The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1909-07-15
MARYLAND SCHOOL HAS
SEEN FOUR CENTURIES
Venerable College at Annapolis was
Founded Nearly 325 Years AGO.

Mr.. William C. DevecmOn, of the
Cumberland bar, contributed; the fol-
lowing to the Baltimore Sunday Sun,
July 4,
In point of time, believe, there were
two colleges established on this iconti-
nent before old St. Johns at Annapolis,
but by their charters or by :the terms
and limitations of their foundation, the
scope of their usefulness was limited
either by religious or financial or other
restrictions.
On the other hand, education at King
Williams school, which was the old
name for st. Johns college, was free
free from religious restrictions and free
from financial obligations, the first free
public school upon the Western Hemis-
phere 1t can, with justice, claim to be
the mother of the public free school
system of all the states of this Union.
Upon its reorganization under the
name of st. Johns College. the first
class was graduated in 1893, and, Iduring
the IL years that elapsed until 1906,
when, on account Of the withdrawal of
the Legislative appropriation, the func-
tons of the college were suspended a
historian Of the college has stated that
a nOng the sons of St. Johns were
"tour Governors of Maryland, one Uni
ted States Senator, five members of the
House of Representatives four Judges
Of the courts, one Attorney General.
one United States District Attorney,
six state Senators, fifteen Representa-
tives, besides officers of the Army and
Navy, leading lawyers, divines and men
Of note in other walks of life. -
The lack of an endowment or other
permanent source of sure income has
been the only limitation upon st. johns
scope of influence; but within the boun-
darieS which were apparently fixed by
her founders, she has worthily fulfilled
their fondest expectations.
1t was declared that King Williams
School was founded for the propaga-
ton Of the Gospel and the education of
the youth Of the province in good letters
and manners.
At least this is the language of the
Act 81. 1896, a re-enactment of the Act
of 1894, which believe is no longer ex-
tant; and in the charter of St. Johns
College, granted in 1854, that institu-
ton is said to be established for the
liberal education of youth in the princi-
pies of virtue, knowledge and useful
literature.
At that time liberal education was
not supposed to occupy itself with the
material aspects Of life, its aim was to
be a gentleman rather than a man of
affairs. During the present generation
this view has changed, and the chief aim
of the college education today Is sup
posed to be to endow the student with
mental equipment which will best quail
fly him for struggle in life to amass
property and wealth. Then, the retin-
ments of polite intercourse were more
highly thought of; today the master
minds of the world are occupied with
stupendous problems of production and
transportation.
1t is but natural that systems of edu-
cation should change to conform with
current ideas of usefulness to society.
st. John S College, on account of the
lack of money, has always been ill equip
ped to compete with the great colleges
of the North in giving her students
thorough knowledge of chemistry, cleo
tricity and mechanics. But after all
the greatest among the modern captains
of commerce, production, transdorta-
ton and invention have not received
their education in the colleges, and am
inclined to think that a preliminary
training in general culture and morals
would not have detracted from their
chances of success.
The students of this old institution
nave GOlut lIOitl dill WdlhS Vi lie, DuL
when they pass out from these halls
they have one feature in common-the
alumnus of St. Johns college is in char
acter a gentleman.
OF all the names connected with the
college that of William Pinkney must
unqestionably be regarded the greatest.
Originally destined for the medical
profession, he soon perceived that a
profession, the knowledge in regard to
which was at that time so crude that
the most skilled practitioners could be
regarded as little better than quacks,
was not suited to his genius nor to the
genius of his times.
In Pinkney's age the zeitgeist was
the development of the science of gov
eminent and its twin brother the law.
Pinkney became statesman and law
yer.