The Masonic University Of Kentucky.

of the citizens of Oldham County , were thus appropriated , and a handsome ancl commodious edifice was erected .

THE MASONIC COLLEGE . The Grand Lodge of Kentucky ( the oldest of the Western Grand Lodges , established October 16 , 1800 ) had for several years prior to 1843 contemplated the establishment of an educational institution of some sort , and in 1840 made

application to the Legislature of the state for a bill incorporating the Grand Lodge " with power to hold sufficient property for an Orphan Asylum and School . " This bill , approved January 29 , 1841 , sets forth in the preamble " that the Grand Lodge of Kentucky wishes to establish an asylum for

the nurture and education of indigent orphans of both sexes , and the support of poor and indigent persons . " The Grand Lodge was empowered to receive either real or personal estates , by gift , devise , or purchase , and was fully recognised under legislative indorsement as the patron of education . Various plans occupied the attention of the Grand Lodge at its respective sessions of

1841 , 1842 , and 1843 . By many a self-supporting school was advocated , upon the manual labour system . The best intelligence of the state was brought to bear upon the subject , until , in 1844 , the Funk Seminary , which had been offered the Grand Lodge upon generous terms , was adopted

as the Masonic College of Kentucky . By the terms of the transfer , which was drawn up with legal precision , the Grand Lodge obligated itself to carry out the intentions of Mr . William M . Funk , the founder , and to maintain an institution of learning perpetually . An act was procured

from the Legislature authorising the transfer and granting the necessary powers . This act so amended tlie charter as to reduce the number of Trustees to nine , and to make them elective 'annually by the Grand Lodge . Thus the Masonic College of Kentucky was set into operation , under

the direct auspices of the Craft ; and the Grand Lodge pledged itself not only to a moral , but a direct pecuniary encouragement .

THE MASONIC UNIVERSITY . To increase tho dignity , scope , and usefulness of this institution , fostered by Masonic charity , the Board of Trustees , at its meeting July 23 , [ 1849 , made the following order : — " The following resolutions were offered by Mr . Peobert Mallony ,

ancl adopted : ' Ptesolved , that at the next session of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky , this Board will make application for University powers and privileges to be conferred on Funk Seminary , the Masonic College of Kentuck } -and for such other changes and amendments

, in the charter , as already amended , as may be necessary or thought expedient and proper by a committee to be appointed for the purpose of carrying this resolution into effect / " The Legislature , which has ever viewed this institution with

favour , acceded to the request , aud on the 4 th of March , 1850 , passed a bill conferring upon the Masonic College the amplest University privileges . The act gave to it the name of the Masonic University of Kentucky . It empowered the Trustees to receive propertyreal and personalfor the

, , benefit of the University , so that the annual income thereof shall not exceed 50 , 000 dollars . The following sections of the act are conceived in such a generous Masonic spirit , and expressed in such choice terms , as to justify their insertion here : —

"Sec . 3 . That the President and Trustees of said University shall have power to confer degrees in any and all the faculties , arts , sciences , and liberal professions , and also the honorary degrees usually conferred in any of the colleges and universities in the United States .

" Sec . 4 . That the said University , recognising the being and government of Almighty God , shall be founded and continued on the plan of the great social and political institutions of the United States , having respect to the liberal ancl enlightened principles on which they are founded ; and

that no laws , rules , or regulations of a sectional or party character , either in religion or politics , shall ever be adopted or imposed , by which any student shall be subjected or made liable to any disabilities or disadvantages whatever , on account of his political or religious opinions .

"Sec . 5 . That the President , with the consent and approbation of said Trustees , shall have power to confer the title of Magister Docendi upon such students as , upon examination , in the presence of the Trustees or a committee by them appointed , shall be qualified to act as teachers , and shall be found worthy of the honour . "

At various periods the Board of Trustees have bestowed collegiate honours upon various gentlemen distinguished for their literary or their Masonic acquirements . The first president under the University charter was Dr . Henry Moore , LL . D ., a gentleman of great scholastic acquirements and

an educator of long experience . Under his administration a Medical Department was established at Louisville , Kentucky , as a branch of the Ma * sonic University , by the title of the Kentucky School of Medicine ; and his connection was maintained until the Kentucky School of Medicine

applied to the Legislature for an independent charter . From 1850 to April 1859 , the University experienced a varied fortune , sharing in the exigencies of the times . The Trustees then called Bro . the Rev . John Tremble , jun ., D . D ., to the Presidency , securing , by this act , the services of one of the

best educators and ripest scholars in the State . Under Dr . Tremble ' s auspices , the classes were soon well filled , and the highest promises of the University seemed destined to be realised , when the breaking out of the civil war fell like a thunderbolt upon the Institution . The students from the South hastened home in consternation . Those