St Johns College - Yearbook (Annapolis, MD)

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Reverend J. M. Leavitt, D. D., and an address by the Reverend Leighton Parks, D. D., of Boston, an alumnus of the college. After the benediction had been pronounced by the Reverend C. K. Nelson, D. D., the commemorative tree was planted on the college campus by Mrs. jackson, wife of Governor jackson. At the close of the ceremony an artillery salute of twelve guns was fired in honor of the event by the college corps. Toward the close of 1891 the Board of Visitors author- ized President Fell to initiate a movement for the forma- tion of an endowment fund. In furtherance of this project an open letter was sent to each alumnus, inviting them to subscribe a sum of SI0,000j which has been responded to by them in a gratifying manner. Contribu- tions have also been received from others interested in the welfare of this venerable institution, so that a fair begin- ning has been made toward placing it upon a sounder financial basis than it has hitherto enjoyed. President Fell, in his last report submitted to the Board of Visitors, says that the number of students on the roll for the present session, 1897-98, amounts to one hundred and twenty-five, and that in all the literary departments of the college able and progressive work is being accom- plished. A more prosperous era appears, therefore, to have dawned upon this the third oldest college of the United States, and that in spite of the numberless vicissitudes which have marked its career it can claim to be ranked among the leading educational institutions of the' land. .

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the condition of things, no appreciable progress was made. Under his direction and personal efforts the detail of an officer from the United States Army, and also of an engineer from the United States Navy, were obtained, in accordance with the provisions of certain Acts of Con- gress, with the conditions of which St. John's was able to comply. He resigned in the summer of 1886 to accept the posi- tion offered to him by the trustees of the Woman's College, Baltimore, Maryland, and Doctor Thomas Fell was called to occupy the presidential chair. At the open- ing of the session, 1886-87, when he entered upon his duties, there were but sixty students in attendance, and the general condition of the grounds and buildings had become greatly deteriorated. He at once set to work to renovate the study rooms and' to promote the comfort of the students during their residence at college. The old wood stoves were removed, and in their place steam-heat-. ing apparatus was introduced. Bath-rooms, with hot and cold water, and other conveniences, were placed in both Humphreys and Pinkney Halls. New life and vigor were also infused into the whole course of instruction, and, as a consequence, the number of students during the next year amounted to one hundred and thirty-eight, or more than double the number in attendance at the time of his appointment. , On the 26th of June, 1889, the college celebrated the IOOlh anniversary of its existence under the title of St. John's College. Many of the old students returned for the occasion, and friends who had not met for years exchanged the heartiest greeting. Owing to the large assemblage of visitors a tent was erected on the campus, in the shade of the famous old poplar tree, where the literary features of the programme were carried out. At IO o'clock, in imitation of the ceremony observed at the founding of the college in 1789, the Board of Visi- tors and Governors, the faculty, headed by Doctor Fell, wearing his academic gown and hood, and alumni, formed in procession at the State House, and, escorted by the battalion of college cadets in uniform, under com- mand of Lieutenant Jamar of the United States Army, marched to the tent on the campus. On 'the platform, erected under the ancient poplar tree, among many others, were seated Governor Jackson, who was ex-ofiicio President of the Board of Visitors, Reverend Doctors C. K. Nelson, john M. Leavitt and William H. Hopkins, former principals of the college, President Fell, Dr. Abram Claude, Major Sprigg Harwood, Captain John Mullan, Messrs.,Frank H. Stockett, Nicholas Brewer, J. Schaaf Stockett, Philemon H. Tuck, John S. Wirt, Doctor T. Barton Brune, and Doctor James D. Iglehart, Reverend Doctor Orlando Hutton, and Philip R. Voor- hees. An historical sketch of the college was read by the latter gentleman, after which followed a centennial ode by

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fm' . , .wgxf Z it HON. JOHN s. wmr, B. A., M. A. R. JOHN S. WIRT, St. john's leading alumnus in the Maryland Legislature, came from a family of which many generations on both sides have been Cecil county fMarylandJ people. His father, john W. Wirt, was born on Bohemia Manor, not far from Elk- ton, Md., and married Miss Margaret S. Biddle. Mr. Wirt himself was born in Cecil county, November 16th, 1851, and received his preparatory training in the Elkton Academy. He entered St. j'ohn's, at Annapolis, with the class of '72, and on graduation carried off first honors of hisclass with the degree of A. B. After leaving St. John's, he at- tended the Law School of the University of Maryland, where he graduated in 1874, with the degree of B. L. First honor man in his class at St. john's, it was not unnatural that he should graduate second in his class at the University of Maryland. Mr. Wirt received from his Alma Mater in 1880 the de- gree of M. A. Devoting himself to his profession, Mr. Wirt soon ac- quired a lucrative practice, and such standing in his com- munity that in 1889 he was elected to the Maryland State Senate, where he did himself and his country great credit. While always recognized as an active party man, his independence on questions of legislation has brought him many friends, not members of his own party. Whether in office, or out of oflice, his name has always been asso- ciated with the higher element of his party, and with all that would tend towards reforming existing abuses. It 7. was largely due to his efforts that the Australian Ballot Law went into effect in Maryland. I Always a Democrat, he was a member of the Mary- land delegation to the National Democratic Convention, both in 1884 and in 1892, and supported President Cleve- land, for whom he entertained, and still entertains, feel- ings of loyalty and admiration. Mr. Wirt has delivered many addresses of a literary character, among which, perhaps, the best known is an address given before the Alumni of St. John's College, in 1890, on the subject of The Relation of Men of Liberal Education to the Civil Service Reform Movement. This address was largely circulated, both in the daily press and pamphlet form. A review, consisting of ten articles in the Baltimore Sim, of the proceedings of the Maryland Legislature for 1890, has also been much commented upon. L Mr. Wirt was elected to the Maryland General Assem- bly last November, and is at present one of the stars in the House. Mr. Wirt's position in the community is best shown by the fact that he is a trustee of his Alma Mater, St. Iohn's College 3 vice-president of the Civil Service Association of Maryland, and is connected with other organizations of a local character: As a jurist, Mr. Wirt ranks among the foremost in his State, and his opinions are eagerly sought and profoundly respected.