The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1882-05-19
Stephen Girard.
TIE REASON WHY NO MINISTER HAS
EVER BEEN ALLOWED TO ENTER
GIRARD COLLEGE.

A writer to the press says: Girard
was formerly devout Catholic, whose
contributions to the church at times
were almost princely. He did not mar
ry until many years of bachelorhood
had tinged his hair with gray, and
but for a strange meeting would doubt
less have remained celibate. Being the
largest ship owner in the world, his
business led him to nearly all parts
of the globe, and his name was famil-
lar in every merchant port. On pub
lie occasion, when large body of mer-
chants welcomed him home after
long cruise, the festivities of the recep-
tion turned from speech making to a
grand ball, at which Girard saw and
was introduced to the daughter of
prominent gentleman in Philadelphia,
and this meeting which had many sin
gular features about it not necessary
to be related here, eliminated in mar
riage.
sit is said by all those with whom
| conversed on the subject that Gil
rards young wife was eXquisitely beau
tiful and a lady of rare polish and
education. His treatment of her was
that of proud lover, ever anxious to
recite her favor by bestowal of ele-
giant gifts and constant exhibition of
loving tenderness. One year after the
marriage, business called Girard to
South America, where he remained
nearly eighteen months, and upon his
return he was greeted affectionately by
his young wife, but her caresses were
poison to his lips, for there were un-
mlstakeable evidences, readily appar-
ent, that she was about to become a
mother.
81 could add nothing to the facts s of
this sad story by dwelling upon the
scene which followed. Girards re-
proach was succeeded by frank con
fession from his wife, who named their
favorite pastor as her guilty compan-
ion. / am not prepared to say of
what denomination Mrs. Girard was
member, but my impression now is
that Girard had some time previous
withdrawn from the Catholic church
TOR some just reason, and that both he
and his wife had united with some
Protestant sect.
"Girard could not forgive his wife,
and she, being keenly sensitive
woman, was 80 consciously stricken by
her great crime that two months after
the revelation she became insane and
carried to a madhouse. Here she Ian
guished for nearly two years when
death delivered her of her malady
The church of which she was a mem
ber took charge of her remains and
gave them burial in manner com
mensurate with the great wealth of
her husband. A bill of the funeral ex-
penses was afterwards presented to
Girard, but he peremptorily refused
payment and the matter was about to
go to the courts. Discovering the at
titude in which such legal contest
would place him, Girard paid the bill
under protest, and then, feeling as
though the church had stabbed him
twice, he withdrew from active life,
and realizing SlS,000,O0O from his
shipping interests, concluded to spend
SS,OO0,OOO of that sum in founding a
college, which he intended should be a
permanent reproach to all churches
and the followers thereof. His respect
for society and his relatives prevented
him from exposing the secret which
crushed his life, and thus speculation
has been left to write the history of
his domestic sorrow.
SIN the front centre of the main
building of Girard College is large
picture of the philanthropists faithful
housekeeper, but no portrait of his
wife was ever suffered to come inside
the precincts which his will has
sought to protect from ministerial eyes,
and by which he has secured an in
tellectual inheritance to many poor but
deserving orphan boys
"Girard survived his wife fifteen
years, and now lies under marble
sarcophagus in the main college build
ing,
81 have not written this for the pur
pose of resnrrecting scandal, but to
relieve the memory of noble man
from dishonest aspersions and to an
swer question asked by thousands.