Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-11-10
Msgr. Mccormick Takes Office
Formally as Catholic u. Rector
Leaders Of Hierarchy Attend Installation;
Priest and 10y Alumni Hail Appointment

Msgr. Patrick ]. Mccormick, act
ing rector of Catholic University
since last June. began his duties as
rector today following his installa-
ton yesterday afternoon. The cere-
mony was attended by brilliantly
robed leaders of the Catholic hier-
archy in this country and represent
atives OF leading educational insti-
tutions. Previously Msgr McCor-
mick had served as acting rector
from November Is, 1885, to March
81, 1886
The Oldest cleric in point Of serv-
ice on the staff OF the Catholic Uni
versity, Msgr. Mccormick came to
the university in September, 1910.
Priest and lay alumni of Catholic
University hailed his appointment
by Pope Plus XII as happy augury
for the university. He is the first
c. u. alumnus to be chosen for the
highest educational honor conferred
by the holy see.
Archbishop CurIey Speaks.
Many cause; are being assigned
for the present world conflict but
we are convinced that denial OF
God and His revelation is the princi-
pal one Archbishop Michael j.
Curley Of the Baltimore and Wash
ington Archdiocese and chancellor
OF the university said in charging
the faculty and its new rector to
be alive to the immediate as well
as to the abiding needs Of both the
church and the Nation"
Warning faculty members not to
retire to their ivory towers to
speculate, leaving the world out
side the academic cloister to wrestle
as best 1t may with the difficulties
that beset it," Archbishop Curley
continued:
"A nation Is not great simply be-
cause 1t can boast of a well trained
or even OF victorious army. It's
real claim to greatness lies in the
moral character OF the main body
OF its citizens; in their humble rec
ignition OF their dependence on God
and of their corporate as we'll as
their individual obligation to abide
by His laws. in their differentiation
OF temporal to eternal values and
OF material aims to spiritual pur-
/ poses. 1t is here. we do not hesitate
to say. that America has failed: and
it is here that the Catholic Univer-
sity, which is founded upon the
primacy Of the spiritual. can make
vital contribution to our national
welfare"
The archbishop asserted that so
cial injustice, international rivalry
crime and lawlessness, whether on
the part of individuals or OF groups
stem ultimately from 4 rejection
of God"
New Rector Gets Ovation.
Msgr. Mccormick. who was ac-
corded an ovation at the start and
conclusion of his inaugural ad-
dress, took note of the interest
which Pope Plus XII always has
shown for the university; gave an
historical outline of the educators
preceding hin. as rector: touched on
the change in university admins
tration brought about by the war
emergency, including the presence
on the campus of Army soldier
students undergoing basic engineer
ing instruction. and outlined what
confronted Catholic University and
other institutions of learning in the
postwar period.
If the war has been fought for
the preservation of democratic
ideals Msgr. Mccormick said, land
! If the blueprints OF the peace shall
be drawn to guarantee their con-
tinuance. then the vital functions
OF university In a democratic So
ciety will have increasing signif-
icance
"First among these vital func-
tions is the education for leader
ship demanded in democracy
leadership in thought and action. In
our concept weVlo not exclude po-
litical leadership, neither do we
limit our consideration to that one
type; rather do we conceive of it
as that leadership in the world of
thought and action which is the
potentiality of the man of univer-
sity training, that he who enjoyed
the opportunities afforded by higher
education will feel impelled to use
their fruits in knowledge. skills and
power for the common cause of
society"
Discusses Tasks.
Discussing some of the tasks be-
fore him, the new rector added:
The universitys traditional mis-
sion to conserve and transmit the
learning Of the ages: to hold stead
tasty to the culture derived from
the ancient disciplines, the human
istic heritage of the past; to ex-
tend the boundaries of the knowl-
edge OF the nat0al sciences: to
insure the pre-eminence of philoso-
ply and theology, as becomes a
Catholic university, the while serv-
ing the practical needs of our
church and our country in the
higher education of the clergy and
the laity, in the formation of teach
ers, social and professional work
ers-au this appears to us and sug-
gests the tremendous task presently
assumed and Immediately before
U.S."
Msgr. Mccormick expressed. the
view that postwar reconstruction
OF the highest type will be found in
universities and colleges, that is, "for
the rebuilding of the educational
careers interrupted or disrupted by