New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-06-21
THE COMMENCEMENT SEASON.
OLD AND NEW TIMES AT BROWN.
THE UNIVERSITY AND ITS Observation-Disclosures AND
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. DAY.

Providence, June 1S.-On September ~
1862 at the commencement Of the College OF NewJersey
at Princeton, the first speaker was James Manning
young man twentyfour years Of Of graceful person.
handsome eountenance harmonious voice. diGnbed
manners and pleasing address. He received the seeond
honor Of Of twenty members and pronounced
Latin Grafton which spoken of in The Pea"SB'po'o
gazette as elegant sautatory" he was naiNe Vi
Elizabethtown where the college had hrst Oeeh esI"o
ished in 1746 when he eight years old AT the age
of eighteen The was at the academy OF the KEY isa'o
Eaton at Hopeweu Two years later, in l7os' ne was
ad nitted to college as freshman The college aier
being at Newark eight years had been removed 70 S
pre sent site in Princeton in 1876. During hs cohese
course Manning enjoyed the instruction OF tne ceie
braed President Davies and of his President
Finley Soon after graduation he entered tue worK Oh
the Christian ministry in the Baptist denomination IN
lime 1863 he was at Newport r. l., commissioned
by the philadelphia Association, seeking afavoraDle
Mace for founding college In the interest OF the Dap
lists As yet they had high seminary OF learning
The state OF Rhode Island offered them the best faci-
ities Accordingly in the spring OF 1904 Mr. Manning
removed TO Warren and at the of twenty-five be-
came The founder and first president OF Rhode lsand
College which In 1904 was Enamed Brown university
in honor of Its benefaetor, Nicholas Brown
This was the third college founded in New-England
and the seventh within the thirteen colonies twas
the first founded with the distinct provision Inade py us
founders and by its charter That into this liberal
and catholic institution shall be admitted any re-
gous tests" Although planted by the Baptists 1t pro-
yded for constant representation In its governing pouy
of Friends Epscopalians and Congregationalsts Inc
numbers then established Of these denominations
are stu rgidy maintained The Baptists have ma
jorty as WAS originally intended but never are put IN
the places appointed for their brethren OF other denom
nations The corporate law tmsde in 1765l declares
that sectaran differences Of opinions shall not make
any part of the public and classical instruction"
The youthful president himself but lately graduate 3D.
o.fo ~ 4 la loo
at Princeton. The laws Of the College of New-Jersey
became with some notifications basis for the govern
ment and discipline of the College of Rhode Island
They pretty strict ana probably neither Princeton
student nor Brown student would submit to all their re-
strictions now. Possibly mathematical knowledge
NAV have so declined that the scholar IN college
would find difficult accurately to obey the law which
prescrbes that he shall keep his hat of about ten rods
10 the president and five TO the tutors" How long
armed too the scholar was expected TO bel Lett DC
hoped that spirit at least the statute Is not yet all
nued which ordains that "evsry freshman sent or an
errand shall go and do it faithfully, and make quick
return"
THE FIRST BUILDING.
Bnt Manning brought with him not only the sound
learning and academic forms Of his recent coege-home
The very walls within which his four years OF undergrad
uate life spent had become dear to him. Accord
ingly when In 1870 the college was removed TO PfoV
dence the first building erected for its uses was modelled
after Nassau Hall The site Of the new college edi1ce
was described at the time remarkably airy health
full and pleasant; being the summit of hill pretty easy
of ascent, and commanding prospect or the town OF
Providence below, of the NaTragansett Bay ana Tue
islands, and OF an extensive country variegated WIN
hills and daes woods and plains, and as spot made
for seat OF the Muses. The town, then OF few thou
sandinhabants has row grown 10000 has en-
creed the college, and spread far into the fields beyond
so that only gmpses OF this earlier prospect are caught
here and from the spacious grounds where Brown
Universityis domicied IN her eight conmodous halls
This first bnding-since 1928 known University Hall
was built by vote OF the college corporation according
to the following plan: That the house be $50 feet long
and &c feet WIDE with protection on one side 90 by 3O
and that It be four stories high IL had been voted
previously that II be plain building the walls OF best
| brick and lime, the doors and window frames OF red
cedar; that there be cupoa for a bell" II had hty-
ak rooms in all II was occupied by students at some
time after November, l77l, though not fully finished
until 1888.
DR. Guild. in his History OF Brown University" says
On Saturday, December T. l776 Sir Peter Parker, the
British commander with seventy sail OF men oi-war an
chored in Newport harbor, landed body Of troops and
| took possession OF the place. The country says
marched TO Providence There. unproyided with par
racks they marched into the College and dispersed ne
College continued 20 be occupied for barracks aud alter
ward for hosplia 10y inc an ogan anu e ii ma
ruiuous condition"
| MEMORIES OF THE OLD HALL.
| In consequence of the injuries received from this &C
cupa;on after applications made to Congress by Pres-
| dent Manning and the corporation, An act for the
Relief Of the CORPORATION OF Rhode Island College
passcd IN April 1900. Some compensation, Or. Bcne-
diet says - 900 the and occupation OF the edlncc
OF the college paid by tine United States Govern
ment The original account rendered by the builders for
sundry supplies" filling sixteen pages of folio paper.
Is still preserved The prices given In pounds sh-
ines and pence The items include materials for build
ing loads of wood horse hire ferrlage "use Of Town
scow for fetching stones" calling meetings, work OF
Earle's negro" Henry Pagcts negro Pero" and
sundry pints and gallons Of This Of various
kinds" good "very goba aud old" old West India =;
and was bought for different purposes Some was for
the digging Of the wel" three pints were allowed SIM
mons for extraordinary -" much went TO rails
inc and laying the successive oors growing better tho
| higher the builders went.
| Until 1922 when Hope College vas built, University
1aI was the only building on tho college grounds.
ing these forty from the time VI en- the troops were
Withdrawn within It's walls were educated many WHO
were men of moro than local and sccaral influence aud
reputation. Nicholas Brown was graduated IN l1s6;
| President haxcy the successor OF Manning IN l1sIi
United States Senator James Burfill In 1855 Asa
Messer the third president in iIsO; rstam BgTges IN
Morton 500; Andrew I1ckcns, OF south Carblna, IN
1901 Henry wheaton the iurlStin lso- jude Iheron
MCtcaf IN 1909; Dr. JuGsDn, TIE pioneer missionary, IN
| 1907: Governor Francis and senator W j.. marcy IN
Pond, only lately deceased ~ venerable me- "a lslS
Toln Carter Brown. OF Nicholas, Snd himself Ilb
era oenGIseeor, % tne in I Dr. G. Hove fIe ph
lanthropst In 1921 and Alexis Caswe, sixth president
| of the college In 1922. 49,
The corridors that ran the length OF the building
NOT always tfayersed by demure and studlOus SET Of
seekers after knowledge. Occasionally the s air OF
delightful studies made to vbfate by the toot OF the
midnight horns the floor sometimes reverbcrated with
the roll OF cannon-bell, bOwled along toward row.Df
candles the far end OF the hall by some student at
tempting solve the problem Of the lights 10 said
that Howe aferward the champion OF the Greeks ana
guids of the blind won such reputation for expert
nents In explosives that after his graduation when
| caIlin a "a
his prttude for what learned from him. he seemed
only 10 excite suspicOn and apprehension in the mind OF