The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-06-03
STEPHEN GIRARD'S LEGACY.
NEW YoRK's INTEREST IN 1T.


is now worth s. 600 coo S. 600 ooo the bulk OF
It was in the original viii drawn by Horace Blnney
bequeathcd TO the city OF Philadelphia provided II
would enter into obligation to incur debt
Subsequently Mr. Grard desired to extend the
Orphans Home therefore he bequeathei nearly all his
property TO MAINTAIN and educate orphan boys In his
first will there was restriction upon visits OF
ministers Of tho Gospel; but, becoming anxious to
avoid sectarian controversies, he inserted the follow
ing clause in his second w,l drawn by the Hon. W. j.
Duane
airy or minister OF any sect whatsoever shall ever hold
or exercise ANY station duty whatever IN the SAID
college, shall any such ever be admitted Tor
any purpose u visitor, within the premises APP
proprated to the purposes OF the said college
! The attack made by the heirs upon tho will was
chiefly based that clause will be BY the fol-
loving extract from the decision Of the Supreme
Court in Washington, given by Chief Justice Story
This objection Is that The founcation Of the college
upon the principles and exclusions prescribed ny inc
testaor Is derosalory and hostile TO the Christian re-
iigion, ana is SO VOID, bong against the common
law and public policy OF Pennsylvania, and this Tor Two
rcasons-nrst because OF the exclusion OF all cccles
astics missionaries and ministers OF any sect from
holding or exercising any station or duty in the col
lcge, or even visiting the same and secondly because
limits the instruction TO be gwen to the scholars 70
pure morality aud general bcnevolcnce and love OF
ruth. sobrety and industry thereby excluding by i'm
pcaton all Instruction IN the Christian religion.
| The Chicf Justice said
siton that Christianity is not 10 DO taught
because eccesiastics not DO instructors
or officers. But this is by means necessary or
legitimate inference from the premises. Why may
not symen instruct in the general principles OF Chris
ton to the religious opinions OF the instructors and
officers They may be, and. doubtless under the
auspices OF the CITY government they will always be,
men not only distinguished for learning and talent but
Tor piety and elevated virtue and holy lives ana char
acter And we cannot overlook the blessings
which such men, by their conduct we'll
|
TO their youthful pupils Why may not
the Bible ana especially the New Testament, without
note or comment, be read and taught divine rev
eiaton IN the college, It's general prectpts cxpounded
its evidences explained aud its glorious principles or
morality inculcated WHAT Is there prevent work
not seclaran upon the general evidences Of CHRISTI
anity from beng road taught in the college by lay
teaehcrsY Certainly there Is nothing IN the VIII that
proscrbcs such studies Above all, the estntor POSI-
lively enions that all the and teachers in
the college shall take pains 10 nst INTO tho minds OF
the scholars the puresi principles of morality, so that
Oh their entrance into active lilo they may, from in
cinaton and habit, evncc bencvolcnce toward their
fellow creatures and love OF truth, sobriety and In
dustry adopting AZ the same time such religious tencts
Now it may well be asked What is there il all this
which is positively enjoined inconsistent with the
spirit or truths OF ChrstianityY Arc not these truths
all taught by Christianity, although IL teaches much
morey Where can tho purest principles OF morality
be learned 80 clearly so perfectly as from The New
sTestamenY Where are bcnevoencc the love OF truth,
sobrety and ndustryso powerfully and irresstiby in
culcated as in tho sacred voiumcy The testator has
said how these great principles are to be taught
by whom, except 1t be by laymcn, what books
to be used explain enforce them. All that we can
gather from his Language he desired exclude
seclarans and from the college, leaving the
instructors officers teach the pures. moral
n.y. the love of truth sobriey anu industry by all APP
pruprIae means; and, OF course. including the best,
the surest and the MIST impressive The Cher JUS
tce concluded with this significant paragraph:-'We
satisfied that there is nothing in the devise cstab-
fishing the college, or in the regulations and restrc-
tons contained therein, which arc inconsistent with
the Christian religion opposed TO any known pol
| icy OF the State OF Pennsylvania"
That the Supreme Court rightly Interpreted the will
Of Mr.. Girard evidenced by the conduct Of tho
Hon. William j. Duane, tho writer Of the WILL who was
o.drector the college with for many years. He
gave his cordial approval Of a the used TO i'm
part religious instruction and to train the children
habits OF Christian virtue Hc know that Gods bless
ing was audbly invoked at each meal, that the boys
were in the habit Of attending religious services held
the chapel every morning and evening and also that
on Sundays special discourses prepared for them
and delivered by the President and otner eminent lay
men Mr. Duane knew that tho Bible freely read
and taught and that the boys were trained IN tho habit
Of praying before they went to bed
| To avoid sectaranism service book prepared
| solely for in the Sunday worship, thus far
Quoted in ono Of the rooms in the main college build
ing beautiful chapel will, however, be erected this
season. rs in months the number OF pupils
will be increased from $50 to noarly 800
The new chapel will accommodate 1900 boys, being
forty that comprise the college property unless
the Ahabs OF Philadelphia succeed In dcspoilng the
widow and tho orphan Of their inheritance Mr. Girard
trusted his the old CITY OF Philadelphia the
nment IoAoSof which there In his time no polt-
| cal changes. and of which he was once councmane
But when all the adjoining districts in the county
consolidated into the city the character of the
was radically changed and the integrity OF the trust
copardzed through the virulcnco OF party politics
Therefore, nearly seven years SINCE by determined
effort Of independent and influential citizeLs, the
charter of the city OF Philadelphia was so
amended MS 10 authorize the judges, acting
| as n Board of Appointment, TO elect for lie
or good behavior twelve citizens to act directors
of city trusts Who with the Mayor OF the city the
presidents the Select and Common Councils for the
time being sarc charged with exclusive control and
management OF all property dedicated to charitable
or trusts, the charge administration OF which
now or shall hereafter be vested In condcd to the
city Of Philadelphia" This Board controls large nun
Der of other charitable trusts, such the Wills Eye
Hospital &c, but the Girard estate by far tho most
important trust. After maintaining the Grard College,
with its $50 orphans at annual cost varying from
$780, 900 100000 the surplus income ranges from
s175oo to $685. year. which is expended in pro
ductive improvements on the real estate This
| surplus will steadily increase for tho next
fifty years at II the estate is intcIligcntly
and honestly managed. Most of the surplus OF this
year will be expended in tho erection of appropriate
chapel and four twin dwelling houses, with a large
dining hall and kitchen, all Of MARBLE into which, be-
fore the close OF the year, $40 additional boys will be
received maintained and educated families OF thirty
each. Il the family system proves the whole be
beneficial, as in my judgment IL will be IL properly ad
minstcred then tho number Of these houses can DO
gradually increased and the five original buildings used
for school rooms for over 1000 pupils Thus far tho
college has been well managed rs could be under
what is known the community congrcgatc system,
the unnatural and dwarng effect Of which system has
l OF late years received much consideration.
/ The boys entering the college are, when out OF
school, under the Of govcrness Of whom there
are 1--WE, each having section OF forty boys As The
orphans advance in intelligence they pass to the
OF a project who has section Of seventy boys There