Franklin and Marshall College - Oriflamme Yearbook (Lancaster, PA)

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said college shall be and hereby is denominated Franklin College. Dr. Franklin was the largest individual contributor alld took a deep interest i11 the new institution. He, although advanced in years, made a journey to Lancaster for the purpose of laying the corner-stone. An act was passed February 27, 1787, for vesting the public store-house and two lots of ground in the borough and county of Lancaster in the trustees of Franklin College, for the use of said institution.'l This store-house, which was for a longtime used as a college building, was situated on North Queen street, near james. The bllllfllllg was finally divided into dwellings, Zllld is now known as Franklin Row. The first board of trustees consisted of many intelligent and distinguished men. The ministers of the board were generally the most prominent men of the Lutheran and Reformed churches. Among the list, also, were a number of distinguished Revolution- ary ofiicers and four signers of the Declaration of Il1Ciep6llClC11CC. The presidents and professors of Franklin College, from its in- ception, were men of eminence. The first president was Rev. H. E. Muhlenberg, D. D. The first vice-president and second presi- dent was Rev. Frederick Valentine Melsheimer, who was a dis- tinguished scientist and is known as the father of American entomology. Prof. Stewart, a native of Ireland, had charge of the English department. Rev. Joseph Hutchins, of the Episcopal church was, for a short ti1ne, a professor in Franklin College. John C. W. Reichenbach, the first treasurer of the faculty, was professor of mathematics. Rev. james Ross, the author of the celebrated Latin grammar, entered upon the duties of his office as professor of ancient languages in 1801. Franklin College had to contend with some difficulties. The chief trouble was not a lack of patronage, but was of a personal character. Situated, as it was, in a German community, the peo- ple of the county were not favorable to higher education. The fact, also, that the college was controlled by two synods, the Lutheran and Reformed, was detrimental, as neither synod was properly conscious of its responsibility. The college, therefore, was' neglected. It was, however, constantly kept open, but many of its rooms were frequently rented for private schools and acade- mies. In 18 39, Franklin College, which had now reached a very 1 5 i

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low ebb, was re-established by the purchase of the Lancaster County Academy, situated on North Lime street, between Orange and Chestnut. Franklin College now became an excellent insti- tution. In 1849 a proposition was received from Marshall College, situated at Mercersburg, for the union of the two institutions. Among the mountains of Franklin county, in the midst of the most imposing natural scenery, the retirement of which offers favorable conditions for study, is situated the village of Mer- cersburg. Here, in 1835, Marshall College, 11a1ned after john Marshall, who was then at the zenith of his fame, was founded. This college grew out of the high school of the Reformed Church, founded at York, Pa., in 1831. ' With Marshall College are associated the names of 1ne11 who are well known, not o11ly in the Reformed Church and America, but also i11 Europe. The first president of Marshall College was Rev. F. A. Rauch, Ph. D. He was bor11 i11 Hesse-Darmstadt in 1806, received a thorough education, and came to America in 18 31. He served for a short time as professor of German in Lafayette Col- lege, until he was called to take charge of Marshall College, which position he held until his death. Ill I84O he published his work on Psychology, which may be said to have introduced the science to the attention of American studentsfl A work on Ethics was left unfinished. He died in 1841. Rev. john Williamson Nevin, D.D., Ph.D., succeeded Dr. Rauch as president of Marshall College. As one of the foremost theo- logians and philosophers in this country, he naturally gave the i11- stitution, over which he presided, a high degree of prominence, and there are few preceptors, anywhere, who have possessed in so high a degree the respect and affection of their studentsf' The proposition of Marshall College to the trustees of Franklin College was received favorably, and it was finally agreed to con- solidate the two institutions under tl1e name of Franklin and Mar- shall College. This action was confirmed by the Legislature, April 19, I85O. It was not, however, until May, 1853, that the two institutions were actually united. The exercises of the col- lege were conducted in the building 011 Lime street until 1856. On the 16tl1 of May, 18 56, it was dedicated, when addresses were delivered by Rev. Dr. E. V. Gerhart and Emlen Franklin, Esq, The presidency of the college was tendered Rev. Dr. Philip E 1 6