It is doubtful whether the college was ever organized. Rev. J. J. Murray, one of the incorporators, writes:

I have little information respecting it. I remember one meeting of some of thə persons named in the act of incorporation for the purpose of consultation.

BALTIMORE FEMALE COLLEGE (1849-1890).

On February 26, 1850, this institution, the first in the State for the higher education of women, was incorporated.' It was originally under the patronage of the Methodist Episcopal Church, though it became nondenominational in 1868. The charter provided for the issuing of stock for $100,000 and that there should be eighteen trustees, nine of them to be chosen for the year by the stockholders and the other nine annually by the Baltimore Annual Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church. All should be Methodists and might fill vacancies in their number temporarily until the time for the annual election. The original trustees were John A. Collins, Charles B. Tippett, Edwin Dorsey, N. J. B. Morgan, Thomas B. Sargent, William Hamilton, L. F. Morgan, Samuel Brison, William B. Edwards, George C. M. Roberts, M. D., Philip Hiss, Joshua Royston, John W. Randolph, Chapin A. Harris, M. D., Robert G. Armstrong, James F. Purvis, William George Baker, and Thomas E. Bond, jr., M. D. They were allowed to grant "any degree or degrees, in the arts and sciences, to which persons are usually admitted in the highest female colleges in America." Prof. N. C. Brooks, the author of a "History of the Mexican War," "Viri Americæ," and other well-known works, became president of the college, resigning the position of principal of the City High School, which he had previously held. He continued president as long as the college lived, and now resides in Philadelphia.

The college was opened in 1848, on the lower part of St. Paul street, and continued there for many years. The later part of its existence, after 1874, was spent in a large dwelling house on Park avenue at the corner of McMechin street. In 1851 the first class was graduated, containing six members, and a class was graduated every year from that date until the college was closed. As early as 1881 the college was able to boast that it had sent forth one hundred and eighty-two teachers and its usefulness continued to the end.

The college course was arranged in imitation of that of the University of Virginia and the curriculum was full and complete.

In January, 1860, the State of Maryland began appropriating money for the support of the college, and that policy was kept up until January, 1890. In the last-named year the Legislature refused to continue to appropriate money for free scholarships in the college, which was consequently compelled to close its doors in June, 1890.

Laws of Maryland, Act of 1849, ch. 247.

2 Only Boston and Philadelphia had high schools earlier than Baltimore.

MOUNT WASHINGTON FEMALE COLLEGE (1856–1861).

This institution, located at Mount Washington, Baltimore County, was chartered on March 10, 1856.' The original board of visitors consisted of Rev. Elias Heiner, William B. Stewart, George Lewis Staley, George Gelbach, jr., Goldsborough S. Griffith, Sheridan Guiteau, Lewis H. Steiner, Andrew P. Freese, Richard F. Maynard, Harlow W. Heath, William S. Reese, Daniel Gans, Henry W. Super, James S. Suter, Peter S. Davis, Joshua Vansant, Benjamin Kurtz, Augustus Mathiot, Thomas Bingham, and Charles W. Ridgely. It was entitled to hold property of not over $50,000 in value and "to grant the highest honors of the college on those young ladies who shall have completed an entire course of study." It is doubtful if any degrees were conferred, but a successful school was kept up for some years, until the 19th of April, 1861, when it was closed on account of circumstances arising from the civil war and from financial embarrassments. It was presided over by the Rev. George L. Staley, D. D., who in 1864 began St. John's Female Seminary in Knoxville, Frederick County, which was continued until 1879.

MOUNT WASHINGTON FEMALE COLLEGE OF THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH (1866).

On January 27, 1866, Levi Perry, George Appold, John M. Frazier, J. W. Hedges, Joseph France, Henry W. Drakely, J. J. Moran, W. T. R. Saffold, and William F. Speake were incorporated as the "Joint Stock Company of Mount Washington Female College of the Metho dist Episcopal Church with a View to Literary and Educational Purposes." The capital stock was to be $50,000 in 2,500 shares of $20 each and two-thirds of the directors and the president were always to be members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. They were authorized to hold property and give diplomas, but must not assume "banking privileges nor issue any note, certificate, device, or token to be used as currency."

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The college was never fully organized, as it was found impossible to secure the necessary funds to pay for the property purchased, which was that of the former Mount Washington Female College. The property was finally, in 1867, sold to the Roman Catholic Church, which now has a successful school at the place.

Laws of Maryland, 1856, ch. 241. The building was dedicated May 5, 1856.

2 Scharf's Western Maryland, 1, p. 622. Rev. Mr. Staley purchased the college from the trustees in 1860 for $15,400 and sold it in 1863 for $20,000 to Rev. A. S. Vaughn, who conducted it for two years more.-[Scharf's Baltimore City and County, p. 840. 3 Laws of Maryland, 1866, ch. 9.

The price was $19,000, and Revs. J. A. McCauley, J. J. Moran, and J. W. Hedges the purchasers for the company.-[Scharf's Baltimore City and County, p.840; letter of Rev. W. F. Speake.

AIA COLLEGE (1867).

This college was chartered on March 22, 1867. Vacancies on its board of trustees were to be filled by cooptation; but the person chosen must have the "approval of the Presbytery or Synod of Baltimore in connection with the Old School General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States," and any difficulty in the management was first to be referred to the presbytery and then to the synod, whose judgment was final. If for any cause the charter should be repealed, the property is to be turned over to contributors to the college, or to the Presbytery of Baltimore, "for investment with the same desire of enabling those in limited circumstances to secure the benefit of a full and complete education."

The trustees have power to grant degrees and 7 of them are to be a quorum, except for electing officers, deciding on investments, and filling vacancies, for which a majority is required. The annual income, "exclusive of land, buildings, furniture, library, chemicals, and philosophical apparatus," is not to be over $30,000.

Gen. Isaac D. Jones, one of the corporators, states that the college was never organized. The father of the movement was the Rev. Andrew B. Cross, and it was to be located at Parkton, Md., where Mr. Cross had a place called Aia, whence the college received its name. Gen. Jones has the impression that it was intended to be a female college, and says that the location not being sufficiently desirable for the purpose, sufficient funds could not be raised, and so the project was given up.

Laws of Maryland, 1867, ch. 348.

CHAPTER IX.

THEOLOGICAL SEMINARIES.

ST. MARY'S UNIVERSITY' (1806-1894).

By Rev. G. E. VIGER. 2

The Seminary of St. Sulpice, or, as generally known, St. Mary's Seminary, Paca street, Baltimore, is a Roman Catholic institution, in which clerical candidates are taught a course of science, philosophy, and theology, and otherwise trained and prepared for the sacred ministry. A full classical course is a necessary qualification for admission. Two years are devoted to natural sciences and mental philosophy, and four to theology. The course of sciences comprises physics, chemistry, astronomy, and geology; that of mental philosophy embraces logic, metaphysics, and ethics. The four years of theology extend over dogma, canon law, church history, and liturgy. During the six years of the course, scripture, sacred eloquence, and elocution, the Gregorian chant, and Hebrew are taught regularly. Every week disputations on difficult points of philosophy, divinity, and natural sciences are held between the students, under the supervision of the reverend professors. Great success in the semiannual examinations of philosophy may entitle a student to the degrees of A. B. and A. M. In theology, success in four consecutive semiannual examinations may entitle to the degree of S. T. B. A special examination is required for higher degrees. Since the opening of the Catholic University in Washington, in 1889, a large proportion of its students are recruited from St. Mary's.

The moral and ecclesiastical training is provided for by a common life of rule and discipline, by frequent conferences on religious subjects, and many practices intended to develop a sense of moral obligations and responsibilities. The administration and direction of St. Mary's Seminary is in the hands of the priests of the Sulpician society.

"The writer of the following notice being also the author of Memorial Volume of the Centenary St. Mary's Seminary, it should surprise nobody to find resemblance and even identity between the two sketches. The present paper, with the excep tion of the last two paragraphs, was originally written in 1890 though not published till now, whereas the memorial was published in 1891 for the celebration of St. Mary's Centenary. The Memorial Volume contains a full list of all professors in St. Mary's University, of the seminarians in St. Mary's Seminary, and of the students in St. Mary's College.

Rev. A. Viribert and Rev. J. B. Tabb assisted the author in the preparation of

this sketch.

It is the special business of these gentlemen to train candidates for the priesthood, and they do their work for no personal emolument but their support. Their society was founded in France in 1642 by Jean Jacques Olier, a man of eminent virtue and ability. From that time till now they have been chiefly instrumental in forming the French clergy. The Seminary of St. Sulpice of Paris, in particular, has been a fruitful nursery of prelates and other distinguished clergymen. The history of the Baltimore Seminary goes back a hundred years.' When, in 1790, Dr. John Carroll became the first bishop of Baltimore, with a jurisdiction extending over the then United States, the superior of St. Sulpice, Rev. J. A. Emery, offered to found a seminary in his episcopal city. Bishop Carroll, anxious to form a native clergy in order to meet the needs of his rising church, eagerly accepted the proffered services. Accordingly, on the 10th of July, 1791, there arrived in Baltimore four Sulpician priests to begin the seminary. They first lodged at No. 94 Baltimore street, but soon bought a house known as the "One Mile Tavern," with 4 acres of ground, and there, after some repairs of the building, on the first Sunday of October, 1791, they opened St. Mary's Seminary, in the same spot now occupied by their successors in the center of the city. The four pioneer Sulpicians were Fathers F. C. Nagot, M. Levadoux, A. Garnier, and J. Tessier. Father Nagot, the first superior, was 57 years of age when he came to America. He had filled some of the most important positions in the society, and was considered one of its most learned and virtuous members. His three associates had been able professors and directors of seminaries. During the same decade, other Sulpicians of like ability and distinction-Fathers David, Flaget, Chicoineau, Babad, Maréchal, Richard, and Du Bourg-came also to devote their lives to the welfare of America. Of these, Fathers David, Flaget, Maréchal, and Du Bourg were called to wear the miter, whilst Father Richard, the zealous missioner of Detroit, was the only Catholic priest that ever sat in Congress.

The seminary had been opened in 1791, but the lack of pupils was a matter of disappointment. There were only 5 during the first three years, 2 in 1794, and none from 1795 to 1797. In 1804 the number rose to 12, and was only 11 in 1806. Very few young men entered the ecclesiastical state, and these few were generally employed in teaching in the academy of Georgetown. Some of the directors of the seminary, as Fathers Du Bourg, Flaget, David, and Maréchal, lent their services to Georgetown, either in the capacity of president or teacher, whilst others exercised the ministry in Baltimore or elsewhere. In order to procure clerics Father Du Bourg opened an academy in the rooms of the seminary August 20, 1799, and on the 10th of April following Father Nagot laid the corner stone of a new building which soon took

'The Seminary of the Reformed Church at New Brunswick, N. J., is the only older one in the country.

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