Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-04-19
ANCIENT OXFORD.
English University Has New
Interest to Americans.
How It Differs From American Uni
versities.
Il Consists of 81 Independent Small
Colleges.


ed in medieval times, it has passed
through the vicissitudes of six GEN.
turtles. despite great changes in politi-
cal religious and social affairs. 1t
still retains a great part of it's original
organization and many of it's ancient
features Successive kings have con-
ferrcd upon it, by royal charters, many
important privileges. Many of the
great movements which have affected
Great Britain originated at oxford.
when oxford draws the knife, Eng
land is soon at strife From it's doors
have passed many men who became
eminent in affairs of state or church or
in the learned professions.
oxford has been Il seat of learning
from medieval times. NacariuS, Il
Lombard. lectured on civil law at OK
ford about 11i9; and it was then
doubtless the resort of students from
abroad. There were monaSterieS and
other religious houses at oxford long
before it became known outside of
England Attached to some of these
institutions We're schools which gave
gratuitous instruction, and usually
support, to those who were preparing
for the service of the church; and the
secular schools We're formed i'll iInita-
ton of cloistral institutions.
The teachers. united by common in
tercsts, formed voluntary associations
for the discussion and decision of ques-
tions of general concern; they chose
one of their members to preside over
their discussions, and, as occasion re-
urIircd, subordinate officers were
created. From this association, dis
tinct from and of higher authority than
any particular school, the university of
oxford sprang.
The word university (universitas)
was used in a statute of King John
U:OD. That word was applied to the
schools of Paris by an ordinance of
Pope Innocent H. in 1918. Owing to
the religious troubles under Henry
VIII, the inducements to study the
ology decreased, and in 1916 only thir-
teen degrees We're conferred. In 1552
there were but LOIS students enrolled
in the university.
The powers and privileges of Oxford
University were regulated by an act of
Parliament in the reign of Queen Eliza
beth in 1870, and this continued In
force until 1854. In 1903 JamesSes1
granted the privilege, which still exists
of electing two representatives, IN
Parliament. Archbishop Laud, who
was chancellor. codiiicd the statutes oil
the university in 1929, and his code was
ratified by the King in 1855, and re-
manned in force, substantially, unit
1854.
The University of oxford differ:
from any educational institution in thi!
country. 1t is not Il single. compac
university, like Harvard or Yale, but ;
collection of Independent colleges un
der a form of confederacy somewha
analogous to that by which the various
States of the American Union ar
bound. 1t is a sort of @ pluribus unun
But in oxford the power and inilucnc
of the colleges predominant over e.
university.
The origin of separate colleges q
oxford is due to special circumstance
In 1864 Walter de Merton, wishing I
provide a certain number of youn
men with Il means of education whcr
they would he free from the influence q
the ultra party among the eCclcsiaStic'
and vet be protected against the NOR;
dangers of the university such q
then il was, founded college Wher'
with liberty of choosing their own i'm
mediate superior, yet under sever
Episcopal supervision. they might iiv
and study together in the. practice {
such rules of life as We're then con
sidercd salutary. With Il similar Pun
pose. additional institutions. BaIio
Queens. Oriel. New College, MaSialcl
and Others were founded where I'll
relatives. neighbors or townsncoplc {
the founder might live and study To
gcthCr. The separate colleges ut ON
ford were, in some instances, create
by private foundation. for specific Pun
poses and under limitations imposed h
the founders.
Previous to the middle Of the thin
teenth century students lived in IL
town of oxford: hut at n later perio
student associations were formed; the
would hire buildings. often called inn
hotels or halls, select Il graduate :
their principal or guardian, and live i
common. Buildings were often con
structed for the exclusive use of stu
dents, and funds were appropriated f.
Y the maintenance of n number who WEI
called socii. or fellow students who ha
received university degree. The
elected a head called warden, mastc
or rector.
With them were generally n limite
NUMBER OF StuutiltS tipt N't ti'iiiiitt'h
a degree. for whose support funds wei
appropriated. Such bodies, comprisin
a head. fellows. and scholars, WEI
called colleges. and were legally incoi
porated with powers OF govcrnmeI
vested in the head and fellows. Or
ginally limited to persons consututin
the corporation and maintained by il
funds. the privileges of the college
were finally extended to Others WI
paid for board and lodging in the co
lege buildings.
Thus the colleges became endowe
institutions for the academic instrut
ton of all persons able to pay for
Gradually the colleges and halls q,
uuired the whole business of instrue
ton. Admission to the university Wa
to be secured only through one of thes
colleges or halls and the payment {
the required fees.
The university is one thing; the co
legc another. The colleges examir
candidates for admission and certif
that they are likely to derive educs
tional benefits from being members {
the university, and the latter accept