New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-10
AMERICAN UNIVERSITY WORK.

GROUND BROKEN FOR THE FIRST BtlI-DlNG-
PLANS AND PROSPECTS OF THE UNDERTAKING.
Washington March (SpeclaD.-The ceremony or
breaking ground for the first building for the Amer
lean University the Hall Of History was performed
,his afternoon with impressive exercises The pre-
siding officer was ex-Mayor NJ G. Emery Inc
rerqIous exercises were conducted by the Rev. N.Y.
Mnburn chaplain OF the Senate: the KEY Ut
Mackay- Smith rector Of ST. Johns Church; the
Rev Dr. r s Hamn. pastor Of the Church OF the
Covenant and the Rev. DR.. Hugh L. Wilson, pre-
siding elder OF the district hymn written Tor the
occasion by the Rev. DR.. r. j. Rankin. president OF
Howard University. read by the author among
those who delivered short addresses were Bishop
John f. Hurst, Postmaster General w. J.. Wilsoh'
Senator's Knute Nelson and John VI. Thurston.
Representative l.. L. Qu.gg and DR.. b l.. whitman
president OF Columbian University
The American University was incorporated in the
District of Columbia on May 2s 1891 for post grad
yates and professional courses Of study. ana Tor
original research The charter from the District Of
Columbia was surrendered and a new charter, with
enlarged powers. granted by Congress in 1913.
The land was bought on d margin. John +. Naesd-
man. OF this city. furnishing $1,000 for the option
The option later accepted and the land was pur-
chased for $4,000. The first payment Of $4,000 was
made February Is. 1880. The remaining payments
have been met. and on March l. 1925. the last pay
m.ni was made. and the land H. now IN possession
OF the trustees Of the university.
While two-thirds Of the University Board are
members Of the Methodist Episcopal Church. there
are six denominations represented in the corpora
ton The university proposes TO receive as students
Young men and women who shall have completed
their academic studies and received their first de-
grees plan IL 10 furnish ample facltes Tor the
Droadest and highest WORK IL professional speca!
and original studies. The buildings VIII include An
Administration Han to contain the general onlces
for the manag cement OF all departments. with
Scnat. Chamber for general assembly purposes OF
the university. Combined with II Will be a library
and chapel The Hall OF History is 10 be begun next
week and proposed colleges OF language and ntera
,ure philosophy, the sciences. technology sociology
and economies law. ciyics medicine. scientific tenn
pcrancc art religion and other departments Inc
beginning OF the Hall OF History was made some
dine ago when a friend in New York provided en-
dowment for the department by the gift ot }Vo, 49,
and pledges have been received OF over si"'VV io'
the erection OF the building
Ministers all over the country have been deeply
interested in the work and their subscriptions have
been merged into fund. known as the Asbufy
Memorial Fund. which has now grown 10 be over
g., 900 and which 10 be used for building TO DE
known az Asbury Memorial Hail This hall Will be
a reproduction Of Christchurch College oxford. the
college where John Wesley studied.
recent report places the financial CONDITION OF the
university as follows: Present value OF the site.
600 OO other real estate $4,000. building FUNDS IN
hand and pledged $4,000 endowment in bonds. Sc
curity etc, 500 00O; endowment pledged. *So,Vvo'
total. 81 04u,VU0