Villanova University - Belle Air Yearbook (Villanova, PA)

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A one-story frame building, to serve as a lavatory, was erected at the northwest corner of the Chapel in 1817. The Fathers in the spring of 1818 petetioned the Legislature for a Char ter. On Friday, March 10 of that yearT Francis K. Sliunk, governor of the state, signed “an act to incorporate the Augustinian college of Villa- nova in the County of Delaware and the State of Pennsylvania.” The first' sail of the college was adopted on December •10, 1818— a Bible, cross, crozicr, cincture, and a flaming heart pierced with an arrow, without anv inscription. On May 18, 1818, Mr Charles F.gan. a native of Ireland, twenty-seven years of age, was received into the novitiate. He was the first cleric mn'icc at Villanova. Commencement of 1818 was held Wednesday, «hinc I!), on the green. There were at least a thousand present. Rev. Edward .1. Sourin gave out the premiums and addressed the audience. In this same year the Fathers began the erection of another college building. They planned to put up a wing only. It was begun in 1818 and finished by February, 1811). It was 88 by .'».’5 feet and cost $'11,1)58.77. At the same time Father O’Dwyer hail a small one-storv stone building erected at tin railroad for a college station. At the closing exercises held Wednesday, July 18, 1811). President Father O’Dwver,, among other remarks, announced that the College was frce of debt. In the year 1811) to 1850, Father Harnett issued a Prospectus. The courses included: Creek, Latin, English, History, Geography, Mathe- matics. Rhetoric, Poetry, Natural and Moral Philosophy, and Chemistry. On the second floor of the wing a large and beautiful ball was opened for a library and reading room. It was open in free hours and all day on Sun- day. Each member paid $1.00 a year. In 1850, the Fathers with the ap- proval of Bishop Kcnriek. opened a manual labor school at Villanova for orphans over sixteen years of age from St. John's Orphan Asylum. But now the light that had burned so brilliantly and unremittingly was flickering. Father O’Dwyer’s health failed and he went to Mt. Hoj» near Baltimore. The chaplain in charge at the time was Rev. John A. Newmann, C. SS. R., afterwards the venerable Bishop of Philadelphia. He gave Father Stanton most edifying details of Father O’Dwyer’s last illness. The saintly man insisted on receiving the Holy Eucharist kneeling on the floor. He died Friday, May 21, 1850, at the age of thirty-six. Father William Harnett succeeded Father O'Dwyer in the presidency. About this time the college regulations were drawn up. We give a copy of them below. They show the strict military training of the Villanova boys of long ago. 13

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new church. On Sunday, September 1, 1844, the Feaat of Our Lady of Con solation, it was blessed and opened by Rt. Rev. Franci P Kcnrick. Ordi nary of the diocese. The main lia'l of this building served ns study hall for the pupils. On Saturday nights the desks were ranged against the wall and the place was made ready for the Sunday service. In this way. Father O'Dwyer passed his summer vacation of 1844. Classes opened as usual in September, 184L On Km her Saturday, Sep temher 21, 18ft, Bishop Kcnrick ordained Brother Harnett in St. John's Church, Philadelphia. When the new term opened February, 1845, Father O'Dwyer began to fee-1 a reaction after his indefatigable labors and the troubles of the past year. He had to erect a new church at St. Augustine's and conduct suits at law against the city of Philadelphia for the recent damages. Father Josoph O'Donnell gave up his mission on Long Island to Bishop Dubois Father Ashe was in delicate health (he died March 18, 181-8). Father Harnett, just ordained, was convalescing from a severe illness. These four, with Father Nicholas O'Donnell, were the only priests of the Order in tin- country. Under pressure of such circumstances. Father O'Dwyer decided that it would be best and, in fact, necessary to close school temporarily. On February 20 it was announced in the Catholic Hcrahl and on the same day Father O’Dwyer called the boys together and announced the closing. Thus after two years of struggling and laboring, during which time forty five young men had been in training, Villanova reluctantly closed her doors not to open again till the Fall of 184(1. During the Summer of 184 the Fathers decided to reopen. Sunday. September (i, 18 Mi. Villanova resumed her great work of Christian educa- tion with l ather () Dwyer, president, and Fathers Ashe and Harnett assist ing him. About a month later Father Kyle returned from Ireland. There were some lay professors engaged. The year was uneventful. On Wcdncs «lay, July 21, 1847, the closing exercises were held on tin- gr«-en—just north of the college building (now Tolentinc Academy). Rev. Janus O'Donnell presided and Mr. .1. I). Bryant read an essay on “Patriotism. This was Villa nova's first public commencement. Three clerics of the order, who had been in Italy in the fall .»f 1842. re turned early in September, 1847. They were F.dward M. Mullen. Deacon (lamed. 12

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Boys to rise at 5.30; Prayer at ; Mass at (5.30; Breakfast at 7.30 Recreation to 8.30; Studies to 12; F.xamcn at 12; Anicius and Dinner: Recreation to 2; College Regulations Studies to 4.30; Recreation to 5; Studies from 5-0; Spiritual Reading from 6-6.30; Angelus and Supper at 6.30; Recreation to 7: Studies from 7-8; Prayer to 8.30; Bed by 0. Silence in Refectory; Dormitory; Study Hall; Wash Room. Privations No liquor: No tobacco; No snuff; No ba«l conduct; No absence; No idleness; No negligence; No injustice. Rt. Rev. Francis P. Kenriek, on Sunday June 16, 1850, administered Confirmation to thirty-five |H-rsons; twentv-tliree were college students, six of whom made their first Comunion the same morning. This is the first time flic Sacrament was .«inferred at Yillanova. C ommencement was held on Wednesday, July 17. Bishop Kenriek presided. On December 17. 1850, Brothers Ambrose A. Mullen and Charles F.gau were ordained by Bishop fcnrick. In 1851, Commencement took place on July 16. The valedictory was by Master Charles O’Donnell. There was much advancement in 1852. The Monastery was enlarged by the addition of a stone building making in all 80 by 15. There was also erected for laundry and baking purposes, a large two-story house ( HI by 24 about one hundred yards cast of the barn). The commencement of 1852 was on Wednesday, July 14. The valedictory was by Francis Harper. The Fathers opened a theological department to candidates f«ir the secular priesthood, in 1853. Among the first applicants were Mr. Farren of Boston, Mass., and Mr. Stack of Pittsburgh, Pa. Dr. Moriartv taught the class in Sacred FJoqucncc. In 1853 ,'ommenccmcnt was held on tin- last Wednesday of June, and July commencements were abandoned. On commencement day. Wednesday, June 27, 1855, our College for the first time used the potccrs granted by the State to confer degrees. James 14