Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1924-08-24

the third Oldest college in the
United States, is undergoing a
~ rejuvenation which will make
it. in the opinion of its faculty
and alumni. the greatest small col
lege in eAlstence. The only colleges
actually founded before King Will
liam's School, in 1884, which was the
beginning of St. Johns, were Har-
ward and the College Of William and
Mary.
The .hrst effort to found a great
public school in Maryland was made
in 1871, only 81 years after the
founding of the colony. The act au-
thorizing the foundation passed the
upper house of the Colonial Assem-
bly,, but failed of final passage. ow-
ing to certain amendments proposed
in the lower houSe-the object of the
amendment being to give representa-
ton to various religious denomina-
tions in its management Had the
act passed, Maryland, as it is now
known, would have had the honor of
mothering the second oldest collie
giate institution in the United States.
The colonists held on to the idea of
a great public school and the royal
governor of the province fostered the
plan, taking the initiative in present
ing the matter again to the Co.
lonia Assembly in 1894. The act,
perilS that killed the proposed act of
1871, the governor, Francis Nichol-
son, signed it and donated ESQ from
his personal funds toward the es-
Establishment and the maintenance of
the school.
Nor were the colonists behind him
In their enthusiasm, each and every
gentleman" according to the chron-
icles of the times, "vying with his
q n
council and Of the lower house in
making generous donations of hun
dreds of pounds of tobacco" which
was the legal currency of the day, to
the new institution.
In the succeeding sessions of the
Assembly, in 1895 and 1896, duties
were imposed upon the various ex-
ports of the province. principally on
furs, for. the maintenance of the
school, and it was in the latter year
that the name King William
school was given the young instit-
tuition, in honor of the reigning Brit
ish monarch, William III. The most
important men in the colony were
among its visitors and trustees, and
the Archbishop of Canterbury felt
honored" to be included among it's
founders and patrons.
With royal gesture of apprecia-
ton for the compliment conveyed in
calling the school for him, the King
sent to the baby college numerous
rare classical and theological books,
many of which are yet to be seen in
the college library, the golden stamp
and title of the royal donor being I'M
furnished during the lapse of 22S
years
ling WILLIAMS School served the
IN colony we'll until the closing days
of the Revolution quickened the in
terest of the leaders among the people
in the necessity for increased educa-
tional advantages. 1t was a period
marked by the desire of the American
people to get away from British and
colonial influences, especially in the
matter of providing colleges at home,
so that the young men of the time
should not be compelled to go abroad
to obtain liberal education.
The same year that King Williams
School was founded, 1894, the seat of
the government of Maryland was
moved from st. Mary's City to Annap-
oils, and from that day to the present
the school. known as the first free
public school on the American con-
tinent, and the lawmakers have been
near neighbors, the present State
House being only one city block re-
moved from the campus.
St. Johns College came into being in
1884, because of the desire for better
things in an educational way which
had been growing in the hearts of the
colonists for more than a century.
Giants in intellect and in statesman
ship presided over the natal days of
st. Johns in 1884, when the State Leg
islature chartered the new institution.
Charles Carroll of Carrollton and
others of these men were graduates of
St Johns College, Oxford England,
and the new college was named in COM
pliment to this oldest of schools. Also
the Oxford idea and the Oxford scheme
were woven into the life of st. Johns
College, Annapolis. and remain vibrant
today after the lapse Of 40 years.
Getting back to the giants who
watched the beginnings of the new
college and nurtured its young life,
they were, in addition to Charles Car
roll, signer of the Declaration of indie
pendence, Samuel Chase and William
instrument: Thomas Stone, Daniel of
st. Thomas Jenifer, John Eager
Howard, Richard Rdgely, George
Platter. Luther Martin. jeremiah Town
ley Chase, Charles Wallace, Alexander
Contee Hanson, Right Rev Thomas J.
Claggett, Robert Bowie. Matthew and
Charles diversified, Benedict Calvert,
Benjamin Stoddard and Daniel Bowly.
They were the active promoters, and
their names were included in the petit
ton to the Legislature asking for the
college charter. 1t was not until 1885
that the property funds, masters and
students of King Williams School were
formally turned over to St. Johns,
which was formally opened with inn
pressive ceremonial, all the public
bodies of the State being present,
November IL, 1888.
With the opening of the college,
which is charmingly situated on
rambling campus of 81 acres that
undulate down to the placid waters of
the Severn, the big men who had
fostered the idea were called upon for
active work in it's management. The