Page:Catholic Encyclopedia, volume 6.djvu/527

 GEORGETOWN

459

GEORGETOWK

proceeded slowly, from want of funds, and 17S9 is con- sidered to be the year of the foundation of the college, as the deed of the original piece of ground was dated 23 January of that year. The land — one and a half acres — was accjuired by purchase, for the sum of £75 current money. The " Old Building", as it was called, was not ready for occupancy until 1791; it was re- moved in 1904, to make way for Ryan Hall.

In its material growth the college has expanded from the solitary academic structure of early days into the clustering pile that crowns the ancient site, con- sisting of nine distinct constructions, known in order of erection as the North Building (begun 1791, com- pleted 1808), the Infirmary (1831-1848), the Mulledy Building (1831), the Obi^ervatory (1843), the Maguire Building (1854), the Healy, or Main, Building (1879), the Dahlgren Chapel (1893), the Ida M. Ryan HaU (1905), and the Ryan Gymnasium (1908). To the original classical academy have been added, as oppor- tunity arose or expediency prompted, the astronomi- cal observatory, in 1843; the medical school, in 1851; the law school, in 1870; the university hospital, in 1898 ; the dental school, in 1901 ; the training school for nurses, in 1903.

Since 1805, when the Society of Jesus was restored in Maryland, Georgetown has been a Jesuit College, with the traditions, the associations, courses of study, and methods of instruction which the name implies. Until 1860 the Superior of the Mission and Provincial of Maryland generally resided at the college; the novitiate was there for some years; and it was the provincial house of higher studies for philosophy and theology, during the greater part of the period preceding the opening of Woodstock Scholasticate, in 1809. Natur- ally, under such conditions, the college exercised considerable influence upon the religious development of the country and Catholic progress in the early days. The first three Archbishops of Baltimore had intimate relations with it: Carroll, as founder; Neale, as presi- dent; and Mareehal, as professor. Bishop Dubourg of New Orleans was president; the saintly Bishop Flaget.of Bardstown,was professor ; as also Bishop Van- develde of Chicago. Bishops Carrell of Covington and O'Hara of Scranton were students. Bishop Benedict J. Fenwick, of Boston, one of the first students at Georgetown, and afterwards professor and president, founded the College of the Holy Cross, at Worcester, Mass., a direct offshoot of Georgetown. The Rev. Enoch Fenwick, S. J., president, had a large share in building the cathedral of Baltimore. Bishop Neale founded the Visitation Order in America. Fathers James Ryder and Bernard A. Maguire, presidents, were distinguished pulpit orators. Father Anthony Kohlmann, president, was a profound theologian, and his work, " Unitarianism Refuted", is a learned con- tribution to controversial literature. Father Camillas Mazzella, afterwards Cardinal, is famous as a dogmatic theologian. Father James C'urley, in a modest way, promoted astronomical science ; the renowned Father Secchi was for a time connected with the observatory, as was also Father John Hagen, now Director of the Vatican Observatory. Georgetown has exerted its influence on education and morals indirectly through various other colleges that have sprung from it, and directly by the host of its own alumni, nearly five thousand in number, many of them distinguished in every walk of life.

Upon the opening of the college, in 1791, the first name upon the Register is that of William Gaston of North Carolina, who, despite the constitutional dis- qualifications of Catholics in his native State, repre- sented it in Congress, and rose to its Supreme Bench. The number of students enrolled in 1792 was 66 ; on the opening day of 1793, 47 new students entered. This was a promising beginning, but growth was .slow, and for several years following there was even a falling off. In 1813 the boarders numbered 42 ; the average for the

preceding ten years had been 25. The century mark (101) was reached for the first time in 1818; the high- est ninnbcr (317) in 1859. The majority of the stu- dents at that period were from the Southern States, and the breaking out of the Civil War caused a rapid exodus of yoimg men from clas.s-room to camp. There were only 120 registered in 1802.

The printed prospectus of 1798, issued by Rev. Wm. Dubourg (president, 1796-99), furnishes details of the studies pursued at that date, and holds forth promise of an enlarged course. This promise was fulfilled under his immediate successor, Bishop Leonard Neale (president, 1799-1800). In 1801, there were seven members of a senior class, studying logic, metaphysics, and ethics. Father John Grassi (president, 1812-17) infused new life into the administration of the college: he promoted the study of mathematics and secured the necessary apparatus for teaching the natural sciences. During his term of office, the power to grant degrees was conferred by Act of Congress, March 1, 1815, the bill being introduced by Georgetown's proto- alumnus, a member from North Carolina. This power was first exercised in 1817. The formal incorporation of the institution was effected by Act of Congress in 1844, under the name and title of " The President and Directors of Georgetown College". By this Act the powers granted in 1815 were increased. The Holy See empowered the college, in 1833, to confer in its name degrees in philosophy and theology. Degrees have been conferred, from 1817 to 1908 inclusive, as follows: Doctors— D.D., 27; LL.D., 101; Ph.D., 42; M.D., 950; D.D.S., 59; Phar.D., 3;Mus.D., 7; total 1,189. Licen- tiates, Ph.L., 9. Masters: LL.M., 743; A.M., 432; M.S., 2; total, 1,177. Bachelors: LL.B., 1,708; A.B., 872;Ph.B., 13; Phar.B., 6; B.S., 14;Mus.B., 1; total, 2,614. — Grand total of degrees conferred, 4989.

The Rev. Robert Plunket was chosen to be the first president. The corporation defrayed the expenses of his passage from England to America. He entered upon his duties in 1791, served for two years, and was succeeded by Father Robert Molyneux, who became the first superior of the restored society in Maryland, and held the presidency of the college for a second term at the time of his death, in 1808. The school began with very elementary classes, but the original plan contemplated a rounded academic course, and gradually the standard of classes was raised, and their number increased. Some of the assistant teachers were aspirants to Holy orders, and a class in theology was formed. In 1808, four of this class were elevated to the priesthood, Benedict Fenwick, Enoch Fenwick, Leonard Edelen, and John Spink, the first members of the Society of Jesus to be ordained in the United States.

Present Status. — Georgetown University consists of the college, the school of medicine, the school of dental surgery, and the school of law. The number of stu- dents at present (1909) is: college, 101 ; medical school, 82; dental department, 54; hospital training school, 17; law school, 495. Total, 749. The faculties, in- cluding officials, professors, special lecturers, assistants and associates, are distributed as follows: college, 26; medical school, 05; dental school, 27; law school, 24. Clinical instruction is given in the University Hos- pital; the amphitheatre accommodates over ISO stu- dents. The hospital is in charge of the Sisters of St. Francis, and has a training school for nurses attached. The hospital staff numbers 8 physicians in chief, with 9 associates and 18 assistants. Post-graduate courses of study are carried on in the law and medical schools, and are offered in the college. A preparatory depart- ment, or classical high school, is attached to the college and in 1909 "had 97 students. The college grounds comprise 78 acres, a large part of which is occupied by "The Walks", famous for their woodland scenery. The hospital is in close proximity to the college; the law and medical schools are in the heart