The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1878-04-20
WESTERN MARYLAND COLLEGE
Meeting of the Friends of Education.

On Friday night, the 18th instant. a large
and enthusiastic meeting of the citizens n
this city, was held at Odd Fellows Hall. IN
response to cali on behalf of Western Mary.
land College.
The meeting was called to order by w. l..
W SeabrOOk, Esq, who nominated Hon. ]
n. l4ongwell, as president, who, being unani-
mously elected, assembled the stage, and after
returning thanks for the honor conferred, re-
quested that the organization of the meeting
be completed. 1t was then moved that the
following gentlemen, Henry Wander ford. Jo-
seph NJ. Parke, X. b. Norment. John I,
Reifsnider, VIM. A. McKellip, Elias Wing.
ing, William Fenby, Vim. A. Cunningham
and George W. Matthews, be appointed Vice
Fresldents, and Messrs. George r. Gehr and
John L. Orndorff, Secretaries, which being
unanimously adopted those gentlemen took
their seats on the stage.
After prayer by Rev. j. B. Still. the presi-
/ dent stated the object of the meeting to be
the arousing in the minds of the people of
Westminster deeper interest in the Western
| Maryland College, as being an institution of
learning for Western Maryland, located at
Westminster, he then called on Rev. J. L.
Ward. President of the College, for report
OF Its WORKINGS. DIR. Ward then made the
following statement:
| To the Citizens Of Westminster, in Mass
Meeting assembled on behalf Of Western
/ Maryland College The President of the
Institution would respectfully submit, in ae-
cordance with the announcement in the pub
llshed call for this meeting, statement of
the past work and present condition of the
college. Before doing this, however, it may
be well to make brief reference to the char
acter OF the institution. And this cannot be
better set forth than by quoting the great fun
damental principle of the charter under
which 1t exists, enacted by the General As
sembiy of Maryland, and approved by the
Governor March Both, 1868, namely:
That a collegeor general Seminary of learning
&C. and Is hereby established, by the name OF the
western MARY Wand College at or near Westminster
IN me county of CARROLL in this State upon the fol-
lowing wing iundAmenial principle namely:
. mat the said Western Maryland College shall be
oie , anu maintained forever, upon most lib
eral plan, for the benefit OF youth of every religious
aen9mlnaton who shall be freely admitted TO equal
piNileses and advantages of education. and 10 all
the literary honors of the College without rqurius,
OF enforcing any religious OF civil test. urging
uelr attendance upon any particular place Of re-
gious worship or service, other than that in which
they nave been educated or which they have the
appreciation OF their parents or guardians 10 attend
nor snail any preference be given in the choice OF u
Principal Master. Tutor Teacher in the said Col
lege, account Of his or her par,icuiar RELIGIONS
professions but regard shall be had solely TO his or
her moral character. literary abilities and other
necessary qualifications TO fill the place for which
he or she shall be chosen"
This being the broad basis upon which our
College is founded, there is no citizen Of
Westminster, of whatever religious persua-
sion or political views, who has not good rea.
son to rejoice in the establishment of such an
institution in our city, and to interest himself
IN Its growth and success.
In accordance with the true spirit of the
Act OF Incorporation, it was announced in the
hrst annual catalogue, 1860, and in every
subsequent one, THAT nothing will be intro
duced either into the course of study or dis
clpline, which can in any way be Objectionable
to students of any religious denomination. :"
and leach student will be at liberty TO repairt to
such places of public worship as parents and
/ guardians may select" The Trustees also
resolved, that free tuition in the studies of
the regular course should be given to the
children of the pastors of all the churches in
the city of Westminster. These facts are
stated that all may understand the unsecta-
rian character of the institution. And il is
/ proper further to mention that the same great
| principle has been carried out in the selec-
ton of officers ofthe College Faculty. among
whom have been, and are now, persons OF
various political and religious UNCONVENTIONAL
views.
/ While the prime object and aim OF the Col
/ lege is to promote literary and scientific cul-
ture, it does not neglect to ineuleate those
| general principles which all admit to be i'm
portant as to political economy, and it en-
deavors to throw around all its students the
wholesome restraints of good discipline and
moral and religious influence, that they may
be fitted for usefulness in society. Its pro-
tessors have ever been, and we trust ever will
be, OF one mind as to these inculcations,
without reference to parties or sects.
To what extent the efforts of the College
for the ten years of its history, have accom-
plished the grand results intended, it is not
for us to decide; but we humbly trust the good
done has not been inconsiderable.
The number of Students enrolled for each
year is as follows, namely for