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Show CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY. A Visit From the Preside. (Correspondence Intermountain Catholic.) Washington, D. C. June 10 The Catholic University. Washington. June 10, was visited by President Mc-Kinley. Mc-Kinley. who, with Secretary Long and j Private Secretary Cortelyou, called at the residence of the rector, Monsignor i ronatv and accompanied by him and Dr GarH-an the vice rector, met tho i ?rofelfors and students in -the assembly roCm McMahon Hall. The president and Secretary Long occupied "eats on the platform. After the outburst of applause, ap-plause, with which the president was greeted, the rector, addressing himself to the president, said: . "Mr. President: I extend to you in tho name of the Catholic University of America a most cordial welcome on your fivst visit to our university halls. It is. indeed, the greatest possible honor that, laying aside the many cares of your busy official life, you have found moments to spare in which to come m upon us In this informal way and to see us at our daily work. I extend to you the welcome of the university. I need hardly tell you. Mr. President, that what you see here in the' group of our buildings and in the number of our students .representing all sections of our great country, is the result of ten years of life and labor as a university. univer-sity. Built upon the idea of a purely graduate university, the effort is marked with great success. "You see here a body of professors, young men and men of maturer years, whose successful studies at college have been crowned with the degrees of some of the best universities of the world. They are now devoting themselves, them-selves, priests and laymen as they are, to the unbuilding of higher education in this country along the lines of the splendid traditions of the Catholic Church and in obedience to her doctrines doc-trines and scholarship. The student j body represents three distinct classes " j in our Church life; the priest, the relig- ious. who is one day to become a j priest and teacher, and the layman, who is to enter into the various professions pro-fessions or devote himself to educa- j tlonal work. " "The aim and purpose of the univer- ; sity are fixed by the aims and purposes : of the Catholic Church in education, and like the Catholic Church with its message of knowledge to the world, it i knows no race line and no color line, ; while its doors are open to non-Catho- ; lies who may desire to receive instruction instruc-tion at its hands. The qualification for j our lay schools is that qualification set, by brains and character, while the in-, ; struction is fixed by the science whi'lt finds its guide in the Church of which j we are proud to be members. We recognize rec-ognize here no aristocracy but the aristocracy aris-tocracy of education, and we strive to build that as the source of strength in our national life. j "Mr. President, the cross which sur mounts our buildings is indicative or our religious faith, and the Hag which floats to the breeze beside it is indica- j tive of our national spirit. We are j Catholic, holding our authority as an . institution from the pontifical consti- ! tution granted us by the holy father, ' who founded this university, and we are Americans, obtaining our legal ex- istence from the statutes of this district. dis-trict. Under this roof minds are taught to lave the cross and reverence the flag. Catholic Americans, we are tayght and we teach loyalty to God as the source of loyalty to the republic. We honor you as the chief executive of our republic, chosen by the suffrages of I the people to the office you so nobly i I fill, and our American hearts are filled I with nride as we Welcome you under ! our universitv roof. Mr. President, I ! present to you our faculties and students, stu-dents, and assure you of the deep appreciation ap-preciation that all feel for the honor you have conferred upon us." The president, rising, was greeted with applause, and in responding, said: "I cannot refrain from responding in. a few words for the most gracious welcome wel-come given me on behalf of the university univer-sity by the honored rector of this insti-j insti-j tution. I am pleased to meet both the I faculties and pupils of this institution I of learning. I have been glad to note building after building rising on these 1 I grounds in the last half dozen years, and I extend to you my cordial congratulations. con-gratulations. It is most agreeable to me, with all the burdens of responsibility responsibil-ity which rest upon me in the great office which was bestowed upon me by the people, to take myself from my busy duties and receive the warm and hearty welcome of the professors and students of this university. This nation is in advance ad-vance of every other nation of the world in the matter of educational advantages ad-vantages and opportunities. There is no "excuse for any young man, no matter what may be his condition, no matter how narrpw his surroundings and limited lim-ited his resources, if he wish to receive an education, which will fit him for the cares and responsibilities cf life. No nation na-tion in the world is in greater need of educated young men than the American nation. They are the pillars of strength to this republic, and we needed them, it seems to me, never more than at this hour. Gentlemen, I thank you." Secretary Long then made a brief address, and said in part: "I should feel a little embarrassed in speaking to you if if were not for my old friend. Father Conaty, whom I have met many a time in Massachusetts. In June days, as lovely as these, it was my privilege, when chief executive of the old Bay ! State, to be at the commencements of j ! Cambridge, and then at Boston college i and Holy Cross college, Worcester." j He then allused to the remark of the rector with regard to the aristocracy . of education, and said that it was in ! marked contrast to the sham aristocracy aristoc-racy of wealth ,and was the source oC national strength. The professors and students were then presented to the president and secretary Long, the first to be presented, being Monsignor McMahon, the re- j spected founder of McMahon Hall. After the presentation the president and party were escorted by Monsignor Conaty and Dr. Garrigan through the different buildings, and were afterwards after-wards entertained for some little time at he Pines, the rector's house. The president was well pleased with the visit. |