New-York tribune. [volume], May 27, 1900, Page 6, Image 34

About New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924

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6
A COLLEGE JUBILEE
TIIK UNIVERSITY <»X ROCHESTER WILL
CELEBRATE ITS SEMI-CENTENNIAL.
EAUI.Y AND RECENT HISTORY OF THE INSTITU
TION GENERAL OTIS AND OTHER IMS
TING I [SHED Al.l MM WILL ATTEND
COMMENCEMENT.
Rochester, N. V.. May 26.— The annual com
mencement of the University of Rochester this
year possesses an unusual significance. It marks
the completion of the college's fiftieth year of
educational activity, and the anniversary will be
observed Aitli special ceremony. A list <>f
speakers, among whom are numbered many <>f
the foremost nami s in the educational and polil
ioal world of to-day, will bestow their words of
praise and congratulation for the past, of hope
ami well wishing for the future. The responses
received from the alumni make substantial the
prophecy that the fair face <>f the fostering
mother will look upon the largest gathering of
her sons that has ever returned to do her honor
ut her festival week.
The universities of Rochester and Madison
(now Colgate) are linked together in their early
history. The former is a branch <>f the latter.
The differences which marked those early days
and gave rise to the foundation <>f Rochester are
nearlj forgotten by die present generation, and
to ruk<- them up would be a labor thankless and
unnecessary. It was in IMT that the first steps
toward the foundation <>f Rochester were taken.
In IN4S an act was passed by the Legislature
making the removal of Madison University, at
Hamilton, to sum.- point <>n th. direct line <>f
travel east and west possible. Rochester was
Chosen. Som< legal obstructions were placed in
the way, but in January, is."^». tin- Regents of
tin- State granted a provisional charter to the
University of Rochester. Thia was followed a
year later bj the present charter, which is In all
respects similar to the old charter governing
Columbia College, in New-York City. This did
not vesi t; ■ i ontrol of the university in any one
religious denomination. it simply created a
Belf- perpetuating Board of Trustees, tw >nty four
in number, who hold office for life. Twenty of
the original trustees were Baptists, and that
denomination has held .t governing rein over
the instil ut imi .-\ < r sine
The officers ■•!' the first Board were John N.
Wilder, president; F. Whlttlesey, via pri ildenl
William N Sage, secretary, and Edwin Pancost,
treasurer. The faculty c Misted of six prnfes
F./rs, as follows: A < '. Kendrkk, I • l<, Greek
Utiife-uage tuiti literature; Juhn p. Richardson,
NEW-YORK TKIBUNE ILLUSTRATED SiITI.BiKNT.
ANDERSON HALL
THE NEW ALUMNI GYMNASIUM. TIIK REYNOLDS 1I«-"AOI;TAL LABORATORY
BUILDINGS OF THE UNIVKUSITY OF ROCIiF.STER.
Which will celebrate its liiti-. ■!i ..■:..... ..:.;'•■ w<vk beginr.ini; June 10.
A. M., Latin language and literature; John I!
Raymond, A. M., (afterward president of \
College), history and belles lettrcs; Cl
Dewey, I >. I>., the natural sciences Samuel S.
Green, A. M.. mathematics and natural philoso
phy. The executive diiti s of the president v. re
discharged by Dr. Kendrick. The universH;
occupied the old building still standing i:. West
Main-st., then Buffalo-?! In IS5] the new build
ing, •■• fainil'&t to the atatnnl, Anderson Hall
was completed and occupied.
The first commencement took place or July '.».
1851. The newspapers of that date say that "the
precession was the most Imposing civic demon
stration ever seen in the streets of Rochester."
Ten men were graduated. Of that first little
class four remain alive. Three, years later Mar
tin Brewer Anderson, L.L. D., was elected to the
THE RKV. RUSH RUEES.
President-elect of the University of Rochester.
SIBLJSY HALL (Library and Mu.-. i::m.
presidency of the coUcce. TV position fee bell
for thirty-four years, with the dignity. power
and majesty which made iits name reverence!
among the men who knew him aad felt bis in
fluence. His death took away one if tte ccst
imposing figures the educational world of Amer
ica has ever known
Sibley Hall, a gift of the late Hiram S\Ut?.
of Rochester, was completed in IMT. it bouses
the library, containing more than thirty-five
thousand volumes, and the museum, also «
great importance. The Chemical Lai iratory «^
built by the late Mortimer F. Reynolds in 1^
It is. like the other buildings the £JO:
nasium— of brownstone. and covered now * ;t *
the same ivy which hides the massive walls «
the library anil Anderson Hall.
The gymnasium, which will be completed
time for the commencement, is the last builds*
to be erected on the campus. It is two stories
high, built of light brick and gray stone. the
gift of the alumni.
The most marked advancement made by tQ9
university in the last ten years has taken P !at
in the technical departments. The physical
laboratory, fitted up like Cornell's, with work
shops and complete electric wiring and power.
is one of the most complete in the country- It |*
in charge of Professor Henry E. Lawrence.
The biological laboratory is in charge el ***»•
fessor Charles \V Dodge, who has made it of «•
much value not only to the university, but alsfl
to the public, that the city has relied upon it t3
furnish assistance in the Health Department
The successor of Dr. Anderson was I>r Davis
Jayne Hill. He resigned in 188 and now holds
the place of First Assistant Secretary of Stai»
in the present Administration. The president'!
chair was provisionally occupied by Dr. S. -
Lattimore for two years, and then by Professor
Henry F. Hurt, for th. two succeeding year*.
lU.th men devoted all their energies and time to
the furthering of the institution's interests an**
reputation, and their success was rewarded 1
the highest praise from the trust. and AXxxr fz
The election and acceptance of the Rev. — *
Khees to the vacant office has caused m llO
gratification to the friends of the university- X *
will assume his duties next fall at the open* s "
of "college year. J*j
The future Of the university seems ' TVt *T\.
than ever before. Young men. strong. a;rtl^f
and energetic, have put their hands to the lat^
The people of the city are awakening to «*
needs of the college which is within their P* I *^
The next five years, it is confidently expeetew
will see a marvellous advance. .
Two years ago the trust. voted to allo * -
entrance of women on an equal footing *
fneh lnt.> the college's courses of ! " at ff^
ffbA sum ol $ 15^.000 haJ first to be rak*i »