Year: 1873




The Faculty Of Theology-Dogmatic Theology,
Sacred Scriptures and Canon Law. The second
is now vacant but perhaps the other two render 1t
unnecessary. Certainly the professor when he
comes must take care that he does not trespass on
either side Law has but one Observation-Disclosures.
The University is strong in Medicine. having nine
OF ten professors and lecturers generally very able;
but tins richness arose from taking on the Medical
School of Cecia-st. In Philosophy and Letters
there are ten Chairs but there three vacancies
which are sue cgestve-Greek and Latin Literature,
Irish Archaeology and STORY and Political Economy.
There are seven Chairs in the Faculty of Science.
The students live IN two houses under the care Of
Deans of Houses" They pay according to their
means: and the institution is supported partly by
collections made annually throughout all hedioceses
After all the noise made about it, and all the ecces
astica pressure brought TO bear in It's favor it does
not prosper. The Hierarchy sit upon IL so closely
and so constantly that it almost smothered. The
students scarcely show themselves at the annual
meeting for the distribution of prizes 10 fact the
University seems all head. like of the carica-
lures in Punch, in which iliputian body supports
the gigantic Uranium of some great statesman.


The Catholic nobility and gentry will do ANYTHING
for the University but one; they viii sign memoir
ais. or declaractOns or petitions; they viii vote IN
Parliament; they viii subscribe funds but they
will not send their sons TO be educated within It's
sacred walls The twelve mitered figures that guard
the approach to this national sanctuary Of learning
remind MS of the double rows of statues which lnod
the avenue 70 an Egyptian temple. But when the
worshiper of the Good the Beautiful, and the True
entered las the late Lord Lytton would say he was
rather disappointed in the nature Of the god Mr..
Buckle remarks that the Lecture Hall of Science
is the Temple of Democracy" Whether that be
true or not it ought certainly to be the temple OF
freedom For my own part have no great faith IN
the Priests of a Temple of Science. who are obliged
10 hold by the aprons of twelve Bishops, Of whom
they are tenants-at-will. and 10 whom a notice 70
quit for heterodoxy would be ruin. The learned Dr.
Lauigan. author of "The Ecclesiastical History Of
Ireland@-the book Of which the priesthood has
most reason 70 be prOud-was appointed TO the Char
of Scripture al Maynooth: but, being suspected of
a taint of Jansenism a test was put 10 him which
he resented as an insult. He remained true to his
Church. but. so far as the Bishops were concerned,
he might have starved. He was saved by becoming
Sub-Librarian and literary drudge to the Royal
Dublin Society priest who thinks for himself
would have far less chance of escaping and
ruin now than he would have had sixty years ago.
Il is all very well for the Bishops to take care Of the
young priests at Maynooth but when they spread
their wings over the whole circle Of the sciences,
and all the professional faculties and ask the State 10
give them funds help them in this coddllng, they
must be regarded in another light altogether. In
fact the Catholic University is the reiaetiO Gd GbSr
dun Of the Syllabus.


There is one chapter of the history Of the Catholic
Observation-Disclosures may be its fate-which stu
dents of English literature in future ages will read
with melancholy interest for the connection with it


1-- Il, ! ,s-,T .,v,1o . tha
greatest masters of the English language which this
century has produced. DR.. Newman. the great Ok
ford divine was the first Rector. He seemed the
most suitable man that could be found for the post
on account of his high character and his academic
experience but be did not occupy il long. No reason
was ever given 70 the public why he resigned He
had dedicated volume of his lectures 10 the CathO
lies of Dublin but be delivered TO them no parting
address, and received no parting testimonial from
his dear Irish friends. Repeatedly, in his lectures
in the University he betrays most painful anxiety
TO avoid giving ofense by the freedom of his
thoughts. Indeed he seems 10 have been trembling
with nervous apprehensiOn this subject and IN
one massage he gives mysterious intimatiOns that he
had been in great trouble while in Dublin. He said
in his first lecture q am told on authority that
principle is necessary which have ever feft to be
true.o He compares himself 10 the true mother who
got back her own child 10 nurse So the Church had
given him his Own philosophy to teach. Bat he
hastens TO explain and deprecate misconstructon.
saving:


II 1 had been expressing satisfaction that opinions
early imbibed and luncherished in my own mind DOW
come 10 me with the Church's seal upon them do not


ma zine that am indulging a subtle kind Of private
Judgment. especially unbecomlng III a Catholic. IL
would think be unjust 20 any one 70 gather
nyseIf In NV own ideas aud my old notions. a


Ter of thought that instead Of coming 70 the Church 70
ba taught but avaliug myself OF such opDortunl


mes as she gave me 20 principles your attention,
which had adop-ed without her II would indeed be
a most unworthy frame OF mind to win her sanction,
however II could be got as sort OF leave OF permit
whereby the intellect attans outlet which II rs ever
covettng 20 range freely over In way ana 10 ENJOY II
self in a welcome, because a rare holiday.


As if this was not enough to dsarm the suspicious
Of the new master under whose yoke he had passed.
and at whose feet he had prostrated his fine under
standing he proceeded IN the following strain:


Deeply do feel ever win protest that in questions
NJ n ah and wrong there nothing really strong in the
whole world nothing decisive and operative, Dut the
voice OF him whom have been committed the KEYS OF
the KIN gdOm and the oversight OF Chrs's hock That
voice is now as ever II has real authority, nfal
lble when IL teaches, prosperous When II commands.
province, ADDING certainty 70 VIA y ProDaole auu f
what is certain Before ~ speaks me most
sanity NAV De mistaken; and after II has spoken the
most gifted must oUey.


He thus gives the reason contemplated by the Holy
See in recommending just now u the Irish Church
the establishment of the Catholic University


Has the Supreme POntif recommended it for the sake
NJ ta scences which be the matter, rather of
the students who 20 be the subjects OF s teaching
Has he any Obligation duty at all toward secular
tnowIedce a. such Would IL become his ApOstOlical


ministry ana his descent from the Fisherman. 70 have
ze for the BacOnian. other philosophy Of for ITS
own sake Or ON the other hand, does the Vicar OF
Christ contemplate such achievements OF the intellect,
az far as he cOntemplaes them, solely and simply their
relation the interests OF revealed truth Has he any


more direct jurisdiction the wisdom than the
civil power OF tins world Il he bound by ONCE by
vow 10 b the preacher of the theory Of gavitatiOn


martyr for electro-nagnetism Would he be acquittng
himself of the committed 70 him. If he


itfen with an abstract love OF these matters however
frue or beautiful ingenious, or usefulf What be
does he does for the sake OF religion II he looks With
satisfactiop on strong Imperial Governments which
promise perpetuy IL Is for the sake Of religion and II