New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-06-28
UNIVERSITY OF THE CITY OF NETWORK.

UNIVERSITY OF THE Cllf OF NEN-lOhh
Last evening the Twenty Anniversary OF the AS
ISOLATION of the Alumni OF the University Of the City OF
NewYork was celebrated in the University Chapel in the
presence of large audience OF ladies and gentlemen
Prof BEsJANIs n. MARTIN delivered address on the
subject OF the peculiares of Collegiate Education in
America. lie considered that the national system was I'M
deryaued having little of the wealth and authority which
gave yeneraon the ancient establishments in our moth
er country. i, might be to many that we have with
all our multiplied institutions any real system Of education
in this country The speaker them at some length and in
detail described the rise and progress Of the earlier sys
tens Of education as it exists in this country. lie sad
among those who founded the various institutions were to
be found all the varieties race nation religious belief and
personal character which either Europe America COM
urises vet from all this there general Of dscl
Mine There had been from time 10 time many expressions OF
Dissatisfaction with this uniform College patternand various
attempts improve upon it, out OF which other and add
tonal institutions had grown tried grow hitherto with
but the smallest No new method oil education hai
sprung up; no form of Institution had originated
among us and the attempt had again and AGAIN resulted
in establishing another Institution precisely similar to the
pattern il especially described TO REFORM such iacts
Justified the statement that there American system
of education and indicated that 1t mad vigorous ana
active life ar well close conformity " the wants Oh
the nation which had originated IT, The speaker then pro-
ceeded 10 give history of literary Institutions the forms
of which had down TO US from the middle ages-the
University and the Coege,-wlth the last named ne sal
yersity the students OF mature age ana were
rot gathered under the roof In the College the
who instruction given by teacher with perhaps an
assistant two while the other hand III tne University
many separate contributed TO The students pro-
grsss. These two systems had their merits and de-
fects. Our American Institutions differed deedeaiy
from each Of them. Every professor had his
own department, in which he was expected 10 oe-ac-
cordng TO the facilities which bis institution could supply
on level with the science OF his age Aho.her 'ier
ence between end foreign systems lay IN the tact
that while they complete and hna ours Il preparatory
to further aud professional education The College win
was only preparatory to system o. SUI IS
Law and Seminares Of Theology, when Whatever ther
defects aimed nothing lees than Thoroughly scltnc
professional education in addition TO coiegh'e ana gen
eTal one Onr collegiate system of education was 'uiu-
able the means ofmenta discipline arf also Tor the deYe
oIment powers and for the night ana wise diree-
ton of them III after life The speaker COMMENDED hat all
education be preparatory ana that our coieglEe
:, m made man competent 20 select his in life
and cheyer course he pursued he found himself equal
10 the TAX Whether he 10 the bar, the prac
tice OF medicine or became divine be found CON-
petent 10 penetrate those ways which cast in his
oath He aid there great many conflicting views
in science. The Tbeolo-ian denied the views OF the
Ceologian. and a plan that aimed ~ q separate
Institution for instruction could only tend widen The
divisions which existed. II had been asked why
there were few pupils in American universities. When
contrasted them with the European system in which
il necessary for TO obtain collegiate degree
before lie could enter any learned profession we might
rRher ak how II there many. The speaker
did not psad for the College system as finished
pete-fsr otherwise. They constantly striving to
improve their and improve their means Of insrac
ton He cherished and loved those institutions for all
they had done TO difuse education. In ooncusOn he
did not p ad for assistance in the way of any OF
improved ntructon and only asked thlng-tha; his
hearers should discourage those youth who sought Il.
Among them might be who had spark OF sacred fire
capable Of burning and shining for the guidance Of many
would it be wise to teach him to smotherii
During the delivery OF the address the speak was r
gsently sppauded The audience were dismissed WIN
benedction.