ion. By its
extension work, summer courses, circulating libraries, correspondence
courses, lectures, etc., the university would unite our activities,
eliminate waste of energy and direct our combined efforts. Cardinal
Newman believed that a Catholic university was essential for thorough
health and efficiency in the Catholic body at large. To realize all that
a Catholic university would mean one has only to know what Washington
stands for in the life of the Church in the United States. In his
beautiful letter to the American Hierarchy, Benedict XV said of it: "The
University, we trust, will be the _attractive centre_ about which will
gather all who love the teachings of Catholicism."

_What is the Conclusion?_

We may summarize our argumentation in favour of our contention in the
following statements:

1.--THE INTERESTS OF CHURCH AND COUNTRY, PARTICULARLY IN THE WEST, DEMAND
CATHOLIC LEADERSHIP;

2.--NO GENUINE LEADERSHIP WITHOUT UNIVERSITY TRAINING;

3.--FOR CATHOLICS HIGHER EDUCATION MEANS HIGHER CATHOLIC EDUCATION.

Now, Patient reader, allow us to conclude these already too lengthy
pages, by this pointed question: "_Is a Catholic university for Western
Canada within the possibilities of the near future?_"

Our answer will be simple, direct, conclusive, and, we hope, convincing.
If all Catholics in the Western Provinces, under the direction and with
the continued support of the Hierarchy, unite in one sublime and
persistent effort, we have the utmost confidence in its immediate
realization. Some Catholics, we know, will distrust its expediency,
despair of its success or even feel an obligation to oppose it.
Difficulties, most undoubtedly, we will have numerous and great. With
time, patience, perseverance and self-sacrifice we will overcome them.
Nothing succeeds like success. The establishment of a work of that kind
is the work of years and even of centuries. There must be some day a
start, a foundation to build on. The policy of nihilism leads nowhere.
The frequentation of our State universities would indefinitely postpone
all efforts for the Catholic ideal, and be a surrender of the whole
situation. But let us not be carried away with the modern fallacy of
materialistic grandeur. Spacious and beautiful buildings, nice grounds
and attractive surroundings are not to be despised when the finances are
good. But all these things are secondary; they do not give the intrinsic
value to a university, th