Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 6.djvu/131

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125
F. G. Young.
125

ORIGIN OF PACIFIC UNIVERSITY. 125 work done are found in the proceedings of that body. The number of settlers was very small in the radius which the college might expect to reach ; they had very little appreciation of the kind of education he sought to provide ; the largest settlements at Oregon City and Port- land, both numbering only a few hundred, were separated by high hills and roads nearly impassable much of the time. Mr. Marsh entered the work with a delicate con- stitution, without any of the comforts of home, and with only an unfinished room on the upper floor of the one building the institution possessed. Such was the abode of one used to all the comforts and refinements of a college community in New England. He entered at once with enthusiasm into his work. It was deemed best to apply for a new charter and one was secured in 1854. In general outline and in most of its de- tails it resembled the earlier one. The name was changed to the "President and Trustees of Pacific University and Tualatin Academy," a name which the institution still re- tains. The name Pacific was selected by Mr. Marsh him- self in preference to Columbia and Washington. The term University was also his choice and represents his ultimate hope for the institution. The ability to hold land and cap- ital stock was increased to a township of land and $500,000. The religious character of the institution and the general plan of organization with a self-perpetuating board of trus- tees was preserved. The inauguration of President Marsh occurred with ap- propriate ceremonies, held out of doors for lack of a hall large enough for the occasion. In the inaugural address appear the policies and ideals for which the institution was to stand in the future. He outlined a classical college with high standards and full courses of study according to the ideas at that time prevailing in the better institu- tions of the East. "To-day," he said, "Pacific University