RETIREMENT OF ARCHBISHOP KEANE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1168, 1 July 1911, Page 10

RETIREMENT OF ARCHBISHOP KEANE.

A DISTINGUISHED AMERICAN PRELATE. . Some time ago, says the "Catholic Bulletin," of St. Paul, Minnesota, the Most Rev. John J. Kcatie, D.D., Archbishop of Dubuque, lowa, tendered his resignation of that Metropolitan See to the Holy Father, and now he has received from Rome, official notification of its acceptance. The resignation of Archbishop Ecane occasions no surprise to those who know how precarious the condition of his health has teen for the past few years. Archbishop Keane is now in his seventysecond year. He was born on. September 12. 1S;19, in Ballyshannon, County. Donegal, Ireland, and emigrated to America with his parents in 1816. At the closd of his school days lie entered the business world ns a clerk; but before reaching the years of manhood he decided to embrace the religious life. He entered St. Charles's College, Maryland, in 1859, to pursue his classical course. After graduation he completed his theological studies in St. Mary's Seminary, Baltimore, and was ordained to the holy priesthood on July 2, 18G8, by Archbishop Spaldinjr. Ho was appointed assistant paster of St. Patrick's Church. Washington, where he remained until his consecration as Bishop of Richmond, Va., on August 25,1878. He particiiv\rcd in the deliberations of the Third Plenary Council of Baltimore in 1881, where the project of founding the Catholic University at Washington was difcns.-c-cl and decided upon. At the request of theAmerican Hierarchy, Bishop Kcane was selected by the Holy See to devote his time and 'energy to the establishment of this great institution of higher learning, and in IRSG ho was appointed its first Rector. He superintended the erection of the University, secured a large endowment for it, organised the courses of studies, and brought that institution to its present high state of efficiency. On September 2S. 1596, he resigned his position as Rector of the University, and went to Rome, where he was made Titular Archbisbop of Damascus and Consultor to the Congregation of the Propaganda. On July"'it! 10011, lie was transferred to tlie Metropolitan Sec of Dubuque, in succession to Archbishop Hennessey, and was installed the following September. For more than a quarter of a century he has been a prominent figure in the American Church, to whose growth and development he lias contributed very materially.