Evening star., 1939-02-19
Fifty Years Ago
In The Star


tennial anniversary, and
in honor Of the occasion
College The Star in its issue Of
Sentenniol February 16 printed
profusely illustrated two-page advance
story about the institution and those
connected with its founding and develop
ment. The Introductory paragraphs of
the story follow, in part:
las the centennial celebration of
Georgetown College takes place Wednes-
day, a sketch of this, the most celebrated
Catholic institution of learning in this
country, is believed to be timely, and it
will, no doubt. be read with interest.
From time to time bits of news in regard
to the centennial have been published in
The Star. but only the committees who
have had charge Of the details have any
real idea of the magnitude Of the pro-
posed celebration. Former graduates of
the college will come from every section
of the Union to participate in the cere-
monies, and former members of the
faculty, who are now engaged in other
labors, will also be present to give inter-
cises with the highest ecclesiastical dig
nifty, Cardinal Gibbons will come from
Baltimore to confer the degrees in the
ology.
Although Georgetown will now only
celebrate its Tooth anniversary, the idea
of establishing Catholic seat of learn
ing in this locality was first broached in
1888 by Father Ferdinand Poulton who
wrote the English provincial of the Jesuit
order on the subject, and received en-
couraging permission to proceed in the
execution of his project. This resulted in
the establishment of school at Calver-
ton Manor, the nome of Lord Baltimore,
in 1910, but four years after the estab-
lishment of the Harvard University at
Cambridge, Mass Another school was
established at Newtown Manor in 1877,
but the one at Bohemia Manor in Cecil
County, Md, in 1740, by the Rev. Thomas
Poulton, was the direct predecessor of the
college at Georgetown.
Father John Carroll, afterWard the
first bishop and then the first Archbishop
of Baltimore, was the founder of George
town College, and the history of the
genesis of the college is story of Father
CAROLS life. He was the son of Daniel
Carroll, who, with his father, Charles
Carroll, had emigrated to this country
from Ireland in 1880. The family ac-
quired large tracts of land in Maryland,
and Daniel Carroll settled at Upper
Marlboro, Prince Georges County, where,
To, 179E Inv, l.
He was sent to school at the age of II at
the Jesuit School at Bohemia Manor,
Cecil County. OF this school, which, as
has been said, may be considered the
predecessor of Georgetown College, not
trace remains Among his schoolmates
here was his cousin, the afterward fam
GUS Charles Carroll of Carrollton, one of
the signers of the Declaration of Inde-
pendence. The two young CAROLS, with
a companion, Robert Brent of Aqua
Greek, Stafford County, Va, were sent
to st. Omers in French Flanders in 1747
to finish their education. After six years
at this college, John Carroll, in 1753
entered the novitiate of the Society of
Jesus at Watten. His novitiate was COM
pleted in 1755, when he was sent to Liege
to finish his course in philosophy and
theology. He was ordained to the priest
hood in 1859, and was sent first to teach
at st. Omer's and afterward to Liege as
professor of philosophy, thus acquiring
practical experience in the work of
teaching, to which he afterward gave so
many years of his life at Georgetown.
Father Carroll returned to America
and to his home on Rock Greek, just
above Georgetown, in 1774, and there he
lived with his mother for many years.
He was an ardent patriot during the
Revolution and had great influence
among the Catholics Of Maryland and
Virginia"