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The

Catholic University Bulletin.

Vol. XIV.

March, 1908.

No. 3

"Let there be progress, therefore; a widespread and eager progress in every century and epoch, both of individuals and of the general body, of every Christian and of the whole Church, a progress in intelligence, knowledge and wisdom, but always within their natural limits, and without sacrifice of the identity of Catholic teaching, feeling and opinion."-ST. VINCENT OF LERINS, Commonit, c. 6.

PUBLISHED BY

THE CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF AMERICA

WASHINGTON, D. C.

J. H. FURST COMPANY, PRINTERS

BALTIMORE

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What gives rise to a University Question in Ireland is the fact, recognized by all, that there is at present in that country no fairly well equipped teaching body which Catholics trust with the higher education of their young men and women; that, in other words, rightly or wrongly, but from religious conviction, Catholic young laymen refuse to attend any school of anything like university rank, save one or two, which for lack of State endowment are inadequately equipped for purposes of university education.

There are in Ireland two universities: The University of Dublin, with one-Trinity-College; and the Royal University, with, as we may say, four colleges, one in each of the provinces; the Queen's Colleges of Belfast, Cork and Galway; and University College, Dublin-survival, as we may call it, of the Catholic University founded by Newman. There are, in addition, colleges for special professions: Maynooth and seven other Catholic ecclesiastical seminaries; the Catholic University School of Medicine and the Royal College of Surgeons; a Royal

* We publish this article out of its regular place in the series on Education in Ireland because of the interest which centers on the University Question during the present session of the British Parliament.-(EDITOR.)

College of Science, intended for higher technical instruction; a Veterinary College; a college for Presbyterians; and a few small colleges for the higher education of women.

As most of these special schools either are not intended for the education of laymen, or are languishing for lack of endowment and organic connection with a living university, we may leave them out of account as affecting the essential fact—that there is no fairly well equipped school of higher studies to which Catholics are willing to send their sons and daughters. The only State-endowed schools of university standing are Trinity College, the three Queen's Colleges, and University College; while for special studies there are St. Patrick's College, Maynooth, the College of Surgeons, the Catholic University School of Medicine, the College of Science, and the Veterinary College.

Trinity and the Queen's Colleges are shunned by Catholics on religious grounds; University College and the Catholic University School of Medicine are badly housed and equipped; the College of Surgeons is almost as bad as Trinity, Maynooth College is not for laymen. There is, therefore, at present in Ireland no fairly well equipped school of higher studies to which Catholic parents are willing to send their children. That is the fundamental fact which gives rise to a university question in Ireland.

There are other facts which, though subsidiary, are of sufficient importance to cause dissatisfaction, even though Trinity and the Queen's Colleges were made acceptable to Catholics. For, apart from considerations of religion, there are complaints of the way in which these institutions are managed; as well as that the trend and character of the teaching are not suited to the present most pressing needs of the Irish people. Under this aspect, however, the question does not present any great difficulty; it would be settled very quickly if only we could get over the difficulty of religion.

ii. TRINITY COLLEGE.

This establishment is situated in the very heart of the city of Dublin, on a site so large as to afford room not only for extensive buildings, but for spacious cricket, football, and tennis

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