growth and progress. Finally, the Holy Father heartily congratulates the scholarly editors and writers on the first happy issue of their labors. He encourages them to continue with alacrity the great task to which they have set their hands, and as an earnest of his special good-will he bestows on each of them his Apostolic benediction.

I avail myself of this welcome occasion to reassure Your Grace of my very profound esteem, etc., etc.

(Signed) R. CARD. MERRY DEl Val.

Rome, 1 Dec., 1907.

NECROLOGY.

MOST REV. ARCHBISHOP WILLIAMS.

We publish on another page the action of the Board of Trustees of the University in reference to the loss which the University has sustained in the death of the venerable Archbishop of Boston. Since the foundation of the University, he was one of its most devoted friends, and by council and deed did all in his power to promote its interests.

John Joseph Williams, fourth Bishop and first Archbishop of Boston, was born in Boston, April 27, 1822. At the age of five he attended the new Catholic school attached to the old Cathedral on Franklin street; before he was ten he acted as errand boy in the office of The Jesuit, the Catholic weekly founded by Bishop Fenwick. The venerable Archbishop used to relate with pride how it was his custom to carry copy to the printer of The Jesuit from the Vicar General, Very Rev. Thomas J. O'Flaherty. In his eleventh year he was sent to a preparatory college at Montreal. He was graduated in 1841 at the age of nineteen and completed his studies at the Seminary of St. Sulpice, Paris, where he was ordained. four years later. His whole life in the ministry was spent in Boston and fifty-three out of the sixty-two years of his priesthood at the Cathedral. His first appointment was as assistant. In 1855 he was made Rector, and two years later Pastor of St. James' Church returning to the Cathedral as Vicar General in 1866. Shortly after he became Coadjutor Bishop, then Bishop for nine years, and finally, in 1875, Archbishop.

Archbishop Williams was a unique figure in the annals of the Church in New England, and when the story of his life comes to be told it will embrace the foundation and expansion of the Church, not only in the Archdiocese of Boston, but also throughout the New England States. He died at the Archiepiscopal Residence, Boston, on Friday, August 30th, 1907.

RIGHT REVEREND BISHOP ROOKER.

Frederick Zadok Rooker was born in New York City, September 19, 1861, and was educated in the public and high schools of Albany and at Union College. In 1882 he went to Rome to study for the priesthood at the American College, and in 1888, after having obtained the degrees of Ph. D. and D. D. at the Propaganda, was ordained priest. The same year he was appointed Vice-Rector of the American College. He held that office until 1894, when he was appointed secretary to the Apostolic Delegation in Washington, D. C. In 1903 he was appointed Bishop of Jaro in the Philippine Islands, where he died September 19, 1907. He was interred in his Cathedral Church at Jaro. On September 26 a Solemn Requiem Mass for the repose of his soul was celebrated in the Cathedral at Albany, N. Y., and a distinguished concourse of clergy and laity marked the esteem in which he was held in his native diocese. During six years, 1895-1901, Dr. Rooker while acting as secretary to the Apostolic Delegate, lectured on Moral Philosophy at the University, and during that period rendered praiseworthy academic service. The University extends to the bereaved relatives its sincere sympathy and deplores with them the too early close of so brilliant and useful a career.

UNIVERSITY CHRONICLE.

Solemn Opening of the University.-On the occasion of the solemn opening of the University for the year 1907-1908, on Sunday, October 6, the celebrant at the Solemn High Mass was the Right Rev. Rector. The sermon was preached by Right Rev. William Kenny, Bishop of St. Augustine.

Meeting of the Board of Trustees.-On Wednesday, November 13, the semi-annual meeting of the Board of Trustees was held at the University. A resolution was passed deploring the loss which the University sustained in the death of Archbishop Williams of Boston. The following were elected members of the board: Most Reverend Archbishop Blenk, of New Orleans; Most Reverend Archbishop Moehler, of Cincinnati, and Most Reverend Archbishop O'Connell, of Boston, Right Reverend Mgr. Lavelle, of New York, and Messrs. Eugene Philbin, of New York, Richard C. Kerens, of St. Louis and Walter George Smith, of Philadelphia. Archbishop Ryan, of Philadelphia, was elected Vice-President of the Board. It was recommended that a Department of Education be established at the University. The Institute of Scientific Study, of New York, was affiliated to the Catholic University of America.

The Rector of the University Appointed Bishop of Sebaste.It is with great pleasure that the Professors and Students of the University learn of the elevation of our Right Reverend Rector to the dignity of titular Bishop of Sebaste. This action of the Holy See, coming as it does after several years of notable service to the University, will be rightly interpreted by all as at once an approval and an encouragement. The University owes a debt of gratitude to the Holy See for this gracious act, and will, no doubt, in due time, express its gratitude through the proper authorities. The BULLETIN congratulates the Bishop Elect of Sebaste on his well deserved promotion and augurs for him many years of increased usefulness to the Catholic Church in America and particularly to the sacred cause of Higher Christian Education with which he has been so long and so intimately associated.

Meeting of the Executive Board of the Catholic Educational Association. The week following the Meeting of the Board of Trustees, the Executive Board of the Catholic Educational Association met at the University. On Tuesday, November 19, the meeting of Executive officers of the several departments was held. There were present in the Seminary Department, Rev. Dr. Dyer, S. S., Rev. M. V. Moore, C. M., Rev. Dr. Fenlon, S. S., and Rev. Dr. McSweeney; in the College Department, Rev. Father Conway, S. J., Rev. Father Nagisser, O. M., Rev. Father Delurey, O. S. A., and Rev. Father Hehir, C. S. Sp.; in the School Department, Rev. Fathers McDevitt, Howard, Devlin and Lafontaine, Brother Victor and Brother John Waldron. These meetings were followed by a meeting of the General Board. There were present, Right Rev. D. J. O'Connell, D. D., Rector of the University and President of the Board, Very Rev. J. A. Burns, C. S. C. and Rev. Walter J. Shanley, Vice-Presidents, Rev. F. W. Howard, Secretary-General, Rev. Francis F. Moran, Treasurer-General, Very Rev. Dr. Dyer, S. S., Rev. Father Conway, S. J., Rev. M. V. Moore, C. M., Rev. Philip R. McDevitt, and Rev. Dr. McSweeney. The meeting was for the purpose of preparing the program for the convention to be held. in Cincinnati the second week of July. The subjects for discussion were selected and assigned to various educators. The program includes several of the leading questions before the Catholic educational world of today, and the outlook for an interesting and important meeting is very bright. The acceptance of the office of Honorary President on the part of the Chancellor of the University and the active interest shown in the work of the Association by its President, the Rector of the University, are an earnest. of the deep and heartfelt interest which the University takes in the Catholic Educational Association.

Rector's Report.- The Eighteenth Annual Report of the Rector of the University touches on many points which are of interest to alumni and to all who have at heart the welfare of the Catholic University of America. The need of a new Library Building, the proposed foundations by the Ancient Order of Hibernians and the Knights of Columbus, the present financial standing of the University, and the report of academic work done during the past year are some of the topics which will be read with interest.

Annual Collection.-The Treasurer's Report appended to the