Show CARDINAL GIBBONS ON CATHOLIC university washington nov 20 in accordance with an understanding reached at the recent meeting of the board of trus becs of the catholic university cardinal gibbons today gave to the press the following official letter addressed to the catholic clergy cardinals residence baltimore november 17 right rev dear sir the board of trustees of the catholic university of america at their meeting april 14 1904 unanimously adopted the following resolution resolved that his eminence tho chancellor of the catholic university of america be required to write and to send to the hierarchy of the united states one month before the first sunday of advent 1904 a letter of thanks for the interest taken in the collection of the university in 1903 and asking them to kindly beep up their generous for this worthy object by recommending it to the reverend clergy and the laity of their respective jurisdictions lu pursuance of this action of the trustees I 1 wish to bbate that the contributions received from seventy six diocese amounted to this generous of our clergy and people to the express wish of the sovereign pontiff Is an evidence both of cheerful see and of generous devotion to their past orders it Is gratifying and to the trustees that so interest in the united states should le manifested in the welfare of the university which embodies the highest form of catholic learning is the roost important undertaking of the hierarchy in view of the general good in the name of tho trustees as in my own I 1 tender you our clergy and your people grateful acknowledgment for the share aou have baiten in the furtherance of this great work with the collection and with donations from various sources the receipts of the university for last year apart from its regular income amount cd to of these funds ga was employed in the payment of debts was invested and tho remainder was used to meet current expenses As a result there was no deficit last year nor is there at present any floating debt the amount donated by the knights of columbus and not included in the mentioned was 50 this was also invested making a total investment oi abo funds were placed for investment in the hands of the finance committee appointed last year 1903 aud composed of gentlemen who enjoy the highest reputation tor integrity and business ability the entire amount there arising from the collection is absolutely free from the complications and risks to which as sou doubtless have learned through the press tho general endowment of the university has recently been exposed regarding the actual situation I 1 deem it my duty to inform you that the funds hitherto handled by the treasurer of the university aggregates the disposal of these funds in no way involves the property of the university its lands buildings or equip ment the funds themselves are protected by securities which it iscon believed will in any equitable the university against serious loss on the other band pending the final adjustment of all claims now in litigation the university is in a large measure deprived of the revenues which have heretofore been available for its work this Is more regret ablo at the present time when the university should be BO strengthened and developed as to attract our catholic oung men and withdraw them from non catholic institutions with the utmost economy as now practiced in every department the income is adt sufficient tor the necessary expenses the foregoing statement will naturally suggest a variety of reflections but what Is really needed just now is practical and generous cooperation this I 1 am happy to say has been shown by the trustees and by friends of the university tho amounts which they have guaranteed together with the next annual collection which it is hoped will equal if not exceed that of last year will enable us to invest a considerable sum after alt our current expenses arc paid moreover a system of financial administration has already been adopted that for the future wilt render the management of the funds absolutely secure with tho of tho hierarchy in tiro manner indicated b the holy father wo feel confident that the university will be placed on a sound financial basis in justice to those who as individuals or as associations have endowed the university we should see that its work is continued our cai olic people I 1 sincerely believe will aid liberally in supporting an institution founded by the american episcopate for the common good of the clergy and laity in all our dioceses to our non catholic fellow citizens our united efforts in behalf of the university under any circumstances will plainly show that wo have at heart the best interests of education and that we are not to be thwarted by difficulties As I 1 am prepared to do all in my power to build up the university and determined to guarantee it against all loss even at the sacrifice of all I 1 possess I 1 feel assured that you and your clergy will add to this sacred causo by an earnest appeal to the generosity of the people under your charge and by personal sympathy tor the which this collection is applied the holy father in his letter on the subject last year directed that this annual collection be taken up oaf the first sunday of advent or on the first convenient sunday thereafter james cardinal gibbons chancellor of ho catholic university of america ariz nov 20 james P storm former county treasurer of county who was found bound and gigg edin the vault of his office on november ath and who reported that he had been robbed of by two men and then placed in the vault in the condition found and where he claimed to have been for seventeen hours was arrested tonight and charged with embezzlement |