The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-07-12
A WEST VIRGINIA yAssAR COLLEGE
And How such nm Institution May b.
started and Made q Great success.

A WEST VIRGINIA VASSAR COLLE6E'
And How such an Institution May be
started and Made Great Success.
By Rev. A. c. GSOrgs. DID.
vassar College, located in Poughkeepsie,
New York, is q nSn.sectarian institution,
exclusively for young women, and en-
braces preparatory and collegiate depart
ments. In 1870, there were thirty mem
bers in the corps OF instruction, 1l6pre'
paratory students and 2O5 in the collegiate
classes. The grounds, building and appa'
ratus were valued at 1851 ,2sG, and the cor
poration held, in edition, 1921, 900 Of pro-
ductive funds, yielding an annual income
Of SlS,378. The receipts for tuition fees
during the preceding year amounted to
$57,S59, including total annual income
ofs76,22s.
This institution Is the fruit Of the intel
ligent liberality OF Matthew Vassar, whose
name It bears. Mr.. Vassar was an En-
glishman by birth, but came to this coun'
try with his fathers family when he was
but y child. He inherited no patrimony
from his ancestors, but accumulated quite
large fortune by his own industry and
enterprise. In February, 1851, he made
over to Board Of Trustees, incorporated
for that purpose, s4Os,OOO, for the endow'
ment Of vassar College for young women.
He also gave beautiful site Of 200 acres
for the location OF the buildings, about
one mile from Poughkeepsie. Indeed, his
aggregate gifts to the institution amount
ed TO more than $4,000. His purpose
was not to found charity school. but q
college for women where they could have
advantages for education fully equal to
those offered to the other sex. His plan
comprehended an art gallery, q good and
growing library, and the most competent
instructors in every department
Mr.. Vassar was wise in not postponing
his great enterprise till after his death, to
DO Consummated by his executors, or to
be defeated by the cupidity Of legal heirs,
and the strategies OF the courts. He lived
to see the college building erected, the
endowment funds invested, and the school
opened. He died very suddenly, June
90, 1868, while addressing the Trustees at
the anniversary Of the opening OF the in
stitution, to which he had devoted the Ia.
bors and Accommodations OF his life. The
college has thus far had successful ca
reer, and has exerted marked influence
in the direction OF the higher education OIL
women.
Itisnow proposed 10 erect bronze stat.
Tie Of the founder Of Vassar College just
in front OF the central entrance to the edi'
flee, at an estimated cost OF from s. 900 10
$4,000. The statue when mounted on its
pedestal is to be seventeen feet high, and
on its base is to be inscribed sentiment
once uttered by Mr.. Vassar, namely: "The
mothers OF country mould the character
of its citizens, determine its institutions,
and shape its destiny" This is all very
well, but it strikes US that the College
itself Is Matthew Vassar's imperishable
monument. The building may burn,
and the invested funds may be
squandered, and the institution may
cease TO exist; but the historic past cannot
be obliterated. The example OF the de.
votion Of large fortune to educational
purposes, and that duringa mans lifetime,
has already created wide influence, and
moved others in the same direction. The
record must remain, the facts will glow in
the memories Of men, and the students oil
Vassar especially will carry with them to
every corner OF the land the inspiration Of
that great act OF conservation, from which
their alma mailer was born. II Matthew
Vassar had simply acquired great for
tune and died wealthy man, his name
would never have been mentioned beyond
the narrow circle OF his family and &C.
QuaintanCes, and his memory would soon
have persisted from the earth.
What an opportunity have the wealthy
men OF West Virginia TO do great work
for the cause Of eduCation With scarcely
any limitation, the State is before them
where to choose. A collegiate institution,
or List, or McGrew, or Foreman, or what
ever it might DO, would, il organized as q
tlrst.class academic institution, sustained
bya great and growing denomination, and
entrenched in local interests and affec-
tons, carry the fame of its fortunate
founder into the future, as one who had
unsealed fountain Of living water for the
reireshment OF generations. 1t is worth
living in this world to be able to accom-
plish such work.
Although under the patronage and con-
troll OF the Methodist Episcopal Church,
such an institution may find its principal
benefaCtor in some liberal and far-seeing
man OF another denomination. An illus
tration in point is the case Of Marcus HUI
lings, OF Oil City, q wealthy Presbyterian,
who is furnishing the chief part Of the
means for the erection ola building on the
grounds OF Allegheny College at Mead
VILE for the accommodation OF the young
women who now are,or who hereafter may
be connected with that institution. The
building will occupy commanding posi-
ton on the campus, will cost from $40 900
10 $4,000, will be known as "Hulings
Hail." and will associate the name and
Christian conservation OF good, earnest
man with all the future OF Allegheny Col
lege. Forsuch an object one might well
lift himself above oil seCtarian limitations.
ut seems to be settled as definitely as
anything can be settled, which is depend
ant on the popular will" says a leading
Journalist who is a member OF the New
York Board OF Regents OF the State Uni
versity, that higher education must trust
TO private individuals for its endowment
and its support. We believe this deter
mination to be right, but, whether right
or wrong, it is the determination recog-
nized or acQuiesced in by all friends Of the
cause Of education. This being so, the
burden Is laid upon voluntaryism to be
equal to It's duty-to meet cheerfully the
demands made upon it. These demands
are as exalted as they are imperative"
We cannot regret that this is so; for self
dependence means self development, and
whole cluster Of manly and heroic vir-
tues. Nothing brings greater honor to a
State than the devotion OF It's citizens to a
worthy cause; and nothing demonstrates
Christianity to the world like the benefi.
cent offerings Of those who, for the sake OF
their Divine Master, live TO bless and bene.
Ct their fellow men.