered 100000 for the
purpose of establishing a university.
Her gift was accepted by the Arch
bishop of Baltimore. and an organiza-
ton for the purpose was Immediately
formed. On May z. 1885, committee
chosen by the council decided to name
the institution the Catholic University
Of America Its national scope having
thus been decided upon, 1t followed
quite naturally that the committee
should plan to place it in the National
Capital The Middleton estate. of about
10 acres, near the Soldiers Home
grounds was acquired October 81. 1856.
Rev. DR.. John J. Keane was chosen
rector, and accompanied Archbishop
ireland to Rome with a draft of the
constitution for perusal and approval
of the Pope. Canonical approval by
Pope 60 XIII was obtained on April
10, 1Sh, and in the same year charter
was ontI ned under the general incor-
poration laws of the District of Co.
1umbia.
The first 30 years witnessed such
rap.i growth. it was found necessary to
draft new constitution. This was ap-
proved by the Holy See on July "a.
1926, and new charter. granted by
special act of Congress, was approved
by President Coolidge April 3, 1923.
Ground was broken for the first build
ing. Caldwell Hall, in 1886. and the
building was completed in 1882 The
corner stone was laid on Thursday. May
"a. 1888, by His Eminence Cardinal
Gibbons. The dedication took place
Wednesday, November l3. 1889 Grover
Cleveland. President of the United
States, attended the laying of the cor
f1er stone, and his successor. President
Benjamin Harrison, attended the dedi-
cation of the building. Archbishops and
bishops of the United States. also from
Canada. Mexico and England. who had
attended the centenary in Baltimore.
came to take part in the Inauguration
of the university.
The faculty of theology was organ
ized. with Mgr Joseph Schroeder. D. D.
as its first dean. and the administration
of Divinity College was placed in charge
of the Sulpician Fathers.
On April 8. 1891. the New York prop
critics given by Very Rev. Mgr. James
Mcmahon of New York. for the eX-
pressed purpose of establishing schools
of philosophy. letters and science. be-
came available to the trustees Of the
Catholic University. Thus the institu-
ton was able to add the lay schools
The corner stone of Mcmahon Hall was