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"There is no law, statutory or otherwise, requiring as a prerequisite to the chartering of a College any pecuniary fund. Policy requires that an institution of so high a nature should not be created without sufficient evidences that if created, it will be stable and efficient in the diffusion of the higher branches of learning, and judg ment of these evidences is left entirely by law to the Board. Its ordinances do not and cannot limit its power; and so the Board must have determined, when it passed upon the original application of, and granted its present charter to St. Bonaventure College. That charter plainly proves that the Board did not deem the possession of an invested fund of $100,000 essential to the stability and efficiency of the College, or a prerequisite to the grant of a perpetual charter. * * * The College is conducted by Brothers of the Minor Order of St. Francis, who are vowed to poverty and devoted to education. Beyond a bare support, they draw nothing from the funds of the College. The Order insures to the College a perpetual succession of competent teachers. Its buildings are commodious and in all respects fitted for the uses of the College. Its library and philosophical apparatus are very respectable. All necessary revenues for the uses of the College are assured. We can see no reason why its petition should not be granted."

Upon this recommendation the charter was made absolute, January 11, 1883.

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The grounds (200 acres) are valued at $30,000; Buildings and Furniture, $159,000; Library and Philosophical Apparatus, $17,000; Revenue from all sources (1883), $21,684; Expenditure (1883), $28,540.

The College embraces in its instruction Ecclesiastical, Classical, Scientific and Commercial Courses. Its last report shows that its faculty is composed of thirteen members, viz.:

President Very Rev. Theophilus Pospisilik, O. S. F.
Dean Very Rev. Joseph F. Butler, O. S. F.
Registrar-Rev. Arcadius Maggorossy, O. S. F.

Secretary-Rev. Joachim J. Molloy, O. S. F.

Professors - Philosophy and Logic, Very Rev. Fr. Michael, O. S. F.; Latin, Higher. Mathematics, Elocution, Geometry, Rhetoric, History and Geography, Rev. Joseph F. Butler, O. S. F.; Natural Philosophy, Natural History, Chemistry and Astronomy, Rev. J. J. Molloy, O. S. F.; Latin and Greek, Rev. Francis P. Coen, O. S. F.; French and German, Rev. John Roser, O. S. F.; Rhetoric, English Literature and French, John T. Goodwin; Rhetoric, Geometry, Algebra and History, Pamfilus A. Ennis, O. S. F.; Latin, Greek and Mathematics, Celsius L. Murphy, O. S. F.; Instrumental and Vocal Music, William F. Krampf, D. M.

THE COOPER UNION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE AND ART.

The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art was established by Peter Cooper, LL. D., of New York city, who deeded the completed building and property April 29, 1859, to six Trustees, under the condition that "the above-mentioned and described premises, together with the appurtenances, and the rents, issues, income and profits thereof, shall be forever devoted to the instruction and improvement of the inhabitants of the United States in practical science and art."

In the administration of this plan, the following departments have been organized and maintained:

(1.) A Free Reading-Room and Library. In 1883-4 number of periodicals taken in reading-room, 451; number of books in library, 17,810; number of visitors to reading-room, 549,707.

(2.) A Free Art School for Women. In 1883-4 number of applicants, 600; number admitted, 275, besides students in "pay " class

149.

(3.) A Free School for Women in Wood-Engraving. In 1883-4 number received, 33.

(4.) A Free School of Telegraphy for Women. In 1883-4 number admitted, 76.

(5.) A Free Class in Phonography and Type-writing. In 1883-4 number admitted, 68.

(6.) A Free Night School of Science (classes in Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, Analytical Geometry, Descriptive Geometry, Caleulus, Mechanics, Physics, Engineering, Astronomy, Chemistry, Geol

ogy, Drawing, Oratory, etc.). Number admitted in 1883-4, 1,417. (7.) A Free Night School of Art (classes in Perspective, Mechanical, Architectural and Decorative Drawing and Designing, Modelling, etc.). Number admitted in 1883-4, 1,956.

(8.) Free Lectures on Science, Art, Travels, etc.

The cost and endowment of the Cooper Union to January 1, 1854, has been something over $1,000,000, contributed wholly by Peter Cooper (his bequest of $100,000 and $100,000 given by his heirs being included, and no account being taken here of numerous minor donations for scholarships, etc., from Mr. Cooper and others). Further endowments are invited by the Trustees in their Twenty-fifth Annual Report (May, 1884), in which they say that "while there is an overwhelming demand for the privileges of the institution, so much so, that in some departments applicants are compelled to wait for more than a year before admission can be granted, the institution has reached the limit of its usefulness with the space at its command, and the money available for its support." The income is derived from rents of portions of the building, and from an endowment by Mr. Cooper. If the portions now rented could be appropriated to instruction, it would be possible to double the usefulness of the institution. The annual expenditure involved in such an enlargement would require an additional endowment of $1,000,000.

The number of instructors employed in 1860 was 16; in 1883, 38. Expenditure in 1860, $30,800.71; in 1883, $53,934.57. Number of certificates for full courses awarded in 1861, at the close of the first full year, 272; in 1884, 1,370.

The number of pupils admitted annually to the various schools has been since 1869 as follows: 1870, 2,222; 1871, 2,490; 1872, 2,997; 1873, 2,945; 1874, 3,232; 1875, 3,182; 1876, 3,276; 1877, 3,295; 1878, 3,149; 1879, 3,347; 1880, 3,341; 1881, 2,979; 1882, 3,328; 1883, 3,757.

Mr. Cooper, the venerable and beloved founder of this institution, died April 4, 1883.

This institution was conducted under its charter received from the Legislature until 1879. On the 10th of January of that year a Resolution was passed by the Regents that on filing a written request or petition of the Trustees in the Regents' office, it should be received as one of the Collegiate institutions of the University, and subject to visitation.'

In view of the eminent services of Mr. Cooper in the cause of education, the Regents on the 11th of July, 1878, voted to confer upon him the Degree of Doctor

The magnificent building known as the "Cooper Institute," or "Cooper Union," at the intersection of Third and Fourth Avenues, and fronting on Clinton Place, from its central location and converging lines of communication is admirably adapted to the purposes of

of Laws. In view of his advanced age, it was thought proper that the Degree should be conferred upon him at his own residence in New York city, on his next birth-day (February 12), and the members of the Regents were invited to be present.

At a subsequent meeting of the Board the Chancellor reported the proceedings of the occasion, which were ordered to be entered on the minutes, as follows: "The Chancellor reports that on the evening of the 12th day of February last, being the birth-day of Mr. Peter Cooper, at his residence, and in the presence of a brilliant and distinguished company of guests the Vice-Chancellor and Regents Curtis, Depew, Warren and Reid, and the Secretary assisting, he presented the diploma and conferred the honorary Degree of LL. D. on Mr. Cooper, as ordered by this Board."

The Secretary read the order of the Regents. The Chancellor thereupon made the following declaration :

"This day commences Mr. Cooper's eighty-ninth year. The business years of his long life have been filled with great and successful enterprises of usefulness. He early considered the question what he should do for the permanent good of his fellow-men. The result of his reflections reveals at once his intellectual and moral nature. He determined to found a grand and free institution of learning for the benefit of the masses, in the midst of the vices, the follies and the temptations of this great city of his nativity, and twenty years ago he breathed the breath of life into the Cooper Institute, which is now one of the most remarkable institutions of our age, created and organized and endowed by him alone.

It has cost him, principal and interest, more than $2,000,000. It has about thirty instructors in literature, science and art, and is maintained at an expense of about $50,000 a year. During the past year its free reading-room has been visited by 640,000 readers, having the use of 294 newspapers, magazines and other periodicals, and a growing library of about 20,000 volumes, and its classes of students have numbered the past year, 3,395. He has always been its President. It has been the pleasure and pride of his life. There it will stand forever, a monument of his wisdom and philanthropy - a working monument - working out its original purpose day and night, ages on ages, after the monuments of Greenwood shall have crumbled away.

For this munificent and successful effort in the cause of Education he merits the highest educational honor. The College of New Jersey, at Princeton, a few years since, conferred on him the honorary degree of D. S., and by the authority of the Regents, as Chancellor of the University of the State of New York, I shall now confer upon him the honorary degree of LL. D."

This was done in the language of the instrument. Mr. Cooper made an appropriate response, in the course of which he said: "I have given the labors of a long life to the advancement and diffusion of scientific knowledge, feeling assured that when Christianity itself comes to be felt in all its purity, power and force, it will then be found to be a simple system, a science, a rule of life, to guide and regulate the actions of mankind.”

its establishment. The first and second stories are devoted to business purposes, or used as the offices and library of the American Institute, and other literary purposes. The immense reading-room and the apartments devoted to library, and used as class-rooms for instruction, in the upper stories, are easy of approach, well lighted, and admirably arranged. In the basement is a large and commodious lecture room, in which free courses of lectures upon Scientific subjects are delivered in the winter months. This is the favorite place for public meetings of all kinds, and particularly in the campaign seasons for political assemblies and popular demonstrations, as occasions arise.

NIAGARA UNIVERSITY.

Incorporated by the Regents August 7, 1883,' and composed of the "Seminary of Our Lady of Angels," at Suspension Bridge, and a Medical College in the city of Buffalo, in connection with the Buffalo Hospital of the Sisters of Charity. It is governed by a Board of seven Trustees, with full powers of a College.

The report for the year 1882-83 showed an attendance of 18 in the Freshman, 20 in the Sophomore, 18 in the Junior, and 20 in the Senior classes, and of 10 Resident Graduates; total, 86. In June, 1883, there were 4 graduates taking the degree of Bachelor of Arts, and 2 as Master of Arts in course; total number of graduates, 32. Property: Grounds, 294 acres, valued at $30,000; buildings and furniture, $200,000; library (6,000 volumes), $10,000; educational collections, $6,000; debts, $90,000.

This College is in charge of the Society known as the Congregation of the Mission, whose members are devoted to teaching, and receive no compensation, except that required by the rules of the Order.

CANISIUS COLLEGE.

Located on Washington street, in Buffalo, and conducted by members of the Society of Jesus. Incorporated without provisional requirements January 11, 1883. In the report made by the committee at the time of granting a charter, it is stated that the buildings are very extensive, and admirably adapted to the uses of a College. Its library and philosophical apparatus are good, and the revenues

1 By an act passed May 3, 1884, the former act of 1863 (chap. 190) was amended, by more fully enlarging the powers formerly granted, in the establishment of a Medical Department and the granting of degrees.

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