Evening star., 1896-03-10
BREAKING GROUND
Work Commenced on the New A1neri-
can University.
some APPROPRIATE CEREMONIES
DR.. Whitman Makes a Strong,
Earnest Address.
TIL E OTHER RS

The exercises of breaking ground for the
new American University yesterday after
noon drew forth a large crowd to tie site
of the first building, the Hall of History.
AS stated in The Star. addresses were
made by several prominent speakers land
an interesting program prepared for the
occasion was successfully carried through.
The Hall Of History, work upon which
is to be begun within the next six weeks,
occupies the summit of the hill, which is
the highest point in the ninety acres pur-
chased for the new university. The site
for the building is but a little back from
,the Loughborough road and tine building
will form the southern side of the first
quadrangle.
1t was very windy on the summit of the
hill yesterday afternoon, and this opera ted
considerably to the discomfort of the
crowd. Otherwise the occasion was a
most satisfactory one and the speakers
all referred to it as an epoch-makinS day in
the history of education in this country.
The exercises were rather brief and of an
informal character.
MI M. G. Emery, the treasurer Of the
university. was expected to preside. but
he was unable to be present, and Bishop
john +. Hurst, the chancellor, conducted
the exercises. There was no platform
erected for the occasion, nor were any
press wagon drawn by four horses was sta
toned near the point where grolnd
was to be broken, and this sufficed for a
rostrum for the speakers. Above it was
raised an immense American flag end
few of those who spoke failed to refer 10
the national and patriotic features of the
occasion.
Opening Address.
In making the Introductory address Bishop
Hurst who spoke for the trustees, referred
al some length to the history of the scheme
to erect such university here, and of the
efforts which were made to secure an avail
able site. The piece Of ground which was
finally selected he thought to be the finest
around Washington for the purpose 1t cost
100000, and has been paid for almost entire
iy by the people of this city. About one-half
OF tnat amount has been subscribed by peo-
pie of other denominations than the Metho-
DIST Episcopal He spoke of a recent beuuest
from MIR. Henry Massey of Toronto of
Soo,oOo. This, said the bishop might be call
ed an awkward sum, for it was not sufficient
to erect an entire building and was altogeth-
er too large to be called a small gift The
only proviso contained in the beuuest was
that the money should be used to constitute
a bond between Canada and the United
States. The happy feature of the occasion.
said Bishop Hurst, was that Mr. Gurney Of
Toronto, lifelong friend of Mr. Massey's.
was in the city and would make few re-
Musical Exercises.
The exercises opened with a hymn, the
Living Stone" written for the occasion by
DR.. ]. Z. Rankin, president of Howard Uni
versity. 1t was read by Rev. DR.. T. S. Ham
I'm, and then sung to the tune of America"
by the audience. Rev. Dr. Mackay-Smith
followed with responsive readings from the
Nnteenth Psalm, after which Rev. DR.. w.
Mi1hprY1 ind oh y,Iogr of<I <I,o
made an eloquent prayer, asking Gods
blessing upon the new institution about to
be erected and dedicated to the glory of God
to the end of time.
Postmaster General Wilson.
Postmaster General Wilson was intro
duced by Bishop Hurst tc represent the ad-
ministrat;on and both houses of Congress
Mr.. Wilson made thoroughly appropriat,
address, in the course Of which he said tha
it would be difficult task for any man
represent the chief executive and the tw
houses of Congress at the present time, but,
in his opirion,. all were in accord with the
ceremony Of the day. In the course of his
address Postmaster General Wilson said:
''The American University passes today
from the era of prospectus to an era of ac-
tive life. Whatever 1t is to be 1 cannot at
tempt to forecast. 1 would be blameworthy
were I rot to attempt to express the SEN
timer is which arise to our breasts on this
occasion. We all know what a great uni
versity can do in the work of advancing
civilization, Christianity and freedom We
know that civilization, Christianity and
freedom ere The forces which stand as the
mainstay of progress and elevation Of man.
The university is a pillar of the church and
a bulwark of a true republic. To both is
this grand enterprise dedicatetd."
DR.. Whitmnn's Address.
The principal address of the afternoon
was made by Rev. DIR. b. l.. Whitman
president of Columbian University In part
he said:
1.-The great present day need of American
education is unification. 1t is only in the
most general sense that we have a system
of education. This is not due to lack Of in
stitutions, so far as numbers are concerned
With the recent development of the kinder
garten idea, with our different grades of
public school instruction, with our countless
academies and colleges Of every name and
degree, we can hardly be said to have suffi-
GENTLY numerous Institutions At the same
time, every educator is conscious that there
is lack of continuity and consistency in our
work. In many places. grades are by no
means carefully fixed. In others there are
great gaps in the system. Something is
needed to bring all into order. In many
movements impulse must work from the
bottom In education we are obliged to
work from the ton. Something "a noedo,5 70