The American patriot., 1855-03-28
CENTENARY CoLLEG E.

tended 5y that body TO the cause Of education,
will atone to some extent for that which was
done inadvertently TO educate should be the
order Of the age, and it bchooves us 10 attend
well to this matter, as upon the intelligence OF
the American masses hang the hopes ana ahe
destiny of our country. The disposition eh
the part Of Che Legislature to open tne Tempe
Of knowledge to those whose circumstances
will not bear them out in'obtaining an oduca-
ton, discovers a waking up of our people 10
their true and best interests, and the appfo-
nriations made 10 different literary institutions
throughout the State, will stand as wh''e
| stones in the legislation Of eighteen hundred
and ffty-Gye. Our own interests in this par
ticular have not been neglected. Ten Thousand
dollars on certain conditions, has been appro-
n,;ated to Centenary College, for the compile |
ton Of the centre buildin;. which has been so
long contemplated which is SO necessary 10
complete the accommodations of the Coilege'
and which has failed to be erected thus long
for want Of the necessary means some money
has been raised from time to time, from indl-
yidual bcneficencc for this work, but not
enough has been realized 10 carry it on to COM
pletion until now, the Legislature has SO gener-
ously extended its fostering hand, and the
building will be finished When completed,
a good and substantial chapel, good recitation
rooms and society halls will be had and much
of that Inconvenience which has been felt tor
the want of these fixtures will be removed.
The old ,ckety barn which has 50 long sup
piled the place of chapel, is totally unit for
the purpose; the new and spacious one which
is 10 be erected will lend new interest to the
public exercises of the College The literary
= societ haycics bee cc"'npellea 20 hoia 'heir ue-
$ bates in the recitation rooms, which den.-e ,''o
i fitting them up in the proper manner, ana
:, which, by being too common, destroyed that
charm and respect which privacy throws
! around society hall, and which cxelts such q
fine moral influence over the members.
The conditions upon which this appropra.
c ton is made, is alike advantageous to The STATE
c and to the College-securing patronage to the
y ono, while Young men are afforded the oppor
tunity of obtaining an education, on very
> liberal terms Twelve State students, to DC ap
= pointed by the Governor, are to be taught gra
tuitously at the College, and this is to be tht
?" compensation to the State for the interest or
the money appropriated. This is but an cxten
" sion Of n contract entered into between th'
d State and the trustees of the College, Whei
A. this institution was first founded.
1t The old Louisiana College, established year:
is ago, at jackson by the State, would and che
it not flourish Bad management brought on
in premature decay, and the fruit brought fort
al Nv tle institution was commensurate at no pc
ir Rod of its history, with the expense incurre
he Inv the State in sustaining it. Dragging o.
ng heavily for several years, the State maxim
IS large outlays of public money for its suppoi
sc annually, it finally proved an entire failure an
when Int one student was left, the exercise
were suspended and the project abandoned
Us The College buildings thus vacated and lie
H. untcnanted, three individuals came forWar
d. and on their own responsibility, purchased I'll
'n- buildings and college grounds, with the vie
re- 10 establishing another institution on Il dlitc
''y emf basis. To more cifectually secure its pro
'h- nerity. il was blended with Centenary Col!eg
li' of the State of Mississippi, and placed und
icy tbe charge of the Methodist Church. III
avs was done not with the view Of inculcating in
'A' !. ..e students the dogmas and religious tenel
vi. Of that denomination, but only to secure to {
pa College the patronage and support of the mel
'.'o bers of that church. The result has show
''o how well this arrangement has worked.
r''' When the purchase price of the College pl
~, perry fell due the institution exhibited su
'A' oraens of prosperity that the Legislature, d
rosed to encourage it as much as possib
~ passed an act rcmitting the purchase price,
=" condition that ten young men OF the st
should be taught gratuitously, and that
w, nroperty. in case of Abandonment by the III
- fructuares, shall revert to The State. Ih1s
i r,ncement has worked exceedingly well, Q
.est the College has faithfully performed its par
,de. the contract to the State The State studc
san. appointed, usually for their sobrlety and
that sire to educate themselves, are among the i
students in the College. The appropriat
made by the last session of the leSislatt
now but an extension of the old contract-pia
hg, an additional number Of twelve State stude
icut in the College, making twenty-five in all.
ncy Centenary College, though comparas'>
ltion Young in years, already stands at the hea
C all all literary institutions Of louisiana and we
l;eye II il destined to outstrip in growth
= Importance, every College in the Sont'
eech r,a.o. rrbc students numhcr about two /
u III ,lrcd and forty, and many more are ant'clp
sting ,,o,, session The graduating class is