The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1897-06-19
THE EPISCOPAL HALL
Its Progress and beings he Past Yes


One year ago this Commencement
Day the Episcopal Hall was a two
story building of sixteen rooms. To
day it is n three story building of
forty rooms. This increase in one
year is due to the liberality of &,ish-
OPP Peterkin, and his belief in the
present and future Of the West vir-
ginia University.
During the past year the Hall
had an average of thirty-six stu
dents, almost its full capacity forty
being its highest number and thirty
its lowest. The proportion of loss
through the year was therefore less
than the Uniyersity's, notwithstand-
ing the fact that a considerable,
though reasonable, amount of disci-
pine was exercised, and few stu
dents fell thereby. Leaving aside
the fact that in house of forty
there will always be some quite
faulty people, speaking generally,
the Hail has had superior set of
young men in both morals and man
ners. In fact, it is the opinion of
those in charge of the Hall that the
average of morals in this State Uni
versity is as good as any other in
stitcti0n, or even better. There is
always considerable nonsense talked
about students by people living
near them, or by those whose exper-
fence has been limited. If any man
fears to send his son here, he would
do well not to send him anywhere.
Two things are required in boy
coming to this University little
knowledge Of how to study, and how
to behave himself. II he has his
knowledge the question of age is Of
small concern, yet it should be re-
membered that the idea of Univer-
sity requires certain amount of
previous training and maturity of
mind, and that without these the
traditional liberty of University life
will be abused, and degraded into
license. The Hall is not for the pro
lection of boys who ought to be at
home; it is for the help and encour-
agement of those who are trying to
make something useful ofthemselves.
Besides being of some use to indi-
vidual students the past year, the
Hall has attempted TO perform a
more general and public benefit
Most people who read this will re
member the series Of three brilliant
lectures by the Rev. w. ID. Z. Bliss,
of Boston, on "Christian Socialism
"The Problem of the City, and The
Freedom of the Individual" These
twere attended by most thoughtful
audiences, composed of business
men, lawyers, students and profess
SOrs
Another feature of the Hall work
was the series of Saturday night
talks on the general subject Of ''The
Choice of a Profession. Seven talks
were given by seven of the ablest
men in the University, the particu-
lar subjects being Law, medicine,
Science, Craftsmanship, Teaching.
Mechanical Engineering, and the
University. A successful attempt
was m ade to answer the questions
natural toan ambitious young mans
mind. What is the use of such a
profession? What kind Of man
should enter it? and what kind of
education is necessary? The speak
ers were Profs. Brooke, Hartigan.
Brown, Reynolds, Aldrich, DR.. Tur-
ner and Dean Johnson-one of the
proofs that the University professors
are not afraid of extra work.
This course was along the lines OF
the most recent experiments in
higher education, and puts the West
Virginia University among the first
10 practically adopt such course
of very much needed lectures. 1t
is intended to continue the course
Other things were done at the
Hall, but enough has been pointed
out to make it plain that the Epis-
copal Hall is at least endeayoring to
train not only moral young men, but
to help to send forth graduates from
this State University who will not
only be loyal citizens devoted TO the
States interests, but Christian men
Of intelligence somewhat fitted to
grapple with the serious problems
Of religions, social and political life.
Only beginning has been NADIA
promise of what might be done were
the Hall literally endowed-but il is
beginning net to be ashamed of.