Washington University Saint Louis - Hatchet Yearbook (St Louis, MO)

Page 13 text:

1903 THE HATCHET 11 perpetual succession, were created a corporation to be known as “The Eliot Seminary.” These men were vested with full corporate rights; and property held by them was declared exempt from taxation. The management of the Seminary was lodged in a Board of Directors, which should have power to fill vacancies among its number and have unrestricted control over the government and instruction in the Seminary. Under the authority granted by this charter, just one year after its passage, the Board of Directors met to effect an organization. In deference to the wishes of Dr. Eliot, they decided to change the name of the Seminary, and from the prominence which the anniversary of Washington’s birth had had in its inception, decided to call it Washington Institute. In the constitution which they drew up, one provision forbade that in the institution there should ever be any instruction partisan in politics, sectarian in religion, or that any test of such a nature should be used for any purpose whatsoever. Previous to this meeting, it had been thought impossible immediately to begin instruction ; but conditions proving very- favorable, a school for boys, already conducted for a year by Mr. Nathan D. Tirrell, was made the first department of the Institute. The next winter, 1854-5, an elementary evening school was opened. In the spring of 1855, a number of men connected with the manufacturing and mechanical industries of the city organized, under the seminary charter, the O’Fallou Polytechnic Institute, the immediate purpose of which was, by library and reading rooms, by evening classes such as had been conducted during the winter, by popular scientific lec¬ tures, and by expositions and exhibits of various sorts, to do what it could to heighten the grade of work done by- apprentices and craftsmen then busy at their trades.

Page 15 text:

THE HATCHET 13 The needs which these schools were intended to supply were deemed most urgent. And the judgment of the foundeis was not mistaken, nor their plans faultily laid. Immediately they achieved a large measure of success. 1 he enthusiasm and earnestness, both ou the part of patrons and of students, were much greater than had been anticipated. A considerable endowment was readily secured. In 1856 the first building was erected on Seventeenth street and Washington avenue, and occupied by the Academy. Students to the number of several hundred were enrolled in the various classes. During this time, too, the nature and scope of the institution were gradually defining themselves. The founders conceived the idea of establishing a great university. In order to provide for such development, they had the legislature of 1857 amend the charter. The provision of the constitution which prohibited the institu¬ tion from ever becom ing partisan in politics or sectarian in religion, was made effective by inserting a clause, which pro¬ vided for its enforcement through the courts. Further, the name of the institution was changed to Washington 1 xivrrsity. The University now had an exceedingly broad and thorough foundation, and had met with success in its first modest efforts to establish itself. The time had come, as President Eliot said, when it might “without arrogance, claim the right of being inaugurated to take a humble place, which we hope may become in the course of years an exalted place, among the educational institutions of the land.” Accordingly, inaugural exercises were held April 23,1857. They consisted of two parts : in the after¬ noon in Academic Hall prayer followed by addresses by several men connected with the University, and in the evening, in Mercantile Library Hall, an oration by Edward Everett. Thus was Washington University formally opened.