Page:History of Southeast Missouri 1912 Volume 1.djvu/477

 HISTORY OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 417 most of the students in theology and phi- losophy returned, but not very many of the college students. At this time Rev. James McGill was president and other members of the faculty were : Rev. Joseph Alizeri, Rev. James Ivnowd, Rev. J. F. McGerry, Rev. Felix Guidry, Rev. William Ryan, Rev. A. J. Ryan, Rev. T. D. 'Keef e, Rev. P. M. Regan, Rev. J. T. Landry and Rev. T. M. O'Don- oughue. One member of the faculty, however, did not long remain. This was Rev. Abram J. Ryan. He resigned his place in college and became a chaplain in the Confederate army. Here he devoted himself to his work as chap- lain and to writing poems which have made his name famous. Father Ryan was one of the most noted men ever connected with the faculty of St. Vincent's. The college continued its operations throughout the war; the attendance was not large but the faculty managed to keep the institution open and the buildings occupied. After the war the faculty were called upon to take the test oath imder the Drake con- stitution and upon their unanimous refusal they were arrested and taken to Jackson. Their trial was postponed from time to time, however, to await the decision of another case. The other case was finally determined by the supreme court of the United States, which held that the provisions in the Drake consti- tution requiring the taking of the test oath were unconstitutional. This put an end to the ease against the members of the faculty. The college continued its work after the war but found itself handicapped by a con- siderable debt that had accumulated and also by the necessity of drawing students from different sections of the country than for- merly. Before the war more than fifty per cent came from Louisiana; after the war, Vol. 1—27 however, very few Louisiana students were in attendance. In 1866 Rev. Joseph Alizeri was president and Rev. M. Dyer was vice- president. Owing to the destruction of one of the buildings of St. Mary's seminary at Perry- ville, the college students at St. Mary's were transferred to St. Vincent 's. This indicated a change in the character of St. Vincent's col- lege, which, since 1859, had been purely eccle- siastical. Although the theological depart- ment was still continued, classical courses were begun and also commercial courses be- gan to receive attention. From this time until 1893 these three courses of study, theo- logical, classical and commercial, were carried on side by side in St. Vincent's; each course was independent of the other. The college coui"se continued to be six years in duration and led to the degree of Bachelor of Arts; two years further study entitled a student to the degree of blaster of Arts. The curriculum was much the same as that established at the founding of the college in 1844. The same is true of the theological course, which included those subjects which have come to be recognized as standards of those preparing for the priesthood. In 1868 Anthony Verrina became president of the college. He was followed in 1875 by Rev. J. W. Hickey. President Hickey re- signed in 1884. Among his successors have been: Rev. P. McHale, 1884-1886 ; Rev. P. V. Byrne, 1886-1889; Rev. F. V. Nugent, 1889- 1S93; Rev. J. J. Murray, 1893-1894; Rev. G. H. Dockery, 1894-1896; Rev. J. Linn, 1896- 1898; Rev. E. M. Hopkins, 1898-1900; Rev. J. A. Layton, 1900-1901. Rev. J. F. McGerry, who has been referred to as one of the most distinguished able mem- bers of the faculty, died in 1873. He had been a member of the college faculty for