Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-07-27

The faculty of instruction Of the institute is
composed as follows;
Charles o. Thompson, A. NJ, principal and pro-
fessor of chemistry; George l. Alden, b. s., pro-
fessOr of mechanics and physics; George f. Glad
win, professor of drawing; John e. Sinclair, b.
s.. professor of mathematics and civil engineering;
Miss NJ s. Fletcher teacher of French and Ger
man Frank A. Sherman, b. S. instructor in
mathematics Milton p. Higgins b. s., superin-
dent of machine shop.
Thenumber of pupils, including The class just
graduated, was eighty-two. This class has had
in all thirty-two members. OF these sixteen
left the institution on account of ill health or
other causes, and ofthe remainder fifteen finish
ed the course with the approval of their in
structors, and the partial failure of the other
was due to loss of health
The forenoon was given to the examination
of the graduating class. This exercise was con-
Quoted in the chapel. in Boynton Hall, before
considerable audience composed of friends of
pupils and of the institute and committee of
scientific and practical gentlemen selected for
the purpose. Each member of the class read
thesis illustrated, where practicable, with elab
crate and admirably finished drawings, and
occasionally by diagrams executed at the time on
the blackboard. The pupils were examined on
the subjects of their theses by the members of
the examining committee and by others in the
audience. These papers and the accompanying
drawings were prepared by the pupils without
assistance or suggestions from their instructors,
and they were very creditable. The answers to
questions were prompt and intelligent The
character of the subjects treated appears from
the following schedule:
Architecture-Secton and Elevation of Classic
Building-George H. Nichols, Oxford; Everett }.
Bardwel Worcester.
Chemistry steel-Elmer p Howe, Worcester.
Theory and Practice of Dyeing-Henry P. Arms
Civil Engineering Theory of the Arch-Freder-
lex W. Bateman Still River.
Tunneling-Robert f. Holgate, Fitchburg.
The Suspension Bridge-GeOrge A. Thompson,
Sewerage-Frank 0. whitney, Fitchburg
The Worcester Water WOrks-F. Walter Hamil-
ton, Worcester partial cOurse)
Design-Drawing on stone-Walter L. Chaloner,
Worcester.
Mechanics-The GoyernOr-William A. Nelson,
Sterling.
Link and Valve MOtion-Edwin H. Whitney.
Harvard.
A Steam Carriage for Common Roads-Edward
X. Hill North BrOokfeld.
The COrliss Engine-William r. Billings Wor-
cester.
The Fly Wheel-Samuel S. Jennison, Templeton.
Gearing-Edward F. Toman, Worcester.
After the reading, the papers and drawings
were submitted to the inspection of the com
mittees whose names and speciaties were these
Chemistry-President Clark, state agricultural
college, Amherst; Mr. Geo. lockwood, Manches-
ter, N H.
Mechanics-Prof. Trowbridge, Cambridge Mr..
Parker, bridge buider), Boston; Mr.. Geo. Cromp-
Civil Engineering Phinehas Ball; Mr. Ray
mOnd, Fitchburg.
A,aI, H., II ,,F
technology, Boston; Prof. W. p. TrOwbridge New
Haven; Mr.. Mason Newton.
They made report to the faculty of the COM
parative attachments of the pupils as exhibited
by this examination, which, with the results Of
the previous examinations during the course,
determines the rank of each in his class. While
this examination was in progress all the rooms
were open for the inspection of visitors. In
the machine shop drill in the use of tools was
exceedingly interesting to spectators, and an eX-
hibiton of free hand drawing by the junior
class, under the direction of Professor Gladwin,
elected high praise from those who were fortu-
nate enough to witness it, If it had been posi-
BILE to be in three places at once, the only draw
back to the universal pleasure would have been
removed.
At one O'Clock a handsome collation. was
served, and at halfpast two a still larger audi
ence than in the morning, quite filling the
room, assembled in the chapel to attend the
graduating exercises. These were begun by
prayer offered by Rev. E. Porter Dyer, of
Shrewsbury, after which the president of the
board of trustees, Hon. Stephen Salisbury, de-
lvered the following
INTRODUCTORY ADDRESS:
Friends of the Worcester County Free Insti-
tute Of Industrial ScieRce-LddieS and Gentle
men. This institution has solemnly offered its
first fruits to the source from which all good
counsels and all Just works do proceed. 1t is
also the duty of the trustees to express public
thanks to those who have contributed TO the
degree of success that has been attained, and to
give such an account of the objects, the princ-
pies and the methods of the Institute as will
tend TO secure the confidence and appreciation
of an intelligent community, without which it
cannot live.
And will first say that this Institute has
claim to public favor and indulgent consdera-
ton, because it is the first attempt in our coun-
try TO combine theOretic knowledge and prac
teal training for the benefit of all useful arts
and especially of mechanical industry, which is
the foundation of the wealth and the civilian
ton Of man. 1t has also the rare merit of hay
ing been built up almost entirely by private
contributions for the largest public good.
Under the pressure of severe necessity, the
trustees asked the aid of the state in behalf
of class of citizens for whom, with lib
erality toward every other mode of in
struction, not one dollar had ever been
appropriated from the public treasury, and for
the first time legislative gift for the improve
ment of mechanics was made. Of the S5O000
thus given, part was used in construction and
part is invested as fund. This Gift is ac-
companied with the requirement to receive
twenty pupils without tuition from that part of
the state, that is on the outside of Worcester
county. For this wel-timed aid we are deeply
grateful, and it was received as a pledge of the
interest of the government in the character and
success of the school. We had hoped for the
presence of the governor of the commonwealth
on this occasion, and that we might receive
from him such encouragement for good learn
ing as he has elsewhere expressed and justified
by his personal lberality; and the lesson would
come with more weight from one who left his
diminished course in a college to gain in the
conduct of a large mechanical business the in
huence and usefulness which has elevated him
to the highest honor in the college and the state.
| am happy to say that the governor added to
his statement that an engagement would pre-
vent his being here to-day, promise that he
will be at my house this evening to meet the
friends of the Institute who may call on him.
We cannot forget at this time the debt of
gratitude that is due to the founders of this In
stitute, John Boynton, Esq, and Hon. Ichabob
Washburn. Like the wOrkmen on the outside
and the inside of a boiler, our benefactors
did not labor in sight of each other
When Mr.. Boynton presented his gift of $780,
900, at that time deemed large provision as a
tuition fund for "the instruction of youth in
those branches of education not usually taught
in the public schools, which are essential and
best adapted to train the young for practical
life" and expressed his purpose that such
as are intending to be mechanics or manufac-
turers or farmers, should attain an under
standing of the principles of science applicable
to their pursuits, he required that suitable
building and grounds should be given, and that
tuition should be free to youth in the county OF
Worcester and after other requirements, which
need not be rected, he left the enterprise to the
care OF the trustees approved by himself, and he
had no place among the trustees, and he did
not interpose in their proceedings. 1t is no in-
justice to him to say that his plan was not elab-
GRATED by himself, but was in his mind a simple
proposition, and he was indebted to friends in
whom he had confidence.
The announcement of the gift of Mr.. BOynton
excited general praise and satisfaction among
our citizens, but ii came upon Mr.. Washburn
with the shock of an earthquake, as it seemed
to remove the ground from good work on
which he had ever ca1 HE mind fnr mo