Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1853-08-10

! male Seminary at Iowa City, "a suggested by
| the Rev. Mr.. Belden of the LIST Baptist church
! has now Become sotpewha: matured and We
confidently believe, is advancing rapidly to a
successful contamination We have not spo-
ken of the matter hitherto. because we wished
| to ascer. ain the feeling which prevailed with
regard to the enterprise ID the probability Of its
active support in this vicinity. We are happy
to state that it has met with the cordial res.
ponsc Of nearly all who are most closely allied
with it in interest. or to whose considera
ton it has been offered.
few weeks since, Mr.. Bclden. to whom
alone must the credit Of the original suggestion
be given, proposed to the orders of Masons aud
Odd Fellows in this city the scheme. of which
we give the leading features below. aud al the
same lime presented to them charter Of In.
corporation The scheme was favorably re
ceivcd by both the orders and many persons
unconnccted with either, and the charter, after
various preliminary measures had been taken
and various amendments adopted has been
accepted and recorded.
The tenor and scope Of this glorious under.
taking &C insist in the erection Of suitable build
ings and the establishment Of collegiate 1nstI-
tu,e for females. at Iowa City. under the par
ticuiar auspices OF the Independent Order Of
Odd Fellows, and the Ancient Fraternity Of
Free Masons. They are to be the "sheld
and bulwark" and guardian Of its interests
actin in conjunction as one man for the att am
ment and prosecution Of an individual object
| The institution is to be free from al sectarian
! influences, underline prescription Of no secta.
rian tcnets. open to the control Of no religious
denomination whatever. but designed for its
patrons of whatever rank or shade Of opinion,
| and offering equal facilities to all.
The maximum stock of The Incorporation
has been fixed at $25. 900 and the minimum at
SIS 600. divided into shares of $25 each. This
stock is 10 be made up of voluntary subs Grip
lions anddonaions by the orders and by
all friends of the enterprise. As an ad-
ditional inducement to lberality on the
part of the various Lodges and individual do
nors certain scholarships have been instituted
which cannot fail Of meeting the appreciation
of every one. Each encanpment, Lodge or
Chapter in the state, or each member of the
same, ny CONTINUING oHc W
the funds of the Institution, secures thereby
the perpetual right to one scholarship for every
500 so contributed, the pupil to be chosen
from children within the jurisdiction of the
Lodge securing the scholarship. and to be
taught in the regular course of instruction a.
dopted in the Institution.
Each individual also, who is unconnected
with tn Orders. may also secure scholarship
for every hundred dollars contributed at one
time, with the same advantages rs mentioned
above. and continuing "for period Of twenty
years. or during the natura. life Of the donor,
or both" 6es
A board of Trustees is prescribed, consist
ing of the principals Of the Institution, and Of
two persons chosen annually from each Lodge
of the l. o. of o. F. and F. N. in Iowa City,
who are to have general supervision of the
school. regulate its terms. prices OF tuition dc.
We are proud to say that considering all cir
cumstances the Lodges Of Odd Fellows in this
city have done nobly in subscribing to this en-
terpr,se nine hundred dollars at the outset.
and We are assured by Mr.. Belden, who has
been and is, laboring indefatigab'y in the
work, that the prospect of prcuniary aid by Cit
| liens belonging to neither Order, is exceeding
| ly catering. The common council Of the City
have also donated half of the b ock known as
College Green to the purposes of this lns,itu
ton, which is one very important point gained
and We doubt Lot that the entire block will be
appropriated to this project. as it was reserved
originally Cor educational purposes alone.
We are not yet informed 10 what extent the
Masons will subscribe, but We feel authorized
| to state that the present charter is quite salts
factory to them, and that they viii contribute
all that can reasonably be expected from their
available funds
To the Orders Of Odd Fellows and the Free
Masons ,&the friends of the undertaking in Iowa
City, we would say, let not your efforts cease
with your donations Exert your influence,
and put forth every reasonable effort, for the
furtherance of cause so essentially benevo
lent and useful in its character and which
once, attained will not only prove blessing
to our town, but its enduring pride and orna-
ment
A few words to our brethren and friends |
throughout the state. Mr.. Belden will soon
visit you in person; his heart is in the work
our hearts are with him as in common effort.
and we feel confident that he will meet among
you reception worthy of the principles which
our Institutions are intended especially to in.
culcate and confirm "a reception worthy Of the
common interest and common zeal which
should actuae the friends of education and
Of charity, throughout our borders.
We all know that the orders among whom
the scheme originated, can effect more than
ordinary evil organizations or communities
Experience has tested this. There are har
mony and union Of zeal, Of labor, Of determi.
nation, in their efforts, which know no such
word as despair, and this fact is so well es.
tablished. that most Of those out Of our or.
ders. who have manifested willingness to
contribute to the furtherance Of the projects
that they would net do it, had not the orders
taken hold Of the matter, which is fair guar
antee of success
Let no sectional feelings thwart the prompt.
ing your better natures. for. although the
Institution which we intend to establish and
psrpetuate. is indeed to be at Iowa City, re-
mote from many whose aid may be solicited,
yet it will be an institution calculated to foster
the spirit of educational progress, to harmo-
nize the conflicting interests Of our state and
rebound not only to the good repu,e of our
honorable Orders but to the character Of our
citizens generally.
! l,o,, !, To-,