The University Hall

The olements were propitious on Wednes day evening, the day and hcmr setapart for the formal opening of University Hall, and at an early hour the spacious floor and broad sweeping gallery were compactly filled with eager, expectant, and rejoicing citizens and strangers. An audience of such numbers has never before been convened is a single room in tbis State, and the view from the platform, floor or gallery was truly inspiriting. President Angell called the vast audienceto order promptly at 7 1-2 o'clock, and with a few timely and appropriate words of greeting and wolcome introduced Rev. Dr. Fisk, of Detroit (late of this city), who offered prayer. The following truly beautiful ode, written for the occasion by Judge Campbell, was sung, the University choir leaiïing and the audience joining: No more the craftsman hngers Around the finished walls, - But songs of many voices Ring through the aounding hall: : They hail the work completed ; They hail tlie mission planned, Of toil for thought and spirit, With rest for toiling hand. Iiejoioe, O bounteous mother 1 Thy home is broad and fair : And throngs of loving clrildren Shall rise to bless thee there. From valley, plain and mountain, Green isle, and Ocean shore, Young States and hoary kingdoms, They seek thy open door. With gracious welcome cheer them ; Protect f rom guile and wrong ; And make them wise with counsel, In faith and honor stroug. So thou shalt bc their glory, Lnd they shall be thy crown ; - Their Uves thy joy and comfort, Their fame thy best renown. üur hopes await the Future - Far-off - and dim - and vast ; But through thy Courts are glidiug Sweet memories of the Past. - O house already hallowed By souls of truth and might, Forevermore within thee Be life and peace and light ! Next, Kegent Willaed was introduccd and prefaced his brief address by sonie figures in answer to the questiors, "What all this costs ? " He stated that a recent inventory estiraated the possession of the University, real and. personal, as follows: grounds and buildings, $297,000 ; collections in museums, librarles, apparatus, &c, $140,000 ; total, $443,000. The entire cost of the new building, in the hall of which the speaker was glad to weleome the frieiids of the University, was $105,459.G0, ou which amount there was now due to contraotors the sum of $3,480. The annual incoine of the University was stated at $90,000, derived from : interest on endowment (the principal haviug accrued from the salea of University landsj, $38,000; from State aid, $31,000; students' fees, $20,000; rents and other sources, $550. These figures were followed by a few earnest thoughts contrasting the civilization of to-day with the past, temples like this with the ruins of Stonehenge After a second piece of xnusio, D. Bethtjne Duifieli), Esq., of Detroit, was introduced, who pronounced the occasion one full of interest, referred to the recent laying of the corner-stone at Lansing, and declared that " other foundations are'being laid for the State, deeper and broader than the granite blocks of her capítol, more enduring than anv which bear up the heaviest walls and proudest towerg she oan rear : those wliich go to form the mind and character of her aons." He followed with an earnest appeal for a higher and a Christianized education, his brief' speech being well received. After another piece of music, President Angell, in terras deservedly coinplimentary, introduced President White, of Cornell, a man who had honored this University by his toachings. Having heard him publicly avow Cornell the daughter of Michigan University he had been led to exclaim, 0 Mater Palchra, 0 Filia Pulchrior. Enthusiastic and prolonged applause greeted President White. President White opened his address by some not very flattering remarks upon the educational outlook, and said that standing in this hall and this preSence, in a University founded by the State, it was fitting that he should consider " The true theory of national and State dealings with ad vaneed institutions of learning," and in discussing which he decjared it to be " the true policy of the State to inake full provisión for the establishment and mainteuance of institutions for advanced public instruction," Private mu nifleence could not be relied tpon to provide and maintain the needed institu tions, building and developing them systematically and harmoniously. Civi engineering schools, mining engineering schools, architeetural schools, etc, were all needed, and tho State alone could meet the demand. President Elliot was challenged to show an institution for advanoed instruction that has notlargely been supported by public aid. The address was a powerful argument in favor of State institutions of the highest grade, and a strong condemnation of the policy of frittering away money and brains in the vain attempt to upbuild colleges in every town. It also reviewed the denominational objection and left 110 peg to hang an argument upon. We regret that we had no short-hand reporter present, and should teel that we had neglected our duty if we were not no w assured that it will bo written out for publication, and when it is we shall give to our readers in full. The speaker was frequentlyapplauded, an evidence that he was striking popular as well as powerful blows. At the close of President White's address the old hundreth psalm was sung, and the satisfied audience dismissed with a benediction;