New-York tribune., 1899-05-19
no HONOR AN OLD SCHOOL
ALIJNfNE OF SPINGLER INSTITUTE TC
ENDOw A vASSAR SCHOLARSHIP.
,rr,v-1Nc AT MRS HoPKINss HOME TO AID
VANCE THE PRoJEcT-THE INTERESTING
CAREER OF GORHAM d. ABBOT.

VANCE THE PRoJEcT-THE INTERESTING
CAREER OF GoRHAM d. ABBOT.
A number OF the alumnae OF a school that was
.,ven Nd nearly thirty-fve years ago-the Spingler
stterward known as the Spngler and Abbot In
st,tute-met yesterday afternoon at the home of
Mrs. Moses Hopkins. No East Fifty-sixth-st.. to
hoom the effort that is being made to establish
scboarship at Vassar In memory OF the work done
,o- the higher education OF women by Gorham D.
ord Rebecca S Abbot, who a. the head Of
the old institute for series of years. The Hop
Win. house was decorated with flowers. and many
we're the remembrances of the institute exchanged
hv the alumn@ in social conversation before the
business Of the day was begun.
Nrs Melville f. Mead. of Norwalk, Conn. occu-
n,ed the chair at the request of Mrs. Hopkins, the
nresident who had TO give most Of her attention
~ her outies hostess. Letters OF regret were
road from several OF the alumne. Mrs Fem. OF
the class Of 52 Mrs. Marie Gilman Mrs Lane and
president Taylor Of vassar College. Mrs Gertrude
NcNamee the secretary. reported that out OF
fourteen hundred graduates eight hundred had been
heard from by the committee. Mrs. George F.
Rowel the treasurer. stated that less than $500
was needed to make up one-ha Of the total required
for the scholarship. S4os having been subscribed
within eleven months.
The Rev O. Ladd rector OF Grace Church.
Jamaica Long Island, delivered address on the
life work OF Mr. Abbot He was at one time vice
principal OF the school He said that in 1862 there
was no normal school for girls In the State OF
New-York There was no chair OF pedagoglcs IN
the University OF New-York until 1887. He traced
the development OF the sentiment In favor of the
higher education OF women and the founding OF
vassar He paid strong tribute to the courage OF
Mr.. Abbot in the face of financial difficulties
"REMINISCENCES.
The paper TESTS OF Loyalty to Vassar" by Mrs
Julia T. Coils. with it's witty illusions to old
school jests and its pathetic "reminiscences OF teach
ers and pupils who have passed away brought
smiles and tears in succession TO the faces OF her
listeners When she made reference to favor
ite text OF Mr. Abbot and said. II think most Of
nv hearers could repeat 1t now" the listeners as
with one voice spoke the words: And our daugh-
tiers shall be as cornerstones, polished after the
similitude of palace.
Following Mrs. Collis's address letters were read
by Miss Averill, Mrs. Powell and Miss Barber from
Vassar teachers and graduates. showing that
'"Vassar is the heir Of Spngler in its religious life"
Then came an appeal for gifts for the scholar
ship followed by report of classes, after which
the business meeting adjourned to partake Of re-
freshments and enjoy hour OF social intercourse.
HISTORY OF THE MOVEMENT.
In the spring of 1898. the semi-cenennial year Of
the founding Of Spingler Institute Union Square,
some members Of the Spingler alumne determined
10 found a memorial TO Mr.. and Mrs Abbot. and
an
1925 1t was decided that the memorial should take
the form Of q scholarship In Vassar College, to be
applied to the needs Of students who might other
wise be unable TO complete a college course; for
vassar College. though built. equipped and given
by Matthew Vassar. was the outcome Of the
thought OF Gorham Abbot At the time when Mr.
vassar was searching for some charity public
work on which he would bestow his wealth. he
met Mr.. Abbot, and became imbued with his ideals
OF education for women. DR.. Taylor. Of Vassar.
speaking in reference to the influence Of Mr.. Abbot
in the founding of the college. said that it the
gift Of Mr.. Abbot's heart to Mr.. Vassar well as
a gift from Mr. Vassar to the world.
In ls43 Gorham d. Abbot from Boston to
New-York. and associated with his brothers
in their Seminary for Young Ladies'" The senior
department was removed to Mr.. Abbots residence
In Washington Square in 1si5; in 1876 the location
changed to University Place and Ninth-st.,
and IN lS4S it removed to the building erected
for its use by the Spingler estate The site Is now
school was once more removed this time TO the
famous Townsend Mansion at Fifth-ave. and Thir-
large sum few years later It went to Park-ave.
and Thirty-eighth-st, and while i was at this
pupils of Spinger drawn from twenty-eight
States, and also from the West Indies. Canada and
A WORTHY AMBITION
At services held on April o. 1876, in commemora-
ton Of the death of Mr.. Abbot and his wife one Of
the speakers said: 1T the sacred ambition Of
MT. ADDots nre 10 estaDnsh a college for the
daughters that should be the peer OF Yale Har-
ward. BY successive enlargements of the institu-
tion he seemed almost TO have reached the realiza
ton OF this cherished purpose, when the outbreak
OF war. and consequent unparalleled business de-
rangements, involved II in financial disaster. from
which II never recovered Thus thwarted and dis
appointed, and finally compelled by failing health
TO abandon his hope he lived to see others realize
his own plans"
II was with the realization Of the work of Mr.
Abbot for womanhood that his former pupils. whom
ne called daughters" determined to perpetuate
ms work by memorial which should aid in the
education of women.
The following the members of the Abbot Me-
moral Committee Mrs. Moses Hopkins, No.
East Fifty -sixth-st. chairman; Mrs George p.
kowel, Hotel Buckingham, treasurer; Miss Ger
.srcoe E. McNamee No a6 West Eighty -ffth-st.;
MRS Melville Emory Mead, Norwak Conn: Mrs.
1AIthnr I. Sullivan. No. 54 Fifth-ave.; Mrs. Will
am L. Skidmore. No. 49 West Fifty -second-st.;
Us Us A. NJ Prentiss No. Is West Thirty fourth-st.;
@ @.aIs. Sharles A. Stoddard. No. 800 West Seventy
sSecohd-st; Mrs. Theodore Morris. No. IS West
SH Sl. SSl.Hy-nlnth-st.; Mrs. Edwin Corning, No N2 West
:s5 y-fourthst Mrs. Frederick E. Lathrop. No.
% % west Seventy -seventh-st.; Mrs. William II.
bTeaoleston, No. 25 West Fify-hrst-st; Mrs. J.
SSssrret Blodgett, No. 100 Lenox-ave. Mrs. w. d.
moore No. i4G West Eighty -second-st.; Mrs. Anna
Shurchill. Hotel Bristol: Mrs Henry c. Emo, Sau-
fatuck Conn. Mrs Marcus A. Hanna. Cleveland,
ymo; Mrs w. w. Law, Scarborough on : II udson;
mrs George w Lane Norwich. Conn; DIR. Julia
Holmes Smith. No. 30 Central Music Hall. Chicago,
~ and Mrs. Henry Y. Satterlee. No. l.407 Massa-
chusetts-ave. Washington. D. c..