Ursinus College - Ruby Yearbook (Collegeville, PA)

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them a preliminary education for the study of law, medicine, and theology, and to fit them for bookkeeping and business. The list of men educated at Freeland Seminary includes many noteworthy names, among whom may be mentioned the scientists Hoffman, Moyer, and Rotlirock ; the jurists and barristers Swartz, Albright, Gotwalts, Strassburger, Yanderslice. Snyder, Hunsieker, Corson, Kratz, March, and Hobson; the journalists Marseilles and Hoover ; in the political arena. Captain I'etterolf, A. I). Fetterolf, Faust, Urner, Lindermau, Boyer, and MacYeagh ; the bankers Pri .er and Christman ; the manufacturers and business men Swift, Posey, Krauss, Webb, and Partridge; the educators lion. David B. Brunner, Prof. Henry F. Leister, Superintendent Geo. W. Weiss, and President A. H. Fetterolf, and the physicians John Todd, Henry G. Groff, J. H. Sheet ., Levi Oberholtzer, Granville Pri .er. Reuben Wenrich, James G. Mensch, William J. Ashenfelter, Harvey Kratz, B. K. Johnson, Jacob C). Knipe, and David Sell rack. Rev. Wilbur Coffman, Rev. Benjamin F. Apple, Rev. J. H. Hendricks, Rev. Daniel I). Trexler, Rev. A. B. Shelly, Rev. John L. Landis, and Rev. Wm. H. Fox are representative clergymen. General John R. Brooke, also a son of Freeland, is invested with martial glory. In the course of events Freeland Seminary helped Ursinus College greatly, and the establishment of the College happily transformed and perpetuated the educational work commenced on this spot bv Freeland Seminary. WASHINGTON HAI.I. C0J.I.EG1ATH lNSTHTTlv TRAPPK. 26

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These military manoeuvring? were hugely enjoyed. Right about face, left about face, forward, march, were words in the mouth of the youngest student. In 1865 Freeland Seminary was leased for a period of five years to Professor A. II. Fetterolf as principal and Captain II. H. Fotterolf as steward. During Professor Fetterolf's principalship the aim was to keep a school superior to that of former days. The school was successful and half the number of students remained when Ursinus College commenced in 1870. The school had many unruly boys from the towns and severe chastisement was regarded as defense of virtue in those days. Four strokes of the razor strop on the bare back was a cure for truancy ; for tearing down the limbs of cherry trees to procure cherries the switching of the offender with the limbs lie had broken until all were in splinters in the presence of the whole school was a reminder that this offense must not be repeated : and for private offenses the student was taken to that Gehenna where now the sewage collects, to he flogged until he cried for mercy and promised to do better. To put an unruly student out of the classroom by physical force was no uncommon occurrence. The teachers during Professor Fetterolf's administration were the principal. J S. Weinberger. Jared T. Preston, and Alexander McKlrath. The act of incorporation of Ursinus College was granted by the Legislature of Pennsylvania. February 5, 1X69, and five days thereafter the corporation was organized at a meeting of the Directors held in the City of Philadelphia. The property of Freeland Seminary was seemed subject to an unexpired lease then held by A. H. Fetterolf. The name of the title of Ursinus College was accepted i the lessee, and the first annual catalogue of the officers and students of Ursinus College appeared in 1869 for the academic year of 1868-69. The formal opening of Ursinus College took place on Tuesday, September 6, 1870. In a partial respect Ursinus College was a continuation, under an enlarged and more comprehensive form, of Freeland Seminary, and it was reasonable to expect that many would rejoice in its advancement to the stature of a college, and to manifest a lively interest in its prosperity. Before Ursinus College was in operation a report had spread that Ursinus was going to be a school to prepare ministers. A controversy was raging in the Church and the management of the school was more or less alfected by this spirit, and it was soon manifest that for the nucleus of the school dependence must be placed on another class of patronage. Some of the old patrons were offended, saying that the school was not what it used to be. There remained a remnant of the dear old Xi Rho Delta Society, which had three degrees, called the Academic, the Pythagorean, and the Platonic. This society became inane, and the Schaff Literary Society succeeded it. The establishment of the normal schools by the State was a death blow to the academies. Before they were established it was the province of the academy to instruct young men to become teachers, to prepare them for college, to afford 25

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