Send-off

In Washington's Mayflower Hotel one night last week gathered 1,000 people to salute Bishop James Hugh Ryan, retiring Rector of the Catholic University of America, who was about to depart to the diocese of Omaha to which the Vatican had promoted him (TIME, Aug. 19,). His purple robes swirling, his broad countenance twinkling, Bishop Ryan shook hands with such men as Ambassador Hans Luther of Germany, Assistant Attorney General Joseph Berry Keenan, Bishop James Edward Freeman and Canon Anson Phelps Stokes from the Episcopal Cathedral. President Roosevelt sent a letter which Postmaster General Farley read. Mr. Justice Pierce Butler of the U. S. Supreme Court and Secretary of Agriculture Wallace made speeches.

The latter, a devout Episcopalian, greeted Bishop Ryan as one born Midwesterner to another, said: "The land which you left to come East 14 years ago has changed considerably in those years. We need pioneers. To enter upon this new world calls for an adventuresome spirit, for dauntless courage. The world of which I am speaking is just finding itself. Torn by doubts and uncertainty, by unemployment and financial disaster, it is awakening to the fact that there is still a God in the heavens. . . . May your Episcopate succeed in fanning this tiny spark of divine ambition in the hearts of thousands of your followers that they, too, may follow you into the land where prejudice, greed, hatred, pride and fear are unknown--into the Kingdom of Heaven."

Such a cordial send-off was no more than might ordinarily be expected for a prelate raised to an important bishopric. But many a U. S. Catholic frankly wished that a send-off had not been necessary. In the seven years of his rectorship Monsignor Ryan reorganized and brilliantly rebuilt the only pontifical university in the U. S. Far from viewing a Catholic university as a glorified seminary, he instituted nursing courses, a School of Social Work, expanded the Graduate School to admit 800 students, the University to enroll 3,000 men & women. He upped the University's income 60 ft. For these achievements Pope Pius XI made him a titular bishop (TIME, Nov. 6, 1933). Catholic University did not surrender Bishop Ryan gladly.

How it felt appeared in last month's Catholic University Bulletin. Calmly running the risk of scandalizing other Catholics, Bishop Ryan's able young assistant, Rev. Dr. Maurice S. Sheehy, labeled the retiring Rector "intolerant," "restless," "indiscreet," "inhuman" and possessed of a "superiority complex." Excerpts from his editorial:

"Bishop Ryan is a most intolerant man. That at first glance may seem a severe indictment. . . . He was never intolerant, however, of real scholarship and earnest effort but merely of slipshod methods. . . . Allied with his intolerance, Bishop Ryan possessed a superiority complex. This dreadful sounding affliction was in no sense personal. . . . His authority as Rector of the University was vigorously exercised to support 'his consciousness of the superiority of Catholic culture. . . .

"Bishop Ryan has been a restless Rector. . . . Bishop Ryan's unrest was in no small measure due to the fact that the fields of thought closest to the lives of our people--philosophy, psychology, sociology--seemed most alien to Catholic influence. . . .

"Yes, Bishop Ryan was certainly indiscreet. 'I admire your courage but not your judgment,' a distinguished prelate wrote him when he started the movement to make more secure the financial status of the University. There was a foolish sort of optimism in asking for more money when every bishop and every priest was distraught with economic disaster. . . .

"Bishop Ryan is given to partiality. That too may sound harsh. He is partial in his loyalties. His great human loyalty is to the person of Pope Pius XI whom by word of mouth and pen he sought to bring closer to the people of America. . . .

"Bishop Ryan, the University thanks you. You have served nobly. You have made the office of Rector of our University undesirable and undesired. Among your many services you have inscribed over its portals, 'No loafing here.' We pray that the University may have another such leader."

Before the speeches and handshakes in the Mayflower last week. 26 of the University's 50 trustees--the U. S. archbishops, ten bishops, ten priests, ten laymen--met in Washington. It was proposed that they unanimously renominate Bishop Ryan as Rector. Before a vote could be taken Bishop Ryan declined the honor, which would have meant dumping the whole matter back into the lap of the Vatican. Then the trustees made him Rector Emeritus.

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.