The morning times., 1896-10-21
BIRTH OF A GREAT SCHOOL
American Universily's First
Cornerstone Laid Today.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETS
Annual Reports Received and the
Future of the College Discu>scd.
Program for the Ceremonies This
AfternOon-DistinI Metho-
dist Divines and Luymen Here.

The board of trustees Of the American
University hL,i IL meeting at the Airing
tol on the ev. OF the laying OI tne CorheI
stone at O'clock this afternoon. of the
Hall of History, Ine first building in the
Eian OF lhc educational institution THAT IS
proposed by its founders to he the great
est in the world.
All business. and there was much OF
it. WAS transacted behind closed doors.
The meeting was substitute for the
,iInIai gathering Of the Duard that has in
former years taken place on September
16. The board uid not meet on that date
this year but delayed its session until
the new building had reached its corner
stone period
ONE OVER A QUORUM.
There are forty-nine members of the
board An even doze II Of them W wcrepresent
last night. one nore Than the Constitution
requires Tor Quorum. These members
were: ExGov. Robert Z. Pattisun Of
Pennsylvania, Bishops Thotuas Bowman OF
ST. Louis, Charles H. Fowler OF buffalo.
Alphcus W. Wilson OF Baltimore, Charles
c. McCabe OF Fort Worth, Tex; John F.
Hurst Of this city, Rev. DR.. David Ii.
Carroll OF baltimore, MesSrs. Matthew u.
Emery, A. Is. Duvall, and A. B brown. and
Mrs. Mary a. Logan and Elizabeth ].
SOiueTS al! oil tnls Guy.
In addition there were present: Rev. DR..
Richard Wheatley. OF Irvington-on-the-
Hudson; Rev. Arthur II. Griffin, OF lively,
N. Y; Rev. Samuel l.. Beilcr of this city;
Rev. Charles W. Baldwin, of this city; sec
retary to the board, and Rev. Albert Os-
born, Of this city, registrar OF the UNI
versity.
lu the absence OF Mr.. John E. Anderson.
of New York, president of the board, Gov
man opened the meeting with prayer. The
reports Of the officers of the board Were
heard. These consumed a considerable
time, but the ground they covered has al
ready been given to the public
Mr.. Emery, the treasurer, reported that
the receipts for the past five years have
aggregated S2sO.0O0 The disbursements
OF about $2T 900. The total assets'to the
credit of the institution are estimated at
81 ,O4O 900.
ONE YEARS REQUESTS.
The list of bequests for the last year was
read The principal items OF it Were u
bequcst OF So. .Uuu from Mrs. Della +.
Root OF Buffalo 500 900 frcm Hart a.
Massey Of Toronto, a sum intended to be
expended on a building that VIII more
closely bind Canadian Methodism with
that of the United States; resicuary
llIst III lit tsthtt VI ll!t iclt W llislI'I
Ives OF Watertown, n Y, and a SiHillar
trust in the estate of the late Dewitt c.
Weeks of New York. The former of these
estates is estimated to be worth $3.50 900
ana the latter. S250,000.
Bishop Hurst reported that the subScrp-
tion for the Asbury Memorial Hall fund
had risen TO 100000. OF this pledged
amount, $4,000 has been actually raid.
The report OF the executive Com mitlet
| was submitted by DR.. Beiler, secretary Of
| the Committee. A great deal of discussion
| followed its reading, and at its close the
meeting adjourned until 10 o'clock This
morning. when another session will be
| held at the Arlington. The officials OF
| the board refused to divulge the nature Of
| the report until the close Of the present
| meeting.
| 1t is known that matters of the utmost
| Importance to the university Were touched
| upon. One of the proposed new measures
| is believed to be the establishment of a
hospital under the au spicesor the university.
| The future steps in the erection OF build
ings were also discussed
| PROGRAM FOR TODAY.
The laying Of the cornerstone OF tn,
| Hall OF History, the first OF the new build
| ings Of the American University, Will TAX,
| place this afternoon on the site uf the insti
| tuition, On the Loughboro' road, two mile
! most imposing ceremonies Will mark tn
| event, and many prom lnent men of church
and state VIII be spectators or paItici
pants
MIR John Z. Andrews, president of tn
| beard of trustees, will be the presiding
| officer. MeSsrs. c. Berlew and DR.. Gibson
| will lead in the singing of America" witt
| which the program will open. Rev. DI
Randolph II McKim of Epiphany Episcopa
! Church in this city viii Conduct the re
| spuusIve reading. y hymn Will be read b,
| Rev. Samuel l.. Bieier. vice chancellor q
the university ana prayer for wisdom
viii be made by Rev DR.. George l.. Taylor
The Introductory address will be mad
| by Bishop ohm F. Hurst, chancellor of til
university. and he viii be followed II
| speechmaking by Bishop Alphcus W. Wi
son of tie Southern Methodist Church
Bishop Charles II. Fowler of Buffalo. n
Y: Rev. DR.. Charles II. Payne, Rev. DI
james N Buckley, Bishop John ?. New
man of San Francisco, and bishop Charie
| c. McCabe Of Fort Worth, Texas Rev DT
Samuel NJ Newman OF the First Congr"sa
tiunal Church in this city viii offer prayer
THE CORNERSTONE.
The cornerstone is of granite and it
dimensions are 5x5x3 feet. The customar.
articles will be placed in the receptacle b,
Bishop Hurst. who will adjust the cap
stone.
The IayIng Of this stone is one of th'
most auspicious steps In the building o
tue great university. The plans have Deel
| under consideration for years. Each stel
seemed a long one. 1t was long tim
after the project was first broached tina
tue funds were made and the purchase o
tue site effected.
Almost rignty acres of land have heel
bought already. At present it is leculiarl.
inaccessible 50 far as popular conveyance
closest railway is tue Georgetown ant
Tenleytown road, more than half mil
distant, and that. too. by circuitou
route.
1t is not destined to always remain thus
however. University and city will sro'
| together, the founders believe. When tina
growth takes place Massachusetts avenu
will stretch out to and beyond the beaut
full grounds, with not thing to break II
| continuity save an occasional circle U
reservation with which the prosperity
thorougllfarc is to be adorned. Airead
avenues and streets have been surveye
| through the adjacent country and til
pictured scene of the future makes TIL;
one of the finest spots in the vicinity I
the Capital City.
Some months ago preliminaries ha
| reached such an advanced stage that IN
breaking of the ground for the Han of Hi
| tory was begun. This event was heralde
| with appropriate ceremonies. Since the
work has been rapid and less than yea
will see the beautiful new building read
for dedication.
DESCRIPTION OF THE HALL.