Page:The History of the University of Pennsylvania, Wood.djvu/17

Rh of the academy, on the conditions, that the debt, now amounting to nearly eight hundred pounds, should be discharged; that a free-school should be maintained on the premises; and that in the house already built, or in one to be built for the purpose, a place of worship should be set apart for the occasional use of such ministers of the gospel as the trustees might judge qualified to "teach the word of God;" and especially, that its free and uninterrupted use should be permitted to the Rev. Mr. George Whitfield, "whenever he should happen to be in the city, and desire to preach therein." These conditions have been complied with; and to this day a charity school has been maintained, and a room kept open in the building, for the convenience of itinerant preachers. This transaction took place in December, 1749; but, as many alterations were to be made in the edifice to fit it for the new purposes to which it was to be applied, and the trustees were desirous of carrying their design into immediate effect, it became necessary to procure temporary accommodations; and the schools were first opened in a private house. It was not till the commencement of the year 1751, that they were introduced into the new hall; on which occasion, the usual solemnities were observed, and a sermon was preached by the Rev. Richard Peters.

The views of the trustees were at first wisely directed to the communication of that elementary knowledge, which is most essential to the citizens of a rising community, and the acquisition of which is a necessary step towards the attainment of the higher branches. For the present, therefore, they restricted their establishment within the limits of a