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1
32X
THIRTVEICHT VEARS OF McGILL.
IIKIXG Till-: ANMAf, '.NIVHRSITV I l-XTl |{K OK M((;il-L UNI-
VKHSIT^-. MONTREAL. FOH THH SKSSIOX OV ISiC'.-iM.
BY
Sill VVILJ.IAM DAWSON, C.M.G.. LL.J>., F.li.S., &c.
{R/ftrivfed fr<>m the .^{n„(r>'nl MixUml Jcunvil, .Jnnuimj, 1894.)
m
TllIirrV-EKilfT YKARS OF McUILL.
Being the Annual University Lecture of McGill Univer-
sixy, Montreal, for the Session op 189:^-94.
By Sin Wii.i.rAM Dauso.v, (,;.M.(;.. rj,.l)., K.H.S.. &( .
Iljiving been invited by the acting Princij.al and the Cur-
poration to deliver once more the annual University lecture
thiH has appeared to be an occasion on which you would boar
with mo in tracing nome of the footsteps of the past, aa a suit-
able close to the official work of nearly a lifetime, and as a
farewell address to the friends and colleagues with whom 1
have laboured so long and with so much happiness to myself
We may have perfect faith in the practical wisdom of the
apostolic maxim, "forgetting the things that are behind,
press forwai-d to those that ai-e before." Yet we may have
equal faith in recalling the memories of the j.ast, in " remem-
bering the mercies that are of old," as well as the errors and
shortcomings of former years, that wc may di-aw lessons from
all as to the present and the future. It may, for instance, be
interesting, perhaps even useful, to young men, to know how
I first became connected with Mc(;ill.
My plans for life lay in an entirely ditlcrent direction. I
had prepaied myself, as far as was possible at the time, for
field work in geology: and my ambition was to secure employ-
ment of this kind; or next to this, to have the privilege of
teaching my favourite science, with sufficient spare time to
proKOCutc ori^^iriiil w<»rk. In connection with (hin ambition,
jif'ler having attainod some littlo reputation l»y paporH piil)-
liwlied under the auspices of the ^ieologioal Society (;t' liondon-
I accepted an invitation t(.) deiivei' a coui-se of lectures on
geohigy and allied subjects in Dalhousio College, Halifax, in
the winter of 1849-50. When in Halifax, 1 had some conver-
sation with Messrs. Young and Howe, afterwar(is Sir William
Young and Sir Joseph Jfowe at that- lime governors of l>al-
housie (college and the leadeis of the Provincial (Jovernmont,
as to a new school-law they were pi-epai'ing for Nova Scotia,
and in which iniportanl improvements were introduced. I
had at the time no thought ot being connected with the
administration of the Act. In the following spring, howevei-,
I was surprised with the ofFei' of the position of Superintendent
of Jvlucation, established under the new law. I had many
reasons for declining the task, but my friends would take no
refusal, and I consoled myself with the consideration that the
visitation of the school di.sti'icts throughout the province,
which was one of the duties of the oHice, would give great
facilities for making myself ac(|uair\ted with the geology of
the country. For three 3'oars 1 was ongage<l in this work,
and, besides writing educalioiuil reports, and administering
the new school law, conducting an educational Joui'nal, visit-
ing schools, and holding teachers' institutes, had colle(!ted the
materials for scvend pajiers published in I'lngland, as well as
for my "Acadian <ieology." which, however, did not appeai-
till 1855. In 1852, wlion on a geological excursion with my
friend Sir Charles Lyell, [ was introduced by him to Sir Ed-
mund Head, the (rovernor of New Bi-unswick, who was much
occupied at the time with the state of education in that prov-
ince, and in particular that of its provincial university; and
in 1854 he invited me, along with the late l-r. liyerson, to tie
a member of a commission which had been Hpjn)inted to sug-
gest means for the improvement of the provincial university.
Thi.s work was scarcely tinished when Sir Kdmund was pro-
moted to be the (rovernor-Ceneral of Canada, and removed to
Quelwjc, where, under the new charter granted to McGill Col-
lege in 1852, he became Visitor of the University; and as he
was known to be a man of pronounced literary and scientitic
tastes, and an active worker in the reforms then recently car-
I'iod out in the Rnjilinh iiniversiticH, t ho Governors of McGill
rifituially counted on his aid in the arduous Htrui^^lo on which
they had oiitci'oil. Afcoidingly, soon iiCter Sir iMimund's
ttrrivul, a d«»j>utation of tho Hoard waited on him, and o?ie of
the Hubjects on wliich they asl<ed \uh advice waa tho fillin/jj of
tho office of principal, which was yet vacant. Sir Edmund
raontionod my name ah that of a wuitahlo person. At firHt, a.s
one of them nftciwards admitted to mo, they wore somewhat
disftoncci'ted. Th»;y wcr<! very dosii-ous, foi- tho hest reasons,
to follow Sir Ivimiind's rounsel, hut with his Unowlod^e of the
availahie men in Englainl, of some of whom they had already
heard, they were somewhat surpiisod that he siiould name a
Comparatively uidcnown colonist. In the meantime, ignorant
of all this, r was prosecuting a candidature for the chair of
natural history in my Alma Mater, tlie University of Hdin-
burgh, vacant by the death of Prof. Ivlward Forbes, and in
which I was strongl>' supported by the leading geologists of
the time. Bj- a strange coincidence, Just as 1 was about to
leave Hulifax for England in connection with this candidature,
intelligence arrived that the bMinbui-gh chair had been tilled
at an earlier date than ray friends had anticipated, and at the
same time a letter reached mc from .fuclge Day offering mo
tho Princi[)alsl;ii> of MciJill. F ha(.l determined in any case to
visit Mrigland, to attend the meeting of the British Associa-
tion in (Jlasgew, and to thardv the many friends who had
l)romoted ray Edinburgh candidature; but postponed my de-
partui'e for a week that 1 might consult my family, and
decided to aece])t the Montreal offer, j)rovided that a profes-
sorship of geology or natural history were coupled with the
office. Thus it happened that I became connected with Mc-
Gill in its infancy under its new mai'.iigement, and the story
forms a striking illusti-ation of the way in which Providence
shapes our ends, I'ough hew them as we may. Its lossori is
that \oung men should «iualify themselves well for some
specialty, but should also be sufficiently general in their train-
ing to ailapt themselves to new and unforeseen jmrsuits.
As I have referred to Sir Edmund Head, I may say that lu^
continued to be an active friend of the University during his
term of office and after he returned to England. This is true
also of his successors, all of whom have shown a kindly inter-
^^mm-
6
ent in omi- work, so llmt oiii- ViHitor has all filoiif;: liccn a power
for good. The presetU < Jovoriiov-Cu'noral IiUh already by his
presence and woi-ds of choer on a recent public occaHion, given
an earneHt. tbal in this rcsHjiect he will, like his predoconHorH,
prove a warm friend and kindly pation of the bis»hor educa-
tion in ('anada.
When 1 aicepted the principalshij) of Mctfill, I had not
been in Montreal, and know the college and men connected
with it onl}' by rejtutation. I fir^t saw it in October, ISSf).
Materially, it was represented by two blocks of unfinished and
])artly rumouB buildings, standini; amid a wilderness of exca-
vators' and masons' rubbish, overgrown with weeds and bushes.
The grounds were unfence<l and pastured at will by herds of
cattle, which not only crop])ed the gi-ass. but browsed on the
shrubs, leaving unhurt only one great elm. which still stands
as the ''foun(i^r'8 tree," and a few i»ld oaks and buttoi-nutfl,
most of which had to give place to our new buildings. The
only access from the town was by a circuitous and ungraded
cart-track, almost impassable at night. The buildings had
been aban<loned by the new Poard, and the classes of the Fac-
ulty of Arts were held in the upper story of a brick building
in the town, the lower part of which was occupied by the
High School. I had been promised a residence, and this 1
found was to be a portion of one of the detat^died buildings
aforesaid, the present east wing. It had been very imper-
fectly tinished, was destitute of nearly evoi-y reiiuisite of civil-
ized life, and in fi'ont of it was a bank of rubbish and loose
stones, with a swamp below, while the interioi was in an
indescribable btate of dust anil disrepaii-. Still, we felt that
the Governors had done the best they could in the circum-
stances, and we took possession as early as possible. As it
was, however, we received many of the citizens who were so
kind as to call on us, in the midst of all the confusion of
plastei'ing, papering, painting and cleaning. The I'esidence
was only a typo of our ditficulties and discouragements, and
a not very favorable introduction to the work I had under-
taken in Montreal.
On the other hand, I found in the Board of Governors a
body of able and earnest men, aware of the difficulties they
had to encounter, fully impressed with the importance of the
■itt
i-ndH to be attainod, and havini^ Hutticioitt ciiltiii-o and know-
ledge of the world to apprecdato the best moans for attaining
thewe entU. They were greatly hiimporod by lack of mean>
but hiul that couiivf^e which enablow ri^ks to bo run to securo
importiiiit (d)joctM. 1 may mention here a lew of thcMe men.
.lutlge Day was a mim of acute legal mind, well educated and
well read, a (dear and pernuasive wjteaker, and wholly devoted
to the interest of education, and especially to the introduction
into the ctdloge course of ^tudie^* in sciem-o and modern liter-
ature. ( 'hrist(fpher Dunkin was a graduate of the University
of London, educattnl firnt in (rlasgow, and aftorwardH in Uni-
versity (College, and who had held a tutorial position in llai--
vard before he came to Canada. He had made college work
and management a special study, and was thoroughly equipped
to have luien himself a college president or principal, had he
not bail before him the greater attractions of legal and politi-
cal success. ITew Ramsay was an admirable example of an
educated Scotsman of liierarj* tastes and business capacity
David Davidson was also a product of Scottish college trair)ing
and a warm d zealous friend of education, with great saga-
city and sound judgment. James Ferriei- should hi\;ve been
mentiuned tirst , IFe was a member of the old Board of Royal
Institution and senior member of the new, but voluntarily re-
signed the presidency in favor of Judge Day, in the interest,
a'', he believed, of the Unlver.>ity. He was longer with us
than any of the others, and no man could be a more devoted
worker in the cause of education. Such men as these and
their colleagues ensured public confidence and a wise and en-
lightened management.
The teaching staff of the University then consisted of three
faculties, those of law, medicine and arts. The Faculty of
Law. then recently organized, had two professors and two
lecturers. The Faculty of Medicine, the oldest and most pro.s-
perous of the three, had ten professors and a demonstrator.
The Faculty of Arts had foui" professors and a lecturer, and
all ofthe.se except one gave only li part of their time to col-
lege work. They were, however, able and efficient men. Dv.
Leach, who represented philosophy and allied subjects, was a
man of rare gifts and of warm attachment to the college; Dr.
Davies, a man of great learning, was shortly afteivvards ap-
8
pointed to Kc^^ent'H Park College, London ; IM-. DeSola was an
expert in Oriental langua^on and literatiiie, jind Mr. iVIarkgnif
rcpreHonted modern lan^jiiagos, while Dr. Ilowo gave what
time ho eoiild spare from the High School lo Ids favoiito ina-
thoniatical and phyf^ical HubjociH. My own leeturoH in natural
Hcienoe eatno in aid of this wlendei- staH', raining the proJ'esHO-
riato in Arts to nix. Ft waH well foi- me that tlie I)ean of the
Medical Kat-ully, ]^v. Holmes, was a man of Kciontific ta»teH
and an aceomplished niiniM'ulogJHt and holaoiHl, ah thin led at
once tt) my loctmeK l>eiiig taken advantage of Ity the ineilieal
rttudents an well an those; in Artw. 'ThuK, while the whole Mtu-
dontB in Arts were only at that time lo. I hegan a I'ourse of
lecturen in 1^55 with a large cIhhh, attended l»y Konieofthe
medical piofesKorH and by gentlemen from the city, uh well oh
by the HtudentH. At the same time a good deal was done to
perfect and I'cnder more definite the course in Ai-ts, which,
even in the Hession of 18r)5-<> was becoming .so moiihled as to
bear some resemblance lo its present arrangements, and to
foreshadow, at least, the anticipation.-* of my inaugural address
of November, IHof), most of which have since been realized.
The IJniversity at this time had no library and no museum,
and its ]>hilosophical apparatus was limited to a few instini-
moiits pi-esented to it some time bcl'ore by the late Mr. Skakel.
1 had to use my own private collections and specimens bor-
rowed fiom the Natural History Society to illustiate my lec-
tures. The High School, under the rectorship of Dr. Howe,
was an affiliated school, and we could look to it as likely in a
few years to fui-nish us with a larger number of students — a
hope not disappointed.
Hut our gi-eat difficulty was lack of the sinews of war ; and
the seat of government being at the time in Toronto, I was
asked to spend my first Chiistmas vacation in that city with
the view of securing some legislative aid. There was as yet
no direct railway communication between Montreal and To-
ronto, and of course no Victoiia Bridge. F crossed the river
in a canoe amidst floating ice, and had to travel by way of
Albany. Niagara and Hamilton. The weather was stormy
and the roads blocked with snow, so that the journey to
Toronto occupied five days, giving mo a shorter time there
than I hivd anticipated. I received, however, a warm wel-
mmmm
I
1
9
oome from Sir Edmund Head, Haw mostot'tho membors of the
Government, and obtained some infiyrmation a?! U) the Hon.
Mr. Cartiei', contemplatod Superior Education Act, paHscd in
the following yt'ar, and whicli secured ior the Unt time the
status of the preparatory schools, while giving aid to the uni-
versities. I was also oncoui-aged by Sir Kdmund and Cartier
to confei- with the Superintendoiit ot Kducation and the (lov-
ornor.s of MctJill, on ni}' return to Montieai, wit'.i i-eterence to
the establishment of a Normal School in connection with the
University, which was succoshfully carried out in the follow-
ing year. 1 may here remark, iii passing, that the McGill
Normal School has, in my judgment, been one of the most
successful ins' itutions of its kind. It has proved indispensable
to the growth of our provincial education of every grade, has
indirectly ai<led the ("nivorsily. has bemi deservedly popular
thioughout the countiy, and has had the good will ami sup-
port of the .successive superintendents lA' education, and of the
provincial governments of both political parties.
The direct aid, however, which could be obtained from the
Government was small, and the next movement of the Board
of (lovernors was our first appeal to the citizens of Montreal,
resulting in the endowment oi" the Molson chair of Knglish
Language and Tiiterature, with $20,000 (sub.sequently aug-
mented to $40,000 by Mr. .1. II. 11. Molson) and $3r),000 from
other benefactors. This was a great help at the time and the
beginning of a stream of liberality which has floated our uni-
versit}' barque up to the pi-esent date. In connection with
this should be placed the gift ot the Heni-y Chapman gold
medal, the tirst of our gold medals. The liboi-ality of the citi-
zens in 1857 encouraged the Board of Governors to strenglhen
and extend the teaching staff in Arts by thci appointment of
Professors Johnson and Coriusb and shortly afterward of
Professo!' Darey, who still, alter all these years of ai-duous
and laithfid service, lomaiii to the university. an<l are now the
senior niembers of ihe prol'e.ssoiiate.
To counterbalance these saccessv^s and advantages, in the
early part of 1856 the building occupied by the High School
and by the Faculty of Arts was destroyed by tire, along with
some of the few books which had been collected and sonic of
our apparatus, and a large part of my private collections
10
which I had hooii usin^ for ni}- loctures. The specimens,
apparatUH and hook^ were not insured, and ihe insurance on
th(! iMiilding wuh (juito insufficient to lepluce it, so that Ihif*
waH a great pei'uniary Iohs, hut one which our (Jovernorw liore
wiih adniiral)lo foi'titudo .ind equanimity, and took immediate
stops to lepair. For the remainder of the session the eoUege
claHMes were transferred in part i.o the original eolUige huiid-
ings above Sherhrooke street, and in part to the Medical
Faculty's huilding on Cote 8tj-eot. The classes were not inter-
ru))ted, and plans were at once [)re] ared for the erection of a
new and l)elter iniilding.
The year 1857 was signalized not only liy the opening of
the Met Jill Normal School and by the addition to oui- staff
already noted, but by the institution of a chair of Civil Kngi-
noering, the first siuall beginning of our Faculty of Applied
Science. At the same time, in the hope that the haculty of
Arts might he able before many years to oecupj' permanentlj'
the college buildings, the improvement of the grounds was
begun liy jdanling, draining and making walks. At first I
did this at my own cost, as a laboui- of love, with the aid of
the late Mr. Sheppard in laying out the walks, merely asking
permission of the Board. Dr. Howe, who resided at that time
in the centre building, gave some aid, and the new secretary,
Mr. Baynes, took a deep interont in the matter. The giadu-
ates undertook to plant trees along one of our walks, and
eventually the lioard gave small sums toward this object, and
at a later day appointed a caretaker, for whom a lodge was
erected by a subscription among our friends.
We had pr (>osod that so soon as the students in arts should
exceed tifty we would ventui-e to occupy the old building.
Thib happened it) 1800, and we accordingly })roceeded to move
up and take possession of the centre block, the east wing
being need lor residences. The movement was a fortunate
one, for it suggested to our friend, Mr. William Molson, the
erection of a third block, corresp<mding to the eastern one, to
be named the William Molson Hall, and which was to contain
the convocation room and library. This was the original
limit of Mr. Molson's intention ; but, driving up one day, in
company with Afrs. Molsoji, to note the progress of the work,
she suggosieil that it wonhi bo a pity to leave it unfinished,
11
and that it would be well at once to connect the thi-oe l.locks
of buildingH in one pile, according to the original plan. The
hint was taken, plans were prepared, and one of the connect-
ing buildings became our first museum, while the other pro-
vided a I'hemical and natural science class room and laboratory.
Both buildings, as well as the lif>rary, were seeds of greater
things. The library was provided with shelves for 20,0(J0
volumes, while we possessed less than 2,000, and at first it
was distressing to see its empiiness, but the time has long
passed when, after crowding it with additional book-cases ami
extending it into an adjoining room, we began to desire larger
space, now happily supplied by the magnificent Peter lled-
path Library. The museum, e(|ualiy einpt}', received in the
first instance a portion of my own collections, and others
obtained itj exchange and by purchase from my own resources.
In this way it was po.ssible almost from the first to till it
respectably, for n museum without specimens is even more
forlorn than a library without books. Dv. Carpentei-s mag
nificent collection of shells was added in 18fi9 The whole
furnished the nucleus for the Peter Redpath Museum, which
stands at the head of Canadian educational museums. The
other connecting building became the homo of our chemistry
and assaying, in which I)r. Iljirringtoii, with the aid tor a
time of the late Dr. Sterr}' Hunt, built up our schools of Prac-
tical Chemistry and of Mining and Assaying, which have
trained so many young men for useful chemical and manufac-
turing emi)lovmcnt, for mining entei-prises and tor the Geolo-
gical Survey, niul have sustained indirectly the honour course
in geology in the Facult\" of Ai-ts. Thus our resuming posses-
sion of the old buildings was Bucce.'*sful and fruitful of new
enterprise, and Mr. Molson's timely aid laid the foundation of
greater s ccossos in the following years.
About this time a immber of our gra<luale-( resident in
Montreal formed themsijlves into the nucleus of a univoi-sit}'
society, which has continued to gi'ow and expand up to the
present time, and has still room for furlhei- e.xtension, more
especially by the formation of branch or local associations, of
which the Ottawa Valley (Jraduates' Society has set the fiist
and a brilliant example. One ol the early efiorts of this society,
at the time under the presidency of Brown Chamberlin, M.A..
12
D.(Mj., was tho institution of the Founder'H Festival, a social
authoring oi> Mi'. McGill'M birthday. It was continued with
8piiit for Horno yoai-s, hut failed to attract gi'U(i«ate> from a
distance, and was iiUimatoly dro})pod in favour of (>ther inovo-
mentt*. The time nuiy ishortly come for its revival.
In 1860 we entered on the now departure uf affiliatiriijj col-
leges in arts, hy the attiliation of St. FranciH ('olloge, Rich-
mond, and this wa.s followed in a year or two by Moi'rin
I ■ollcge, Quebec. Tn thi.-< niattei- the President of the Board
of (iovernors, .ludi^e Day and the lion. Judijo Dunkin were
very earncHt, believing thai these afiiliate<l <'ollcges niight
form important local centres of the highci- e<lncation. and
might give strength to the univei'sity. J'hey have not, it is
true, grown in magnitude us we had hoped ; but so far they
have maintained a useful exisienre, ami have unquestionably
done educational good ; and, more csj)ecially; have enabled
some deserving and able men to obtain an academical educa
tion which would otherwise have beeri denied them. In the
circumstances of the Protestant population of the Province of
Quebec, this is an end worthy of some sacritieo lor its attain-
ment. The only additional college of this class is that of
Stanslead, added at a com})aratively recent date. In 1805
the Congregational College of British Amei'ica, an institution
for theological education otdy, was n-moved to Montreal and
became atliliated to the univci'sity, and has been followed by
three other theological c<)lleges. The value of these to the
university no one can doubt. They not only add to the num-
ber of our students in arts, but to their character and stand-
ing, and they enable the univoi-sity to otior a high academical
ti'aining to the candidates foi' the Chi'istian ministry in four
leading denominations, thus rendering it helpful to the cause
ot Protestant Chi'istianit)-, and enabling us to boast that we
have aided in providing for the scattered Protestant congre-
gations of this province a lai'gei* number of well educated
pastoi-s than they could i)OKsibly have obtained in any other
way, while the ministers sent out into the country have more
than repaid us by sending students to the classes in all oiii-
taculties. Our .system in this respect, which has been imitate!
elsewhere, presents, for colonial communities at least, the
best solution of the question of how to combine C'hristian uae-
fulness with freedom from denominational control.
13
The year 1870 brinjjjH mo to tho boginnintj of a most im-
])Oi'tant movomoiit not yet complcled, hut vvliicli has ali-eady
|)ri)ved ilHolf a inai-kod MHco.sh-— that for the hi^lior eilucation
ofwoniiTi. lopecting which a few chronological stalcmcnt.'s
may be in pUico here. At a meeting of citizens convened hy
tho Board of GovornorH in the early part of the year 1870, I'ov
the purpose of soliciting additional endowments, a resolution
was moved by the late l>r. Wilkes, and unanimdusl}- adopted,
to tho etfect that the university sliould, at as oai'ly a date as
possible, extend its benefits to women. It is ti-ue that no
special endowments foi' the purpose were at this time ottered,
nor were there any applicants fbi- admission ; but, in spend-
ing the summer of T870 in l'>ngland. my wife and \ made it
our business to collect information lespdcting the movements
in this matter then in progi-ess in the Mother ('ounlry. The
conclusion at wliich we arrived was that in oui- circumstances
the methods ol the Ladies Kdncational Association of Edin-
burgh wei'O the most suitable ; and seconded by Mrs. (J. W.
Simpson, wliose experience and influence as an educator were
of the highest value, we endeavoured to promote such an
organization in .Monti'cal At a meeting of ladies, convened
by our friend Mrs. >Molson, of Belmont Hall, in her drawing-
room, the preliminaries were agreed on, and the classes were
opened in Octohei-, IS7 1, on which occasion I delivered the
introductoi'3' lecture. This association conducted an admir-
able atid most useful woi-k (bi- fourteen years, until its place
was taken by the honalda Special Course for Women.
About the same time with the organisation of the Ladies'
l^lducational Association, two otbei- movements occurred bear-
ing on the >^ame (juesti(m. One was the I'oundation by former
pupils of Miss ihinnan Willai-d layman of an endowment in
commemoration of that gillcd lady, and the income of wliich
was to be expended to found a scholarship or prize " in a Col-
logo for Women " altiliated to the University, or in classes
for women approved by it. This endowment was used in the
first instance for prizes in the classes of the a.<sociati()n, and
its terms furnished an indication as to the prevailing senti-
ment with res])ect to ilio e(hication of women, and wore in
accordance with the fact that Miss Lyman had beetj the lady
principal of one of the greatest and most successful colleges
14
for women in tho ITnited Htatos. Tho othor, and practically
more important, was the GMtabliHhmcnt of the Girln' High
School of Monti'oal. This wan suggeHted b}' the Rev. Dr. .Fen-
kins, tho chairman of the Protestant commiHsioners of school^,
in his report tor 1871, and after some delays, owing to the
uiaimH of other objects, I iiioved, as a member of the lioard, in
February, 1874, the appointment of a committee with ))ower
to establish such a school. The committee acted promptly,
prepared a plan, recommended teachers, and engagetl a tem-
porally building, and the school came into operation in the
aiitumn of 1874. In moving in this matter I fully expected
that the establishment of a school giving the training neces-
saiy foi" our matriculation examinatitin vvould lead in a few
years to a demand for college education on behalfof the passed
pu|)ils of the school, but trusted that means would be found to
meet this when it should arise, though 1 deprecated any prem-
iiture action on the part ol" the (Jniversity itself in this direc-
tion. The attention of the corporation was directed to the
subject by the Rev. Dr. Clark Muriay in 1882, and the matter
was referred to a committee to collect information; but the
demand did not actually develop itself till 1884, when several
pni)ils of tho Girls' High School had distinguished themselves
in the examination for associate in ai-ts, and foi-mal applica-
tion was made by eight qualitied candidates for admission to
University privileges At first the only resource seemed to
be to appeal lo the public for aid in this new departure ; but
at the moment when the difficulty pressed, Sir Donald A.
Smith voluntarily came forward with an otl'er of $50,000 to
provide separate classes in Arts for women for the first and
second years, leaving the question of how their education was
to be continued afterwards in abeyance. This generous otfei-
was thankfully :ic<'epted by the University, and tlius our
classes for women were commenced in 1884. SubsequontI}'
the same libtM'al benofacloi- increased his gift to §120,000 to
continue the work over the third and fourth years, and besides
contributed $4,000 annually in aid of sessional lecturers, while
the corporation, without hesitation, iidmitted the women to
all the privileges of examinations and degrees. Under these
arrangements the Donalda special course for women has been
going on successfully for eight years; but it still remains to
1.5
carry out the development of the lil)orul plans of the foiindor
into a sepanilo college for women iiffiliaieii to the Univerwitv,
In this foim, arjfl with u .suitable bnilding in proximity to tho
other buildings of tho University, and aided by our library,
museum and laboratories, it carmot fail to attract a much
lai'ger number of studentw and to become more than ever a
loadin*; department of the work of the University.
Keferente has been made to the lOxuminutions foi- Associate
in Arts. Those wcic established in 18<i5, and at first wcj'c
limited to pupils of tho High School. With the aid of the
University of Bishop's College and the rrutestant Committee
of the Council of Public Instruction, they have now been ex-
tended to all tho I'rotestant Academies and High Schools,
and have become an important factor in the higher education.
In 1880, on occasitjn of the twent^-lifth year of my tenure
of office as pi'inci])al, 1 endeavoured to assemble its graduates
at a banquet iti the William Molson Hall. Much labour was
necessary to secure accurate information as to their addresses,
and this was made the means of prepai-ing the first directory
of the graduates. Kight hundred and Hfty caids of invitation
were issued, anil answers expressing sympatiiy and atfection
for Alma Matei- were received from nearly all. The result
was that .'{GO gentlemen, nearly all graduates of the Univer-
.sity. were able to attend and to take their seats tit the tables
occupying the hall. At this entertainment, after a few words
of weleome to the guests and the usual toasts, addresses wei'c
delivered by rej)resentatives of the ditTerent bodies and intei--
ests c.onn(cted with the University, and by representatives of
sister institutions. The topics were naturally those connected
with the past history and [u-esent state of the University ; and
the part which its governors principal and fellows, its bene-
factors and its graduates had taken in elevating it to the con-
dition to which it had attained, and in advancing the interests
of education. As to the future, the evening was signalized by
the announcement of tho intention of Peter IJedpath, Ksi].,
one of the gov^'rnors, to erect a oi»stly and capacious museum
building on the college gi'ounds, and that of the Principal to
place therein, as a gift to tho University, his own large geo-
logical collections, and the further announcement that the
graduates proposed to commemorate the twenty-Hfth year of
16
the PrincijiJil's tenure ofoffite by the erection of a university
Ituil liii^ lo boar liis niune. The ontortninnieiit bein^ u private
one, reporters were not fulmitlod, which, perhaps, WU8 an
error, as it would have been intcreHtin^ now to have prcHorved
!i I'ccorfi <)(■ the add i-e-sKes, more ospeciully of those delivered
by men who have Hince passed away. It had been hoped that
eiitertainin«Mi(8 v( tliis kind miglit have been continued, but
tlio labour and cost of meetings of seientitic associations pre-
vented this for the time.
The university should, I think, take a large share of credit
for the succesn of the meetings of the American Associiition
for the Advancement of Science in Monti-eal in 1857 and
1S.S2, and ll»e still more impoilant meeting of the IJi-itish
Association in lfe84. Univeisity men woi-ked earnestly in
aid of these meetings, the use of the college buildings contri-
buted materially to their accommodation, and the results
tended in many ways to the promotion of science in Canada.
Such meetings, by bringing among us eminent men, widely
known abroad, and by dii'ecting special attention to new
scienlitic topics, contribute greatly to our advance in national
improvemeni, and in placing us abreast of the scientific move-
ment in other countries. Kach of these meetings has had its
influence in these espects, and has mai-ked a distinct sttj) in
our upward jirogress.
1 have referred in these reminiscences to the financial
affairs of iho university. In this respect we have always
been in straitened circumstances, but relief has often come
just at our time of greatest need, tiiough tlieie have always
been important fields of usefulness open to us, but which we
had not means to enter on. Our last public appeal is thus
referred to in a publication of the time: '• At the close of the
financial year 1880-81. our income had ebbed in a most threat-
ening manner. Being derived mainly from mortgages on
real estate, it had run some risks and experienced a few losses
in the commercial crisis of the preceding years. But when
the tide of commercial prosperity tui-ned. a greater calamity
befell us in tlie fall of the rate of interest, which reduced our
revenue by nearly 20 pei- cent., and this at a time when no
decrease of expenditure could be made without actual diminu-
tion of efficiency." In these circumstances the Board of Gov-
17
ernoi'H fnuud it necoswiiy to iriHint on nutst unwelcome n^tronch-
ineritH, injurioiiH to oiir efiuciitionul work, und which noine of
u» would have been glad to avert, even by much perniinal
sacrifice and privation. At length, on the 13th of October,
1881, we convened a meeting, not happily oJ our creditorw,
but of our conntitiientf<, the Protostant population of Montieal,
and our poaition and wants were laid before them most ably,
and, 1 may say, oven pathetiially, by the chancellor, Judge
Day, and the honorary troaHurer, Mr ilaniNay. The meeting
wa8 ai largo and influential one, and T shall never ceaiie to
bear in grateful remembrance the response which it made.
There was no hint of blame for our extravagance, no grudging
of the claims of the highei- education which wc re})reHentod.
but a hearty and unanimous resolve to nutitain the university
and to give it more than the amount which it asked. The
result of the mect'ng was the contribution of $28,500 to the
endowment fund, besides 82t),335 to special funds, including
the endowment of Mr. W. C McDonald s seholarships, und of
$18,445 in annual subscrijjtions. most of them tor five years.
But this was not all, foi- it was followed by two of those largo
and generous bequests of which this city niuy well be proud.
Major lliram Mills, an American gentleman, resident for
twenty years in Montreal, and familiar with the struggles of
the university, left us by will the handsome sum ol' $43,000
to endow a chair in his name, as well as a scholarship and a
gold medal. On this endowment the Governors have placed
the chair of (classical Literature. More recently our late
esteemed friend an<l fellow-citixen, Mr. David Groenshields,
has added to the man^' kind actions of a noble and generous
life the gift of $40,000 foi- the endowment of a chair to be called
by his name (the David .1. (ireenrihields chair of Chemistry).
It is perhaps imnecessaiy that 1 should continue this sub-
ject further. The great steps in advance of the last few
years are known to nearly all who hear me. In so fai" as
money is concerned, these gifts include the following: The
Thomas WOi-kman endowment for Mechanical Kngineering id"
$117,000, supplemented by $L'0,0(lO from Mr W. C. McDonald ;
the W. C. Mchonald Engineering Building, value<l, with its
equipment, at $350,000, and an endowment of $45,000 for its
maintenance, and also the endowment of the chair of Elecrti-
2
18
rnl Rn;L;ineorin^ with the sum of $40,000 ; the iM-oclion and
o<|iii|)mont hy tlio hjhho goritleinun of the Phywics Building,
vrUumI at $;{00,0()0, with two chnirs of rhynicri with ondow-
rnenfs amounting lo $90,000; the endowment of the i''a(!ulty
of Law hy thti isamo bonofui-ior wilh $15(),0(t0, and the endow-
ment of the (iuU) cduiir in the sanio faculty wilh 825,000 ; tlio
hirge gittH to the Medical I'aculty hy Sir 1). A. Smith and Mr.
J. II. 'R. Afolson and other boneCactors, amounting to $2()9,-
t)00: the late .lohn Frolhinwham |>riii('i|)al fund of $40,000,
f)undod by .Mrs. .1. H. |{. Molnon and tlie Kcv. I'rcd'iv Kroth-
ingham. the purchase of land valinMl at 842, ">00 by Mi*. .1. II.
1{. Molwon , the further ondi^wniunt by the same gentleman of
the chair of Kngliwh Literature with $20,000 the Philip Car-
penter Fellow.><hip with endowment of ^7, OOK ; the Peter Red-
path Libraiy, valued at $150,000, with 8r),000 annually for its
maintenance. In the aggregate, these gifts of eitizenn of
.Monti'eal within the pant four years amount to more than a
million and a half of <lollarH. Many minor gift.s also testify
to the goodwill and liberality of the citizens genei-ally. These
great benefactions are r»ot onl}' a vast addition to our re-
sources, but an earnest for the future, .since it is not to be sup
posed that so groat and useful endowments, attracting so
many students and so highly appreciated by the public, shall
ever be left to fall into decay, or fail to be supplemented by
additional bcnetactions. It is to be observed also that the
greater part of them have been given by men not gi-aduates
of the university, and it is to bo e.\])ected that as oui' gi aduates
increase in number, influence ami wealth, some return will
flow in from them for the bei\e(its they have received. They
need not thitdt that their gifts will be declined. There are
still groat needs to be supplied. Those may be ranged under
the three hemls of the profos^ional faculties, the academical
faculty and the univei'sity as a whole.
In the former, the Faculties of Law, Medicine and Veterin-
ary Science are still deficient in regard to class rooms and
laboratories. The Fa(!ulty of Applied Science is still unpro-
vided with necessary outfit iti reference to the dej)artments of
raining engineering and practical chemistry. It is, however,
the academical faculty or Faculty of Arts that is in most
need. It i-equires large additions to its staff, and more espe-
cially division of the heavier chairs. In this connection it
19
shoiilil be ohseivi'ii thiit it is l:)iirdoiio(| with tho ^cnenii oilii-
<'uti()ri of >tuilot(U of pi'ofmHioiml wchools ha well iiw with the
tniinin;[:f of its own stiulontn.' Ii is also in giciit now! of im-
proved chi.SH-roonn ami exlen<l«(i ttccommodation of every
kin(i for its work. The university us such needs a new gym-
nasium, lodging houses and a dining hall, and an adequate
convocation hall, with proper rooms for university- boards an
i^enorul ('.ollog<* soi-ieties and for university officers. It is not
too much to say tliat iti socui-ing those ends the gi-oat bene-
factions already ijiven might profitably bo doubled. That
these things will all l)c done in process of time I have no
doubt, l)ut it should be remoniborod that class atler class of
students is going forth into the world withct having enjoyed
these bonetits. 1 hiive a large piicUot of p:ipers labelled un-
finished and abortive schemes, containing the details of these
atui otiiei- plans. I value these papers vi'^vy highly, us repre-
senting creative thought not yei materialized, hut I am quite
willing to part with any of them to any benefactor who will
carry it into actual ctfect. While personally it is necessarily
a matter for regret that I cannot continue in office till the
great improvements to which 1 have referred are realized, it
at least something, aftei' our long and arduous journey
thi'ough the wilderness of penury and privation, to see oven
afar otf the goodly laiid into which my successors are enter-
ing, and in the enjoyment of which, I tnist, they will forgive
the shortcomings of those who had to lead the way, and will
not forgot the dangers and difficulties of tlie thorny paths
through which we have passed.
One foatui-o, however, of our histoi'y for which we cannot
bo too deeply thankful, is the comparative |reace and mutual
forbearance which have prevailed in all the past years, and
the united arul earnest action of all the members of the Uni-
vei-sity in ever}' crisis of our long conflict. Nor have we had
any reason for anxiety i-espectiug our students. I confess
that if there is anything 1 have feared and have constantly
pi'aycd to be exempt fi'om, it has been the possible occurrence
of those rebellions and disorders that have troubled so many
colleges on this continent. For this exemption I do not take
credit to myself. Met J ill has had an able and devoted govern-
ing Board, a body of competent, diligent and popular profes-
20
8ors, derived from a large number of different universities on
l)oth sidoH of Uio Atlantic ; and the Canadian student v. on the
whole a hard worker, good-natured and patriotic, and not too
self-assoiting. JSTor is our Hystom of college government a
cast-iron constitution which has been setup by an act of legis-
lation, it haw grown up under experience and careful adap-
tation of methods to needs. In Mc(!ill each faculty exercises
jurisdiction over its own students, the executive officer baing
the dean of the faculty. The principal intervenes only when
desired to give advice or assit4ance, or when o.ny case arises
affecting students of difTerent faculties; and the power of ex-
pelling students resides ordy in the corporation — a body in-
cluding the goveinors, the principal, and all the deans of the
faculties, with elective representatives of the faculties, of the
affiliated colleges, and of the graduates. Under this system
it is understood that each professor is supreme in his own
class-room, but his power of <li8cipline is limited to a tempor-
ary suspension from lectures, which must bo at once reporte<i
to the daan. If necessary, the dean ma}' lay the case before
the faculty, which, after heai-ing. may repi-imand, report to
parents or guardians, impose fines, suspend from classes, or,
in extreme cases, report to the corporation for e.vpulsion. N«)
case involving this last penalty has, however, yet occurj-ed,
and the effort has been to settle eveiy case of discipline by
])er8onal influence and with as little reference to laws and pen-
alties as possible. With this machinery a simple code of rules
is sufficient. It provides lor orderly and moral conduct in the
buildings and in going and coming, and for the safety of the
property of the University, and prohibits all action likely to
obstruct the work of the college or to interfere with the pro-
gress of other students. In the ca.3e of college societies it is
required merely that their objects shall bo consistent with
those of the Univei'sity, and that tl^oir laws and officers shall
be communicated to and approved by the faculty in whose
rooms they meet. Above and beyond all such machinery and
rules, lies the obligation on principal, deans and ])rofeBsois to
watch the beginnings of evil and to countei-act by wise and
kindly advice anything that n \v lead to disorder. On the
other hand, the effort of the stuucnt should be to exeicise all
that liberty which tetuls to make him Holf-reliunt and fit for
mm^^mf.
21
the battle <»t' life, while he endeavours to avoid the formation
of any habitt^ inimical to the interests of his fellow-studonts or
injurious to himself. In all this 1 P'Ov-jeed on the aHsumption
that it is the business of a university to train young men and
women for noble lives, not so much to teach them to do some-
thing as to train them to be somethinii;. Perhaps the tendency
most to be feared in our age and country is that towards prac-
tical and profitable work without the previous education that
should develop fully the mental powei's and form the char-
acter. This tendency it is the duty of the university by all
meaes to counteract, as one tliat will lower our national char-
acter and thereby prevent our highest success. This prin-
ciple being kept in view, the cultivation of interest and
enthusiasm for college work at once secures progress and
peace. In short, the conti-ol of young men or young women
is to be exercised rather in the way of inducing them to lik«»
their work and duty than by any influence of the nature of
coercion or restraint. In this way only can they be trained
to control themselves and, when their turn comes, to control
others. They who would rule must themselves leai-n willing
obedience. Of course, there is place here for all the elevating
influence of spiritual religion, and there is scope tor that most
important power which arises from the example of punctual-
ity, self-denial and honest work on the part of the profestjors.
I fervently pray that the gootl traditions of .McGill in all these
respects may ever be maintained.
The religious life of M<'<iil! University has been of a quiet
and unotficial charactar We have not sought to make any
para'le of religious services as sucli, but by personal influence
and example to foster piety »mong the students and to facili-
tate as far as possible theii- taking advantage of the religious
privileges afforded in the city. lu this connection 1 attach
paramount importance to the sponianeoiis action of the stu-
dents themselves, more especially as uianife.sted in their
('christian Associations. The.>e have, 1 think, been sources of
unmixed good, and have largely contributed to maintain and
extend religious life, 1 could wish that they should have from
the university or its friends means to provide proper accom-
modation for meetings and siXiial reunions, and that the utmost
aid and countenance should Ik^ extended to them by the college
authorities.
22
My function in thin university lias been that of a pioneer;
and viewed in this light it has not been compatible with the
dignity and the authority which ai-e usually attached to the
heads of more tirmly eslabli»ho<i colle<<es in older countries,
it is time, hovvevoi-, that this should bo changed, and my suc-
cessor should enter upon office under more favourable condi-
tions than those of the feeble and struggling university of the
past. In 1855 the university had twentj* professors and lec-
turers and about eighty students. It now has seventy-four
professors and lectui-ers and a thou^and students. This fact
alone is sufficient to indicate the increase in the work and
responsibility of the r)fficcr who has to supeiintend atid har-
monize all those workers in many ditferent departments. I
would therefore more e8])ecially ask in his behalf that he
should have means to support the dignity of the univei-sity in
its social aspect, to entertain distinguished strangeis us well
as the members of the university, and to lake a place in
society becoming the magnitude of the interests committed to
his care. Under oui- constitution he cannot be an autocrat,
since he can]only enforce regulations enacted by the Governors
and corporation, but he should at least have full infoi'mation
as to all contemplated movements, and should be consulted
respecting them, and should be recognized as the only official
medium of communication bolween the ditferent portions of
tlie university. The operations of MctJill are now so exten-
sive and complic^ated that the dangers of disintegi'ation and
isolation have become gi-oalor than any otiiors, and the Prin-
cipal must alwaj's be the central bond of union of the univer-
sity', because he alone can know it in all its parts and weigh
the claims, needs, dangers, diffii-ulties and op])ortunities of
each of its constituent faculties and department"^. Much of
this must without doubt depend upon his personal qualities,
and I trust those who are to .succeed me in this office may be
men not only of learning, ability and administrative capacity,
but of unselfish disinterestedness, of large, sympathetic and
wide views, of kindly, generous and forgiving disposition, and
of that earnesi piety which can alone make them safe advisers
of young men and women entering on the warfare of life.
in conclusion, let me say a word as to myself and ray re-
tirement from office. My connectioi» with this University foi-
23
the paH( th.rty-oight years hue been fraught with that happi-
ne8.s which resultH from the conseiou«nes„ of effort in a worthy
<'«UHe, rom the aid and .support of my dear wife, who ban
c^heered and Huntaine.! me in every ditficulty, and from asso-
|-ialH.n w.th .ud. noble and Helf.sa.riHcin^. men a.s thoHo who
have built up Mcdiil College. But it ban been Hlled with
anxieties ar.d cares, and with cor,tinuou.s and almo.t unremit-
ing labour. I bave been obliged to leave undone or imper-
ectly accomplished many cherished scheme.s by which 1 had
hoped to benefit my fellow-men, and leave footprints .,f ^ood
on the .and.s of time. Age i.s advancing upon me, and I feel
Juit If I am fittingly to bring to a clone the busineHs of my life
I muBt have a b.eathing npaco to gird up my loins and refresh
myself for what remains of the battle. I have, beside., as you
know, been somewhat ab,-uptly deprived by a serious illness
of my accustomed strength, and in this I i-ecognize the warn-
ing of my Heavenly Father that my time of active service is
nearly over. In reti,-ing from my official duty 1 can leave all
my work and all the interests of this University with the con-
fidence that, under God's blessing, they will continue to be
successful and progressive. The true test of educational work-
well done is that it shall have life and power to continue and
extend itself after those who established it are removed. 1
believe that this is the character of our work here, and I shall
leave it with the confident expectation that it will be quite as
successful in my absence as in my presence. Such a result 1
shall regard as the highest compliment to myself. To this
end I ask your earnest consideration of the sketch of our pro-
gress which [ have endeavoured to present, and I pray that
the blessing of God may rest <m the university an.l on' every
part of it, and that it may be strengthened with His powe'r
and animated with His spirit.