Page:History of the University of Pennsylvania - Montgomery (1900).djvu/525

Rh masters. At length encouraged by such a fair beginning, the Trustees applied to the honourable Proprietors for a charter of Incorporation, which they obtained in July, 1753. At that time the institution consisted of three schools above mentioned, and two Charity Schools.

In the space of about 4 years, from the first opening, it was found that many youths, having gone thro" their course of Grammar- Learning, would be desirous of proceeding to Philosophy and the Sciences, and must depart to other Seminaries unless a provision was made for compleating their studies here. This being represented to the Trustees, they began to think of enlarging their plan, as they had promised at the beginning. They were highly sensible that the knowledge of Words, without making them subservient to the knowledge of Things, could never be considered as the business of education. To lay a foundation in the Languages, was very necessary as a first step, but without the superstructure of the Sciences it would be but of little use for the conduct of Life. The bare study of words could never be designed as the chief object of man's reasoning and intellectual faculties . Our Maker had something more sublime in view; and to stop short of that end is to be greatly wanting to ourselves, in a matter of the last importance.

In consideration of this, the trustees determined to complete the remainder of their plan, and applied for an Addition to their Charter, by which a power of conferring degrees and appointing Professors in the various branches of the arts and sciences, was granted to them. By this means a COLLEGE was added to, and ingrafted upon their former Academy, a joint government agreed upon for both, the style of the trustees changed to that of ' ' Trustees of the College, Academy and Charity School of Philadelphia," and the Professors constituted under them into one body or faculty, by the name of ' ' The Provost, Vice Provost and Professors of the College and Academy of Philadelphia." This charter was obtained May I4th, 1755. What further relates to the government of this institution shall be mentioned, after giving a view of the plans of education pursued in it, which I am to do under two heads. The first shall be the plan of education in the college or higher part of the institution, including the Latin and Greek schools, which shews the course gone thro' by those intended for the learned professions. The second shall be what is properly called the Academy, shewing the course of learning intended for those who are bred for the mechanic arts and other professions.

Probably some youths will go thro' these stages in three years, many will require four years, and many more may require five years, especially if they begin under nine or ten years of age. The masters must exercise their best discretion in this respect.

Those who can acquit themselves to satisfaction in the books laid down for the fourth stage, after public examination, are to proceed to the study of the sciences, and to be admitted into the College as Freshmen,