The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-07-18
Ann ual College COMMENCEMENT.

We publish this morning a most inter
esting chapter in the history of Ameri-
can educstion-namely, the report of the
annual Commandments Of twentyeight col
leges throughout different States of the
Union-Nolth, South, East and West. Colleges
and universities in this country have been Of late
years rapidly acquiring high position in popu-
lar estimation. Within the last twenty years
upwards of fifty colleges have been founded.
and twenty -four colleges and universities, with
on aggregate number of students Of fourteen
thousand; and these are located in every State,
from Wisconsin to Louisiana, and from Maine
to Missouri.
Forty. seven of these institutions are under the
charge of religious denominations. Of those not
under the special care of any church, the pre-
vailing religious influences of the colleges in
New England are Congregationalist, and of the
others Presby terrain. The number of colleges
under the direction Of the Baptists is sixteen;
Episcopalians, seven; Catholics, twelve; and
Methodfsts, twelve. In all New England there
is but one Catholic college-one of the noblest
educational institutions in the countryside
College of the Holy Cross, at Worcester, Mas
sachusetts The strong Puritan spirit of that
State engendered so much antipathy to the
Catholic religion that, year after year,
the application for a charter for this
college was refused, and it necessarily labored
under many disabilities. A charter, however,
has at last been granted and the establishment
is flourishing in consequence. Though the TO-
reign born and Catholic element has been grow
ing so rapidly in Boston of late years that it
now equals that of the native born, yet so strong
is the Puritan feeling Of the representatives from
the interior of the State that it was with the
utmost difficulty this small measure of justice
was wrung from the Legislature. The narrow
spirit of bigotry which of old devised tortures
for the Qnakers, and piled up faggots for poor
old women, still rules the Legislature Of Massa-
chusetts and its monument stands in the charred
ruins of the Charlestown convent, which the
Catholic bishop vowed should remain untouched
until the State Unidentified the institution for
the injury done by the furious mob which it
could not, or would not, control. Over twenty
five years have passed since the outrage was COM
mitted, and the ruins still remain as record Of
Puritan bigotry and uncharitableness.
1t is cause of much pride and qualification
to see so many of our YOUTH of both sexes, re-
ceiving high order of education in collegiate
institutions. In England college education
has until very lately been a privilege of the
higher and Weather classes, but in this country
the door Of the university is open freely to all
Female colleges are becoming quite an institu-
ton in the United States; they are particularly
numerous in the West, as may be seen by our
reports this morning. Young ladies formerly
who changed their condition were converted
from maids into wives; now they can avail
themselves of the variety of a change from
maids to bachelors. We think this is carrying
woman's rights to the extreme. Seriously, the
fourishing state Of colleges, universities and
professional schools at the present time gives
promise of great things from the rising genera
ton.