Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-07-06

| WDaC 40 l. seo auu WudL 10 L uedE L IL
} fair sex here mingle with those of m
own, and the gentle voice of woman's lip
is heard speaking the new name of "Bur
and Burton Seminary" as if claiming b
: virtue of this associated title, the righ
of an equal participation in all the educa
tional advantages which here once per
tanned only to those of my own sex. Th
inquiry, therefore, comes pertinently fron
students of the former time, when the,
J behold here mixed school, open for tn
reception of pupils of both sexes, "Hov
came this modification of its origina
character and design to be made, ant
what connection has it, if any, with tn
two. fold name the institution now bears !?
It has already been stated that wher
first opened, the students in attendanc,
were chiefly from abroad. but as it wen
forward the relative proportion of those
whose residences were in Manchestel
steadily increased. This was what nigh
have been expected, inasmuch as the ad
vantages secured by it to this communi
ty would be apt to be appreciated the
more the longer they were enjoyed.
But consequent on this there sprung uI
feeling among our citizens their daugh'
ters had claim to be regarded in the ed
ucational privileges of the place as well
as their sons. Hence the subject of pro.
viding a seminary for young ladies began
to be agitated. But as this was an enter.
prise of no easy accomplishment, and as
the people of Manchester with commen-
dable liberality had already done much
in raising funds for the establishment OF
the Burr Seminary, the suggestion was
made of allowing young ladies, to limited
extent, to have place in some of the reg
ular classes. Accordingly on the cata-
logue for 1S49 appear the names of six.
teen young ladies, residing in families in
town, to whom this privilege was granted.
The experiment, for such it was then con-
sidered, was found TO work well, and to
be attended with some good results
Hence at the annual meeting of the trus-
tees in July of that year, vote was passed
authorizing the Prudential Committee to
esta blish both a ladies and juvenile de.
partment with this restriction, however,
"provided it can be done without any in
fringement upon the Burr Fund" Thus
careful were the Trustees that the entire
interest of this Fund should be applied,
as it ever has been, in providing suitable
instruction for those setting out in a
course of preparation for the ministry
In view of the influence for good which
young men of this class have exerted
during their pupilage, without tracing
their usefulness beyond, we cannot but
feel if the time should ever arrive when
no longer any of this class shall resort
hither, that its peculiar glory will have
in some measure departed.
On the decease of Mr.. Josiah Burton in
April, 1858, it was found that while he had
bequeathed the sum of 5000 to the Burr
Seminary to be held as permanent
fund, he had set apart a larger amount for
a Female Seminary, providing one should
be established within four years from his
deceasa, its location to be designated by
certain persons named as trustees of said
legacy But if otherwise, the whole
amount SO appropriated was to be paid to
the corporation of Burr Seminary for the
general uses of the institution.
The ciroumstnnoes under whinh this
last gilt accrued to them, it was judged
by the trustees made it incumbent on
them to recognize it as devoted to the
promotion of female education. This de-
partment therefore became a permanent
arrangement by express action of the
board. Bot instead of applying to this
department the name of its founder, mas
much as the united gifts of Mr.. Burton
surpassed the amount that accrued from
Mr.. Burr's estate, this plan was adopted
in commemoration of both these liberal
benefactors. Application was made to
the legislature in 1860 to amend the act
of Incorporation by changing the name of
the institution. This was accordingly
done, and its title thenceforth became
the Burr and Burton Seminary. But
with this alteration of name, its identity
remains so that whether sons or daugh
ters, all who have at any time enjoyed
the privileges of the institution, are well
coined to this reunion as pupils of a COM
mon Alma Mater.
a few words may properly be said on
this occasion, of the financial history and
prospects of the seminary.
The generation have almost passed
away who saw its foundations laid and
who participated in the sacrifices and ef-
careful compilation of documents on
file, we have been able to ascertain the
following particulars.
Including the legacies of Mr.. Burr and
Mr.. Burton and the donations of other res
idents of Manchester, the amount given
in this town appears to have been $33, ,776.
Adding the contributions from others not
residents of Manchester amounting to
So, 1884 and we have the total sum given
to the institution $37,610.
For this we have to show as the present
of the corporation between twen-
ty and thirty acres of land, with the build
ings upon it and their sppurtenancee, and
a permanent fund of $4,000 with an in
debtedness of about $4,000. Prospective
ly, and yet contingently upon the final
settlement of estates, there are also two
legacies to the. institution of $4,000 each,
from two neices of Mr.. Burr, with por-
tion of interest aceruing therefrom. As
they are payable one in two and the
other in five years after the decease of
surviving sister, it is of course uncertain
at what time they will be available. One
of these is directed to be applied to the
increase of the permanent fund, the other
is given without such restriction"
1t will thus be seen that while the Burr
and Burton Seminary can hardly be con-
sidered az, at present, an endowed institu-
ton compared with some others OF like
grade, its financial condition is such as to
Sifo ~ "a iaAi piooPOSeoA PoA
der the favorable smiles of providence,
may it be in the future, as it has been in
the past, place of thorough elementary
training in all the branches which come
within its apprcpristeIsphere. But above
and beyond this, may those who shall De
here appointed to teach, and all who may
come to be taught enjoy alike those
special divine influences which can alone
make this or any other place of enduca-
tion fountain from which shall issue
streams to bless and fructify the world
and make glad the city of our God.
ang CONCLUDING, EXERCISES. @
The Rev. @. T. Woodruff, of Hudson,
N. Y, was introduced and delivered
an able and interesting address, of which
the following is an abstract:
REV. MR.. wooDRUFF's ADDRESS.
If any apology was needed for the sub
iect, it would be found in the hour and IN
the principles ON which the institute was
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