New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-11-10
AT MOUNT H0LY0KE.
Founders Dag and Laying Corner
stone of NeD Library Celebrated.
rsr TELEGRAPH 10 TEE TRrBUNE.l

South Hsdley Mass, Nov. ST now lay the cor
nerstone OF this building to be used for the library
Of tbs college in the name Of the Father sno the
Son and the Holy Ghost
with these words President Mary z. Woolley' OF
Mount Hoiyoke College, IN academic gown and
rnortarboard and IN the presence OF great gath
er1ng Of tire trustees. faculty. students, alumne
and friends laid the cornerstone OF the new college
library this morning. Nothing was lacking to
make the occasion tho happy one that had been
anticipated. except the weather. which was damp
and chilly, typical November day, eustere. gray
and still. However. one Of tho alunn7 re-
marked In the spirit of rs: IF we had to choose
between hne weather for Election Day and found
ers day, OF COURSE should have been glad TO
have IT Just at IL WAS"
The double celebration OF the annual function OF
founders day and the laying OF the library corner
stone has made the day one OF especial interest.
not only 70 the college. with its hundred
students. but 10 the great number Of graduates
and former students all over the world.
Since its organization as seminary in 1887.
Mount Holyoke has sent nearly $500 young women
out into life. many of them to be- teachers and
missionaries IN foreign lands. The imprint OF
p3ety given to the seminary at its inception by
Mrry Lyon its founder. has borne fruit IN long
line Of earnest, sonsccTated women and there is
scarcely Protestant mission station in India or
China, hospital. girls school. mission train
ing school where Mary Lyons spiritual and intel
lsctusl daughters are not found to-day. Mary
Lyon Is the patron saint OF Mount HolyOke: at
least she would be II these sturdy descendants Of
the Pilgrims and thu Puritans believed in saints.
Born IN the davs when town meetings in Massa-
ohusetts grsvely decided to sQuander money
the education OF girls, and ambitious girls
only too grateful 10 be allowed to sit the school
house doorseps and hear the boys recite their les
sons. her soul cried out against the injustice TO
her In 1887 in quite small way. she started
Mount Holyoke Seminary. not daring to call it
college as that would have seemed hardly proper
Cor an institution for women, but planning 10
give the higher education just the same under the
humber name. She was thus a pioneer in the
higher education OF American women. She lived
TO be principal OF Mount Holyoke twelve years
Then. having been a teacher for thirty-fve years,
and having taught book learning and Goodness"
20 no less than three thousand pupils she
died in ls49, and lies buried on the hillside by her
beloved college within call OF the chapel bell with
in sight Of the solemn mountains her old loves
How the seminary was Incorporated as a college
IN 1858 and how II was swept by fire which de-
stroyed sI but two of the buildings in 1895 are
matters OF common knowledge. From the ashes Of
that fire Mount Holyoke has been rising phoenix-
like year by year until IN respect to material
equipment she far surpasses her old self
Mary Lyons gentle spirit has surely brooded over
this little ew-Engiand hamlet to-day. Last night
every college hall and boarding house held its
honored guest in the form of some old alumna or
college professor Bible reader from midas coral
strands. The long. elm lined village streets were
busy with bareheaded college girls running about.
The pleasant old town gave Itself up to rhe college
celeoraton. with its attendant social festivities
The founders day exercises took place in the col
lege chapel. and opened with a solemn academic
procession 10 Claimants grand chorus on the
organ. First came the singers in their Oxford
gowns ana caps, two by two, one hundred and
thirty OF them, and then the faculty in their aca-
oenic robes OF richest black silk. Depending from
their shoulders were the coIored hoods of half the
great universities in the Old and New worlds from
which they had taken their degrees-purple orange
crimson. navy and scarlet. Sometimes gold tasseI
shook and quivered from the rnortarboard in place
Of the black silk tassel OF the B. A. and bands of
velvet on the dolnlan sleeves gave an additional
mark Of academic achievements
Next came the college trustees. men and women
the men wearing their college robes II they han
pened 20 own any. Then came President WoolIev
with the Rev DR.. William F. Slocum president OF
Colorado College. the orator of the day: Miss
Woolley with golden tassel swinging from her
mOrtarboard and white lining 10 her hood
The vested choir two hundred strong brought
up the singing they moved reverentlv
down the aisle. The singing was beautiful
feature of the day. The girls sang as they
sing every day in the chapel-hrst one
side. then the other, taking up the strain
10 unite later IN q grand chorus. There was
great deal of musician anthem by Stainer
Elm feste Burg" For occasional the choir sang
eounods Praise Ye the Father" and the ST AIMS
fugue OF John Sebastian Bach played as the
academic procession slowly passed down from he
hind the lines Of yellow and white chrysanthemums
on the platform on its way TO the laying of the
cornerstone
DR. Slocum chose as the subject Of his founders
day address Tests % Modern Intellectual Life
II was cast in a very thoughtful mould and was
delivered without notes He began oy referring 10
the spiritual wealth that mas gone Into tho treas
ury OF Mount H5yoke Then. aftcu 2lusug to
s..fll ~