The Story of the Mountain
Mount Saint Mary's College and Seminary

Father Brute' has a note in which he counts eleven Mountain priests in Maryland, thirteen in the diocese of Philadelphia, five in New York, two in Boston, two in Bardstown, two in Ohio, one in Florida, four returned to Europe or dead. The College also completed the training of a number of missionaries from Europe, such as M. Portier (afterwards Bishop of Mobile), and others whose names will appear. One distinctive characteristic of her sons is the ability and taste which had made them to be employed "to form or direct establishments or first attempts destined to extend the benefits of Catholic education, the most pressing of all for these countries. Kentucky in particular, and Delaware offer examples of this . . . The "First Communion celebration and the Devotion to the Blessed Virgin" are two of their specialties.

This seems part of a statement, perhaps of that one presented by Father Egan to the Holy Father in 1829, for in it he asks the Pope to bless the "Children of Mary" and informs him that "Dubois is the true founder of this house as well as of the Sisters of St. Joseph's." "We have equally cherished the most cordial union with all the houses of the United States, the Jesuits particularly, A. M. D. G. et Salutem Animarum. As to the Seminary of Baltimore, we recognize with pleasure all which the beginning and the continuance of this owes of homage to their charity and their zeal; the gentlemen of St. Sulpice continue also to be of one heart with us and show this by the frequent visits which they pay us, as well as the truly fraternal reception which their house, which in Baltimore is constantly our own, always offers us." . . . [Thanks be to God for this splendid testimony of Bishop Brute to the friendly relations between Mount St. Mary's and the gentlemen of St. Mary's Seminary, Baltimore. His word might almost suit for the first year of the 20th Century as well, and for 1908.]

"Dr. Conwell often sought among us consolation in his troubles and among those of our subjects offered to him to oppose those who gave him so much pain and made so much difficulty for him; he found all his hopes realized by their fidelity."

In a letter of Father Purcell to "My Dear Brother," Father Jamison, Jan. 17, 1830, he tells that Brute, "our estimable friend and father," was urgent "in season and out of season" and wanted McCaffrey and Hitzelberger to make a retreat in Baltimore before their ordination, whereas Purcell thought that they could make one at home, and the Archbishop in fact gave permission for this. " The time which they have passed in the lap of a pious mother," says Purcell, " and the years which they passed in the study of Theology qualify them much better for ordination than even a month's retreat could do for those whose virtue had not been allowed so much time to grow mature. The Archbishop wants M. Brute's approval of this ordination in addition to ours."

Writing to the Archbishop Jan. 29, 1830, Purcell says:

"I believe Jacob Stillinger [afterwards and long a sturdy Pennsylvania missionary] to be a man of sterling worth and one who has long ago made up his mind to live for God alone. Rev. Mr. Brute urges me to send him down for ordination, in place of Mr. McCaffrey, whose sense of the awful responsibility of the priestly character will keep him from Holy Orders some time longer, but I cannot think of so doing without your express permission to that effect. . . ." He refers to Father Brute's having "refused the Superiorship of this place" and " saddled it" on him. Withal he esteems "as a Saint" the man who, he thinks, is carried too far sometimes by " the great leading principle of his being, zeal for religion." "As for me," continues Father Purcell, "I am ready to take the poorest congn in your diocese the moment you shall deem it convenient to release me from my present responsibility."

It was Mr. Purcell's happy fortune to obtain, from the Legislature of Maryland, early in his administration January, 1830, the promise of a charter of incorporation as a College, for his Alma Mater. Francis Thomas, then Speaker of the House and afterwards Governor of the State, submitted the petition of which the following is a copy:

To the Honorable and Very Honorable members of 'the Legislature of the State of Maryland, this petition showeth :

That the Seminary of Learning of Mt. St. Mary's, situated near Emmitsburg, in Frederick County, in the State of Maryland, has existed for the last twenty years, during which time it has been steadily advancing to its present respectable standing and has enjoyed a large share of the public confidence and patronage, in so much that no less than one hundred and twenty youths from different sections of these United States, as well as from foreign countries, are therein pursuing a Course of Classical and Scientific Studies; that it possesses numerous advantages for the health, morals and education of its students, from its happy location, its mild but firm, efficient discipline, and the work and ability of its directors and teachers, and consequently has been, and still is, eminently successful in imparting literary and scientific instruction; that this institution is amply furnished with the means of establishing a regular and full course of education in the liberal arts and sciences and in the ancient and modern languages usually taught in Colleges and Universities; that justice to the students, the expectations of their parents and guardians, and the character of the institution require that it should be empowered to grant diplomas or honorary testimonials of the proficiency and merits of any candidates for such honors. That from these considerations the General Assembly of Maryland is respectfully requested to permit and authorize the Rev. John Purcell, principal of the said Institution, the Rev. Francis B. Jamison, vice-principal of the same, and others, associated professors, to hold public commencements on stated annual days, or occasionally, as the ordinances of the Seminary may direct, and at such commencements to admit any of the students, after they have been duly examined and thought worthy of the same, at a public examination, to any degree or degrees in any of the faculties, arts and sciences and liberal professions, which are usually conferred in the Colleges and Universities of America. And, moreover, that the General Assembly of Maryland is respectfully requested to authorize and empower the said John Purcell, F. B. Jamison, etc., etc., to grant special certificates to such students as shall receive a partial education in the said Seminary, after such students shall have gone through a regular examination.

The following letter to Eev. F. B. Jamison is from Rev. John Power, Vicar-General of the diocese of New York, and refers to the future Archbishop and Cardinal:

New York January 20, 1830.

My dear friend: I have been prevented from answering your letter by the perplexing nature of the request you have made. I have considered the case very scrupulously, and after serious deliberation I must tell you that I have come to the determination of refusing you the exeat for Mr. John McCloskey. If he were my subject properly speaking, indeed I would not refuse him to Mt. St. Mary's, but as I only hold the place of another, I feel myself bound to keep as near to his wishes and intentions as I possibly can. I know the Bishop would never ratify my permission, and under this conviction I feel that you will relinquish a demand which I am free to say is but just on your side. No man wishes Mt. St. Mary's better than I do, yet you will agree with me that I ought not to be too free of the property over which I am placed as Steward, when fully convinced that this grant would not meet the wishes of the Father of the Family. . . . Present me very respectfully to Rev. Mr. Brute', Purcell, Hickey, and to all my friends at the blessed Mount, not forgetting my dearly beloved child Benedicta. . . [It appears, therefore, the future Cardinal wished to enter the faculty.]

Let me know how Mr. McCool is what treatises he has read. Tell my respected friend Mr. Brute to let me know if he thinks I may call him on the Mission. I am dreadfully distressed for priests. Answer me forthwith if Mr. Brute’ thinks I may call Mr. McCool to the Mission.

This letter from the ex-president, Rev. John McGerry, to Rev. Mr. Jamison must find a place here.

Marseilles, Jan 31^st, 1830.

Rev. Dear Brother: I am thus far safe on my way to the Eternal City in perfect health of body my heart is at the Mount with you. But God is all and the same everywhere. I left Havre on Wednesday, the 13th inst.; arrived at Paris Thursday night went on Friday to St. Sulpice, where I was very kindly recd; remained at the Semy- from Friday until Thursday following. (Mr. Purcell has, ere this reaches you, given the details of my stay at Paris.) Reached Lyons on Sunday morning, the 24th. Went to the Cathedral to Mass and saw there the Semy' and the principal churches. But of that, post hoc. Left Lyons on Tuesday, 26th. at 3 o'c. a. m. and arrived at Marseilles on Thursday at 11 o'c.P. M. Friday 29th, went to see Mr. Dodge our exconsul got all the details of our dear and lamented Egan. Saw Mr. Fitch who recd- me like a brother. This Mr. Fitch is an American merchant and a great friend of the Filicchi family (Mrs. Seton's Italian friends) from whom Mr. Egan had letters to Mr. Fitch. I learned from Mr. Fitch the precise spot of Mr. Egan's grave and on Saturday morning I went to the Grand Cimetiere alone, found the grave marked by large cross with the name and date of his death. [Mr. Cardinal McCloskey tried to find it in 1834 but was unsuccessful.] It would be useless for me to pretend to describe my feeling whilst kneeling at the foot of our dear Mr. Egan's grave surrounded by thousands of tombs all alone as I thought and giving full vent to my feelings praying and crying. When on a sudden I heard a solemn De Profundis chanted by some 40 or 50 voices. I raised my eyes and wiped the tears and saw a long clerical procession approaching. It was the funeral of a young Seminarian of Marseilles (as I learned afterwards). I followed the procession and when the corpse was interred, I returned again to the grave of my beloved Egan. The Vicar observed me kneeling at the foot of the grave, a curate approached me asked my pardon for interrupting me and asked if 1 was a relation of the person at whose grave I was kneeling. "It is the grave of an American Brother-priest." I said, and gave him his history in a few words.

This good vicaire soon remembered the circumstance and gave me the name of the place where his service was performed. By this direction in the evening I found the Cathedral, one of the most ancient churches in this place it was formerly a temple of Diana ; it is much admired on account of its antiquity and is now the Grand Cathedral of this place. I assisted at the Grand High Mass today at the same altar at which Mr. Egan's requiem was said. The Master of Ceremonies pointed out to me in the or do the notice of Mr. Egan's death. His trunk has arrived ere this.

Ah, my dear friend, what graces have not been prepared for me ! It seems that at every step of my journey Almighty God wishes to make me feel what I am, and cause me to reflect what I ought to be. My dear Sir, my heart is too much oppressed to give you at present any detailed account of what I have seen. Indeed I can see nothing with pleasure. "Hic sedeo et fleo dum recordor tui (Sion) " Sta. Ma ad Monies. That God may have mercy on me and spare the dear Mount not only spare but cause it to prosper is the daily and ardent prayer of your heart-broken McGerry.

I shall leave this tomorrow for Genoa, going by land, as the season is too bad to pass the Mediterranean at present. It is now extremely cold here and in fact from Havre to this place the whole route is covered with snow the oldest inhabitants never remember such a winter, the streets are covered with ice, and the wind much more strong and piercing than ever I felt it in America. I have suffered much fatigue in the stages for they never stop day or night, so that I have had some little opportunity to do penance if only I have profited by it. There ! the bell rings for Vespers I must go and I will finish afterwards.

Vespers in plain chant, was the most solemn ever I heard, and what pleases me more here than at Paris, is that they have the Roman rite and dress. ... I have an excellent companion in William Spurrier, Esqr. ,a rich English gentleman who is yet with me and who has frequently traveled through Prance and with whom I have been alone in the coup£ of the diligence thus far. He will continue with me to Florence. I expect to get something from him and through him for our Semt. But you know this I must do in tempore opportuno.

My dear Sir, I know not what I write excuse all inaccuracies and foolish wanderings. I am not McGerry, nor will I ever be in a foreign land. Here I am an entire stranger ! God's holy will be done in all things. . . .

My love to Bev. Mr. Purcell, Brute’, Xaupi and to all the young men and to my loving sister and to all the Sisters particularly those at the Mountain. Do let me hear from you frequently and give me all the details of the Mount. Let Sr. Celestia know that I have seen Mr. Egan's grave, tell her that I have stones out of it and some blades of grass, all that I could get. But you have now his clothes and books more precious remembrances. Remember me to Mrs. Brooke to Dr. Shorb and family, to all enquiring friends let me know how my brothers are; I will write to James from Rome. Pray for your Brother in Xst. J. F. McGerry.

P. S. Remember me most particularly to our dear H. Parsons Sister Bene-dicta and to all others to my dear Gegan, Joseph to Mr. McMeal. Take care of Francis I shall write you more particularly about him in my next. Let me know what the Archbishop said when you told him I was gone. May our dear Lord bless you all is the sincere wish of J. F. McGerry tell Eulalie to pray for me.

The first Act of Incorporation was granted Feb. 4, 1830, to "John B. Purcell, Francis B. Jamison, John McCaffrey, Alexander L. Hitzelberger, Hilary Parsons, Edward J. Sourin and Thomas R. Butler "to form a body by name and style of "Mt. St. Mary's Institute "for literary and scientific instruction, to have property, etc.; "Provided always, that the yearly value of the lands, tenements, hereditaments, and all and singular the real and personal estate of the said association, exclusive of the buildings and appurtenances appropriated for the use of the students and professors of the College of the said association, and their private chapel, shall not exceed the sum of twenty-five thousand dollars current money; and all gifts to the said College and association after the yearly value of their said estate shall amount to ten thousand dollars and all bargains and purchases to be made by the said corporation, which may increase the yearly value of said estate above or beyond the sum aforesaid, to be and be held for the use of the State of Maryland."

"Provided, nevertheless, that the said corporation hereby created shall not at any one time hold more than one thousand acres of land, nor shall the net annual income arising from the estate, real, personal and mixed, of said corporation, exceed the sum of ten thousand dollars.

"Section 3. And be it enacted, That the members of the aforesaid association shall have, and they are hereby and forever invested and clothed with all the powers, privileges and authority, heretofore given to, and vested in the beforesaid John B. Purcell, Principal, and Francis B. Jamison, Vice Principal of Mount Saint Mary's College, and given to and vested in the said College, and the said College is hereby declared to be, and for now and forever, a part of the institution and association herein and hereby incorporated.

"Section 4. And be it enacted, That the General Assembly of Maryland shall at all times have and hereby expressly reserve the power to alter or amend this charter."

The reader will have remarked the omission of Brute's name. Here is another of his leaflets :

"10 Feb. 1830. I hear today that the bill for the College has passed the lower house, uncertain whether it will the Senate.

"Qualis ab incepto.

"I fear for the Seminary which I still hold the principal yet under the will of Providence, and the views of the Archbp. who called us but College long ago.

"'A fine ad finem attingens fortiter et suaviter.'

"Unica fiat Voluntas Dei."

The Charter for the College was granted on February 27, 1830, and was as follows:

An Act for founding a College near Emmitsburg in Frederick County.

Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland. That from and after the passage of this act. the seminary of learning, near Emmitsburg, in Frederick County, now under the direction of John B. Purcell, Principal, and Francis B. Jamison as Vice-Principal, shall be, and the same is hereby constituted a College, by the name and title of "Mount St. Mary's College," the said John B. Purcell to be continued Principal and the said Francis B. Jamison as Vice Principal thereof.

Section 2. And be it enacted, That said College shall be founded and continued forever upon a most liberal plan, for the benefit of youth of every religious denomination, who shall be freely admitted to equal privileges and advantages of education, and to all the literary honors of the College, according to their merit, without requiring or enforcing any religious or civil test, or urging their attendance upon any particular place of religious worship or service, other than that they have been educated in or have the consent of their parents or guardians to attend, nor shall any preference be given in the choice of a Professor, Master or Tutor, in said College, on account of his particular religious profession, but regard shall be had solely to his moral character, literary abilities, and other necessary qualifications to fill the place for which he shall be chosen.

Section 3. And be it enacted, That said Principal and Vice Principal shall have full power and authority to make fundamental ordinances and by-laws (not repugnant to the form of government or any law of this State) for the government of said College and the instruction of youth as aforesaid, and shall have power and authority to appoint from time to time, such Professors, Tutors, Masters and Assistants as they shall think most proper and convenient for instructing the students and scholars of said College in all the liberal arts and sciences, and in the ancient and modern tongues and languages, who shall be severally styled Professors of such arts, sciences, languages or tongues, as they shall be nominated and appointed for, according to each particular nomination and appointment; and the said Principal and Vice Principal, Students, Scholars, and such necessary ministers and servants as give constant attendance on the business of said College, shall be exempted from all rates and taxes on their salaries and from military duties, except in case of an actual invasion of the State, and military law is declared.

Section 4. And be it enacted. That said Principal and Vice Principal, shall have full power and authority to have, make and use one common and public seal, with all such devices and inscriptions as they shall think proper, and to ascertain, fix and regulate the uses of said seal by their own laws, and the same seal to change, break, alter and renew at their pleasure.

Section 5. And be it enacted, That the said institution by the name and title of Mount Saint Mary's College shall immediately have, and is hereby invested with, full power to confer on its deserving pupils, collegiate honors, and the degrees of bachelor and master of Arts, and of doctors, except doctors of medicine, and is hereby enacted that said Principal and Vice Principal, shall have full power and authority, to hold public commencements, either on stated annual days, or occasionally, as the future ordinances of the College shall direct, and at such commencements to admit any of the students of said College or any other persons meriting the same, to any degree or degrees, except doctors of medicine, in any of the faculties, arts and sciences, and liberal professions to which persons are usually admitted in other colleges or universities in America, and the said Principal and Vice Principal, shall make out and sign with their names, diplomas or certificates of the admission to such degree or degrees, which shall be sealed with the public seal of the College, and delivered to the graduate or graduates, as honorable and perpetual testimonials of such admission, which diplomas, if thought necessary for doing greater honor to such graduates, shall also be signed with the names of the different Professors, or as many of them as can conveniently sign the same; Provided, That no student or students, with the said College, shall ever be admitted to any such degree or degrees, until such student or students, shall have been first duly examined and thought worthy of the same, at a public examination of candidates to be held one whole month previous to the day of commencement in the said College, by and in the presence of the Principal, Vice Principal and Professors of said College, and in the presence of any other persons choosing to attend the same.

Section 6. And be it enacted, That this charter and every part thereof shall be good and available in the law, according to the true intent and meaning thereof, and shall be construed so as most effectually to answer the valuable end of this act, for the general advancement of useful knowledge, science and virtue.

Section 7. And be it enacted, That the General Assembly of Maryland shall at all times have power to repeal or alter this charter.

As soon as the Charter had passed, the Speaker of the House, Francis Thomas, Esqr., wrote to Mr. Purcell:

Annapolis, Feb. 28, 1830.

Dear Sir: I delayed answering your letter that I might first ascertain the decision of the Senate on the grant to your Seminary. I now send the law enclosed in the form it has passed the Senate. The amendments made there appear by the interlineations and erasures on the printed bill. This law passed the House of Delegates several weeks since in the printed form.

I had much difficulty in obtaining its passage through the Senate on account of the amount of business there which had precedence over this, and in consequence of a difference of opinion among the members on the propriety of many of the amendments which have been adopted. I sincerely hope it will meet your approbation, and will signally aid you in obtaining for the Seminary over which you preside a high rank among the Colleges of the State and Union. I am with the highest respect your ob. Ser. Francis Thomas.

Immediately on the receipt of this intelligence the Faculty drew up and adopted the following rules:

Constitution of the Incorporated President and Council of St. Mary's College.

For the honor and glory of God and for the permanence and well being of the body incorporate which we constitute. We. the President and Council of Mt. St. Mary's College, duly incorporated by the General Assembly of Maryland to make rules and laws for our own good government, do hereby make and establish the following to be the fundamental law or constitution of our association:

1' This association shall hold stated meetings one in each month on the day which shall be appointed, and extra meetings, whenever the President shall, after due notification, convoke them.

2' A majority of all the resident members of the body incorporate shall be required to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. Those who shall have been absent for two months or more and shall not have returned, shall be considered as non-resident members.

3' No one shall be admitted into the association or expelled or dismissed there from, or elected to any post or office by it except by vote on ballot, at a stated meeting.

4' In order that any one may be duly elected a member of this association, it shall be necessary, first, that he be a Catholic Priest duly approved as such by the Most Reverend, the Archbishop of Baltimore, or, in his absence, by his Vicar-General, and that he be proposed at a stated meeting within one year previous to the time when the vote on his admission shall be taken; secondly, that the President or the vice-President of the College or some other member of the body corporate appointed for that purpose, shall in writing at least one month before the decision of the question of admission, notify the Most Revd the Archbishop of Bait, or his Vicar-General of the fact, that such person has been proposed as a candidate and will be balloted for at a stated meeting to be mentioned in this notification : and if the most Revd Abp. or in his absence his Vicar-General shall state in writing that he objects to the admission of the person proposed, that person cannot be elected a member, but if the Most Revd ABP. or his Vicar-General does not object in writing, the said candidate shall be balloted for and shall be duly elected, provided two thirds of all the members of the body corporate vote for his admission.

5' In order that a member of the body corporate may be lawfully expelled or dismissed therefrom, it shall be necessary that the member whom it is proposed to expel or dismiss be notified in writing at least one month beforehand, and that the Most Revd the ABP of Baltimore, or, in his absence, his Vicar-General, be likewise notified in writing at least one month before the stated meeting at which the vote on the question of expulsion shall be taken, of the fact that it is proposed to expel said member and of the grounds on which his expulsion is moved: and if the Most Rev' the Archbishop of Baltimore, or. in his absence, his Vicar-General, shall not object to the said member's expulsion, and two thirds of all the members shall vote for it. he shall then be lawfully expelled and shall no longer be a member of the body corporate: but if the Most Rev. the Abp., or, in his absence, his V.-General, shall object in writing, then said member shall not be expelled.

6' The officers of the association shall be a President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer.

7' It shall be the duty of the President to preside at the meetings of the association and to convoke extra meetings; to preside also at the meetings of the Faculty and to govern the College and Seminary according to the prescribed laws.

8' It shall be the duty of the V. President to perform the President's duties whenever the President is absent or, by sickness or other causes, is prevented from discharging them.

9' It shall be the duty of the Secretary to notify the members of the time and place of meeting, to record faithfully the proceedings and read them at the opening of the next meeting.

10' It shall be the duty of the Treasurer to receive, keep safe and disburse the money of the corporation, to have the accounts of the institution strictly and accurately kept, and unless another person be duly appointed Procurator, to do the duties of a Procurator, viz., to manage and take care of the temporalities and property and business of the body corporate. In the discharge of these duties he will be subject to the President and Council, and to them he must make faithful quarterly and annual reports on the state of the finances and temporalities in general.

11' The President and, in his absence, the V. President, shall preside at all meetings of the corporation: if both of them be absent, the Procurator or oldest member present.

12' The legitimate decision of the council shall be final and binding, and must be carried into effect by the proper executive officers or other persons appointed to execute its decisions in particular cases.

13' But the Council shall not have power to set aside this constitution or to do or cause to be done anything contrary to the same or to any part of it.

14' No alteration in this constitution, or amendment, or addition thereto, shall be adopted unless the said alteration, amendment or addition, after having been proposed at a stated meeting, shall pass at the two next stated meetings by a majority of three fourths of all present, and shall subsequently, within the space of two months, be approved of in writing by the Most Revd. the Archbishop of Baltimore, or, in his absence, by his Vicar-General.

Father Hughes, in the mission in Philadelphia, to Father Purcell, president:

... I received yesterday a letter from Rev. Mr. McGerry. He was in Paris when he wrote it, January 23d. He wrote in tolerably good spirits, and you see in every line what we have all felt, that distance only strengthens his attachment to his country. He met with several Mountaineers in Paris Bedford, C. Harper and others. . . .

I infer from your letter to Mrs. Arey that you have obtained a charter from the Legislature, the particulars of which I should be glad to have from yourself direct.

There is to be a splendid sale of foreign books. ... I will send you a catalogue . . . and if you or Mr. Brute’ see any works that you would like to have, you have only to command my services. . .

Jan. 26, '29. A stage leaves Emmitsburg on Thursday and arrives in Carlisle next day.

A lady writes from Harlem, Louisiana, Feb. 16, '29, of the Rev. Mr. Brut6 '' whose literary retirement casts such a radiance around your halls, his image is daily in my mind, his Herculean amusements on the side of the Mountain, his grottoes, his altars are all before me, he has embalmed himself as the Good Genius of the Blue Eidge. ..."

Apr. 20, '29. The Mexican Ex-Empress writes from Georgetown, D. C., expressing regret that her boy Salvador no longer slept in President's Room and shows anxiety to know if his new guardian love the child and the child him, wants to become acquainted with the person, etc. We have a similar letter in another case. Accommodations were so limited that all sorts of expedients had to be contrived.

A man writes to Pres. Jamison saying he has been informed that " the College had sometimes female servants to hire " and he needs one. Slaves were commonly hired out in those days.

June 19, '29. The stage owner writes from Balto., agreeing to have stages ready at the College to take 45 boys to Balto., but cannot guarantee the evening boat. It cost about five dollars to go from the Mountain to Washington by stage, that means ten or more dollars according to the value of money now. another reason doubtless why so many did not go home for vacation.

June 24, '29. Father Mollevant, S. S., writing from the Solitude, Issy, speaks of the Mountain as "an establishment so precious for Religion," and extols Father Egau's memory most highly, calling him "tres venerable." Indeed Egan seems to have been, boy and man, a most lovely character, and it is delightful to read the expressions of affection his correspondents use in regard to him.

Aug. 11, '29. Mr. Sumter, of Statesburg, S. C, writes that he had heard that Egan had lent the College $18,000.

June 19, '29. " What in the name of goodness has George been about with his teeth to occasion a dentist's bill of $7 1/2 ? "

May 29, '29. " Tell Ignatius to send his letters by private conveyance when he can. He sends them frequently by post when there is private conveyance the same day."There were no postage stamps then and the rate was written in red ink. A Pittsburg father. 17 June, '29. writes that his son" must not sit with the driver of the stage when coming home lest he fall in front of the wheels. Many parents every year complain that their boys do not write to them. Love goes down." Alas! Poor parents!

Mar. 27/29. A father writes from Philadelphia " William's (his son's) spirit pleases me. I always admired a quick, sensitive temper which is always accompanied by generosity and when it does offend, willingly makes every reparation in its power. I would not give a fig for what is called a ' good natured man,' generally alike insensible to kindness and favors as they are to offences, negative contemptible animals. ..."

Aug. 24, '29. " Please put away for another season the pantaloons and vest I bo't for Edward while here, as I see by the bill that you have supplied him with six pair of pantaloons. He needs to be taught economy."

Jan. 27, '29. A young student of medicine writes : "But one short year of noviceship to Medicine remains and I shall visit you. ... 1 have often wished that it was in my power to spend my life amongst you at a distance from the disgusting scenes of the world.''

A father writes from Mobile Sept. 5, '29, asking the President to get his son James' bed and bedding from St. Mary's Semy' Balto., for use of his son John at the Mountain. Also to collect $115.47 rent due by one of his tenants in Balto. and apply it on the boy's bill.

Sept. 8, '29. All the boys, Protestants included, went to daily Mass.

Oct. 10, '29. "The charges at Mt. St. Mary's are so far beyond those at other seminaries that I fear I shall not be able to hold out in educating my son there." So writes a North Carolina father.

Nov. 1,'29. The College was requested to subscribe and contribute to the "Metropolitan," a Catholic Monthly Magazine about to be started in Baltimore by P. Blenkinsop.

Nov. 29, '29. " If it be a rule in your Seminary for boys to have guns, you may procure him one, as he desires, tho' when I was at a Lyce'e in Paris we were not allowed to have them."

Sept. 29,' 29. '' I received a letter from George today asking permission for him to chew tobacco. I will thank you to prevent it. . . . I am fearful that he is not behaving as well as formerly. . . . "

Dec. 24, '29. A patron writes from Frederick proposing to pay a boy's board and tuition by hiring out to the College a most valuable and well-disposed servant. " I would be extremely glad to hire him to you on account of placing him nearer to his wife, who belongs to a gentleman in Emmitsburg. I hired him last to Mr. Potts for 50 dollars a year, he to clothe him, and then for 75 dollars, I clothing him. ..."

Special thanks to John Miller for his efforts in scanning the book's contents and converting it into the web page you are now viewing.