Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume XII.djvu/778

 764 OXFORD UNIVERSITY and live in common. Their houses were vari- ously called inns, hostels, or halls. The num- ber of these halls is said to have at one time exceeded 300. Individuals at different times purchased or constructed buildings for the ex- clusive use of students, and appropriated funds for the maintenance of a limited number, who were called socii or fel- lows. They were stu- dents who had already received a degree from the university, and had a head, variously called warden, master, rector, &c., usually elected by themselves. To them were attached in most cases a limited number of students, generally those who had not yet taken a degree, called scholars, for whose maintenance funds were also appro- priated. These bodies, consisting of a head, fel- lows, and scholars, were called colleges. They were legally incorpora- ted, their powers being vested in the head and fellows. At first the privileges of the college were restricted to the persons constituting the corporation and main- tained by its funds. Gradually other students were admitted, who paid for board and lodg- ings in the college building. These paying stu- dents were called " commoners," because they took their " commons " or meals in the col- lege; and two classes were recognized, called "gentleman commoners" and "commoners" simply, the former dining at a separate table and enjoying some special privileges in consid- eration of higher pay. The distinction has now become nearly obsolete. In discipline and in- struction there is no distinction between schol- ars and commoners. Thus the colleges became endowed institutions for the academical instruc- tion of all persons able to pay for it. As their number increased that of the halls, which were mostly dependent on the students for support, declined. About 1570 the earl of Leicester, then chancellor of the university, obtained for himself and successors in office the right of appointing the heads of all halls which should thereafter be established ; and by refusing to appoint a head, the chancellors preVented the opening of any new hall from that time till 1855. Gradually the whole business of instruc- tion fell into the hands of the colleges and re- maining halls. The only way of entering the university was to be admitted to one of these, and such admission and the payment of the required fees constituted a person a member of the university. But the university only, in its independent corporate capacity, could con- fer degrees. All members of colleges who re- ceive stipends from the corporate revenues are said to be " on the foundation." At All Souls there are no scholars ; at Keble there are no fellows or scholars ; at Merton the scholars are called post masters; at Magdalen, demies (in Latin semi-socii) ; at Christ Church the fellows Christ Church College, West Front. are called senior students, the scholars junior students. The head and fellows are in most cases the governing body. Discipline is exer- cised by the head and certain officers appointed by the fellows. The dean of Christ Church is appointed by the crown, the provost of Wor- cester by the chancellor of the university, the warden of Keble by the council of that college, and all other heads by the fellows. The head generally holds his office for life. Fellows and scholars are mostly elected by heads, and fel- lows after a competitive examination. Fellow- ships are tenable for life, but are vacated by marriage, ecclesiastical preferment, or acces- sion to a certain amount of property. Scholar- ships are generally tenable for five years, and the stipends average about 80. There is also a large class of beneficiary students who are called exhibitioners, and the places they hold exhibitions, the right of nomination to which is vested in some institution of learning. The difference between them and scholarships is merely technical. The exhibitioners all receive stipends varying in amount from 25 to over 100. The university comprises 20 colleges, as follows : University college, founded bj William of Durham in 1249 ; Balliol, by John Balliol and Devorgilla his wife, between 1263 and 1268; Merton, by Walter de Merton, bishop of Rochester, at Maiden in 1264, re- moved to Oxford before 1274 ; Exeter, by Wal- ter de Stapleton, bishop of Exeter, in 1314; Oriel, by Edward II. in 1326; Queen's, by Robert Eglesfield, chaplain to Philippa, queen of Edward III., in 1340 ; New, by William of Wykeham, bishop of Winchester, in 1386 ;