Page:Famous Living Americans, with Portraits.djvu/162

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EUSSELL H. CONWELL 143 A house next door to the church had been purchased to re- lieve the congestion, but already the realization was forcing itself upon the church that they must build a larger building. All the energies of the church were brought together to start the work of securing funds to buy a new site. A large lot was bought on North Broad Street, and the Baptist Tem- ple was begun. As this was planned to be the largest church in America, even the Quaker City was startled out of its com- placency and predicted complete failure for the enterprise. In the midst of this strenuous period of temple building the educational classes had so increased in number that the founder, realizing the tremendous need of this work in Phila- delphia, decided to apply to the state for a non-sectarian charter, that the entire city regardless of religious affiliations might enjoy the benefits of the new college ttiat had sprung up in their midst. In 1888 Temple College was chartered as a non-sectarian college for working people; but the work it was doing soon became so well known that day classes were demanded and the day departments were opened. Shortly after the new Temple was opened the old church at Marvine and Berks Street was sold and Temple College moved into rented quarters. There was a lot to the south of the Temple for sale, but as the church was still staggering under the load of its great building enterprises, and the young College had not enough funds of its own. Dr. Conwell himself bought the lot, holding it for a year or two until the College was able to erect its first building. With its occupancy of its own buildings, its career as an entirely independent organization began. The demand for more and more courses was constantly made upon it. The GoUege of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the Teachers' College with its many vocational courses, the Theological School, the Law School, the Schools of Medicine, Dentistry, and Phar- macy took concrete shape. Buildings have been added and in the year 1907, the courts changed the name from Temple College to Temple University. Between three and four thou- sand students register annually and still the demands ui)on it