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Page 23 text:
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THE HIST TRY OF a nova The complete and authentic history of the first one hundred years of Villanova College has yet to he written. The account in this Year Book definitely is not it. Our record of the first one hundred years of life at our Alma Mater is altogether an informal one. What we have done has been to gather together what mate' rial we could, chiefly photographic, thrown it together, picked out what seemed to be to us the highlights from the viewpoint of student interest, put it into some semblance of chronological order, and presented it for the reader's benefit and, possibly, for his edification. The twin spires of Villanova's Chapel symbolize the eternal protection of God’s Providence over those works of man dedicated to His Honor and Glory. The same God has in His mysterious way wrought many wonders at old Belle Air. Only a comparative few will be found in the following pages; and never in man's time will they all be found and recorded. For God works in ways that will be known only when the records of Eternity are opened for the first time to the view of mere men. 1043
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Page 24 text:
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Soiled by the hand of limr, a draft of John Rudolph’» chased it. Only the Lancaster Turn Pike, the Railroad estate as it appeared when the Augustinian Father pur- and Spring Mill Road are recognizable today. The Period Before the Civil War When the Civil War came to an end, America's unity and security were established. Much the same might be said for Villanova, despite belying appear- anccs. Under the greatest of handicaps, Villanova had fought the good fight against hardship and bigotry and had come out on top. It had already, wc might say, definitely outlived the liabilities of institutional infancy and had amply fulfilled the fond hopes and wishes of its founding fathers. It was Father Patrick E. Moriarty, O.S.A., Com- missary General of the Augustinian Order in the United States, who, on October 31, 1841, purchased the college property (known till then as the Belle Air Estate) from its owner, John Rudolph, for the sum of $18,000. When we realize that it was not until January 5, 1842, that the Augustinians in the United States were civilly incorporated under the title of The Brothers of the Order of Hermits of St. Augustine, wc can sec that Villanova is to be closely identified with Augustinian beginnings in this country. For almost fifty years before the purchase of the Villanova site, the Augustinians had been variously active in parochial and missionary work in and about Philadelphia. But it was in close con- nection with their founding of Villanova that they, as a body, began to make their influence felt as a contribution to the general life of America. St. Augustine's, the first Augustinian foundation in Phil- adelphia, was soon to yield to Villanova the title of “mother-house of the Order of St. Augustine in the United States. Upon purchase of the Rudolph estate, plans were immediately put into effect to open a college, to be known as Villanova. There were only five Augus- tinian priests in this country at the time, so one of the Fathers went to Italy to obtain new recruits. At the same time, a Prospectus was issued to announce the fact that the college was to be opened to interest students, and to solicit pecuniary aid. Fr. John Possidcus O'Dwycr returned from Italy with two Americans: Fr. Ashe, a priest, and Rev. Mr. William Harnett, a subdcacon. These three 20
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