The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-04-06

Henricus" near the present city of Rich
mond in the year 1619-the first univer-
sity ever established in America-finds
fitting commemoration in n . pper medal
lion, recently presented to tE- Johns Hop.
kins University by the Baltimore Chap
ter Of the Colonial Danes of America, to
be annually conferred upon an alumnus
for work Of especial excellence in early
American history.
This event in Colonial history is one
of especial interest to Virginians and to
students Of history and educational pro-
gress, and yet 1t has received tat little
attention hitherto. In it are to be found
not only the germ OF the first American
University, but as we'll the first estab-
lished free school in the Western World.
and tho first educational enterprise az a
religious and missionary character
launched in America.
The artistic theme of the bas relief OF
the medallion. of which DR.. A j. Valck.
Of BALTIMORE, is the artist, is the de-
struction Of the university in thu great
Indian Massacre of 1922. On a. space Of
about ten inches in diameter there is pre-
sented a most interesting and spirited
representation OF this dramatic incident.
The date of the foundation, Ammo
EN1DC&I& condita," appears aoove The
door of the building, which the Indians
are fiercely attacking and which is al
ready in flames. Around the rim of the
medallion in old English letters is the in
scription 'sThe University Of iEenrico--
Destroyed in the Massacre, % March
MDCNXII."
The medallion was accepted by Presi-
dent Remsen on the part of the JOINS
Hopkins University. From the speech
of presenta ton, prepared by one Of the
Colonial Danes. the following interest
ing statement of the founding OF tn Uni
versity Of Henricus has been ootau'co'
FIRST IN POINT OF T1NlE.
The projection and promotion of the
enterprise to establish a university at
Henricus, on the James, was the lIrst
movement in America towards the nlSh-
est form of religious and secular eduCa-
ton, It received the sanction and imam
cial support Of the first popular Legs
Is ture ever assembled in America. Al
the time OF it's destruction in l62a Two
departments had been actually estab-
lished-the College for Indians and the
Free School or Preparatory Department.
In the former is to be found the 1lrst
educational effort at the betterment OF
tho Indian race; in the latter the. germ
Of that system so interviewer VIII tie
fabric of our civilization. ms -ree
school had been started but two months
and the college but three years when
the ln1dnC university NdS 81 ihNtSiS w
stroyed by the great Indian massacre or
1922. 1t is this dramatic incident which
the artist has represented in bas-relief--
the destruction of the university at Hen
rico in the great Indian massacre of
1922
II they are to receive full value and
mcrited appreciation, these early efforts
at higher education should not be judged
by apparent results They tell of the
- yol-n n
young nation. BY way of comparison
they should be viewed in the light OF
the development of a more fortunate
university at the same period.
A COMPARISON.
In a recently published history of Har-
ward University the following statements
are made:
Harvard started in 1896 in a colony Of
somewhat under 1900, on an endowment
cf $500 and three acres of land. For
two years it was unorganized. Then it
received Harvard's bequest Of $500 and
a library Of $50 volumes. For the next
two or three years it was hardly more
than a school, without constitution or
laws and no legal governing board to
whom the financial and other int er,sfs Of
the college could be intrusted. It was
only in 1912 that trustees were elected
Henrco was founded in 1919, at a period
of depression. when The colony had only
400 Inhabitants. 1t received in its first
year &2.0 3i and expended S1,477. It also
had 10000 acres of land and fifty tenants.
At the time Of the massacre it was less
than three years old, it had 100 tenants,
with tie reasonable expectation of an in
come OF $1,000 equal to 5000 now, and
Il committee of management, with an
endowed free school projected as a feeder.
But for the massacre her prospects would
have been most fair.
AT HENRICUS ON THE JAMES.
Tho following carefully prepared his
torical statement Of the founding and
destruction Of the University Of Henricus
forms a part of the paper of presentation
on behalf of the Colonial Danes to the
Johns Hopkins University.
This university was started at Henrico
when the Virginia colony was barely
twelve years old. with 4 sparse popula-
ton scattered along the banks of the
river James and llemmcd in by powerful
Indian nations. Henrico Cor IIenricus),
at one time quite q fourishinE little town,
named after Henry, son of James T.,
having three streets of fame haouses WIS
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