The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-02-28
The New York University.

you cannot have railroad at all
ITO be concluded tomorrow
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The New York University.
meeting Of gentlemen interested in the cause Of
liberal education in this city, held in the chapel
of the University last Friday evening, pursuant to
call of the Rev. Dr. Ferris, Chancellor of the instu
ton. The immediate object of the reverend gentle
man was to submit some facts and results concern
ing its progress since the foundation, and to dsa-
buse the mind of the public, and particularly the
minds Of our iituati and younger students, OF the
idea that its affairs were clouded in inextrcable diff
iculty At half-past o'clock there were q number
Of clergymen and members Of the learned and mer.
camille professions present, amongst whom we no.
ticed the Rev. Drs. Bethune, Cheever Phillips, Asa
D. Smith, Hutton, Van Arsdale and Krebbs, Pro.
fessors Webster Dougherty and Greene, Myndert
Van Schaick William Curtis Noyes and George
Criswold, Esqrs., with great number Of Students
Upon motion Of the Rev. DR.. Ferris, George Girls.
void, Esq, was called to the Chair, and the Rev,
Mr.. Macauly acted as Secretary to the meeting.
The Rev. DR.. Phillips made prayer prior to the
commencement Of the proceedings
The Rev. DR.. FERRIS said Sir, this meeting has
been called together by circular letter, which will
take the liberty of reading The Chancellor here read
the letter to which he refered-and continued, This
circular is signed by myself, and, in compliance with
the promise contained in it, beg to occupy the at.
tention of the meeting with some remarks upon the
working of this institution, its difficulties, its
tions in the Of education and its present pros
pects 1t gives me pleasure, sir to see such meet
ing this as it eyinces that an interest 10 felt for
the welfare of an University which is, emphatically.
the institution Of New York. as far as the intellectual
Development, and the training Of the moral feeling
OF her people into proper course, are concerned.
The accomplishment Of this has ever been the aim
and object of its Professors convinced they were.
and are that public teachers gveall their attention
the former neglect the latter result they puinto
the hands Of frail humanity dreadful weapon. The
city of New York has done many noble things in the
carrying out of literary objects. The founding OF
this University was one of her greatest and best
efforts. II was chartered for the people. and has
continued devoted to their interests to the present
day. It's foundation was urged by the most excellent
men, among whom may mention the name Of the
Reverend DR.. Mlner who watched over its rise With
on anxiety which hope to see renewed among us.
The University was Incorporated by charter in the
year of 1881, and opened at Clinton Hall, in 1892.
The first class assembled in 1885, and the foundation
of this building was laid in July Of the same
year The halls were opened lSr the purposes ss Of
it has had checkered history and has been enc0m-
passed with many and frowning difficulties 1t has
been sadly oppressed with debt, and this Indebtedness
gard to its prospects upon the public mind. 1t is
viewed through the dark clouds Of difficulty, and the
question now Is, if they were dspeled could it fulfil
its object In speaking of the interior working OF
IL
permitted to say, with truth, that its course OF teach
ing is practical liberal, and elevated: and If you
pare it strictly with that Of kindred institutions which
enjoy high reputation you will find that stand
upon better footing in that respect than the Unver
sity Of New York. The humanities are attended tn
in the fullest sense and we do not confne instruc
ton to the mparting knowledge OF the dead lam
guages alone. We teach as to fully fit the rising
youth for the professional, mercantile, engineer.
ing, or mathematical departments of life; and
our Faculty Of Professors are men of ability,
men of scholar-like attachments, men who kept
this foundation open, by large pecuniary sacri-
fees, when it groaned beneath the weight of crush
ing difficulties. | need only mention the names OF
Professors Draper, Johnston, and LOOMS latter
in orr mathematical department, and the auth0r OF
series of works which have taken the highest place
amongst books of that character. Mr.. Crosby, who
has recently conc amongst u.s. has already won gold
opinions for himself. Under the guidance Of such
men, the University has already done precious work
for the people, for it is an error to suppose ars
tocratic institution II the Of rich men here.
so also are the sons OF the poor man, and youth
has been ever turned away because be was penniess
If he had patience, talent and holy desire for in
struction, money has been to secondary object,
aud our scholarships have been ever occupied by men
who had merit and were struggling with difficulty The
lad who, some years since, sat upon shoemakers
bench in Williamsburg, entered here with the fire Of
educational zeal in his heart, mastered Latin aud
Greek, under Professor Owen, obtained scholarship,
and was sent forth glorious minister of God.
Amidst the mountains and rocks of Schohare county
he now draws many sonls to Christ. We have had q
delightful succession Of such cases, for out of four
hundred and fifty graduates OF the University nearly
one-half have been educated glatuitously. Although
freely bear my testimony to the merit Of that noble
institution in Twentythird street.-the Free Academy
Il must say that we have an advantage in this
respect. They are limited to certain class Of stu
dents, taken from the public or ward schools-our
doors open to all. II turn to evangelical work
ing, | may assert that we stand upon basis Of re
gion equal to that Of the most cherished OF the New
England institutions. We have large infusion OF
religious instruction and personal piety, without be-
ing sectaiian or polemical What contributions have
we made to the Church of Christ? The ministry has
received remarkable addition to its numbers from
this University. Comparing the number of alumn,
with other graduates, find that in every three
and seven.tenths have devoted themselves to the
gospel ministry. This places us by the side Of the
most favored institutions ia this respect. The pro.
portion Of cergymen to alumni is-at Yale, one i'm
three and eighttenths; at Dartmouth one in three
and nine tenths; and at the college in New Jersey,
one in five and threetenths The number of eminent
medical men who have graduated hore and gone
forth from our walls have attracted universal atten-
ton to us from every quarter The Faculties OF Law
and OF Arts and Design have not been carried OUT
owing to our pecuniary difficulties. Remove these.
and the way is open to accomplish the best wishes
of the founders Of the institution. | have now,
sir pointed attention to Objects embar9ssmcDts,
and works intended, and the meeting will be adj
dressed by some gentlemen who will express public
opinion ppm, perhaps more correctly than can.
The Reverend Doctor aaid:-I should not attempt
TO present myself to the meeting were il not for the
pressing call made upon mefrom the Chair Not that
do not feel deep interest in the affairs oil the Uni
yersity, but it Is scarcely my place to speak upon
them. In the first place, am not resident Of New
York, but live in that place which Bishop Hughes
contcmptuously designates suburban village.
Qaughter.) In the next, although born and bred
passed out Of It that aa not familiar with the his
tory of the ETY., much less with that of tba nsfn.